Diver Diver are you okay, Inflate you BCD!!!

So after a few days I decided to do my rescue course to a) give me something to do and b) because you have to if you want to be a divemaster. The rescue course is HARD. Its a lot of theory, which you don't really do in the advanced, and a lot of skills. The point is the divemasters and instructors you go down with just mess with you and make your life not fun. I thought it was going to be easy since I'm a lifeguard and such, but it wasn't. Bummmmerrr. Overall I really enjoyed the course. It was fun, cause you'd be chilling on the boat and hear a splash and have to save somebody, and it really was about teamwork. I had a nice team, including Ollie the German and Stuntman, and we had a lot of fun. Its interesting, because most dive realating anything could be avoided pretty easily. The worst part was practicing rescue breaths and bringing somebody up from the surface. Its really difficult, but I am now certified, even though if you have to do rescue breaths on somebody you just brought up from 20meteres, lets not kid ourselves, you're not doing anybody any good.
ANyway Patience,Faith and STOP JUMPING IN IF YOU CANT SWIM I"M HAVING A SNACK
ERINJ

WHENS THE NEXT FERRY?????

So someone wise said its not the destination, its the journey. That person was never crammed into a minibus for 11 hours with 14 other people. We decided to go from Penang to Koh Tao so Tina could get open water scuba certified. After a border crossing and 10 hours in a mini van with a piece of paper saying we paid somebody, we arrived in surant thani ready to be on beach paradise...but alas alack! We arrived at 5:10. The next ferry was at......11Pm. After getting some 7-11 Changs, we ate dinner and watched a huge dog try to mount a tiny one and that brought us to...8pm. At that point I was so over that day I called it quits, popped some sleeping pills and woke up in Koh Tao...my favorite island! There we signed Tina up for some scuba action and met up with Abdullah, laid on the beach, and really just hung out for the day, enjoying KT. After Tina's theory lesson we took on the island in all of its bucket glory, took part in some extreme shenanigans, including (but not limited to) trying to take over a long tail taxi and some night swimming.......
This continued for the next few days while Tina the trooper took a PADI course. Good girl....
Patience, Faith and a LOT of sand,
EP

PENANGGGGG

I know, I know, these are going to be hella backlogged but its the best I got. Luckily for you, Its rainy in Saigon so I'm stranded with my computer. UNluckily for you, the card with all of my pictures from Bma, Singapore and Malaysia has been screwed with so until I can see whether or not I can get it recovered, NO PHOTOS FOR YOU (but contain your excitment, I have all the pics from Vietnam on a different card so when I get there you'll get a visual FEAST unlike anything you've seen before.
When I last left you, Tina and I were off to Penang, malaysia with a new friend from the hostel who will be reffered to as "Tour guide Tom-TGT" for the remander of this post. Air Asia screwed me over and made me check a bag and that made me angry-GET WITH THE CUSTOMOER SERVICE people!!!! But we got to the hostel which wasn't great, but in a nice enough location with some nice guy running it. And it was across the street from the beach. We played in the water, which wasn't clean but okay. Wewandered to the market to get delicious cheap food, and I ended up eating sting ray, which was actually solid in a weird typpa way. That night there was some extreme chillage and it was all around swell. The next morning at the crack of dawn a mosque started screaming at us, which lead me to believe there was Jihad in my room. Note to Muslims: Maybe thered be less extremists if you prayed at reasonable hours! (THis is a joke people, I <3 all religions!) After a little more sleep we went to the post office where my math degree came in handy (Ask Tina) and then onto Georgetown. I am not a fan of georgetown, but TGT pointed out all the sites. Dear Unesco...stop putting your name on everything!!! It was just a port town. We ended up walking aroudn and playing Hot or Not with the ninjas (think of a group of people who may look like ninjas)because "you never really can tell" Thanks TGT. We went to a museum, and learned a little about it. malaysias cool cause all types of people live here, of all religions and are okay with eachother. I think thats awesome, and rare to see in a place. We hung out in the city, drank a starbucks before heading home and going back to the market for super cheap and super yummy food. After that we decided we have had enough and book and all day journey to KOh Tao, Thailand for the next day....Goodbye Malaysia!!!

Pugsley get in the taxi!

