Reasons Why

While I am so happy to have had this second wonderful year in Thailand... and while I've "loved" not being able to watch most video content orginating in America... and as I ponder the many great things I've seen, heard and done throughout this year.... I am so excited to return home to my friends and family and more good times ahead.

I thought I'd give a reason a day (if it's possible whilst touring Thailand with my two remaining visitors) for why I'm happy I was here (in Thailand) or why I'm so looking forward to getting back home.

Reason #1: I miss seeing my favorite acts live, in concert. We don't get any of the many great bands from USA here, just big commerical acts. What's up with that?! Nickel creek would be one band I adore, especially live. ((I am heart broken that they are no longer writing and touring together. I have enjoyed all of their solo ventures but Nickel Creek as a whole will always be my favorite band. I want to jump out of my skin (or at least my chair) whenever they play. Here is one outstanding example. Or two, because I love them so. ))
Click <--there. And here.

In other news, my friend Lora just left Bangkok early this morning. Her visit was very eventful and so much fun! We saw the sights of Thailand's former capitol city Ayutthaya, so awesome! We (she) swam in the waterfalls of national park, we rode an elephant (!!!!!!) and a bamboo raft in the River Kwai as well as saw the famous railroad and bridge (which Lora told me has a bad history) in Kanchanaburi. Later in her visit we ventured to the southern beach town of Ao Nang via overnight train and enjoyed some relaxation. We hopped a long tail boat to a secluded island one day. We also spent two days on the island of Phuhket with a snorkeling tour of the Phi Phi islands. We ended her trip with a toast, stories above the city, followed by a fantastic dinner at my favorite Italian restaurant and a wander through the night bazaar. It was, in my humble opinion, a well-rounded trip. And I miss her already. Thank you so much for coming Ms. Lora!! Kawp khun kaaaaah! ;)

Want to ride an elephant? The answer is yes!


I was squeeling like a little girl on the inside and praying that we didn't tip off the side of this amazing creature. At one point he (Mr. Long Trunk) insisted on stopping to have a leafy snack and his "guy", his trainer dude took out a massive machete and cut off a branch which the Mr. Long Trunk carried in his trunk all the way back like a dog that's found a prize to keep. It cracked me up. I'm now in love with elephants. Lora told me about a camp where you can go and take care of them... I may just book a little side trip for myself before I move home. We were able, like any other person, to buy a basket of fruit to feed the elephants... which is just as fun as feeding giraffes. Maybe I need to move to the African safari next?? :)

Love love.

Last Days of School

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my brother Matt!!! Three decades... welcome to better side of life! :)

This week is exam week and I am done teaching. I only see the boys in the morning and during breaks. They only come two of the four exam days. I am really sad to say goodbye and hope they will keep in touch. They were a challenging group but I enjoy spending time with each and every one of them. They all make me smile. I'm sure you can see why. Such little characters! :)

What a great year!

Totally Addicted to 3D!!

Luke and I went to see Avatar. Him for the first time, me for the second. I first saw Christmas Carol in 3D, then Avatar (twice)... I love how much 3D changes a film. Avatar is, of course, an amazing movie with outstanding special effects and creativity. I highly recommend that if you haven't seen it, in 3D, you go out and do so before it's too late. :) Just my suggestion. Luke loved it, too. Took a picture of the awesome goggles. (glasses) WOO HOO 3D!!!

Bangkok can be beautiful...

The first picture is from the celebration of the King's birthday. Thousands of people gathered to watch a picture show and concert near an old palace. It was beautiful. The second picture is sunrise from my apartment window. This has been a frequently picturesque view. It always causes me to pause and be thoughtful, if at least for just a few moments. I think it's just lovely.

Sa-mile

The one thing I love most about this wonderful country is when I'm walking down the street, alone, minding my own thoughts and observations and a stranger walks by making sure to catch my eyes and plant a big smile on my face by way of grinning first. Meaning, I am walking by, not noticing much, someone passes, takes the time to catch eye contact and gives a BIG HUGE smile in the process. A sincere one. Nothing crazy about it.

The Thailand smile thing is just the best part of being here for me. There is nothing better than the thought "awww, she didn't have to do that! that's so nice!!" I think it is one of the greatest gifts that I get multiple times a day while I am here. Thank you Thailand. I love that about you!!! I'm really going to miss it... America... we've got a New Year's Resolution. I don't care that it's January 29th. pSH.

Now, in implementing this new resolution, you have to put away your pride. You have to bundle up your fear of rejection, false judgements (which will be made about you) and physical harm. It may take some guts and plenty of practice, but I think we can get it... if only we can get out of our heads and own self importance for three seconds (at a time). I think we can do it. Start small, just the eye contact at first... then move to the corners of the mouth turned up slightly... if things go your way (usually people think you're crazy and look away or mutter 'pyscho' under their breath, trust me)... go for the Fully Monty of Teeth smile. Give it away. We don't have the best teeth in the world for nothing, show them off! You floss regularly for a reason, now show it! And always remember: even if they don't smile back, they may be thinking "awww. she didn't have to do that!" They may just pay it forward.

