Ah August is here...I'll do a short recap of my travels, but know I will be posting lengthy entries with a million photos...
Vietnam - 28 days March-April. I started in mid-March and went for 4 weeks. Hanoi all the way south to HCMC (Saigon). Hanoi was a bit too much for me (cold weather, fog, overcast, rain, traffic, and I was sick the first 4 days). Halong Bay was gorgeous, but the fog didn't allow us to see much. I did do some kayaking and ended up making friends with some awesome people, but the scenery just wasn't available to take in. I opted out of Sapa as I would have needed to buy pants, jackets, mittens, the works (I'm not exaggerating. temps were 10/50s and I only packed dresses and summer clothes).
Thus I headed south...and that's when I started to fall in love with Vietnam. I took a 17 hour train ride (yup they exist and didn't even make it to mid-Vietnam. Vietnam is HUGE). Once I started getting used to living out of a backpack, traveling became easier. My days were spent on the beaches with friends, eating a lot of Vietnamese food (pho and ban me), and just taking in the views. In comparison to Thailand, Vietnam has -hands down- the most beautiful landscapes I've seen (minus the beaches). The terrain I saw (17 hours train ride worth and multiple 10+ hour bus rides) left me in awe - and I think Thailand is gorgeous, but wow. Vietnam is still so untouched in so many places. I couldn't help but think to myself "How could we think we could go to war and win this 'war?'" The terrain and temperatures are unlike anything we have ever even read about in books back home. I ended up loving HCMC (it surprised me too since I was prepared to hate it). The War Museum was hard, but necessary and informational for people to visit. It's a huge America-bash monument, but for good reason. The last level of the museum shows the effort the US has made in mending a friendship with them and it shows. Last year our visa fee was $65 (hence why I didn't go). This year I paid $25 and now (after Obama's visit this year) Vietnam now offers a 6 month tourist visa for Americans. Encouraging tourism to this country - thank you Clinton and Obama. It's such a beautiful country with a dark not-so-long-ago history.
After 28 days I boarded my plan to Kuala Lumpur where I met up with my Thai friend who lives there with her boyfriend. She invited me into their luxury condo and I couldn't help but apologize for my state (hello smelly backpacker?!) I got a guestroom and a beautiful bathroom and we went out for a nice dinner and took a million photos of the Patronus towers. Photos in another blog - promise. Check my FB for some of them.
Only spent a night because then I flew to my dessert of my trip...THE PHILIPPINES!
Now, I will keep this short since I can talk about this beautiful country for my entire life. Groggy from a million airline transfers and flight delays (every flight is always delayed) I finally reached my beach destination. I arrived to my private room (after hostel living for 4 weeks, I treated myself to a private room for a few days to recover). I set my alarm for somewhat early because I wanted to get straight to the beach. And oh was I well rewarded. I will just say this, The Philippines has the most gorgeous water, sunsets, people, food, and everything in ASEAN (at least of the countries I've explored...) and just wow. I met the most amazing people (solo travelers and locals) and just fell in love with everything about it (except for the overpopulated beaches on some islands). But there are still so many islands untouched by McDonalds and they have a 6 month tourist visa for Americans so I promise you I will be utilizing that at some point. Just an incredible time.
Originally I was going to spend 4 weeks there, but my friends from California phoned me and told me they were coming to Thailand so I headed back to the Thai islands to meet them and we just had a great time. We were on the west islands then they left and I headed to the east islands.
All in all, the holiday was great, but boy was I ready to get to my own bed and unpack my bag and see my friends again.
Flew to Chiang Mai and stayed with my friend for a few days before making the bus ride home to little Mae Chan.
--there will be a length blog on my Summer holiday with photos and captions...stay tuned I promise! ---
And that's where I will attempt to update on my Thai life here...
9th of May...
I worked an English camp for 4 days which made me realize why I don't like teaching grade 1! haha. But they were cute and I got to sing/dance and remember why I actually do enjoy being a teacher. School started up and was just as chaotic as I remember. I have the same kids, grades 4-9. 750+ students. Let the mayhem begin!
Yet I somehow remembered a lot of their names. Must have been all the name tags I made for them last year and then writing it in their journals. I had some students show me their name tag (I wrote their names in cursive) on the first day of school that they kept in their pencil case. Aw so sweet.
Even had one of my grade 9 boys write his papers in CURSIVE! Hallelujah! (can I say that in a Buddhist country - have I learned anything about their culture?
Apparently I'm 28 as well? Time flies way too quickly and not at the same time. Riddle me that, please. Ah well...Anyhow - Took about a week, but I got back into teacher mode and was happy to be home.
Now June was a very busy month.