Tina and I at Petronas
So Tina and I left Singapore fairly defeated and poor to take a overnight bus to KL. We arrived there way early since KL is much closer to singapore than one would imagine. Upon arriving in KL we got in a cab with a taxi driver I not so affectionatly nicknamed the driver Pugsley, because well, he looked like pugsley. Pugsley couldn't get it through his head that number 30 was a few blocks down from 175, not across the street,so after 45 minutes, Tina and I got kicked out of a cab at 5am in the middle of china town. After 3 minutes of walking in the right direction, Tina and I found our hostel and were successful. However, since it was 5 am we had to sleep on the floor in the common area. Sleep on the most expensive piece of property in asia one night, sleep on the floor in chinatown another. That day we did laundry, walked through a market, saw the petronas towers, got lost in the redlight district and propositioned by various KLers. Not quite our cup of tea. After wandering back to the hostel we watched movies and chatted with other folk. The next day we got kind of a late start, sauntered onto a bus, and went to Batu caves. Once there we took pictures, and walked up the stairs to see a big cavern, which was cool, but they were filming some bollywood nonsense, so that took away from the mystic hindu temple. I don't think temples are mystic, but I mean, this one caould have been. ON the way down there were many monkeys. Lets clarify something, I hate monkeys. A lot. They aren't funny or cute. They are nuscenses and mean. After watching a monkey mount another one, TIna proceeded to provoke it. This monkey chased me and tina down 3 flights of stairs while I ran in fear, shoving asians out of my way. It was out for blood. Blood people. I do not like monkeys. We sauntered back to the hotel and hung out with Hostel folk, drinking and eating super yums Indian food and drinking games before deciding we were going to Penang the next day. Rock on.


Batu Caves

I'm BACCCCK and in SINGAPORE

I will not bother blogging about myanmar, just know it was an experience unlike any other and I will be putting up pictures periodically, and that I miss it like woah.

BUt for now I set off on a 5 week journey with my friend Tina, so get ready for Singapore, MORE thailand, and Vietnam! Today was day one of Singapore, as I arrived last night but was too exhausted from 2 days of bangkok to do anything! Tina arrived in this morning and we immediatly headed to the zoo. Singapore zoo is the top zoo in the world, and unlike any other as most of the exhibits the animals are pretty free roaming, especially the monkeys. THere are no cages or anything, making it really beautiful, and HUGE. So big you it didn't seem busy. My favorite part was the night zoo since all the animals that normally stay up at night did, and so having flying squirrels fly over you was amazing. Singapore Zoo, defintily number one in the world. WOrth it.
The next day, thanks to the greatest cousin of all time, Liz, we stayed in the Marina Bay Sands. It was AMAZING. Tina and I rocked up in our backpacker gear to people staring in most hilarious fashion when we asked for VIP check in. Our room had remote control curtains. We really just relaxed by the infinity pool on the roof all day. Amazing views. That night we went to Clarke's Quay where there was a music festival and drank on a bridge from a 7-11 since thats the only thing we could afford. IN this area, internet was 15$hr/internet, 42 dollars for a breakfast, so nothing I could afford.
The next day we checked out and wandered around the city, mainly little India, which was cool, and the first time I've seen the Hindi language which is neat. I like learning new things. We hung out in starbucks in one of the many many malls until it was time to get on a bus to KL. Thats a post for a different day.....

I wonder as I wander

Almost there

So this week I spent time catching up with friends, relaxing, partying and getting everything set for Burma. That being said, I heard the internet may be the worst ever, so don't expect blog posts, pictures, facebook, tweets, e-mails or the like. I'm stoked on this expereince, teaching kiddos in a military state, etc etc. Talk to you from the other side!

xx
Erin

This is why people pay somebody to do it....

Today was Embassy day, the only reason I’m in BKK. I wake up early put on a dress and head to the Myanmar embassy. This place made the DMV look like a joy. After getting barked at cause I was in the wrong line, I waited in line when I saw it…somebody with a letter with the same letter head as me. I immediately ask him if hes working for the school I am, and HE IS. And so is another girl. I’m so lucky I found people to make this hellish experience the least bit bearable. It was hectic, and something that in a normal place would take 15 minutes soon took 3.5 hours. We opted for same day, since my day was shot to hell already, and we may as well. So Hannah, the girl I met and went back to Kohsan where I could shower, only to head back out, and pick up my shiny new visa! Go to the doctor to get my gnarly bites looked at, looks like I’ll make it through the day. Doctor was grossed out though….thanks Laos. Abtibiotics to get rid of the nasty infections!