And wouldn't that be delightful? (if you are thinking the exact opposite of what i want you to, perhaps something like 'hippy tree hugger who does she think she is??? or tssss, yea, your life is good over there, dream on. or.... psycho!!" ... you've already lost. out with the negative toxic thoughts... in with the sa-miiiiile. sabai sabai. it's all gouda. and hopefully brie.) TRULY!!

I'm beginning to really miss Thailand already, and I haven't even left.

Started looking for flights back to Minnie. And isn't it good?!

Love. You. All.
Everyday. :)

PS. I promised my beautiful friend Nicolle I would post more photos on flickr. Stay tuned, they're be mountains. :)

About a Thursday...

Well, happy almost weekend. That's my line of thinking today. :) This has been a terrific yet tornadic week for some reason, and am I just saying that to not sound negative? Possibly.

This week at school there have been a LOT of tears (6 year old boy tears, which are heavy on the bottom lip). Some random, some sincere and altogether confusing to me. I haven't been able to get many answers when I ask what's wrong. Maybe they're scared to move to Grade Two? Who knows. They have a major project in Science where they make a model of environments together... for instance a pond, a jungle, a mountain, a river... etc, etc. It involves paper mache, painting and constructing houses and trees. It's a long project, four weeks, and we just started pounding it out today. Anyway, it's the saving grace of the week because they L-O-V-E it. Yay! No crying yet, but a couple arguments. Other than the tears, they're doing well and my heart swells when I see all the progress they have made. I love them so!! I'm going to miss them and my only comfort is that if I was to stay another year here... they wouldn't be MINE ALL MINE anyway. :) Maybe we'll all be crying on the last day of school. Ha ha.

I've been very thoughtful of the future after my trip to Australia. I've become very focused and driven to be more organized and well-planned going home this time. I will be in the market for the following things as I plan my move home (in April): a used car, housing, a full time teaching position, a good yoga studio, a summer job and people to bike and run with (reguarly)... so if anyone knows someone who knows someone or a place (etc)... keep me in mind. Hey thanks!

About Thailand... things are pretty cool (low seventies to mid eighties) at the moment. However, this afternoon it became very, very dark and humid. I'm expecting that we will get a storm. I should probably walk home from work now and avoid the rain (if it comes) but ... not yet. :)
We're coming into Chinese New Year soon (February, I think). The boys are busy making things in Chinese class and stores are stocking up on CNY trinkets and souveniors. I'm never sure what to do on the day... we'll see what happens. I think it coincides with Valentine's Day this year? Who knows more about it???

I've been taking a painting class (acrylic) on Sundays for the past two months and enjoy learning new things. I've painted portraits of a woman, a boy, my cat and a crowd surfer (all separately) and did one landscape of a farm in autumn and last week started a copy of "Girl Before a Mirror" by Picasso. I'll finish it this Sunday and maybe start another of my Kittle Bit. I've learned quite a bit from my teacher and hope to keep painting long after I leave Thailand, another hobby.

What lies ahead in the coming weeks... job applications, two friends visiting and hopefully my mom (!!!) will come back to visit and help me move home (April); trips back to Vietnam (Ho Chi Mihn City), Laos again and maybe Cambodia again (IF time).
People might wonder what I do in my spare time, day to day... I have been going to the gym more, seeing movies and lots of different events as well as the art class. It's all pretty boring which is why I don't write much, I guess. I made a few NY resolutions and one is to write more, so I'm trying. :)

I miss you all a bit too much and can't wait to be home. But for now I'm going to enjoy my little time left here. Please still keep in touch and let me know how things are on your side of the world, it helps a lot!

Love.

OOOOF DA!

Wow it's been a long time since I've written anything. That dastardly facebook has had my attention. I've posted a lot of my recent photos there if you're a FB 'friend' of mine you've got access. :)

First things first: HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY HAPPY New Decade, thank goodness! Anyone make a resolution? Tell me! Tell me! I'm resolving ... or resoluting?? to get back in shape and see if I can find some ab muscles under the mess I have going on now. :) haha, laugh with me people, it's funny. Maybe another resolution to write more and maybe paint more... give back more. Meh, we'll see. Nothing needs to be set in stone, does it?

Weeeeelllll, just back from Australier and it. was. awesome. I spent eight days in total, six in Tregeagle/Byron Bay/Lismore with my friend Clare and her family (including Christmas) and two days in Sydney with Clare and her friends to celebrate the new year passing. It was an amazing experience and I would encourage anyone to travel there if given the opportunity. I'm this close (fingers an inch apart) to desperately searching out an Aussie husband just so I can live there. Jokes aside, it is probably the most interesting and beautiful place I've been in my life. I was in awe most of the time and proved myself to be a quiet freak. Mumbling strange phrases when asked a question. It was a lot to take in and I'm left feeling like a deserted person who began a great new adventure and was sent away. :)

