Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Back in the City...











Out of the jungle and back in the city. It was an ever delightful journey through the depths of the Nan jungle as we kayaked for three days along the Nam Wa. Great white-water with plenty of paddling in between, but even greater scenery. We are safe and happy and healthy, yet exhausted so Oriana will sign in later with all the details. Hope everyone is laughing and smiling through the New Year. Much love-

Thursday, December 25, 2008

Christmas Day

We discovered that our river trip doesn't actually leave until Friday. So now we are spending our Christmas Day here in Chaing Mai with our many new friends. Last night Charlie, Joshwah, our friend Gora and I went to see a movie in, quite possibly, the biggest mall I have ever seen. The inside of the mall is a maze of fading funhouse colors and six or seven floors of random shops, a bowling alley, a movie theatre, an old iceskating rink and to top it all off- literally - a swimming pool on the roof. It is a place you could easily get lost in if you are not careful. After a long, and boring movie - The Day the Earth Stood Still - we walked to get ice cream and rent some Kung Fu movies. Our friend Gora is Russian by birth, but ran away from his home and his country when he was fifteen to enter into monkhood in India. For the last seven years, he has lived in India and practised the simple and dedicated religious lifestyle. He recently left his monostery and came to live in Thailand to practice and teach Yoga. He is full of life and very interested in all the things he abstained from for so long. He is innocent and joyous and fills the room with laughter and good vibes whenever he is around. After we all, and a girl from Germany named Johanna, watched Kung Fu late into the night and ate our ice cream, we all fell asleep. It was like an old-fashioned slumber party. This morning we woke up and Gora led us through a session of Yoga, which was quite amazing and healthy-feeling. Gora is off to teach some Christmas yoga, Johanna home to shower, and we all are making plans to get together later for some kind of Christmas Celebration. Whether it will be a home-cooked meal, or a night out on the town, I don't know but both Charlie and I are open to our unconventional Christmas Day. The air is warm and the sun is shining. We are happy to be among friends, and happy to be here in Asia. Happy Holidays, dear family and friends. Our best thoughts and wishes to you all.

Much Love.

Monday, December 22, 2008

Paddle Thailand

Well, this will be brief - but I believe everyone should know Oriana and I paddled through the most intense white-water yet. I won't go into too many details but class 3 and 4 creeking about explains it. Talk about gripped...drop, manuevor, drop, drop, drop, manuevor, drop, it goes on. For those who know what I'm talking about -wow. I personally bit of more than I could chew. We did it though and wow... Tomorrow we leave on a five day paddling trip to the northeastern province of Nan. It is going to be sweet, maybe bitter-sweet. We will be out of touch till sunday night or monday. Till then. Peace. And happy holidays for all you folk out there. We will be on the river on x-mas. Hope the new year brings you all peace and bliss.

Friday, December 19, 2008

Thriving in the "New City"...

The last few days have been a bit strange. We are staying with friends rather than guesthouses, so that backpacker routine and vibe has seperated from us some, permitting us to feel closer to the locals. We've had the opportunity to hang in local areas rather than tourists divisions, so much. Since we have only been traveling for a short time it feels like we live here somehow all of a sudden. My friend Josh helps me with my Thai each day - yet it is such a hard language. They call it survival Thai here - that's what many farengs' depend on. That's foriegner in thai. Survival thai is being able to say basic things; such as, hello or thank you, how to ask directions or the price of something, how to bargain without getting ripped off or order something to eat. I'm trying everyday to learn a couple sayings in thai. The locals love it when farengs' make attempts to learn or practice thai. You have to be bold because most the time everyone is laughing when you do this. They are laughing with you though, not at you - It's a tonal language so in thai there are 5 tonal levels and if not carried out correctly you may say something completely different from what's intended. Last evening we went out for a little while to an area refered to as reggae row - there were many small bars in one block with live music competing in the streets. A great thai-reggae group played in the coolest little bar. Everyone was getting down - no matter the skin color. We began playing it cool on the outskirts, but that didn't last long. This roots thai rocker came directly over to Oriana, Danielle and I inviting us to join him closer to the stage. His name is "T". Talk about feeling welcome - he had a bottle of tequila and without hesitation poured us all shots. He preceded to make clear the bottle was for us if we'd like. We danced on beat with no distractions aside from "T' often dancing our way to pour another shot for the group. Tomorrow Oriana are going white-water kayaking through the jungle on a day trip. Wednesday we depart with a few other guys to the Nan province northeast from Chiang Mai for a multiple day trip. We will be gone for 5 days - on the river for three. The Nan province is the least explored by fareng for they did not allow tourism until the past couple years. Our trip is booked with new siam adventures. The owner is a super cool, experienced kayaker and has handled everything very professionally and friendly. It will be the three of us kayaking, two of his guides in rafts and a couple from britian on their honeymoon. Anyone interested can check out Jason's company at www.siamrivers.com. It is the most credible and professional white-water company in Thailand. Well, I've probably said too much already so I best be heading out. much love ya'll... chok dii. (cheers)