Marketmarketmarket

March 6th,
Today, Sky (yes, that IS his name) and I end up going to the largest market in Seasia! It was ridiculous. 40 acres of anything you can imagine. Souviners? You got it. Puppies? Sure. Butcher cleavers? Hopefully not for the puppies…It was the largest market I’ve ever been to, and it was hectic. I bought a few braclets since I try to get one from everywhere, and mainly just walked around. You couldn’t haggle that well, so that’s sad, but it was wild. Really really neat. But since it was over 100 degrees, there was only so much we could take before the crankiness set in. We got back, I jumped in the shower, and napped since that’s what I do. I went to dinner and chatted with some old guy for a while who loved me cause his dauter’s name is Jessica Erin and went out for a few beers before skyping the trusted council to regal them with tales. Soon, the group comes in, railin’ about how they’re going to a ping pong show, and I jump at the opportunity. The night got crazy, riding in a tuk tuk to patpong, which was insane, meeing up with Denis, watching a woman shoot darts at balloons with her vagina, getting kicked out of said show, Chang thirty, and headed home. Bizzare day to say the least.


THERES ALWAYS MONEY IN THE BANANA STAND!

Back in BKK

View of BKK
March 5th
Holler,
So made it to Bangkok, my least favorite city in Seasia, but this time around I’m actually having a blast. I get to the hostel at 7am, and can’t check in until 2 so I literally just pass out on the mats they have (I love NapPark hostel!) and chat away when I wake up with random people. I make friends with a few of them, and after a shower we decide to go up to the sky bar, an uber posh bar that gives you amazing views of the city. We’re enjoying ourselves, drinking fancy bevies, lookin’ out on Bangkok and chatting away. We move, and somebody random asks us to take a picture of her and her boyfriend, and I look up and recognize the boyfriend as DENIS from the slow boat to Luang Pra Bang!! It was so exciting and random. We chat away, and decide the 5 of us are going to a different bar, and ended up in an Ice bar, which was refreshing in such a hot city.


We had so much fun toolin off in ice tuk tuks and doing absolute shots, and decided to go back to Koh san, where debochery takes place until the wee hours….

Ajarn!

decided to get on a bus to pakse and start making my journey to Bangkok. On the ride I started devouring “The glass castle” which is a great read, and makes me so thankful for my parents (who best be lovin’ the shout out). We arrived to Pakse at the bus station, and I was too lazy to go into town, so I just booked the bus straight on through to Bangkok. We crossed the border, which was stressful. Got stamped in, and apologized to Thailand for cheating on it. I MISSED YOU THAILANDDDDDDD. I love traveling, cause I could not look more new England now if I tried. Brown Bermuda shorts, red sox t shirt, battered green hat….I get a few stares. I chatted some with the friendly thais in my broken thai and their broken English, and went to the bathroom, where I saw myself in the mirror for the first time in a bit and I am looking rough around the edges. Maybe I’ll just lay low in Bangkok so Myanmar doesn’t think I’m insane……..although I got word today that I won’t be teaching elementary, I get to hang out with the babieeees!! SO HAPPY.

Saibaidee Laos, Its been real!!

Big barbecue!

March 3rd.
I decied to get off my fat falang ass and do something productive with my time, so I signed up for a kayaking journey down the Mekong. As I enjoy being on the water and kayking, I figure this would be right up my ally. It was so relaxing, just you and the river, making it a lovely voyage for the most part. I hung out with the lao guide who pointed at every animal he saw and yelled barbecue, until we made a game of it (he won). There were some rapids, but nothing too extreme, and we made it down to a rock where we had lunch, as it would have been illegal to land since it was Cambodia. Here we watched rare Irraway dolphins swimming, which was cool. The freshwater fishies are not as cool as bottlenose, but neat none the less.
We swam since it was 3432432 degrees on rock in the sun, and then kayaked a little further down stream where we saw south east asias largest waterfall, which was neat, but whatever. After kayaking home, I resumed hammock time, finishing Room: a novel (which I recommend) Surfing the Hymilias (which I DO NOT recommend) and called it an early night. Things I love about Laos: My killer tan!

Been there, Don Det

March 1-2nd, Don Det
Made it to 4000 islands, and after trollin’ around found a bungalow. Now, Bungalows aren’t normally my thing. I like big dorm rooms where I can talk to everybody, make heaps of friends and always have somebody to eat with. But for this week. I really just want to lounge in a hammock, read my book. Watch the sun set and relax. I listened to some girl in the internet café talk about all of the shit shes been doing, and its kind of making me feel like a bad traveler, but at the same time, I don’t really care. Its not like I’m doing nothing, well, right now I am. I’m literally swining in a hammock overlooking my favorite river in the world, the Mekong, in the most laid back place I’ve ever been, and realize I’m living the dream.