The first weekend, one of my students competed in a speech competition in the district. Now Paul (my mattyhom 1 student) can speak about 80% fluent English. He understands slang and is just a doll, he's also mad shy and doesn't like that he can speak and understand English so well. We met twice a day to work on his speech that he had to memorize for the competition. Typical Thai fashion, we get told a week in advance that there's a competition so pick students and start training. Ole! Anyhow, I knew instantly which ones of my students should compete so we just went from there. Paul did so well, his speech was the best. It actually made sense. I wish I recorded some of the speeches that students read...just ridiculous. It sounded like Google Translator took a few shots of tequila. It's by no means the student's fault at all, they have no idea what they're saying. Thai schools just have a weird system with these competitions. Paul's speech - we wrote together - and just was an actual speech. He ended up needing a few prompts because he was so nervous, but he took 3rd overall :) So proud of him <3
The second weekend, I had one of my friends from Canada (we lived together in Cusco back in 2012) message me and say she was coming to Thailand and she flew to see me in my little town! We had such a fun time riding bicycles and drinking smoothies. She met my students and just had a ball. Headed to Chiang Mai together for a weekend and we did the temples and massages galore. Was sad to part ways, but was so happy to see her. Can't wait to see where we run into each other again :) Love you Lexie <3
The following weekend my CAMP FRIEND came to visit! We've known each other since we were 9? All started back in Cape Cod at Camp WK. He sent me a message saying him and his bff were coming to Thailand wanted to see me in Chiang Mai! So the dates worked out perfectly and I headed back to CM to see him the following weekend. Thai food, my terrible Thai accent, introduced them to Zoe's and buckets. Saturday was spent all day at The Quarry (Grand Canyon). About 14 of us from the hostel all got a red truck (songtaew) and went to the The Quarry to do some swimming. We jumped off cliffs and chilled out in the water and just had a perfect lazy afternoon bliss. then we all piled in the truck and got ready for the evening. Now...my friend mentioned a Lady Boy show and I wasn't going to disappoint. So we headed to get some dinner and then to the show. I paid the Lady Boys some extra mula and told them it was my friend's birthday so naturally they brought him on stage and gave him the most hilarious show and I cannot unsee it. So much laughter and he was such a good sport. Good ol' Thailand :) Then we went to listen to some live music after. Sunday we grabbed some breakfast and then I had to head home. Ah good times Koegel, until next time friend :)
At this point I was a bit exhausted so was so happy to be home and back to teaching. I spent the next weekend home with friends and sleeping. Watching Gilmore Girls - you know, the usual.
Was a very quick visit, but it was fantastic - just perfect. I was getting a bit homesick and the universe responded and my BFF/sister came to Thailand :) Once I was home I felt like I could finally relax!
So that was June...
July was spent working, teaching, tutoring - rinse and repeat. We did get a 5 day holiday due to Buddhist lent (thank you Buddha) so my friend and I met in Bangkok and then headed to a small island in the south. Good fun in the sun, got my tan on, etc. We headed back to Bangkok and met up with one of my friends and went to a fancy dinner at a skybar and then did karaoke till midnight. Was perfect. Then I spent the day at my friend's condo at her infinity pool before my flight back home. Is this real life?
Now this term is tremendously long mind you. I have chosen not to write about my too agonizing of a time because I'm going to be leaving soon and trying to stay positive, but please don't think that my time in Thailand has just been mango smoothies and sunshine (although mostly true, there are a lot of hard things to wrap a western mind around).
As my time here is winding down...I am focusing this month (August) to live in the present and not fret so much about the future. I am back to daily yoga and my love of dragonfruit and mango smoothies.
I am currently tutoring two students in Sudoku and they compete on the 14th of August against at least 5 provinces in the north (equivalent to states back home). I also got "volunteered" to judge a speech competition this weekend in a province about 4 hours away...so that should be interesting, but at least one of my students will be competing so I'm happy to have his company. Most of our students can speak more English than the Thai teachers so I actually have majority of my daily conversations with my students. I love watching their success. I consider it an accomplishment that they can communicate with me since I know about 0.05% Thai so I really don't know what they're saying when they speak Thai. Anyhow...
This past weekend I spent it with friends singing on stage (I'm apparently at the point where I will sing with a band - who am I?), went to a CR United Game (I will touch on that later once I go to another game, but this post is long enough), and caught up on my book.
That's kind of my life up to this point. I am in California on the 17th of September...16 days there and then back here. I have been emailing yoga centers so hopefully will be volunteering at a center down in the islands for 3-4 weeks before moving onward to Australia. Chiang Mai first to say farewell (my first home), then flight to the islands --> Kuala Lumpur --> Melbourne. Where, hopefully, my friend picks me up and I can attempt to continue my crazy chaotic life in another hemisphere.
Oh 2016...What a year this has been and continues to be...Loving life and what the world has to offer.
Until next time...
Sawadee Jao...