An Adventure Within an Adventure

We have been in Chaing Mai three days now and have found a place to stay a while. Our good friend Joshwah, from Missoula, is living here and teaching English. We have been staying with him and enjoying the local life of Jazz Bars owned by expats, markets full of every color and kind of vegetable and fruit- not to mention the many interesting stories of the people who live here. Josh's friends are many- and all are welcoming. His roommate, a Thai/Italian girl who speaks perfect English, Thai, Italian and French has welcomed us into her home and into her routine. On Sunday we will go whitewater kayaking two hours NW of Chaing Mai and then on Wed. we will depart for a five day river trip in the remote Northwest region of Nan. We are very excited and cannot wait to enjoy a foreign taste of river life. Until then, we cook, we walk and we eat. This is pretty much our daily life here in this small-town of 1.6 million. The city is much more personal than Bankok, and chances are you will see the same people over and over around the old city.
One of the best parts- the old city is surrounded on all four sides by an ancient moat and decrepit wall. This makes it easier to get your bearings among the streets of three-story buildings and alleyways.
Much Love.

Monday, December 15, 2008

Out of the City and into the Ruins

As the sun rises on our fifth day in Thailand, Charlie and I enjoy our breakfast of fruit salad, honey yogurt and meusli. Our Guest House in Sukethai is situated on the banks of yet another calm, and brown, river. Our rooms have been more elegant each night with oriental simplicity and as we venture farther from the beaten path, the prices decrease and the bungalows get more and more unique. We are early risers, so we are looking forward to a long day of exploring the most ancient ruins in all of Thailand- the old city of Sukethai - with lies about 14 kilometers from the new city, in which we are now staying. With golden Buddha monument on every corner, even this modern part of the city feels ancient. We spent yesterday evening walking down the river-front boardwalk, and witnessed people rushing to the local Buddha Monument, to bless themselved before the doors closed. The presence of Buddhism is so evident in every nuance of Thai culture - especially in the North - it is an amazing thing to see. Groups of children, eight or ten deep, ride their bikes around town as you might see in any American city, and yet as each one passes the large Buddhist statues of the monument, these rowdy young boys of age twelve or thirteen all stop to take their shoes of and run inside to poor a small cup of holy water on their heads as a bedtime blessing. The respect that is engrained in every person, young and old, is casual and deeply rooted. We are off to explore the ruins, then perhaps to Cheing Mai in the morning. Much Love.

Friday, December 12, 2008

First Impressions

At first glance, Bangkok seems to be like any other over-developed city. Skyrise apartments and business buildings tower over the downtown area and modern turnpikes endure the constant flow of traffic. The night is as alive and busy as the day, but offers a cooler and better smelling environment. The rivers are brown with muck and garbage and the wafting smell of raw sewage offends the nose every now and again. But as one looks closer down the small alleys and through the numerous markets, the exotic brand of Asian culture is evident. People of every color roam the streets and languages of every origin float through the air. As Charlie and I settle in to our first few days in Thailand we are happy to be a part of this global community, where tradition is as varied as the fruits sold on the sidelines. The people are beautiful, and there are so many gorgeous, multi-cultural couples, and styles to boot. We are inspired by the existence of such a place. We are excited for our upcoming journey, and having already made many diverse aquaintances, we are even more excited for the friendships, the experiences and the growth that we see is unavoidable in the coming months. We are safe, happy and light-hearted. We will keep you all posted.

Thursday, December 11, 2008

We made it!