I do like doing things, experiencing things and the like, and I try, but if you could imagine me calmed down and relaxed, I am right now. Its epic. Everybody in this town, and I use the word town loosly, is just hanging out in hammocks, not doing anything aside from the occasional dip in the Mekong and you get the sense that this is the way life should be. If there was less money in the world nad more hammocks, the world would be such a great place. It makes you look around, and look up, something you’re not doing, and enjoy the little things, which here, are the only things. Its going to be a smack in the face going back to Bangkok, that’s for sure.

And what I do? Act more stupidly

Beautiful vang vieng
So after Vientiane, I made my way to Vang Vieng,which could quickly see this going blog down hill, so I'll spare you the details. I got to the hostel, and made friends with the people that were staying there. The next morning we head to the river, hang out, drink on the river, do the ziplines and rope swings into the river and things go pear shaped, until that night, when things go reallllly pear shaped.
The next day, to recover from said first day, we go to the blue lagoon to cool off. The water was such a perfect blue, and we spend the day jumping from trees, playing volleyball, and relaxing. The rest of the week was spent on the river, playing flip cup, dancing in the rain, mojito buckets, high jumps, low jumps, swimming for hats, wounds, meeting up with old friends, making new friends and general rowdiness. Its everything I hate in traveling, but at the same time, everything I love.

Qbar

The last day we decide to get the tubes, and floated down the river taking in the scenery and chatting. It was generally peaceful and a good way to end my time in Vang Vieng.

Tubing

They shouldn't have to COPE with it

Feb 21st
Woke up early to bike to the Myanmar embassy: Visa DENIED. What a hassle. Now I have to get another letter and/or go to Bangkok instead of spending all of my time in Don Det. BUMMER. After stomping around the city for a while I got on my bike and went to COPE, which is my favorite museum I’ve ever been to.
Little known facts:
The most heavily bombed country in the history of the world is Laos.
1 person/day dies from unexploded bombs that they’re trying to collect for scrap metal.



America needs to come in and clean the fuck up. How can they do this to people?
So COPE builds prosthetics for those that have gotten hit by bombs (and they’re hidden in rice fields, under houses and the like). After watching some documentaries, I honestly wanted to throw up just because I’m American. I really wish I was more trained or could help or anything, because if anybody needs it is the Laotians. America bombed them for NO reason, over 500,000 missions with over 100 bombs dropped per mission, there is a lot of UXO (unexploded ordinance) in this country. The museum in Phnom Phen made me upset, but this is distressing because a) people are still dying daily (most of them children who mistake the bombies for toys) and b) because Its AMERICANS that ravaged this country. How dare they think they could do this to a group of people don’t deserve it. And now they’re turning a blind eye, which is disgusting. In a documentary I watched a child at the end said “They aren’t ours. I want them to take it back”
Learn more or donate to the cause

COPElaos.org

So on that depressing tangent, I continued biking, went to the arc de triumph of vientaine, climbed it, wasn’t impressed and spent the afternoon reading on the Mekong with a beer


Vertical Runway?

Buddah buddah buddah rockin' everywhere

Feb 20th
Woke up and munched on some breakfast with the other folk from the guesthouse till we dcided we were going to Buddah park, which is a cool place (not literally, its still 12432 degrees in this country). It has hindi and buddah statues all in one happy medly, and it was one of the more unique things I’ve ever seen. I walked around the city some, relaxed and got an ICE CREAM SUNDAE WITH HOT FUDGE (little things people) and really just hung out. Vientiane is about the size of New London, and when its hot out, theres not a lot one would feel inspired to do.

unbeatable

Invictus


Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

William Ernest Henley

Capital of what?

I finally found and checked into a guesthouse at approx 10:30 am (read, I had been on the road since 7:30am the previous day!) and got some business taken care of, like printing my invitation letter from burma, getting passport photos done and general putzing around until I took a death nap. Upon waking up, I did something EPs never ever do, and went and got a massage. After 2 days of extreme trekking and a 25+ hour bus ride, I was all sorts of sore in places that I didn’t know it was possible to be in pain. Laos massage>>>> any other massages out there. Since Vientiane is such a laid back city, there isn’t a whole lot going on here, or if there is, I just couldn’t be asked to seek it today. Something about Vientiane, its HOT.

