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

Jumping for JOY in HaNOI!

Thank you to Miss Stovin for this shot.

I fell in love with this baby.

Village People.

The way they do coffee in Vietnam.

Bus ride from hell!

Imagine trying to sleep in a midget's canoe

while the bus is speeding and going over pot holes

that had to be 15 feet deep!  And this

bus ride lasted for over 10 hoursss!

Miss Georgie and myself!

Flying off the rope swing in LAOS!

Sleeping on bamboo shoots before the hike up to the top of FANSIPAN!

Just taking a stroll down the beach with my Kiwi!

A couple days before the bus ride to Saigon.

Sledding down the sand dunes in Muy Nhe!

Traffic in Saigon!!!!

The first weekend free of teaching!

When I was in 10th grade my favorite teacher had a quote on his white board and I believe it has led me to where I am today,

"Do not go where the path may lead, instead go where there is no path and leave a trail." -Ralph Waldo Emerson

2 to the 5 and I'm feelin A-LIVE!

What a freakin' whirlwind the last couple of weeks have been! Since Sept. 18th we have been true trailblazin' sista's and I have noooooooo complaints. Left Thailand, traveled into Laos for a week to explore Vieng Viene and Luang Prabang and floated down the Mekhong River! I can only try to describe what life feels like at this moment but no picture/video that I upload will show you what I'm seeing with these 25 y/o eyes. Yes, 25. I celebrated my 25th birthday in Luang Prabang on the 25th and have to say that between the massage and dinner that my girlfriend Kel bought for me, the breakfast Georgie paid for or the whole fact of being in a different country I celebrated the shiza out of my golden bday! CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES, COME ON! Thank you to everyone for the special treat of bday e-mails, messages, phone calls, cards and bank surprise from the folks! I am one lucky gal.

We leave tonight for a 5 day trek, 2 day cruise and 2 long days of sleeper trains. I purchased my official hiking shoes today and I gotta say that I've never felt more attractive, especially with the mid-calf socks, ankle brace, funny hammer pants, traveling back pack strapped with my dork sandals and my big, goofy grin. Today I am happy that no pictures have been snapped because I catch my reflection in store windows, look at Kel, Georgie and Brij and we all laugh hysterically.

I am a true backpacker, at least today. Google: Fanxipan if you'd like to see the mountain we're about to summit. Think we're in a little bit over our heads, but it will be one hell of a story.

HAPPY 3rd BIRTHDAY BELLE! I love you!

The last week

The excitement I feel for this being the last week cannot be contained.

Our last Tuesday. Couldn't be happier...to be leaving.

Did the past 5 months fly by or is it just me?

Before this journey I took a lot of people, things, and my country for granted. I think I even took myself for granted. To be completely honest, I wasn't happy with who I was and what I was doing. I have pulled my morals back out of the closet and am wearing them again. Through traveling, reading, meeting people and having time to think about life I have come to a more peaceful, happier existence. I think some people never have to escape their daily routines and more power to them! But I did and that's why I'm here. I was scared to leave my family, friends and ex-sometimes and start a life in a different country but I did it. There are times when I'm riding my bike down the crowded streets and I just want to jump off and run down the streets dancing and singing because I am so over joyed that I live in THAILAND! I mean, what the heck?? And the best part about this experience is that I took the leap out of America and landed here, in the land of Thai. I feel really, really lucky to be living here and can't believe we actually saved enough money to finance the next 2 months of traveling by teaching these little muskrats.

I am anxious to see what will happen before I come home and can't wait to update this thing-a-ma-jig with all of our traveling stories. I talked to my sister this morning and she said one thing hasn't changed, "You still know how to tell stories that have no point or punchline." 1 point for Wink. Thank God this isn't a story, it's just a reflection. She also asked about my food blog...I have no excuse, besides this one: pure delirium.

I want anyone who reads this blog to know how thankful I am to receive e-mails, pictures, or the text from Stu telling me that Thai food was on Channel 36! Most hilarious text ever and how it even worked to send a text from America to Thailand is still baffling to me.

One more thing, I love the U.S.A.!!!!!!!!!

I've fallen in love!

I know it might seem a little sudden, but I've known him for years and years and all of you know him too. He is seen to some as a succulent taste of heaven, but to others he is the kiss of death. He is always just around the corner at the nearest grocery store or a short bike ride away at the local market. His name is: FOOD. And I have fallen hard. I've never appreciated him as much as I do these days. Yes, I know this seems strange to be writing about food but "normal" food is taken away, you start to crave it and savor every sweet or sour morsel that enters your mouth and slides down your throat only to warm your belly and make you smile.

That is how I feel about food in Thailand. I was talking about it with Kel and we're thinking it has something to do with missing home and finding something that takes its place. The sweetest concoction of: honey, bananas, apples, cinnamon and raisins make me think of a cinnamon roll from Bellevue Square. Sometimes it surprises me when I put a forkful of salad filled with lettuce, sweet potato, cucumber, lentils, carrots, pumpkin, corn and spicy mustard into my mouth and the combination drives my taste buds to a faraway land called Ecstasy. You have never tasted anything from a bakery until you've been to one in Thailand.

On Saturday night I had another meeting with my hot flame at an Italian restaurant where I scooped and savored Pistachio Gelato. I could have sat there for hours with my frosted spoon and crystal-like bowl of gelato but the bed was calling my name. I woke up nine hours later to another date with my new man at 'The Nice Kitchen,' we wandered on down the street right into this place called, "Da Bakery." My nose was led by the smell of freshly baked pastries called, 'Almond Delight,' and 'Da Best Cookies." Kel and I bought an Almond Delight and only talked in "Yumm's and Ohhhh's." Georgie bought a banana pound cake and it had us staring and drooling as she took her first bite into a thick and chewy banana oasis. She was even kind enough to give us a bite. As long as the walking continues and the water chugging doesn't come to a screeching halt my guilt for these indulgences lies far in the distance and I'm hoping that we don't meet any time soon. :)

JACK STEPHEN MAUSS!

A week in the life of the Teacha's

The day we claim our sanity back and say HALLELUJAH!

I hate to admit it

but I'm going to miss them...

Stack of birthday cards from 4 classes.

The Courtyard.