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.

HK and Hanoi - a bit of a messy blog

It has been a busy past couple of months. I was able to visit Hong Kong for a long weekend with some collegues. I really enjoyed the cleanliness and environmentalism happening in the city. Hong Kong Island is where the business district is, as well as the shopping! It's not a market sort of place, however there is a Ladies Market on Kowloon (the mainland part of Hong Kong). I shopped around my favorite stores and only bought a couple of t-shirts. BO-Ring! I was more concerned about the sights than the shopping, but know I can go back to shop if I want, which is nice.

It was rainy the first day we were there, but it didn't stop us from taking our umbrellas and heading to Hong Kong Island anyway. By mid-afternoon the rain had ceased and we were free to wander. It seems that each of us had our own agenda for the trip, so we basically started off as a group and branched off as people wanted to do different things. The first day we took the hotel shuttle to the waterfront, had some coffee and walked to the Star Ferry which crosses the bay to Hong Kong Island. After some walking around and shopping, we went back to Kowloon to our hotel and just relaxed.

The second day I spent walking around Kowloon and did a little bit of shopping. Hong Kong is FULL of tall, close-together buildings. It was mostly interesting to walk around and see how the city is laid out. I didn't do much other than walk, take photos, eat and a little bit of shopping. The evening of the second night we took in the lights show, sitting at the waterfront of Kowloon and watching the buildings light up and change colors choreographed to music that was broadcast. It's the world's best light show, according to the announcement and it was nice. The rest of the days were more walking around and actually buying a couple of things: shoes, shorts, t-shirts, art, trinkets, etc. I also ate quite a bit of western food, which was a nice treat!

The city is so spectacular at night, I really had fun. Hong Kong is nice because it's on the ocean, has mountains, has big city life, excellent shopping, it's very clean and organized, they value the environment and has outstanding public transportation. It would be a very livable city with a good mix of Asian and European influence. I really loved Hong Kong and can't wait to go back and make it up The Peak which is a great view of the city and the bay.

After Hong Kong it was back to school for 9 more weeks of the term. The term has gone well, the boys have come so far. They are still quite playful and are a lot of fun to be with and teach. Just before exams I had a visitor stop in on his way home (to USA) from a tour of Vietnam. After exam week (the last week of Term One), my friend Sarah D. came for a four week visit. We just returned from four days in Hanoi, Vietnam. What a crazy place!

The first thing you notice immediately after landing in Hanoi is the smokey smell... and after going through the visa and immigration process, you actually see the haze. It comes from the burning of nearby fields/crops after harvest. I think they grow wheat, but I'm no farmer, so I don't know for sure. The next thing you notice is the crazy traffic.

I have it all figured out. If you want to drive (your motorbike or bicycle or taxi or minivan...) there are a few rules to go by. FIRST, don't worry about stopping at intersections because most don't have any sort of stop signs or stop lights (there were about four in the whole city). Next, you just drive. Drive and be SURE that you don't look, except to look where you're going. If another motorbike comes at you, don't move, only HONK HONK BEEP BEEEEEEEEEP BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP your horn. Actually, don't ever STOP beeping your horn, you'll need it so people hear you coming because you're not going to notice them at all, so they should notice you... via your horn, of course. Last, if there are pedestrians trying to cross the road, remember you don't look at them either, instead drive directly at them and if they don't move, just scrape by them. They'll get the point. And bottom line: the more aggressive you can drive, the better!

The trafffic was totally uncontrolled (except at those very few stop lights) and they don't drive particularly fast but they do NOT want to stop and will just swerve to avoid whatever might get in front of them. When you want to cross the street just step into the road and look at the motorbikes and cars and buses coming at you and move accordingly. Above all, do NOT run... keep a steady pace and you'll make it across, hopefully without getting hit. :)

We did the normal tourist thing, walked the around one of the lakes near the Old Quarter and has some strong coffee, ate some delicious croissants. After moving hotels, we went to see Ho Chi Mihn's mausoleum (didn't see his body) and the grounds where he worked, including the Presidential Palace and his alternative homes and gardens. We didn't make it to the HCM Museum before it was closed, so from there we just walked back to the Old Quarter, passing loads of wonderful, colorful shops and plenty of food stalls and restaurants. Hanoi is not a particularly modern city. The only American food chains that I saw were KFC and Gloria Jeans Coffee shop. We ate some pho (noodle soup) and it was outstanding! We booked a two-day, one night tour of Halong Bay and were picked up in the morning and driven the three hours to the Bay. Once there we boarded a boat and ate some lunch. Regardless of what the brochures and tour sales girl said, we only got the food they provided and had to pay additional for any drinks that we wanted to purchase, including water. So our first meal we didn't drink anything other than the little bit of water that I'd brought onto the boat.

After lunch we were brought to two caves (inside the islands) and had a chance to swim where we were anchored to sleep for the night. Sarah and I jumped right in and most of the others onboard just watched us, saying that the water was too dirty. It just seemed very salty to me. Only later, in another part of the islands, did I see all the debris and oil/gas floating in the water. Oh well. It was great to swim in the deep ocean. We survived just fine.

At dusk we ate dinner (buying our own drinks this time) and watched the water at night before heading off to bed. We woke early to pouring rain and had our breakfast (bread with jam and greasy eggs) which included either coffee or tea this time! During breakfast we sailed to another part of the bay and were able to kayak around the islands a little bit and then we sailed to a place where we could take a small boat to see a water school and another cave. But since Sarah and I were the only ones interested in going (hence not so much money for the boat driver) they didn't stay and we just sailed back to Halong Bay City to have lunch and catch the minibus back to Hanoi.

Back in Hanoi we went to dinner (we arrived back around 5 pm) and then went to shop at the great shops we'd seen on our first day, but they were mostly closed due to a massive celebration in the streets to celebrate the 999 year anniversary of Hanoi being named Hanoi. Let me tell you, this made traffic laughable and annoying to try and avoid. Since the shops were mostly closed and the smoke was bothersome, we headed back to our hotel and arranged a taxi to the airport for early the next morning and headed off to bed. The next morning we were feeling quite ill, probably from the smoke and possibly the food we ate, but caught our taxi to the airport and got our flight back to Bangkok.

I really enjoyed seeing Vietnam and will plan to go back to see the southern part, where Ho Chi Mihn City (Saigon) is, at a later date. I don't want to candy coat it, but I did enjoy myself. Other than the smoke and crazy traffic, Hanoi was very dusty and the people seemed generally intolerant and impatient. On several occassions when I spoke to people they'd just shake their heads "no" and turn their back to me or just ignore me altogether. Smoking cigarettes is still very popular, though mostly with men. Vietnamese halkers are relentless. Whether it was the women coming to the boats to sell western junk food or the people selling various good throughout the city, they stick around and BEG you to buy something. It bothers me when they won't go away UNTIL you're rude to them, so I tried very hard to just keep saying no until they went away. Most wouldn't leave until I physically turned my back to them. That was hard.

There were those diamonds in the rough that were very kind and helpful, but it seems most people are just trying to get tourist money or not deal with tourists at all. I can understand that, but there was a lack of tact. They'll learn, hopefully. It was, in general, an enjoyable experience and I'm so glad we went!!

Now we're getting ourselves organized to head to the southern islands and do some beachy RELAX time. Just what I need! In the taxi back to my apt. in Bangkok I realized I need time to just be still. It's been go go go go since Hong Kong. It was all good, it's just now time to really sit still and relax. :) YAY!!

Hope you're all doing great. Sorry to see that there's SNOW in Minnesota already! Suckers. Haha! Just teasing.

Halloween is coming soon! What should my costume be this year??!!

Hello, Happy Labor Day weekend!

I bet all you lucky MNans are enjoying the last bits of weekend fun at the cabin or just enjoying a barbecue. Or maybe the Fair. I hope you have a wonderful long weekend.

I'm excited for those of my teacher friends starting another new school year. Let me say, I can't wait to join you in the future!

I spent the majority of my Sunday uploading photos to flickr. I will post more but it took a long time just to add that set.

Blog of Hong Kong this week! Promise!

Lots of love. Miss you all!!

P.S. I just took at look backwards at my photos and am feeling really thoughtful about all that I've been through traveling and living across the world. How time flies! Those of you that were able to visit last time should take a look back as well. So many memories come back. Wow! :)
Little tear.