Hell on wheels 2.0

Feb 18th.
So Im on the bus to vientiene, and at least its not a mini van. Oh no, itsa bus full of Laotians with blasting Laotian music. Good thing pharmacies in the country sell you anything cheap and over the counter…… and my ipods charged.
A 21 hour bus ride quickly turned into a 26 hour one, but alls well that ends well, I’m in Vientiane!

PANGLES! WERE LOST

Feb 17

We woke up the next morning to Breakfast, and started our 17km trek down the other side of the mountain. The trek wasn’t really hard, but I was a) the youngest and b) the non-smoker (which I will always be thankful of when I do things like this and scuba diving) so I was cruising up and down the mountain.

Neat jungle tree


One of the girls we went with literally packed everything she owned (roooookie) so was pretty far behind. It was a long haul, but manageable, even in the heat. It was a cool trek, through the Laotian rain forest, underneath the banana trees and the like, and I enjoyed it. That being said, I was really excited to get back to town and get a shower, and use a toilet and the like. I’d like to do more trekking, I just don’t think I expected it to be quite so intense. I really enjoyed getting out of a city, and it was kind of a nice detox for a few days.

Rice paddies


That night we ate dinner and chatted over some Beerlao (best beer in Asia!) and wine, before calling it a night. We decided to leave the next day, Matt to Chiang Mai, and I booked a 24 hour bus to Vientiane, Laos’ capital to get my visa for Myanmar sussed out. I’m not in a rush through Laos since I have 3 more weeks, but theres so much I want to see, and after being lazy through Thailand, I want to get to see most the country.


PANGLES and machete!

Beatin' Paths

Feb 16th.
We wake up early to start our journey and met the guide. We jumped in a mini van (Cause I haven’t had enough of THOSE) and headed to the night market, where you could buy anything you want. Frogs, Bamboo, raw meat, freshwater seaweed, the works. Matt and I found the SADDEST puppy ever, and I tried a tamarind which is a yummy fruit. We were summoned to start the trek, and we drove to a small village and met the chief, who would be coming with us. We affectionately named him Pengles Bo-Jangles, and he was the funniest man I have ever met, which is saying a lot because he couldn’t speak English. We walked up the mountain, where Pangles, Matt and I were in front because I’m apparently good at hiking? And watched Pang machete trees for no reason and cruise around in is Havana flip flops. Ridiculous. We hiked for about 7km in a few hours, which was no big thing, stopping for lunch of sticky rice and seaweed (I love seaweed) and bamboo shoots.
Mcdonalds in the Jungle


Peculiar, yet delicious. We finally made it to the village for the Lahu people, a group of people who came down from Tibet in the 16th century and HAVENT CHANGED SINCE. They don’t even speak Laotian. There are a few buildings, and lots of pigs, chickens, roosters and dogs (and some very cute puppies).


We roll up into this town and sit down and all of the village kids are just staring at up. They were so cute and so funny! We would take their picture, and they would demand to see it on playback. As they got more curious and more comfortable, they would start pointing at the camera. So I would let them use it to take pictures of each other (with me holding it of course) and they thought it was the best thing ever. Some of the pictures are so funny as well.
Boys will be boys


We saw a house where 4 families stayed in a house maybe the size of my Parent’s downstairs tv room and blue room put together (so maybe enough for 2 people, but not 12!) The food was good as everything was fresh and cooked over fire, but the people didn’t have plumbing, so that was gross. They didn’t even have an outhouse. It was a special few days. Once the sun went down we (the foreigners) chatted with the light of the moon, and looked at the stars. Since there was no lights, we coudlnt’ do anything, no cards, no reading, nothing, and just went to bed around 9. This was the weirdest thing I’ve ever seen, easily. It makes me really thankful to be born in America, but these people didn’t seem to care that that’s how they lived. They know nothing else, other than living on top of a mountain in the middle of a national park. It was kind of like something you see in a movie, but don’t spend a night in, and in my last year of travel, this is going to be one of the experiences I really remember, and really treasure.


Views from NamHa state park

Hell on wheels

Feb 15th.
So today Matt and I, along with 9 other travelers took off for the North of Laos, Namtha. This is the “eco-tourism” capital of Laos, and I was excited to get out of a city for a few days. Namtha is situated on Nam Ha NPA (National protected area). The bus ride was supposed to be 7 hours, but since this IS Laos, it took at least 10. Hellish. Hours. Let me tell you about Laos’ major highway. It is a)through mountains, so curvy and up and down and not a pleasant road and b) UN. PAVED most of the way. That’s right people. We’re on a dirt path through the mountains for far too long. We got to Namtha though, checked into a hotel and went for dinner in a tiny market in a town that makes Norwich look poppin’. Curfew: 10:30. Things to do after 9? Nonexistent. We debated what to do before running into a girl on the bus who suggested we get our asses in gear and sign up for a trek. We picked the “lahu authentic experience” from Jungle Eco-adventures, and tried to recruit others, as the more people on the trek, the cheaper it is. This is mainly unsuccessful, save one other girl from the bus. Happy with our choices we went to bed as there was nothing else to do. Welcome to Laos.
Things I like about Namtha: Coconut Sticky Rice in Bamboo. Simply Delish!