Drama aside, I do feel that I didn't have enough time to see and do as much as I'd like, so that leaves me with a hope to return one day and see all that Australia has to offer. How was the food? Fresh, healthy and excellent. How was the wine? Tasty and clean. How was the scenery? Cannot even describe the beauty properly. How was the wildlife? Saw about ten wild koalas but only because we actively looked for them in the treetops. Didn't get to see kangaroos but saw and heard plenty of strange wild birds and fell in love with the not-so-wild red hens that Clare's parents keep on their macadamia farm. There are three hens and each one provides one egg per day, every day. They were endless entertainment for me and I took too many pictures of them. How was Christmas? FUN! We ate and drank all sorts of fancy drinks all- day- long. And, AND!! HAHA, they made shrimp ("they're PRAWNS, Beth") on the barbie... I had grilled veggies and salmon. TA-STY! Lots and lots and lots of cheese. If you know me, you can only imagine. He he!!! My name should be Elizabeth Brie or Elizabeth Camembert, certainly Elizabeth Anne suits me fine, though. Thanks, Mom and Dad.
*siiiigh* How was Byron Bay? (Try this, it's a few years old but does the job.) One of the most excellent places to people watch, surf watch, ocean watch and browse for a husband. Just kidding. :) LOL. Byron is a special place that many people told me I am lucky to have gone. So you all should go there, too! Plus, Jack Johnson has a house there! Also, there's a lighthouse up on a cliff that is the most easterly point of Australia... and I went there! Haha Clare and her "beyonce" Steve are considering it for their wedding sight. How was the shopping? Expensive in comparison to USA but well worth it being away from home for so long. We did make it to the Bangalow markets and I bought a bowl made from the burl of a Red Gum Eucalypt. Look that one up! It smells divine, so happy to have such a wonderful souvenir. If I had to choose a place to live in that area, it would be Bangalow. Byron is too touristy and yet close enough to get to from Bangalow for surfing (which I didn't get to try, something I do regret but we were busy during good weather and then it was just unsafe conditions, in my opinion, wink wink... SCARY!).
What were the Australians like? They're very friendly and VERY, VERY talkative. I never know what to say to keep an interesting conversation going, but it didn't really seem to matter, they can gab about anything. :) As I mentioned before, I was far too consumed with people watching and cultural observations to participate much, plus a lot of the conversations were about weddings... something I have little expertise in. I did have things to say about MN and America when asked but mostly I found that my answers were not accepted as I stated them, but reinterpreted by the listener, an interesting Aussie quality. I also did stumble on my words a bit because what you hear around you is a different form of English and I'm not used to speaking that way and didn't want to sound unintelligent when others were speaking so properly... so I fumbled along trying to make words fit together. It was funny, to me anyway. ("Is it just strange talking like that? Haha, good one.)
What was my favorite part? I honestly can't say what it was... it was just the whole thing. I loved the super SUPER scary prop-plane ride (was it really a prop plane? it was a SAAB) such a white knuckle experience that Clare helped me through with her famous humor "OOOOH BETH, only two wheels hit the runway... where's the THIRD WHEEL?? third wheeel???" whilst gripping my hands that were gripping the armrests, after which my thought was "Great! Awesome! Excellent! We didn't die!" We had to fly on Rex airlines from Sydney to Lismore... and I did enjoy the frightening thrill of both plane rides (to and fro). I heard some real horror stories about the weather conditions that some people have ridden through... ours was just a lot of wind.
I loved the landscape, the lush green rain forests and expanse of rolling hills and farms right up to unbelievable ocean views. I loved seeing all the wild animals and hearing their unfamiliar (and sometimes scary) noises... ever hear a kookaburra? They're NUTS! Click here to take a listen and then imagine sitting in a screen porch with pitch black dark outside (they live in the middle of farm country) wondering what creature is laughing at us before it pounces taking out the entire human species housed inside... Have a listen and then try not to laugh yourself. :)
I loved meeting all the generous, kind friends and family that Clare introduced me to... and enjoying such wonderful holiday events with them. A big thanks to Libby, Greg, Myra and Kirk. And especially Miss Clare. I am so grateful for your generosity, you are in my heart, thank you!!
I loved the smell of Australia. It smells goooood.
I just have to add this in there: there are hot guys just walking around, like no big deal, EVERYWHERE. (Or maybe I've just been away from large groups of Caucasians for too long??) No, I think there's something special going on in those gene pools... anyone have anything to add here?? :0)
I basically loved it all. I loved experiencing Christmas and New Year's (amaaaazing fireworks!) in another culture even though it made me extremely homesick. I'll never forget my time there. You people gotta GO!!! And take me with you. I'll just buy a one-way ticket and hope for the best.... meaning I won't get eaten or stung by some deadly creature.... because Australia has ALL of the world's most deadly this or that... no lie. Read Bill Bryson's Sunburned Country/Down Under (pronounced Down Unda, by the way).... you'll see.

Wow, yes, it was a great trip and now I feel a real unsettling sense of confusion. I'm not sure what about... I just keep having this thought "What the heck?" "What the Heck? I don't get it." ... and I'm not even sure what that would be about... really. I'm a mental case. :) I'll have to get out my journal and write, since it's my NY's resolution and all...

Would love to hear about your holidays!

Love.