I'm in Bangkok, Baby!

I made it! I am here, dripping sweat, filthy dirty, haven't slept in what feels like a very long time. I realized that I am between 14 and 12 hours ahead of the US, and it's weird to be living a Monday while you all are still on Sunday. I managed to get in a taxi, find my hotel, and my room within about an hour post landing. I've met one of the women on my trip, Kathleen, and she is lovely! Also a teacher, what are the chances! ha ha. The people I have encounted so far (in my whopping 5 hours here) are wonderful! Kind faces, genuine smiles, already teasing me as I stumble trying to speak Thai. Yes, I've already stepped in front of a motorcycle, thinking it was my turn, when clearly there is an unwritten law of the road I don't understand. The sights and smells are overwhelming, and I feel like I look very silly walking around all bug eyed trying to take everything in.

I tried to get a Thai visa this morning when I didn't need one, I saw a whole family riding on a motorcycle, and have already been tempted to eat food from street vendors! Believe it or not, I have also managed to attend a Buddhist prayer meeting (don't worry, I sat in the back). I don't think we are going to stop moving for quite a while. Oh, one more thing, it is customary in Thai culture to take off your shoes when entering most stores etc. so I am sitting at this table barefoot! Yum! Love to you all!!

Going, Going, Gone...

I leave tomorrow! The departure date for the trip I've been planning for months has finally arrived. My plane leaves at 11:10 pm tomorrow night from LAX, and I'm flying straight to Bangkok. Yes, it's a 17 hour flight, and no, I don't really know what I'm going to do on an airplane for 17 hours. I have all of my travel items set out around my apartment, and it's certainly not very much. Today I will spend cleaning, laundrying, and packing. I'm going to get one last hike in, and I am planning on eating as much as I possibly can!

I truly appreciate all the love and support from you all! I am beyond excited today, and am now just counting down the hours.

Getting Ready to Depart

I realized this morning that I should get with it, "it" being the new wave of communication, and thus I have created a blog. I leave for Bangkok, Thailand in 12 days and have little to no interest in writing big group emails once or twice a week. If you are interested in where I am or what I am doing, this will be an easy way for you to check it. Now, I'm not typically very diligent about keeping things updated, I've never successfully kept a journal or diary, but hopefully this will be a communication system that will work. At this point I am pledging to at least try.

I am home in Boise this week, doing some last minute, very important errands such as: purchasing sweat wicking undergarments, a hat, getting a typhoid fever shot, sleeping as much as humanly possible etc. Today, if I'm being honest, I am feeling pretty nervous/overwhelmed about my big adventure. I am traveling with Gap Adventures, doing the Indochina Encompassed tour with a group of 7 people. I have never met them, nor have we communicated very much at this point. I am assuming we all realize that 30 days with a small group of people could be a bit much. I am bringing at least one book, and ear plugs. But I am also going in to this trip with an open mind and heart.