Prangin' Luang

Neato Temple
All of my friends left fairly early, which left me to my own devices. After making friends with an American named Matt, we learned that we both wanted to go up north, to Luang Namtha, so we walked around, got lunch (Koh Soy is ultra delcious) and booked Bus tickets out of Luang Prabang. I then wandered to Wat Xian *maybe* Thong, which was actually a beautiful temple. I’m not going to lie, I’m a little over temples, but this one I enjoyed. There was nothing to make it ultra special but it was beautiful with mirrors, and murals, and gold work and the like. I enjoyed it. Good for you, Laos. That night I ate at the night market, picked up a few pairs of SE asia pants since they’re super comfy, watched a movie in the hostel, and hung out with the “baby brits” who were the boys in my hostel (7 18 year old boys?) who called me mamma bear. Since LPB is ultra laid back, there wasn't anything else to do, so it was a chill night. All in all it was time to bid adeu to Luang Prabang.



Pretty buildings in LPB

On Homesickness

I know, I know, proper blog posts soon, as soon as I can get into a country that has proper photo-uploading capabilities (IE, Bangkok this week)

One of the questions I get asked most as a backpacker is if I ever get homesick. Each time I say confidently, after your first christmas away, its no big thing. And I realize now, that thats kind of a lie, but its not a constant homesickness, more of a random thing. Like today, when a guide handed me half of a watermelon, all I could think of as I was sitting on a rock on the Mekong is how my mom used to buy heaps of fruit in the summer, and much to her dismay, my father (This is true people) cuts out bite size portions, stabs them with the knife and then eats them. And I was sitting on the rock, after kayaking forever to get to it, I realized it was a day my fater would have enjoyed (even though there was no spear for his watermelon) and I was kind of sad to not be home.
But Home is where the heart is, and my heart is on the road <3

Rollin-Luang Prabang

Last day: (Feb 12-13)
We continued crusing, chatting, and hanging out with pet turtles until we finally arrived (7 hrs later) in the lovely Luang Prabang. I checked into a hostel, where I met up with a few other people from the boat, who met up with a few more people from the boat. I checked into my room with 7 british babies (read: approx 19) who are really funny, for 35,000 kip (less than a pizza!) and a group of the boaties went out for dinner, drinks in a town that shuts down at approximately 11:30pm. Its interesting to say the least. But the town is ultra chill, and situated on the Mekong, really beautiful. There is a clear French influence from the colonial days ( although I’m not sure if that’s authentic or just for effect as it is a HUGE tourist area). It is however, touristy, and believe it or not, I’m tired of travelers. I need to find some Laotian friends stat. But the travelers are cool, and I enjoy being part of a group, if you could believe that. IT is hard to get 8 peoples ass in gear, and we did almost nothing today until half two when we finally climbed a hill to get a spectacular view of the city, see a temple, chat with monks, see buddah’s footprint and hang out with Laotian children who were trying to steal spidey.
Group on top


We went for dinner (1 usd plate buffet? Loves it!) and spent a lot of time just lounging, since this city is famous for its ultra laid back, who the hell cares attitude. We went to a really cool bar, where I hung out with the people from my dorm and some friends from the boat. 1 thing I did not know about Laos? They’re communist.



Bar we hung out in

Rollin' down the river

Note: I've been writing these along, and just haven't had the time/connections to upload

