Happy New Year!!

this is the statement that most Thai people i encounter lately love to close with, "happy new year!" i also keep receiving New Year gifts from my students. it's fantastically different than home. though, they don't celebrate Christmas... so... our way is good, too. i like the "happy new year" touch a week after the actual date.

2008. it should prove to be a good year. 2007 was pretty spectacular so if 2008 is better, well i'm one lucky gal! i'm so grateful.

i'm writing to send out a quick update. i've been getting such kind, awesome emails for holiday cheer and haven't been quick to respond. my friends from home, Barb and Sarah D are visting me! they've taken a plane to see chiang mai while i work this week. i'm so happy they've gone to see such a great place! i wish i was there, too! so, if you're someone who emailed me and has been waiting... i'm sorry i've been playing hostess and it won't slow down any time soon. my sister, Kate, arrives tomorrow night! i'm so excited to finally show her some of asia!! i will, however, do my best to reply to all of your fantastic messages, just give me a day or two. THanks!

since Barb arrived just after Christmas, she and i spent New Year's on the island of phuket. it was AMAzing! we met anelda down there and enjoyed time at the beach the first day. the second day barb and i joined a guided snorkeling adventure and had a blast! i've never snorkeled before and i have to say it was a little intense for me. i'm not super coordinated yet and blush a little at the "heavy breather" i was the majority of the time. it was a bit of a panic to see SO many fish and creatures that you'd never notice from just normal swimming. we were in the middle of schools of small and mediums sized fish. i opted not to buy the underwater camera but will splurge next time i snorkel. it's amazingly beautiful.
we were able to snorkel at three different locations and made many stops. first we stopped on a small island near phuket and snorkeled in very shallow water. we didn't last long after i spotted a sea urchin (large black ball with MASSIVE spikes that will hurt you. HURT you.) just below our feet. that was the first time i gurgled sea water. what a gag-alicious experience that is. Blech! (i'm such a klutz.)
the second stop was in a deeper location and we really enjoyed diving down under the water and doing the whale-blow thing upon returning to the surface. i laugh at the thought of shooting that water behind us to land on... who knows who. ooops! BUT, it was also where i got a little cocky and ended up SWALLOWING an entire tube full of salty sea water (and i saw fish poop floating around everywhere). i still gag at the memory and it took a few minutes of spitting and gagging to recover. *shiver* that was the most memorable stop for snorkeling. it was deep enough to float on the surface and enjoy immense beauty. i had no idea!! (i didn't see it happen, but barb also swallowed and gagged on the water. i giggle at the thought of hearing her gagging behind me and saying "oof." ah ha ha.)
our lunch stop was on koh phi phi (phi phi island) which is where we had intended to spend new year's and couldn't get a place to stay. everything was overbooked or they raised the prices to ridiculous heights. peak season, who knew?? however, upon wandering after lunch (they made me special vegetarian dishes. how nice!) i realized that i much preffered phuket as it had more than the "scuba dude" atmosphere to offer. phi phi was gorgeous for views and amazing dark teal waters. WOW! i hope i never forget it.
after lunch, or maybe before?, we visited Monkey beach and saw the monkeys (gibbons) that live there and which you can feed. we laughed because this one fat one just sat on a log and people would sit next to it and take a picture. just like my cat does, it would look up at you and just look away. i wonder what on earth it was thinking. the other monkeys were playing with each other or eating the many gifts that tourists were chucking their way (how lame!). that was a short stop but very fun.
there might have been another stop that i'm forgetting but i will not forget the hour we were able to spend on Leonardo's "Beach" beach... it's called Ma Ya beach and it is stunning. white, powdery beach and unbelievable teal waters. i walked around (ever the celeb/movie obsessed) and searched for the evidence of a movie set. there was none, but there were really nice bathrooms and several trails. it was overcrowded with people from other tour boats, but still fun. i have to watch the movie again to recognize where i was. it was very beautiful. (we snorkeled there but there wasn't much to see other than a scary looking cave entrance underwater.)
an excellent and recommended adventure should you find yourself in phuket (which i hope you do). phuket and phi phi were severely hit by the tsunami however the only remaining evidence are the "tsunami evacuation route" signs. i can't imagine what that was like, though i tried. oye.

after the snorkeling (on new year's eve day) we met up with anelda to celebrate on the busy street and have dinner. it WAS INSANE! i have to say that my safety was compromised many times. illegal fireworks (the big ones) were sold to send off from the beach ... for anyone who would buy them and people could buy these long lines of cracker-things. and they were stupid enough to set them off in the MIDDLE of a very crowded street. silly string and foam spray were some people's idea of entertainment and we were innocently sprayed several times. i ended up in a foul mood for a while after i was giddy to light and send off a beautiful glowing lantern and almost had my head burned off by IDIOT australians who found it very hilarious. jerks! i dropped to my knees and saved thine head of hair. grrrrrr. the mood was over for me after that. although the night was still fun and we met lots of new people.

the next day we returned to BKK and i had to get back to work (on the 2nd - teachers don't always have so much time off). barb was able to see a little bit of bkk on her own and i enjoyed seeing my boys again. they are so adorable!! (barb even said so. i made her come to school to meet them.) Sarah D. arrived last Friday and we spent the weekend in Hua Hin, the beach town just south of Bangkok. it was super fun and relaxing. i love having my friends here!!!! can't wait to have the sis here, too!

that brings us to now, today. monday night. it's been a wonderful few weeks for the holidays. i'll never forget it, though missed all the traditions and food from home. i missed my family and friends. holidays are meant to be with the ones you love.
quickly, christmas was fun and action packed. Anelda, Luke (passing through to India again) and I went to brunch buffet (mmmm), ice skating (melty ice but FUU-UN!) and a movie. (Golden Compass. i liked it. it's a fantasy story with lots of details. i'm not sure what people are complaining about. it's also a the first in a trilogy, which many don't know.) it was a long, full day and we enjoyed it all. i was glad to have friends to spend it with and many things to do. luke gifted me a "Bad Cat" book and we laughed over the pictures and sayings for days. Thanks Lucas!

i hope this finds you well and with many of your own great holiday memories! i love seeing your photos, thanks for sending them! i plan to be home around April/May-ish. (for at least a visit... i choose not to go back to my school for a second year but hope to find another school to try another year in Thailand... we'll see, maybe.) i look forward to being home very very much! MEOWSERS, momma's coming hoooome... soon (put your party hat away for another few months). (i will miss Thailand/Asia which is why i hope to return for a second year. it's a wonderful, wonderful place.)

have a great day! i miss you!!

so it wasn't such a "quick" update. i'm known for my non-short short stories. the details are important! haha