Hello loved ones. Oriana and I arrived in Bangkok this morning at 12 am. We successfully made it to our guesthouse. It was difficult to sleep after our 26 hour journey. We flew over Alaska and the Russian tundra to Tokyo and then on to Bangkok. So far so good... After hours of attempting to sleep we decided to take a walk. At 6:30 this morning we walked through the beautiful lobby to encounter a dear friend from Missoula using the internet. Small world I guess. Bangkok is happening and I dare anyone to try to cross the street without their wits. People from all around the world are juking and jiving through the streets and alleyways. Everyone is extremely friendly so far. All the locals are hustling goods and services every time you turn your head. We will rest before going out with friends for a delicous dinner and local brews. Three of us had a wonderful bite and sip this morning for a total of about 5 or 6 dollars - pretty amazing. Sunday morning we're heading north towards Chiang Mai. We are safe, sound, healthy and fortunate here. Only the monks in the streets and Buddha know what lies ahead. Farewell till next time for if I use the internet for an hour it will run me over one US dollar. Oh and for you boxing fans, I set next to Manny Paquia (?sp) trainer from LA to Japan. For those unfamiliar, he is the Phillipino whom just defeated Oscar De La Hoya in Las Vegas at the MGM. They've invited me to come train!

much love-

Monday, December 8, 2008

Travel Thoughts

So here we go... Oriana and I arrive in Bangkok, Thailand Fri. Dec. 12th at 12:30 a.m. We will be relaxing in the thriving city for 3-4 days, then heading north in route to Chiang Mai, making several stops along the way. Chiang Mai will act as a central point for many hill tribe voyages. After the New Year we'll be heading east towards Laos and Vietnam.

Before entering Laos we will be celebrating with friends somewhere near the University town of Kohn Kaen. By Jan. 12th we will be trekking through Laos towards Northern Vietnam. The plan is to travel the coastline of Vietnam north to south eventually making our way towards Cambodia. At this point we should be in the last couple weeks of Feb. or the first couple weeks of Mar. Ori and I are gonna jet to the southern coast of Thailand to engage in nothin' but beach and island activity for our final month.

Sunday, December 7, 2008

Current News

As everyone knows, there has been recent political turmoil in Bangkok. The airports in Bangkok were closed for a week and a half and are now open for departures and arrivals. Oriana and I have closely followed current news reports from the BBC and The Bangkok Post, as well as CNN. I urge anyone concerned with our safety and security to check these sights for current information. I've included a few recent posts:


Thai flights resume after week of protests
Story Highlights
International flights to and from Thailand's capital are gradually resuming
Anti-government protests that stranded tourists at Bangkok airports end
Constitutional court dissolves Somchai's ruling party, government
People Power Party members likely to maintain grip on power

However, the prospect of renewed political chaos was raised as a party that was forced from office amid the protests prepared to regroup to maintain its grip on power.
A passenger jet took off from Bangkok's main airport for Sydney, Australia, on Wednesday evening, the first international flight departing from Suvarnabhumi airport since protesters seized the airport November 25.
Vudhibhandhu Vichairatana, chairman of the board of directors of Airports of Thailand, said operations at Suvarnabhumi international airport would return to normal in "a few days."
Cargo, military and emergency flights from the international airport resumed Tuesday afternoon, spokeswoman Monrudee Kettuphan said.
The protesters ended their siege early Wednesday after the Constitutional Court dissolved Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat's ruling party, effectively dissolving his government.
Somchai's government is accused by the protesters of being a front for Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, whom they want to stand trial on corruption charges.
The court found that the People Power Party committed electoral fraud, and it barred Somchai and other top party officials from from holding public office for five years. The decision wrapped up months of opposition protests in Bangkok that have driven government officials from their offices in addition to shutting down the airport.
But in an effort to sidestep the ruling, lawmakers with Somchai's party reformed under a new name Wednesday in a move that will allow them to retain their grip on power, a tactic sure to rile anti-government protesters.
Non-executive People Power Party members are free to retain their status as lawmakers if they can find a new party to accept them within 60 days, in this case the Puea Thai party, which welcomed a mass exodus of People Power Party members Wednesday.
The court's decision, therefore, was akin to a time-out during a game, and Thailand's political crisis is expected to continue, analysts say.
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The former People Power Party members have no plans to dissolve parliament, said Subharat Nakboonnam, a spokeswoman for the caretaker government. They will hold a special session next week to vote for a new prime minister, she said.
CNN's Dan Rivers in Bangkok said the court's ruling was little more than a face-saving resolution for the airport protesters, increasingly desperate and isolated as Thais became angered by the blockade, and would change little.
"This is merely the interval between acts; the PAD protest show and the Thaksin puppetry are about to start all over again," he said.
This week's court ruling was the second time in three months that Thailand's courts have removed a prime minister from the People Power Party, which took office after elections in December 2007. The ruling also dissolved two of the party's coalition partners over allegations of vote-rigging.
The week-long siege at Suvarnabhumi and a smaller airport, Don Muang, had a devastating effect on Thailand's vital tourism industry.
About 60,000 tourists arrive at Suvarnabhumi every day. And each day it remained shut down, airport authorities lost about 50 million baht ($1.4 million) in income, according to the Thai News Agency.
In addition, the shutdown stranded more than 100,000 tourists in hotels around Bangkok, unable to fly home.
Shammi Huda, a British citizen in Thailand for knee surgery, was holed up Wednesday in a luxury hotel in the heart of Bangkok with his wife and 15-month-old daughter -- at an airline's expense.
"Aside from the uncertainty of when we can fly back, there's no palpable feeling in the air that such a momentous thing has been happening outside," he said.
E-mail to a friend


Wal-Mart shopping incident:

(CBS/AP) Police were reviewing video from surveillance cameras in an attempt to identify who trampled to death a Wal-Mart worker after a crowd of post-Thanksgiving shoppers burst through the doors at a suburban store and knocked him down. Criminal charges were possible, but identifying individual shoppers in Friday's video may prove difficult, said Detective Lt. Michael Fleming, a Nassau County police spokesman. Other workers were trampled as they tried to rescue the man, and customers stepped over him and became irate when officials said the store was closing because of the death, police and witnesses said. At least four other people, including a woman who was eight months pregnant, were taken to hospitals for observation or minor injuries. The store in Valley Stream on Long Island closed for several hours before reopening. Police said about 2,000 people were gathered outside the Wal-Mart doors before its 5 a.m. opening at a mall about 20 miles east of Manhattan. The impatient crowd knocked the employee, identified by police as Jdimytai Damour, to the ground as he opened the doors, leaving a metal portion of the frame crumpled like an accordion. "This crowd was out of control," Fleming said. He described the scene as "utter chaos," and said the store didn't have enough security. Dozens of store employees trying to fight their way out to help Damour were also getting trampled by the crowd, Fleming said. Shoppers stepped over the man on the ground and streamed into the store. Damour, 34, of Queens, was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead around 6 a.m., police said. The exact cause of death has not been determined. A 28-year-old pregnant woman was taken to a hospital, where she and the baby were reported to be OK, said police Sgt. Anthony Repalone. Kimberly Cribbs, who witnessed the stampede, said shoppers were acting like "savages." "When they were saying they had to leave, that an employee got killed, people were yelling `I've been on line since yesterday morning,"' she said. "They kept shopping." Wal-Mart Stores Inc., based in Bentonville, Ark., called the incident a "tragic situation" and said the employee came from a temporary agency and was doing maintenance work at the store. It said it tried to prepare for the crowd by adding staffers and outside security workers, putting up barricades and consulting police. "Despite all of our precautions, this unfortunate event occurred," senior Vice President Hank Mullany said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those impacted." A woman reported being trampled by overeager customers at a Wal-Mart opening Friday in Farmingdale, about 15 miles east of Valley Stream, Suffolk County police said. She suffered minor injuries, but finished shopping before filling the report, police said. Shoppers around the country line up early outside stores on the day after Thanksgiving in the annual bargain-hunting ritual known as Black Friday. It got that name because it has historically been the day when stores broke into profitability for the full year. Items on sale at the Valley Stream Wal-Mart included a Samsung 50-inch Plasma HDTV for $798, a Bissel Compact Upright Vacuum for $28, a Samsung 10.2 megapixel digital camera for $69 and DVDs such as "The Incredible Hulk" for $9.

Oriana and I are pumped for our travels throughout Southeast Asia. We feel confident and secure in our journey, and look forward to sharing the experiences with all of you.
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