Feb 11, 2011
The morning after my last night in Chiang Mai I had to get on a bus up to Chiang Khong. After saying goodbye to my buddies (who I miss already!) I was picked up by a minivan. Needless to say, I passed out straight away and woke up only when the bus stopped so I could be sick. Lesson learned? Probably not. It was worth it. We drove up through the countryside where we stopped to see the “white temple” outside of Chiang Rai, which was delightfully morbid and weird (and by this time I was starting to feel a bit better….) We got to our crappy hostel in a tiny town on the Mekong, where since I hadn’t really slept I just passed out after chatting with a few people.
This morning I woke up ready to go. A lot of the people on this trip seem to be rookie Asia travelers (more on being a young traveler in a bit) and it was kind of cute. I was a little nervous, having stayed my Thai Visa, and after a fine (booooooooo) was allowed through to get on a tiny long tail taxi for the 2 minute trek across the Mekong. There, immigration control was a mess and everybody was getting cranky (welcome to Asia, people). I eventually got the visa (The first one on my appended pages!!!!) which is pretty, and moved on to wait outside of a travel agent with 12 other people coming from Chiang Mai and a piece of paper saying we paid somebody. We waited forever until we got to the boat, jumped on and cruised. This is a 2 day journey, each day being about 6 hrs to Laung Prabang. Its actually really pretty, and its really just foreigners so there’s a lot of chatting. I found a Laotian, and after he taught me some Lao, we caused mischief and chilled. Lots of BeerLao was consumed, some naps were had, a lot of stories swapped and we finally got there to the biggest cluster fuck I have ever been a part of (and I was in China, people). The boat (read: about the size of a bus) stopped and everybody’s baggage was everywhere and people were getting on the boat to sell you shit and people were getting off and it was crazy and everybody was so cranky. I found a guesthouse (might be the crappiest place I’ve ever stayed) negotiated my price (cause I’m not a rookie) and went to seek dinner. On my travels a nice couple recognized me (mainly cause the man had a computer out and I asked him if he had wifi) so I joined them. We were later joined by Thomas, a man who walked for 3 months through Japan and 3 months through New Zealand; and his friend. I dare you to tell me I don’t meet the most interesting people. There was more chatting and story swapping until the Beer Lao started to put us to sleep. Day 3/3 tomorrow!

What one was that? The one where you set the couch on fire.....

Feb 4-10th, 2011
So the class ended on Thursday, and after a quick input session on Friday, we were officially done and ready to party like…well…we just finished a highly intensive course run by one of the greatest universities in the world. So we did. We rolled into Chiang Mai and a group of 7 of us got a guest house and went out to dinner and for drinks with one of our tutors. Seeing as most of us weren’t familiar with the city since we were on “the compound” it was cool to explore the nightlife and see what Chiang Mai, which is a college town, was really all about. Something about fistpumping out the back of a tuk tuk with your tutors’ wife makes life a little better.
The next day included some day drinking and putzing around, and then another party to say goodbye to some of our friends T.T Seeing as Laura, one of the girls on the course, is as awesome as I am, we decided to make this a theme night, dressing up as geishas, exploring lady boy bars and consuming buckets. We ended up drinking on the moat, and then causing some trouble in the hostel……
The next day, needless to say, we just couldn’t be asked to do anything. We lazed about before paying a tuk tuk to “keep us entertained for a few hours” We went to Dot Santep which is a temple up on a hill. It was pretty, but once again, temples are temples. It was more the adventure. There we randomly met up with the boys but called it an early night cause the next day we were doing the Gibbon Experience!
This was amazing, and included zip lining through the trees (40 meters up, and the longest one was about 1km!). It was touristy, but a really cool way to see the jungle. Kevin, Laura and I all enjoyed it. It was amazing to see how lush and green and well, jungly the jungle actually is! That night I enjoyed some delightful foreigner food, and introduced everybody to the glory that is root beer, and a root beer float.
The next day. Since we didn’t really want to do much, I ended up toolin’ around town on the back of a motorbike (Thanks, Grant!!!!!) This may have been a highlight. I LVOED it, and Chiang Mai is so different looking at it in that perspective. There may have been a trip to the police station, but we may have payed our way out of it and kept toolin’. We didn’t go anywhere in particular, although did find some cool café. That night we went out HARD to reggae bars and jazz clubs and all over town, not getting back until super late making the next day messy………
On the next edition:
LAOS, PDR: the beginning.

Celta wrap up

I PASSED. PASS PASS PASS

"Erin was a popular member of the group, with the colleauges and the tutors. She was a pleasure to have on this course thanks to her lively, enthusiastic rapport, and will fit in well in any staff room"

Chiang Mai Mai?

Quick Update

+++CELTA IS DONE
-I kind of miss having routine, learning, and tooling off
+In Chiang Mai with the 6 of the course that stayed
-My visa ran out
+But I'm still here
+Chiang Mai >>>>> BKK
+Going to LAOS on Thursday

Went to some temple today. It was okay. Doi Sethep? I'm over temples, which doesn't bode well for laos.
Pics sooooon

Happy New Year!

