So Far

This is going to be the most rushed post ive made so far but bare with me as I haven't had much time on computers and everything tends to sound a bit like rambling these days.

Here is my attempt at a very brief recap of my time so far:

After many delays including 7 hours stuck in the beijing airport I finally made it to Bangkok where I spent only one night before getting another flight to Hanoi. The flight was fine, got off the plane at midnight to a dark and busy street with no idea where to find a place to sleep, heavy backpack and humid hot air that made me dread the coming day when the sun was actually out.

Spent about two or three nights in hanoi roaming the city, people watching, met several people that walked around with me and indulged my growing fondness for unusual street food and creepy crawlies on sticks.

Sidenote: Food eaten so far:
Chicken embryo on a stick
frog on a stick
dog (yeah, yeah i know)
shot of centepede lao whisky

had the chance eat snake but passed. didn't feel like taking a shot of vodka with a still beating heart in it, washed down with a shot of blood, then an eight course meal of cobra.

After Hanoi I traveled north about 9 hours to a town called sapa with a guy named dave from australia. He somehow roped me into climbing the highest peak of vietnam called fansipan peak at 3,143 meters. I never actually got a look at the peak as it was stuck high above the clouds. We hiked 8 hours, camped in the mountain then woke and continued to the peak the next day. It was the hardest thing ive ever done and my knees didn't work right for days after, but it was an amazing experience. We also got motorbikes and ran around the mountains the next day.

Stayed in sapa about 5 days then headed back to hanoi to catch the 24 hour bus to Vientienne, Laos. Uncomfortable but it wasn't too bad. Had a few issues at the border involving my passport and what the border police thought would be a hilarious joke of "pretend we aren't letting her through and shove the passport in a drawer and lock it so she thinks she can't leave the country after a 24 hour bus ride, no food and little sleep." HILARIOUS.

Phew. told you this is a rant.

So, now in Laos I spend a couple days in the capital city looking a temples, met a couple of monks who walked around with me telling me about laos and practicing their English. Basically, Im waiting around for Alex (carries fiance) and Paddy (alexs friend from korea) to meet me before heading off to travel around.

In the course of a week with the boys:
went to Buddah park on motorbikes
ate lots of food
enjoyed BeerLao
went to some museums (discovered laos was the most heavily bombed country in the world- 1 bomb every 8 minutes,24 hours a day for 3 years.)
decided motorcycles are too much fun and rented four and drove to vang vieng for four days, went tubing on the mekong river...so much more I can't get into right now.

So today, said a painful goodbye to the boys and am now off to luang prabang (10 hour bus ride tomorrow) for some more solo travels. Im exhausted, traveling is hard work...but ive never had more fun or felt as happy in my life.

SOrry for the rambles but I thought id do a horrible job of summing things up so you guys at least have an idea of what ive been up to.

seoul to bangkok to hanoi

Im in the airport for the 4th time in 2 days. Long flliights and a meedall keyboard hatt kep stickig but i doonnt havee time to fiix it, so it goes.

despiite al thhe waiting, buusess, planess, waaiting and eaating craackerrs, im doing greeatt. im not in vaacaation moode yett, but tteeh taaste of it just arround thhe next buus sttop keeps me in greeatt spirrits.

in abouut 6 houurs i wiill bee in hanoi and thhe following dayy or two i will reeaach sapa - where i willl put down my baackack and finally turn ooff mmy braain.

ill do my beesstt to keep in touch and lett youu all know im saafe and sound. i plan on staying thatt waay so please donnt worrry too much.

i love youu alll and see youu in about 4 months.

potato.

absence makes the mind grow dumber

i put my underwear in the fridge and a sweet potatoe in the dresser. its time for vacation.

done and done

So I finally, FINALLY, got all my plans set in stone.

I am finished teaching August 27 and bolting to Thailand the 28th. From there I fly to Hanoi and start my traveling south. Meet up with Carrie's fiance and his friend Patrick in Laos, another friend from the states, Daniel, somewhere between Laos and Cambodia...then finish in Thailand.

From Thailand Im flying to Nepal for, in my opinion, the best leg of the trip. Carrie and Alex are getting married! Two of the most awesome people I know joining forces to create a super couple and I get to witness it. Im pretty sure when they say "I do" rainbows will burst from the mountains and unicorns will shoot skittles over us all. At least thats what it said in the invitation. Im gonna be so mad if they lied.

So, to recap -- Aug. 28th-Nov. 24th traveling

Nov.25th im flying back to the states to see my parents and back in Texas sometime after Christmas.

after that, some couches would be appreciated?! Lots of couch crashing with my dear friends if you haven't all forgotten me ;)

Cappoeira

So I am finally going to Cappoeira on a regular basis and am loving it. Here are some photos. Last night we had a goodbye for Barbara who is going back to Croatia.


This is my teacher, Allegria:


This is his adorable little boy Joon who is already learning Cappoeira and will be amazing!


The group does Cappoeira at the park some days:

Duck and Cover

Today from my classroom I heard air raid sirens. I am told this is a normal monthly test that has only occurred once since I have been here. I am a bit skeptical but don't worry as I am fully prepared: