It was a long trip home. We flew from Phuket to Seoul, Korea where we spent the day with Katie's uncle Jorge, aunt Araceli, and cousin Aracelita. Then we flew another 10 hours from Souel to Seattle. The time change was such that we spent Saturday morning in Phuket, then Saturday morning again in Korea, and finally a third Saturday morning with family in Seattle. We arrived home to a foot of snow, family parties and holiday food. We were quite lucky to have arrived just in time before the Seattle airport was closed due to snow. This year marks the very first white Christmas either one of us can remember since childhood.
And so we close with the last entry of this blog: "Travis and Katie in Asia". If you have been following along in our adventures for the past two years, then you know more about where we've been than most of our friends and family. For the final entry, we want to share with you a set of images that captures our holidays at home much better than words ever could. There are eight photos in all so you might have to click 'older posts' at the bottom to continue viewing.
This migratory writer thanks you the reader, for sharing in all the ups and downs, blissful moments and strange mishaps, cross-cultural connections and blundering American mistakes... and everything in between that we've experienced in our travels. Thank you for reading and writing back to us while we were on opposite sides of the Earth. It meant the world to us. Merry Christmas.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Sunday, December 28, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Friday, December 26, 2008
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
A BUN IN THE OVEN
Of all the souvenirs we're bringing home with us for Christmas, there is one that has quickly become our favorite:
We're having a baby!!!
That explains all the sleeping and weird food cravings Katie has been having lately. As of today, Katie is two months pregnant already. Both of us are excited about the blessing of becoming parents. Conscious conception is God's greatest gift to married couples. We can't wait to meet the little tyke who is due to be born in July. We are giddy and nervous to be bringing home an extra Christmas present for ourselves this year. When the baby gets older we'll be able say that he/she was Made in Thailand.
We're having a baby!!!
That explains all the sleeping and weird food cravings Katie has been having lately. As of today, Katie is two months pregnant already. Both of us are excited about the blessing of becoming parents. Conscious conception is God's greatest gift to married couples. We can't wait to meet the little tyke who is due to be born in July. We are giddy and nervous to be bringing home an extra Christmas present for ourselves this year. When the baby gets older we'll be able say that he/she was Made in Thailand.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Sunday, December 7, 2008
LAST STOP: THE ISLAND OF PHUKET
With sighs of elation and nostalgia, we sadly report to you during our last two weeks in Thailand before starting the journey home to the USA. Yesterday we watched the sunset over the white sands of Karon Beach. We watched it all happen in four feet of crystal clear water in honor of all our friends and family who are currently sitting in snow at below freezing temperatures in Seattle. Not to rub it in or anything. We knew you would want to float on your back all day and listen to the sounds of the waves crashing and sand shifting underneath your body, so that's exactly what we did. It's beautiful here. Lots of tourists. We blend into the crowd until we start speaking Thai, then local ears really perk up and heads turn. We hope we don't forget the language when we come home.
As far as our plans go for the next two weeks here... If we're lucky Katie will fall asleep in a lounge chair under the shade of an umbrella while Travis thrashes about in the ocean, catapulting sea-sprays from his curly mane which he has been growing out for the last two years. Katie will only wake up to eat, or swim, or take pictures of Travis playing Capoeira on the sand like a wild monkey with his hair flying all over the place. If we're super lucky, we'll explore a few juicy restaurants in the evenings. Last night Katie chose Indian food. The night before Katie chose Egyptian food. The night before that Katie absolutely HAD to have cornflakes in a bowl with milk. Hmm... what's up with Katie's constant sleeping and weird food cravings??
Stay tuned...
As far as our plans go for the next two weeks here... If we're lucky Katie will fall asleep in a lounge chair under the shade of an umbrella while Travis thrashes about in the ocean, catapulting sea-sprays from his curly mane which he has been growing out for the last two years. Katie will only wake up to eat, or swim, or take pictures of Travis playing Capoeira on the sand like a wild monkey with his hair flying all over the place. If we're super lucky, we'll explore a few juicy restaurants in the evenings. Last night Katie chose Indian food. The night before Katie chose Egyptian food. The night before that Katie absolutely HAD to have cornflakes in a bowl with milk. Hmm... what's up with Katie's constant sleeping and weird food cravings??
Stay tuned...
Saturday, December 6, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Friday, November 28, 2008
GIVING THANKS
Today is different from the usual Thanksgiving madness of stuffing ourselves with home cooked food, inducing turkey-triptophan comas, and lounging around with family members red cheeked and full bellied. Originally we made plans to go into Bangkok with our fellow ex-patriot friends to a spot that advertises a traditional American Thanksgiving 'hoo haw' with all the trimmings. We salivated at the prospect of eating pumpkin pie after two years of eating rice as the staple ingredient of three meals per day. But due to the political unrest and the violence in Bangkok, we had a last minute change of plans. We are staying closer to our home in the village, just to be safe.
So picture a swamp trickling through the back woods of a 400 year old village. Then picture palm trees and a giant wooden barn posted up over the swamp. Picture picnic tables and benches inside the barn over the swamp... add some pink and green Christmas lights and a fish tank. Now picture Travis and Katie, with about twenty of their closest farang (foreigner) friends sitting at the picnic tables eating Thai food on Thanksgiving. There is unfortunately no turkey or pumpkin pie this year.
Instead, we dine on sweet and sour shrimp soup, spicy papaya salad, lemongrass salad, chicken cashew, and coconut soup with onions and mushrooms. Don't forget the rice. We reminisce about the last twelve months together with our friends. We laugh about how lucky we are to be leaving Thailand just when the Thai Prime Minister calls a state of emergency. Of course if the government doesn't re-open the international airport, we may have to take the slow boat back to America.
Despite the violence in Thailand, the terrorism in Mumbai, and the financial crisis in America (not to mention the lack of pumpkin pie at dinner) we still have many things to be grateful for. We are grateful to be Americans witnessing the beginning of a political turn around. We are grateful to be able to travel the world together. We are grateful to be able to build careers that bring us satisfaction. We are grateful to be young and healthy. We are grateful to have plenty to eat and fresh water to drink. We are grateful to have good friends in several different countries. We are grateful to have families who love us. Last but not least we are grateful to have found love to last a lifetime in each other.
With this evening of giving thanks, we pack up our bags and say goodbye to Bangkok moving on to the next city like gypsies in the night.
So picture a swamp trickling through the back woods of a 400 year old village. Then picture palm trees and a giant wooden barn posted up over the swamp. Picture picnic tables and benches inside the barn over the swamp... add some pink and green Christmas lights and a fish tank. Now picture Travis and Katie, with about twenty of their closest farang (foreigner) friends sitting at the picnic tables eating Thai food on Thanksgiving. There is unfortunately no turkey or pumpkin pie this year.
Instead, we dine on sweet and sour shrimp soup, spicy papaya salad, lemongrass salad, chicken cashew, and coconut soup with onions and mushrooms. Don't forget the rice. We reminisce about the last twelve months together with our friends. We laugh about how lucky we are to be leaving Thailand just when the Thai Prime Minister calls a state of emergency. Of course if the government doesn't re-open the international airport, we may have to take the slow boat back to America.
Despite the violence in Thailand, the terrorism in Mumbai, and the financial crisis in America (not to mention the lack of pumpkin pie at dinner) we still have many things to be grateful for. We are grateful to be Americans witnessing the beginning of a political turn around. We are grateful to be able to travel the world together. We are grateful to be able to build careers that bring us satisfaction. We are grateful to be young and healthy. We are grateful to have plenty to eat and fresh water to drink. We are grateful to have good friends in several different countries. We are grateful to have families who love us. Last but not least we are grateful to have found love to last a lifetime in each other.
With this evening of giving thanks, we pack up our bags and say goodbye to Bangkok moving on to the next city like gypsies in the night.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
YES WE DID!
Our experience with being in Asia during the United States Presidential Elections has been overwhelming. Here's a few examples of what happened to us in the days leading up to the election:
In our classrooms, students ask us if we voted for Barack Obama and compare American politics with Thai politics. Travis brings his absentee ballot into one of his adult ESL classes and they smile approvingly at Travis as he fills in the box next to Obama's name right on front of them.
In Indonesia, locals stopped us on the streets to make sure that we had voted for Obama- it was important to them that we were casting our votes for 'the right man'.
In Thailand, people we've never seen before randomly walk up to us and say, "Obama? Yes?"
T-shirts declaring “Bangkok for Barack” are made. T-shirts with Obama’s name are printed in Thai and sold at street stalls from Chiang Mai to the capital. People have buttons and bands.
On election night we went to a club in Bangkok where Obama footage was projected onto a big screen as a backdrop for breakbeat and hiphop music. At one point in the concert the DJ had half of the crowd cheering, "OBAMA" and the other half of the crowd responding "YES WE DID!".
What's striking is that Obama has captured the attention of people from many different age groups, religious affiliations, and ethnic backgrounds in countries all over the world. Our new president elect not only had overwhelming support from Americans in this election, he has the international community rallying for him as well. Asian people especially, understand that the American economy, political leadership, and business trends is constantly setting the pace in their own country.
It appears that most Asians we've met, if given the opportunity, would've also voted for Obama on the 4th. And even though it was a close race leading up to the day that Americans went to the polls, our countrymen finally came around to realize what the rest of the world already knew: YES WE CAN.
PS- Travis and I have decided to come home to the USA now that hope is back in the air (tongue in cheek). ;) ;) ;)
See you in December.
In our classrooms, students ask us if we voted for Barack Obama and compare American politics with Thai politics. Travis brings his absentee ballot into one of his adult ESL classes and they smile approvingly at Travis as he fills in the box next to Obama's name right on front of them.
In Indonesia, locals stopped us on the streets to make sure that we had voted for Obama- it was important to them that we were casting our votes for 'the right man'.
In Thailand, people we've never seen before randomly walk up to us and say, "Obama? Yes?"
T-shirts declaring “Bangkok for Barack” are made. T-shirts with Obama’s name are printed in Thai and sold at street stalls from Chiang Mai to the capital. People have buttons and bands.
On election night we went to a club in Bangkok where Obama footage was projected onto a big screen as a backdrop for breakbeat and hiphop music. At one point in the concert the DJ had half of the crowd cheering, "OBAMA" and the other half of the crowd responding "YES WE DID!".
What's striking is that Obama has captured the attention of people from many different age groups, religious affiliations, and ethnic backgrounds in countries all over the world. Our new president elect not only had overwhelming support from Americans in this election, he has the international community rallying for him as well. Asian people especially, understand that the American economy, political leadership, and business trends is constantly setting the pace in their own country.
It appears that most Asians we've met, if given the opportunity, would've also voted for Obama on the 4th. And even though it was a close race leading up to the day that Americans went to the polls, our countrymen finally came around to realize what the rest of the world already knew: YES WE CAN.
PS- Travis and I have decided to come home to the USA now that hope is back in the air (tongue in cheek). ;) ;) ;)
See you in December.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Sunday, November 2, 2008
TREKKING BALI'S VOLCANOS AND SWIMMIMG WITH HER MANTA RAYS
Stuffing our day-pack with water and snacks, we leave our hotel at 2am. Our climb to the top of the volcano at Mt. Batur starts in the pitch black. Our ascent is steep and slow going in the dark. We stop a few times to gaze at the stars and listen to nocturnal birds hunting in the night. We pass over lava fields where old Balinese villages were buried during the last eruption.
At the summit an old man who lives alone with his dog in a lean-to hut is building a fire. He offers us hot coffee as we sit and watch the sunrise over Bali's other two volcanoes. The view is riveting, making us homesick for the Cascades and Olympics. We stay warm by putting our hands inside giant steam vents in the crater.
Our guide tells us his memories of taking part in animal sacrifice rituals with his village. Their Hindu custom is an effort to make the gods happy, whereby they chuck animals over the edge of the volcano such as ducks, pigs and cows. Our guide reminds us that this ritual is still practiced even today. Thankfully, there is no sacrifice ritual happening this morning. So everyone at the top gets to return home unscathed.
After we've recovered from the volcano trek, we board a boat for Bali's best dive sites in hopes of finding some rare marine life. Indeed we do find two manta sting rays, one black and one white, each a little more than six feet from wing tip to wing tip. We encounter them in a lagoon near a cliff, in about 25 feet of water which is very shallow for divers.
They swim circles around us and play in our air bubbles. At one point, one ray swims right over us and we literally have to bend over backwards to avoid it's belly from skimming over the tops of our heads. Katie cries into her mask from the beauty of it all while Travis nearly sh*ts his wet suit from the surprise and amazement of the encounter. Soon our air tanks are getting low and we must go back to the surface. We slowly pull ourselves away from what is clearly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We'll never forget the two rays that swam with us in a lagoon in Bali.
At the summit an old man who lives alone with his dog in a lean-to hut is building a fire. He offers us hot coffee as we sit and watch the sunrise over Bali's other two volcanoes. The view is riveting, making us homesick for the Cascades and Olympics. We stay warm by putting our hands inside giant steam vents in the crater.
Our guide tells us his memories of taking part in animal sacrifice rituals with his village. Their Hindu custom is an effort to make the gods happy, whereby they chuck animals over the edge of the volcano such as ducks, pigs and cows. Our guide reminds us that this ritual is still practiced even today. Thankfully, there is no sacrifice ritual happening this morning. So everyone at the top gets to return home unscathed.
After we've recovered from the volcano trek, we board a boat for Bali's best dive sites in hopes of finding some rare marine life. Indeed we do find two manta sting rays, one black and one white, each a little more than six feet from wing tip to wing tip. We encounter them in a lagoon near a cliff, in about 25 feet of water which is very shallow for divers.
They swim circles around us and play in our air bubbles. At one point, one ray swims right over us and we literally have to bend over backwards to avoid it's belly from skimming over the tops of our heads. Katie cries into her mask from the beauty of it all while Travis nearly sh*ts his wet suit from the surprise and amazement of the encounter. Soon our air tanks are getting low and we must go back to the surface. We slowly pull ourselves away from what is clearly a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
We'll never forget the two rays that swam with us in a lagoon in Bali.
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
COSTUMES, CRICKETS AND CREMATION... OH MY!
Every morning we wake up to the sound of a gazillion roosters crowing, crickets chirping and all kinds of wild jungle birds cawing and screeching their tropical dawn chorus. After a breakfast of fruit and banana pancakes, we explore the endless art galleries, wood carver's shops, ceramics studios, batik fabric houses, textile shops, and outdoor markets. As evening falls we attend one of the many outdoor dance performances. These shows feature indigenous Balinese style storytelling and dancing accompanied by live Gamelan orchestras. The inner artist is nourished here and thus, so are we.
Travis has quickly made friends with the locals, as is his usual style. Yesterday we were invited to attend a funeral ceremony for an old-money pillar of the community from an aristocratic family. This four day event started with music making and priest sermons, and progressed to 1200 pounds of suckling pig roasting over huge fire pits in an all-community mass feeding. Finally the body of the late lieutenant general was carried to the river on a 50 foot pyre, carried by 60-70 men. The body was burned before the whole community. A humbling experience that delivered us immediately to the age old wisdom that no matter what riches and status you acquire during your lifetime, you can't take it with you when you die.
Travis has quickly made friends with the locals, as is his usual style. Yesterday we were invited to attend a funeral ceremony for an old-money pillar of the community from an aristocratic family. This four day event started with music making and priest sermons, and progressed to 1200 pounds of suckling pig roasting over huge fire pits in an all-community mass feeding. Finally the body of the late lieutenant general was carried to the river on a 50 foot pyre, carried by 60-70 men. The body was burned before the whole community. A humbling experience that delivered us immediately to the age old wisdom that no matter what riches and status you acquire during your lifetime, you can't take it with you when you die.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Sunday, October 19, 2008
SECOND HONEYMOON TO BALI
Hello from Bali, Indonesia! We flew four hours from Bangkok, via Singapore to the small island of Bali from which we're currently reporting to you. The maps you can buy here portray Indonesia as being the center of the world, flanked by Europe and Africa off in the left hand corner and the Americas in the right hand corner. Quite different from the maps we buy in the states.
First stop, the cultural capital of Ubud, located in the heart of Bali and a mecca for indigenous arts and handicrafts. Seen from an aerial point of view, Ubud is a lush green landscape of coconut palm groves with banana trees, frangipani flowers, and small terracotta tiled villages, their bungalows peeking out from under the jungle canopy. None of the buildings are very big here and no one seems to be in too much of a hurry. It's fantastic.
First stop, the cultural capital of Ubud, located in the heart of Bali and a mecca for indigenous arts and handicrafts. Seen from an aerial point of view, Ubud is a lush green landscape of coconut palm groves with banana trees, frangipani flowers, and small terracotta tiled villages, their bungalows peeking out from under the jungle canopy. None of the buildings are very big here and no one seems to be in too much of a hurry. It's fantastic.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
TWO GIRLS GONE WILD IN KOH SAMET
I'm writing to you from the balcony of a bungalow overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Koh Samet is an island located about half a day's journey from Bangkok. My mother and I feel like two girls gone wild: spending the last few days of her trip on the beaches. We've been swimming in the warm bathwater surf, doing lots of yoga, sipping banana shakes, hitting up the live music spots, and working very hard on our tans. It appears that, like me, my mother has found a second home in Thailand.
In fact, my mother is handling being a backpacker quite well considering this is her first time. She's already learned how to sit on the motorcycle taxis so as to not fall off of the back. She's a natural at riding the Songteaw, Thailand's public transport akin to a flat bed truck with benches welded onto the back. But I'm most impressed by how she's handled the night train. Cockroaches and all (pics are coming!).
As my mother is a practicing western Sikh, another big part of her trip here has been her exposure to the eastern Sikh community. She was immediately welcomed and well respected in the Sikh temples of Bangkok. Once we passed by a female Buddhist monk in the streets who saw my mom in her traditional all white Sikh garb and bowed deeply to her. Mom smiled at the monk and bowed back. Travis and I are in awe at the way she seems to makes friends with everyone even whilst traveling in a foreign country. It will be hard to say goodbye when she goes back home to Seattle tomorrow.
We've all had a great time together.
In fact, my mother is handling being a backpacker quite well considering this is her first time. She's already learned how to sit on the motorcycle taxis so as to not fall off of the back. She's a natural at riding the Songteaw, Thailand's public transport akin to a flat bed truck with benches welded onto the back. But I'm most impressed by how she's handled the night train. Cockroaches and all (pics are coming!).
As my mother is a practicing western Sikh, another big part of her trip here has been her exposure to the eastern Sikh community. She was immediately welcomed and well respected in the Sikh temples of Bangkok. Once we passed by a female Buddhist monk in the streets who saw my mom in her traditional all white Sikh garb and bowed deeply to her. Mom smiled at the monk and bowed back. Travis and I are in awe at the way she seems to makes friends with everyone even whilst traveling in a foreign country. It will be hard to say goodbye when she goes back home to Seattle tomorrow.
We've all had a great time together.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Saturday, October 4, 2008
OVERNIGHT TRAIN TO CHIANG MAI
Waiting for our train at Hua Lampung Train Station in downtown Bangkok, dripping sweat on a humid evening. My mother has quickly caught on to the routine for using public toilets: Pay the lady at the counter 3 baht, go through the turn style, squat down over a hole in the ground, take care of business, spray off with a hose and nozzle, shake-shake-shake your booty, and finally drip dry... all finished.
Cramming into a train car with bunk bed style sleeping births, we use our backpacks as body pillows and our bug spray as a weapon of mass destruction (there are cockroaches everywhere). We munch on sour mangos and stir paper cups of instant coffee. Thankfully the view from the window far surpasses the train's dining menu.
Arriving in Chiang Mai, the ancient Lanna Kingdom of one of the former kings of Siam: we immediately take off on rented bicycles to better explore the markets, night bazaars, history museums, and the one-thousand year old Buddhist temples that line almost every street. After all that cycling, we just HAVE to get Thai massages at a posh spa resort. Then on to sample some local fare from the street vendors.
Fast forward a few days (and way too much shopping) later, it's time to board the infamous night train again for the journey back home. Watching the mountainous jungle pass by to the lullaby of a chugga-chugga-choo-choo soundtrack is a highly recommendable way to fall asleep.
Cramming into a train car with bunk bed style sleeping births, we use our backpacks as body pillows and our bug spray as a weapon of mass destruction (there are cockroaches everywhere). We munch on sour mangos and stir paper cups of instant coffee. Thankfully the view from the window far surpasses the train's dining menu.
Arriving in Chiang Mai, the ancient Lanna Kingdom of one of the former kings of Siam: we immediately take off on rented bicycles to better explore the markets, night bazaars, history museums, and the one-thousand year old Buddhist temples that line almost every street. After all that cycling, we just HAVE to get Thai massages at a posh spa resort. Then on to sample some local fare from the street vendors.
Fast forward a few days (and way too much shopping) later, it's time to board the infamous night train again for the journey back home. Watching the mountainous jungle pass by to the lullaby of a chugga-chugga-choo-choo soundtrack is a highly recommendable way to fall asleep.
Friday, October 3, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
KATIE'S MOTHER VISITS THAILAND
Today Katie's mother stepped foot on Asian soil for the first time in her life. For the next two weeks Travis and Katie will be taking Katie's mom to some of the best places in Thailand.
First adventure on the agenda is a roadtrip to Chiang Mai! How will Katie's mom fare with the tropical heat? Will she be able to handle the spicy food? Can she stomach the typical northern fare (roasted bugs)???
To find out, stay tuned ...
First adventure on the agenda is a roadtrip to Chiang Mai! How will Katie's mom fare with the tropical heat? Will she be able to handle the spicy food? Can she stomach the typical northern fare (roasted bugs)???
To find out, stay tuned ...
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
KATIE GETS STITCHES FOR HER BIRTHDAY
To celebrate the day that Katie came into this world, Travis took her on a weekend trip to the beach town of Pattaya.
It was on that fateful day, in between sunset walks on the beach, gourmet meals at fantastic restaurants, and birthday shopping in the plazas that Katie accosted her own index finger. She was cutting open a juicy pomegranate with her trusty pocket knife when she accidentally mistook her finger for the fruit itself.
Travis rushed Katie to the local hospital on his steed (rental motorbike), where she got excellent care and six big stitches. Thanks to the Thai health care system and the benefits of having a good job, Katie's visit to the ER was free of charge. After that it was clear that some more birthday shopping was in order. And so it was that Travis and Katie celebrated her 28th birthday. Katie was later heard saying, "Hmmm... which of these handbags matches my stitches?"
It was on that fateful day, in between sunset walks on the beach, gourmet meals at fantastic restaurants, and birthday shopping in the plazas that Katie accosted her own index finger. She was cutting open a juicy pomegranate with her trusty pocket knife when she accidentally mistook her finger for the fruit itself.
Travis rushed Katie to the local hospital on his steed (rental motorbike), where she got excellent care and six big stitches. Thanks to the Thai health care system and the benefits of having a good job, Katie's visit to the ER was free of charge. After that it was clear that some more birthday shopping was in order. And so it was that Travis and Katie celebrated her 28th birthday. Katie was later heard saying, "Hmmm... which of these handbags matches my stitches?"
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
THOUGHTS FROM THE BIRTHDAY GIRL
This quote is the best way I can sum up my 28th year, the year of my Saturn Return. I don't know who the original author is. But I must share it with you who reads this blog. Enjoy.
"Don't think in terms of comfort; think in terms of freedom.
Don't think in terms of safety, think in terms of being more alive.
And the only way to be more alive is to live dangerously, is to risk, is to go on an adventure.
And the greatest adventure is not going to the moon -
the greatest adventure is going to your own innermost core."
"Don't think in terms of comfort; think in terms of freedom.
Don't think in terms of safety, think in terms of being more alive.
And the only way to be more alive is to live dangerously, is to risk, is to go on an adventure.
And the greatest adventure is not going to the moon -
the greatest adventure is going to your own innermost core."
Friday, August 29, 2008
Thursday, August 28, 2008
TROUBLE IN BANGKOK
If you've been reading international news headlines lately, you may be wondering what the heck is going on in Bangkok right now. There are several thousand protestors who've locked themselves into the government house downtown. Their action is an attempt to get the current Prime Minister, Mr. Samak Sundaravej to resign on the accusation that he has connections to Thailand's former Prime Minister Mr. Thaksin who was ousted in a military coup in 2006.
I'm writing this blog to let all of our family and friends know that we are OK and staying far away from the protests. Both of us are reminded of WTO in Seattle a few years back, when the riots were restricted to downtown Seattle and everyone who wasn't walking around downtown on the streets was safe. We live and work 45 minutes outside of the city, quite a ways from the protests. We wouldn't have known about the protests, accept for the fact that it's been all over the news. The largest affect it has on the two of us is that we can't go into Bangkok until it all calms down.
Rest assured we are safe. Now that you've relaxed a little, here's the scoop with all the juicy details of what's really happening in Bangkok right now. 30,000 protestors have taken over TV stations, government buildings, and some bridges that lead into the city. The railway and public transportation employees have all gone on strike, causing delays with the country's buses and trains. Three airports were shut down in Hat Yai, Phuket and Krabi: all beach towns that typically attract many tourists. As Thailand gears up for its peak tourist season, possibilities of economic downturn could result from all the political hype scaring the tourists away.
So far there is very little violence or vandalism caused by the demonstrators. If this were happening in the states, we believe that people would have been violently aggressive and much more destructive to public property. We have been absolutely amazed at how peaceful the Thai protestors have remained despite being tear gassed and arrested by riot police.
Yesterday a Thai colleague at work commented on the future outlook for Bangkok saying, "We know that violence will not create any changes for a good government. Violence will only make everything worse". Wow. Is anybody listening out there? I think a few of our American political leaders could stand to learn from this.
I'm writing this blog to let all of our family and friends know that we are OK and staying far away from the protests. Both of us are reminded of WTO in Seattle a few years back, when the riots were restricted to downtown Seattle and everyone who wasn't walking around downtown on the streets was safe. We live and work 45 minutes outside of the city, quite a ways from the protests. We wouldn't have known about the protests, accept for the fact that it's been all over the news. The largest affect it has on the two of us is that we can't go into Bangkok until it all calms down.
Rest assured we are safe. Now that you've relaxed a little, here's the scoop with all the juicy details of what's really happening in Bangkok right now. 30,000 protestors have taken over TV stations, government buildings, and some bridges that lead into the city. The railway and public transportation employees have all gone on strike, causing delays with the country's buses and trains. Three airports were shut down in Hat Yai, Phuket and Krabi: all beach towns that typically attract many tourists. As Thailand gears up for its peak tourist season, possibilities of economic downturn could result from all the political hype scaring the tourists away.
So far there is very little violence or vandalism caused by the demonstrators. If this were happening in the states, we believe that people would have been violently aggressive and much more destructive to public property. We have been absolutely amazed at how peaceful the Thai protestors have remained despite being tear gassed and arrested by riot police.
Yesterday a Thai colleague at work commented on the future outlook for Bangkok saying, "We know that violence will not create any changes for a good government. Violence will only make everything worse". Wow. Is anybody listening out there? I think a few of our American political leaders could stand to learn from this.
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Monday, August 25, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
TWO YEARS OF MARRIAGE AND TRAVEL
On August 12th we celebrated our two-year wedding anniversary by dressing up for an elegant night on the town. We were long overdue to take our fancy clothes out for a walk; mostly because
Fortunately we were dry once again by the time we got to the Siam Paragon Cineplex,
The highlight of the night was in the simple realization that our anniversary also marks the two years that we've been traveling the world together. In just two years we've been to
Saturday, August 9, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
WEEKEND ROADTRIP TO THE ISLANDS
This morning the sun rises blood orange turning the black ocean waves silver and then a tranquil marine blue. This is the view from my yoga mat as I stand in "tree pose" on the beach of Koh Samet island. Koh Samet is located about four hours south of Bangkok in the Gulf of Thailand. An impromtu roadtrip adventure to the beach manifested itself and the results so far have been soft white sand dunes and salty air boundless.
After breakfast with friends at a beach side cafe, we plopped down under an umbrella for the rest of the day to take advantage of Thai "sabai sabai" (take it easy) lifestyle.
Hmmm, should we go for a tumble in the warm bathwaters or wait and watch while the tide slowly brings its waters to us? Perhaps we'll purchase some tropical papaya salad from one of the many vendors that sluff by in a constant meandering drove. Can't pass up the cheap Thai massage: it's given on a towel right next to our umbrella. Don't forget about that old Charles Dickens classic you've been wanting to dive into. Yeah that's the ticket. Some choice reading followed by a promonade down the beach to let our chameleon skin change colors. If the moment feels right, we might even expand our sea shells collection.
After breakfast with friends at a beach side cafe, we plopped down under an umbrella for the rest of the day to take advantage of Thai "sabai sabai" (take it easy) lifestyle.
Hmmm, should we go for a tumble in the warm bathwaters or wait and watch while the tide slowly brings its waters to us? Perhaps we'll purchase some tropical papaya salad from one of the many vendors that sluff by in a constant meandering drove. Can't pass up the cheap Thai massage: it's given on a towel right next to our umbrella. Don't forget about that old Charles Dickens classic you've been wanting to dive into. Yeah that's the ticket. Some choice reading followed by a promonade down the beach to let our chameleon skin change colors. If the moment feels right, we might even expand our sea shells collection.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN...
Life is interesting when you live in a village. It's the wet season here in Thailand and last night Travis and I got caught in a massive thunder and lightning storm.
We were riding our motorbike from downtown Bangkok back to our home in the village which is normally a 45min bike ride. Then it started dumping buckets on us, sheets of rain piercing our poor little 99-cent wind breakers. We couldn't even see the road in front of us. Pulling over to an abandoned street vendor's tent, we joined other bikers who were huddled together underneath and trying to stay warm while waiting for the storm to pass. Lightning cracked as cars and trucks whizzed by us and the drone of tropical rains beat against the tent. Finally after it let up, we thought we'd give the drive home another go.
Little did we know that our dainty Honda Click also subs as a boat: hydroplaning all over the place, spitting waves and splattering puddles in every direction. The pavement had basically become a slip and slide. Our village turned waterpark with bicycles whizzing by in 15 inches of floodwaters and motorbikes sputtering water out of their tailpipes. "Mai Pen Rai" is the famous Thai phrase, meaning "don't worry about it". You can tell by these photos Travis took that most people in our village don't let a little flooding get them down.
We finally arrived at home cold, tired, hungry and soaked to the bone. Ah, but to fall soundly asleep to the sweet music of the sky's meditation beating on the rooftops and dripping down the window panes makes the crazy all worth it.
We were riding our motorbike from downtown Bangkok back to our home in the village which is normally a 45min bike ride. Then it started dumping buckets on us, sheets of rain piercing our poor little 99-cent wind breakers. We couldn't even see the road in front of us. Pulling over to an abandoned street vendor's tent, we joined other bikers who were huddled together underneath and trying to stay warm while waiting for the storm to pass. Lightning cracked as cars and trucks whizzed by us and the drone of tropical rains beat against the tent. Finally after it let up, we thought we'd give the drive home another go.
Little did we know that our dainty Honda Click also subs as a boat: hydroplaning all over the place, spitting waves and splattering puddles in every direction. The pavement had basically become a slip and slide. Our village turned waterpark with bicycles whizzing by in 15 inches of floodwaters and motorbikes sputtering water out of their tailpipes. "Mai Pen Rai" is the famous Thai phrase, meaning "don't worry about it". You can tell by these photos Travis took that most people in our village don't let a little flooding get them down.
We finally arrived at home cold, tired, hungry and soaked to the bone. Ah, but to fall soundly asleep to the sweet music of the sky's meditation beating on the rooftops and dripping down the window panes makes the crazy all worth it.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
BUDDHA MOUNTAIN
We live a 20 minute motorcycle ride away from the largest park in Bangkok. Employing hundreds of labor hands as a part of the King's project to lower unemployment, the park grounds are immaculate from babbling brooks to marbled picnic areas, to giant statues of Siddhartha himself. The largest of these statues appears as if the Buddha has woken up from his two thousand year slumber, cracked open the marble he's incased in, and stood erect to walk right off the lotus where he was so long perched. Buddha Mountain is a living shrine to Buddhism, the South-East Asian centrifuge of spiritual conventions, rites and massive festivals which are held here every year.
We love to come here on the weekends for picnics and walks around the lake. If you throw a handful of crumbs in the lake a thousand giant endangered cafish will jump out of the water in swarms trying to get a nibble. These fish are perpetually hungry and will eat anything we give them: leftovers, sticks, dirt, etc. They are considered goodluck and are more concentrated in Thailand than in any other place in the world, making them quite rare on the planet but quite a nuisance in Bangkok.
Buddha Mountain also holds the official Buddhist Library of Literature, as well as a massive mural depicitng the history of Buddhism in Thailand ensconsed inside an enourmous gold-leaf layered stupa. There's also a walk-through maze garden in the shape of a mandala and communal house for the royal family when they come to pay homage. We seem to uncover new secrets to Buddha Mountain every time we visit.
Photos coming soon...
We love to come here on the weekends for picnics and walks around the lake. If you throw a handful of crumbs in the lake a thousand giant endangered cafish will jump out of the water in swarms trying to get a nibble. These fish are perpetually hungry and will eat anything we give them: leftovers, sticks, dirt, etc. They are considered goodluck and are more concentrated in Thailand than in any other place in the world, making them quite rare on the planet but quite a nuisance in Bangkok.
Buddha Mountain also holds the official Buddhist Library of Literature, as well as a massive mural depicitng the history of Buddhism in Thailand ensconsed inside an enourmous gold-leaf layered stupa. There's also a walk-through maze garden in the shape of a mandala and communal house for the royal family when they come to pay homage. We seem to uncover new secrets to Buddha Mountain every time we visit.
Photos coming soon...
Monday, July 7, 2008
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
TRAVIS THE PHOTOGRAPHER
While Katie is at school enduring teenage boys, Travis is working hard to finish his first book. The book is a full color professionally bound photography portfolio that is being published for all of our friends and family to enjoy. The first edition will have Travis' best images from our trip to India. His book will allow others to see the unbelievable enigma that is India. It captures our fondest memories and sheds light on why backpacking in foreign cultures can be a life changing endeavor. Our perceptions were somehow altered during our 6 weeks in India, and Travis' book tells the story of how it happened.
Travis has already sold photo prints in the states and Thailand. His eye for photo journalism has called for copyrights and representation with an international stock photo company. Soon you'll be able to get his India book online. At this point you may be suspicious that something is brewing. Perhaps there's a future professional photographer in our midst? Rest assured, there is equal suspicion going around the Trelstad household. Anything is possible... part of being in Thailand is that we are leaving the door wide open to the mystery and adventure which unfolds itself before us everyday.
Travis has already sold photo prints in the states and Thailand. His eye for photo journalism has called for copyrights and representation with an international stock photo company. Soon you'll be able to get his India book online. At this point you may be suspicious that something is brewing. Perhaps there's a future professional photographer in our midst? Rest assured, there is equal suspicion going around the Trelstad household. Anything is possible... part of being in Thailand is that we are leaving the door wide open to the mystery and adventure which unfolds itself before us everyday.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
YE 'OLDE JOKE SHOPPE
Every morning before we go to school we stop by the Joke Shop. There is one very interesting difference between jokes in America and jokes in Thailand. Here, jokes are not something you play on your friends. Joke is a Thai dish that most people eat for breakfast. It is made by dropping a raw egg over a bowl of piping hot rice soup. Then you add sausage, shave off some green onions, and sprinkle fresh ginger to top it off. It's a savory dish that we can't seem to get enough of. We're on a first name basis with the shop owners, the two year old daughter of which, we can be found oogling over each morning as we wait for our food to cook. She prances around the shop like the queen of sheba. Her name is DangWa, which in Thai means cucumber.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
Sunday, May 18, 2008
BACK TO SCHOOL
Here in Bangkok the school year starts in mid-May and goes until the end of September when it lets out for a month on holiday. Then it starts up again in November and continues until mid-March.
