Just Smile.

I swear the guy on the right is real.

Inside of Glimpse.

View from the lake

Little Miss Georgie!

Thai Whiskey..yippity doo da ey!~

The bungalows on zee wata!

Breathtaking.

The restaurant on the water!!!!

"Glimpse."

The restaurant with blueberry smoothies to die for.

How delightful!

Friday night called for some wine!

Look at these Beauties!

Recently

I bought a blue bike, Kel's is red and Georgie's is pink.

After buying our bikes, I feel a sense of freedom and exploration. I love cruising around town on our new bikes and dinging our bells at all the Thai people. As if we didn't stick out enough already, now we ride into school with our brand new Big C bikes.

On Friday, we went to the Riverside Restaurant where we enjoyed a wonderful meal consisting of yellow curry accompanied by fabulous girlfriends! After our dinner we grabbed some snacks at the nearest 7-11 and biked to Lauren and Emily's new spot, where we watched a movie. Em and Lauren moved into this cute little 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom apartment located more towards the center of town. Georgie & Star are moving in next door to them and Kel and I are surveying the place next to them today.

Then came the real adventure on Saturday. We woke up a little later than usual, (9:30) and biked to a new breakfast spot called "Glimpse" where we all enjoyed a delicious blueberry smoothie. We were on a mission to find the Lampang Herb Conservatory where they have oil massages and tea's that cure just about anything for a little amount of money. On our way we stumbled upon a beautiful wat (I think) where we saw big, gold statues and lined up buddhas. At this point we looked at eachother and said, "where else in the world can you stumble upon this wat that just happened to be off to the side of the road?"

At last, we found our destination after getting off the beaten path and makin' our own journey. The Conservation is AWESOME. This place is filled with different teas that cure just about anything and everything. Georgie, Kel and I bought the shampoo that promised to promote shine and health. I used it yesterday along with the conditioning oil and my hair has never felt softer and looked so shiny. We bought a couple different tea packets each promising different benefits and drank some last night. So far, we are impressed with this place and will continue to spend baht in order to enhance our lives and beauty.

We spent a couple hours browsing and made our way back to the mansion. We quickly showered and got ready for Star's birthday.

We took a 15 minute songtiew to a secret restaurant only visited by the locals. Lucky for us Star got a Thai girlfriend and she took us to this diamond in the rough. It was the most unbelievable place I have maybe ever seen. We ate in bungalows over the water, the table was filled with scrumptious Thai food and our glasses were filled with Thai whiskey. We took our drinks onto a floating bungalow where you pull this rope and are whisked out to the middle of the water surrounded by mountains and a sky the color of the rainbow. For 3 hours of food, drinks, talking and fun it cost us $150 baht each...$5.

Being the 80 year olds we are, Kel, Georgie and I left early with a real 65 year old, drank our tea at the mansion, put on a movie and layed on our yoga mats. We laughed our heads off, went to bed before midnight and couldn't be happier.

Reunited & it feels so gooooood!

"Molly, what are you wearing?"

"I got it from R.E.I...."

(snickering in the background)

True Beauty: The view & the person.

On the road again, just can't wait to be on the road again!

Holy Moly! Talk about a breath-taking cabin!!! Not even $9 each.

The train to Doi Kuntan= 9 baht

Tres Amigas!

OH MY! Green Curry Soup. One of the best meals I have ever eaten.

This toilet was in a bar called, The Rooftop.

We made Molly stand in the corner and see if there was a little man

hiding....she made it 2 steps before we all freaked out.

Here we are at Hot Chili where we enjoyed a gourmet meal.

paid for by our well-deserved paycheck.
The three sista's were back together again for about a week and it was fabulous.
We took an hour and a half yoga class on Saturday in Chiang Mai,
I got a pedicure and ate at a mouth-watering Italian restaurant.
I enjoyed a veggie pizza with Kel, devoured a Greek salad,
had an iced coffee and finished it off with
pistachio gelato...all for under $17.
The yoga studio was one of the most
nature-loving, gorgeous studios
I have seen thus far in my yoga life
and not even 1/3 of the price compared to the U.S.
Talk about a steal of a deal!

HAPPY EARLY FATHER'S DAY!

READ SUNDAY:

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY POPPYSEED!

How about a round of golf?

Love you more Dad.

Teacher Appreciation Day.

If you don't hear from me until next week it's because

we're headed to Chiang Mai this weekend!

Pay DAY!

As I write there is a Thai marching band drummin' away behind our office (fishbowl). I'm so excited that it's Wednesday, June 17th because on June 18th we will receive our FIRST PAYCHECK!!!!! It will be nice to have some money in the bank after 2 months of being in Thailand and not getting paid.

We plan to head to the nearest massage location and spend some serious baht! I might even head back to the mansion (our place of residence) and paint my toes...talk about a day of beauty! As you may know, Thailand is not one of the cleanest places in the world. We went to Khuntan this weekend and stayed in a gorgeous cabin with a sensational view of the forest. We thought a hike sounded great and began our quest to find this magical waterfall that we'd heard about. After 2 hours of hiking uphill, the waterfall wasn't sounding as appealing. We passed some Thai people on the way who said, "very difficult hike to waterfall." We continued on and were met by overgrown bushes and weird looking plants. The former boyscout and fellow teacher Tim, who was leading told us it was time to turn around. I was secretly elated because I knew that in the overgrown path it was the perfect spot for a snake slither out.

Two days after the hike I had a serious case of itching legs and decided to go to the pharmacy. The sweet old Thai man told me, "infection due to dirty water..." Oh goody. So I got some cream and pills to cure the dirty water itch and I'm feelin' good as new!

Another 2 days until Kel, Georgie and I meet Molly in Chiang Mai where we have decided to take some yoga classes and perhaps see a movie!

Thank you Mom for sending me a care package! You can take the daughter out of the U.S.A., but you can't take the U.S.A. out of the daughter! Hence, the American paraphernalia Mom decided to send along in the big box. ;)

I hate to say it...

but it was a FUN WEEKEND!!! What we thought would be English Camp hell, turned out to be quite the good ol' time. Started off as usual with Thai speaking, then moved onto Ajarn On (Teacher On) saying, "Okay J, introduce yourself..." Mind you this introduction is in front of over 60 students, 10 Thai teachers, and the 5 of us foreigners.

Here she goes..."Um...hi, my name is Teacher J! How are you feelin'??? (a couple fine's)...Okay, I teach 3rd and 4th grade here and I like to sing and dance!!! (blank stares) Back to you Ajarn On..."

Ajarn On then encourages me to say more.

"I am 24 years old and I am from America!!! So....are you ready to have fun!?!? (3 ya's) I SAID AREEEEEE YOU READY TO HAVE FUN!!!!!!!????? YESS!!!!!! Okay, give a warm welcome foooor AOIFE (EFA)!!!!!"

The other foreigners and Thai teachers give their introductions. Camp begins with us performing, unknowingly...

Hokey-Pokey! Simon Says! Head, Shoulders, Knees, Toes! Etc...

2 days and 16 hours later and we are done! The Thai teachers were really impressed with our energy and performance and told us so - felt damn good.

Boiling Point

Jordie & Kel DANCIN' at the Reggae bar.

The girls in the Irish Pub!

(Megan, Aoife, muah, Jamie & Jordie!!)

I'M RIDING AN ELEPHANT IN THE WATER!

Cruising through the night market (I'm in blue)

Expression: "I'M ON AN ELEPHANT!!!!!"

Painting in Chiang Mai

1,000 kids per week. Enough said.