7.31.2012

HIT THE BOTTOM AND ESCAPE

Finally made it to Railay after a long and annoying day of travel. Although Railay is not an island, you can only get there by boat because its jagged cliffs make it impossible to trek over from the mainland. Out of all the places in Thailand, my bf told me this was the best beach of all. With a review like that, how could I not go?

7.30.2012

IMPROVISATIONAL SKILLS

Funny how the simplest of things can change your mood. I rented another motorbike to cruise around the island of Koh Lanta, riding everywhere I could possibly go, from one beach to the next, from one small village to another. Koh Lanta is the third largest island in Thailand, but it's still fairly small. There isn't much else to do other than motorbike and lay on the beach. Today however, it poured rain. On and off in these intense bursts of hail-like drops, the rain approaching the shore from the ocean in one huge wave, literally you could see a wall of rain coming. But I was happy in the rain. I'm determined to come back with a serious tan from this trip, but the rain was so familiar, so like Vancouver, that instead of camping out in the bungalows like all the other tourists, I purposely got my book and my journal and sat out under the beach-view huts. It calmed me entirely.

7.29.2012

CITIES AND THE SEAS, THINGS WE'VE SEEN

In Koh Lanta, I feel like I have the beach to myself. There's hardly anyone at the resort where I'm staying, a complete 180 from Koh Phi Phi. But I'm not sure this is the right spot either. Talk about not being able to make up mind, I have a feeling I will be on the move again soon. Even though things may look right, deep down they don't feel so. I was used to such a busyness in Vietnam that Thailand has so much less to offer with its never-ending beaches. I thought I needed time to just lay around and do nothing, but contrarily, I wish for my mind to be constantly occupied.

7.28.2012

IF I CAN'T BE MY OWN

So, got to Krabi, booked it over to Koh Phi Phi the next morning, and was severely disappointed. So so touristy, Western food everywhere (and impossible to find good Thai food! That doesn't make sense...), and I felt super old. Once I got to my hostel later that night and listened to stories of "I got another tattoo after the bar", "the best experience of my life was at the full moon party", and "I've got to phone mom to get more money", I made up my mind to leave. The best part about being 27 years old and traveling alone is that if you're not happy, you have the power and capability (and money) to just move on. So, off tomorrow morning, again...
Oh but there was one great thing about Koh Phi Phi, scroll the pics and see if you can see what was my favourite part.

7.27.2012

MAPS, WAIT

There was this baby screaming bloody murder in the airport in Saigon, and of course that baby ended up on all three of my flights today. But it got me thinking about being little and traveling. I don't remember my first plane ride, but my mom used to work for a company that prepared flight meals, and I do remember that. I remember, most clearly, going to work with her with I was small and eating mini cheeses, thinking they were the best thing ever. I have a feeling that being introduced to plane food at a young age ingrained in me an ability to adapt to new experiences and try new things, increasing my fervor to travel as I get older. Currently, I am in Thailand, my brother is in Belgium, and my folks are in Turkey. That plane-food-gene runs in my family.

7.26.2012

I WANT TO SEE THINGS YOU KNOW

A quick day and night in Saigon, feels awfully strange to be back in a modern city. Not sure I enjoy it really, I think I'd like to keep the adventure going, with unsure experiences and roads less-traveled. A friend once told me that if you're living a life that is comfortable, you're not living your life to the fullest. You must put yourself in uncomfortable situations, to challenge yourself and to discover who you really are. I've thought about that this whole trip, and Saigon is much too comfortable, feels like I'm cheating or something, like I need to get somewhere unusual fast. So off to Krabi I go tomorrow, Thailand's hidden beaches calling my name...

7.25.2012

THE WIND SHAKES THE LEAVES ON A TREE

Even on such an adventurous vacation, you need a relaxing day. The spa, shopping, bicycling around town, and eating lots of food, a lovely last day in Hoi An.

7.24.2012

I FOLLOW TO THE EDGE OF THE EARTH AND FALL OFF

So the post where I wrote that I couldn't imagine driving in Vietnam, so wrong. Today, two other girls and I rented motorbikes and drove all around Hoi An, and an extra 50k and back out to My Son, ruins of an ancient temple destroyed in the Vietnam War. It was one of the most freeing feelings I've ever had, flying on that bike, the motor vibrations coursing through me, making me feel like I could drive for hours and to everywhere. And it felt like we were in a parade, Vietnamese people smiling and waving at us, I guess they don't get too many Caucasian girls driving motorbikes along back roads and into city traffic. Such a great day.