Summer break is now over in May as everyone puts their school uniforms back on, gathers up their books and heads back to school. For the two of us, thank God, we don’t have to wear uniforms like the students do. But we are gearing up for another semester of teaching English in Thailand.
By now you’ve probably grown right jealous of all these blog posts over the last two months entailing the mooky Saccharin of our dangerous adventures and romantic getaways in Asia. Now that we’re back in school, you can count on getting a healthy dose of real life. Long days of teaching mischievous teenagers, sweltering heat that makes your hair stick to the back of your neck, mosquitoes creeping into the bed at night: Yessir, it all comes with the territory. So sit back, relax and enjoy reading about us as we ride out the semester to see if we have what it takes to be…. (drum roll please)... DUN! DUN! DUN!: English teachers.
Summer break is now over in May as everyone puts their school uniforms back on, gathers up their books and heads back to school. For the two of us, thank God, we don’t have to wear uniforms like the students do. But we are gearing up for another semester of teaching English in Thailand.
By now you’ve probably grown right jealous of all these blog posts over the last two months entailing the mooky Saccharin of our dangerous adventures and romantic getaways in Asia. Now that we’re back in school, you can count on getting a healthy dose of real life. Long days of teaching mischievous teenagers, sweltering heat that makes your hair stick to the back of your neck, mosquitoes creeping into the bed at night: Yessir, it all comes with the territory. So sit back, relax and enjoy reading about us as we ride out the semester to see if we have what it takes to be…. (drum roll please)... DUN! DUN! DUN!: English teachers.
Saturday, May 17, 2008
Friday, May 16, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
KATIE TAKES A HIATUS FROM THAILAND
Katie writes from Seattle:
Last week my entire family flew to Fremont, Nebraska (aka The Sticks) to see the place where my mother, aunts, uncles and grandparents lived before venturing out West. It was in Nebraska that we all sang in their old church choir at Midland Lutheran College, where my grandfather was a professor of music waaaaay back in the 60’s and 70’s. While grandpa directed the choir, I sang and played guitar with my brother… my first official public performance as a guitarist. Whoop whoop!
My grandfather was honored with the prestigious Alumni Achievement Award and an endowment was set up in his name titled, The Gene Nelson Endowed Scholarship for Choral Music. It was quite a big “to do” for our family as both of my grandparents are retired professors of music, all four of their children are musicians and all of us grandchildren have a deep reverence for music. Every last family member blubbered and sniveled nostalgically as my 85 year old grandfather regally stepped onto the podium and became our revered leader of the band once again... a scene which often painted my earliest childhood memories with comfort.
I spent a lot of time with my grandparents as a child, and thus developed a fierce love for them. As a toddler I’d sit for hours watching my grandpa direct his college choir. He always looked so noble and stately, as if Father Time himself were directing the sun to rise. My grandma’s stories from her travels overseas first inspired me to come to Thailand seven years ago. I have always been in quiet awe of these two giants who sit at the bottom of my family’s totem poll and lift everyone else up in the balance.
Dan Fogelburg’s lyrics capture perfectly my catharsis from this short time spent at home:
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old.
But his blood runs through my instrument, and his song is in my soul.
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man.
I’m just a living legacy to the leader of the band.
Last week my entire family flew to Fremont, Nebraska (aka The Sticks) to see the place where my mother, aunts, uncles and grandparents lived before venturing out West. It was in Nebraska that we all sang in their old church choir at Midland Lutheran College, where my grandfather was a professor of music waaaaay back in the 60’s and 70’s. While grandpa directed the choir, I sang and played guitar with my brother… my first official public performance as a guitarist. Whoop whoop!
My grandfather was honored with the prestigious Alumni Achievement Award and an endowment was set up in his name titled, The Gene Nelson Endowed Scholarship for Choral Music. It was quite a big “to do” for our family as both of my grandparents are retired professors of music, all four of their children are musicians and all of us grandchildren have a deep reverence for music. Every last family member blubbered and sniveled nostalgically as my 85 year old grandfather regally stepped onto the podium and became our revered leader of the band once again... a scene which often painted my earliest childhood memories with comfort.
I spent a lot of time with my grandparents as a child, and thus developed a fierce love for them. As a toddler I’d sit for hours watching my grandpa direct his college choir. He always looked so noble and stately, as if Father Time himself were directing the sun to rise. My grandma’s stories from her travels overseas first inspired me to come to Thailand seven years ago. I have always been in quiet awe of these two giants who sit at the bottom of my family’s totem poll and lift everyone else up in the balance.
Dan Fogelburg’s lyrics capture perfectly my catharsis from this short time spent at home:
The leader of the band is tired and his eyes are growing old.
But his blood runs through my instrument, and his song is in my soul.
My life has been a poor attempt to imitate the man.
I’m just a living legacy to the leader of the band.
Monday, May 5, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
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