Especially to fellow year-of-the-rabbits (1987)!


The girls with a new years lantern



Having Li help me with mine!

Lesson planning gettin' you down?

I get by with a little help from my friends

"Well you haven't failed if you think of the real definition of a failure"
"Whats the definition of a failure"
"Somebody whos just given up"

CELTA

"You are one of the few teachers I've met that has such a natural ability to have a light hearted rapport while still keeping it professional"

Check plus Erin Teacher

QUick update

+ have taught 2 lessons, both of which have been 'to standard'
-the celta is a lot of work
+ The people here are awesome
+the training center is beautiful
-/+we're in the middle of nowhere, and is almost impossible to leave
+2.5 weeks left
- 3 writing assingments left, and 5 classes
-3 weeks till my visa runs out
++3 weeks till I'm in LAOS
+ the weather here is epic
+I love the students here
-every class is super observed
+++++++++Took a summer camp position in BURMA fpr March-May!

Poppin bottles in the ice...like a blizzard

Rock climbingg
I went to KPP with big dreams people, big dreams. I was going to hang out for a few days and then start cramming in more Kohs. That went to hell when I checked into the Rock Backpackers, and somebody asked me how long I was staying. When I said, till I feel like leaving, and they replied welcome home, I probably should have taken that as a sign. Well, 3 days turned into over 2 weeks, but I don't regret it. Although I did nothing but party all night and chill all day, I had so much fun, making it all worth it. I went rock climbing for the first time, and realized I hate it (somebody in the hostel was a guide and took us fo' free. Thanks Bond!) It was without a doubt some of the weirdest and wildest times of my life, but I loved every seceond (well...almost every second). Now I'm in Chiang Mai, and miss the rock and the family, and the island, and the 45b big changs and the beach and the sun and all of it. I know I'll be back someday though.



Why are you dressed up? Why AREN'T you dressed up? Nobody told me it was costume night? WAIT~Its costume night???

Shout out to....

Robin!
Robin has the daunting task of being a token BFF, which, believe me, when one is as much as a free spirit as I am, is no easy thing. She does however makes the job look easy by having the ability to listen to me cry for an hour thousands of miles away, and remind me that I am Emofoin'P, and that life goes on.
I hope all of you have as awesome friends as I do, whether at home, abroad or somewhere in between.

The brave may not live forever~the cautious may not live at all

People ask the question... what's a RocknRolla? And I tell 'em - it's not about drums, drugs, and hospital drips, oh no. There's more there than that, my friend. We all like a bit of the good life - some the money, some the drugs, other the sex game, the glamour, or the fame. But a RocknRolla, oh, he's different. Why? Because a real RocknRolla wants the fucking lot.

All the crazy shit we did tonight

New Years Eve!
I think new years abroad is the most fun. Let me set the scene. IN Bozrah, its cold. Not just kind of chilly, but COLD. New Years eve I was lounging on the beach all day, working on my tan and reading my book (Saturday, by one of my favorite authors, Ian Mcewan if you cared). This has much been the routine for the last 3 days, which is making me question how I functioned in a normal society previous to this. That night the dormmates and I got a “family bucket” (which is exactly as it sounds) and started bar hopping. This is easy on an island the size of UCONN’s campus (the size of the island will soon become problematic). While doing this I ran into MAXXXXXXX from Koh Tao, the scuba diving friend who also went to UCONN. IT was a day~maker for sure. We went to the beach, which is the norm just in time for Midnight which was bonkers. Although there was no official countdown, similar to Shinoukville, you just kind of new it was midnight by the mass amount of fireworks that started exploding. Asia’s all about them. Christmas eve, now, it was amazing, and maybe one of the prettiest things. I truly believe everybody should party on a beach at least once for new years, especially while young. I really do think the Thai coast is amazing. After that, it got more fun, but you have to be part of the trusted council to hear the tales of triumph and glory, (and triumph was had my friends.)
Now I have about a week until I have to bounce up to Chiang mai for this class (Bleeeeeh) and don’t really know what to do. I could go do more island hopping, or I could just sit on Koh Phi Phi for the week and laze about. Both have the pros and cons, but I know people here, and I’m spending about 10 dollars a day, which is swell, as I really want to make it to May without a job so I can play with TINNNNNAAAAA. There’s a con, but it’s a long story for a different day. I’m not going to ask what you would do, since I really don’t care. I’ll figure it out, I always do.

So to my 4 readers, here’s to a successful and happy new year. Do what you love, fuck the rest.
Take care,
EP