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!