My Birthday

On my birthday, we biked around the ancient city of Ayutthaya, Thailand.  We looked at temples and various other buildings while our tour guide taught us about the history of the kingdom of Siam.  In the afternoon, we were free to bike around the city and look at whatever we liked.  It was the perfect way to celebrate a birthday!

Halong Bay

Seeing Halong Bay has definitely been a highlight of this trip--the bay was beautiful!  A ship took us around the bay and it stopped at various beaches for us.  We also went in a cave and climbed a mountain.  The meals we ate on the boat were also fantastic--we ate an endless amount of very fresh seafood! I hope to return to Halong Bay, Vietnam someday.

Monkeys!!

This past weekend we went to Siem Reap, Cambodia, a city where Monkeys can easily be found.  People can give the monkeys bananas and (attempt to) pet them.  The monkeys were really friendly and really interesting to watch.  It was very strange--I couldn't get used to the idea of monkeys outside of a zoo!

Angkor Wat

We recently went to Angkor Wat! Angkor Wat is a series of temples that are thousands of years old.  The temples are full of intricate carvings that depict daily life and some famous ancient tales.  I really enjoyed climbing around the temples, looking in all of the various rooms, and imagining what the temple would have looked like thousands of years ago. 

Weaving

In smaller villages, the women use portable looms to weave their clothing--this weekend I got to learn how to use one! It was very difficult--you have to use your whole body when you use a smaller loom, but after a couple of mishaps, I finally got the hang of it!

Me Weaving

Giant Bobbin!

The Final Product

Visiting an Organic Farm

This weekend we visited an organic farm.  While at the farm, we learned about building eco-friendly houses and about farming without pesticides.  The farm was beautiful and relaxing--I learned a lot too!

Me in my garden hat

Veggies

Picking Star Fruit

An Eco-Friendly House

Relaxing! :)

Visiting Northern Thailand

My Bed

This weekend we stayed at a Buddhist novice camp in Northern Thailand.  While we lived there, we helped make bricks, we taught the novices some English, and we observed a Buddhist Longevity ceremony.  Overall, it was a great weekend and I learned a lot!

A Typical Meal

A Picture of me after I made bricks

The bricks I made

Chinese New Year

To celebrate the Chinese New Year, we went to Chinatown.  We walked around and looked at all of the different things you can buy and eat.  I had some delicious squid, pot-stickers, and rotee.  While we ate we watched street performers—one of which was a man trying not to be killed by a snake.  Chinatown was crowded, but fun! 

Yummy Fish

Cheap Jewelry

The squid I ate! :)

Ah--Snake!!

The Elephant Camp

Today we went to an elephant camp and watched the elephants do tricks! They painted pictures, played soccer, played harmonicas, and took people's hats. The elephants can paint really well! The camp even has a shop where you can buy the pictures.  We could also buy bananas and sugar cane to feed the elephants.  This has been my favorite part of the trip so far!

All of the elephants that were in the show

An elephant asking for a snack

Me and an elephant :)

Pictures the elephants have painted

The beautiful camp

Strange Fruits!

Since arriving in Thailand, I’ve eaten a number of strange fruits.  Here are just a few: Kanoon, Chanpol, Ngaw, Mahngkoot, and Dragon Fruit.

They also have VERY fresh mangoes, bananas, watermelons, pineapple and apples. Aroy mak!! 

Visiting a Buddhist Temple

Today went visited a Buddhist temple in Chiang Mai that looks very different compared to other temples in the area.  This temple has a Burmese design and basket-like jetties. 

A few things you have to know when you go into a temple:

"Ladies not allowed"

1.) There are some places girls cannot go.  Girls, among other things (like old people), are considered unclean. 

2.) If you are going into a room with a Buddha, you must take off your shoes first.

3.) Dress modestly—no shorts, tanks, or cleavage. The monks will force you to change or buy a sarong before you can enter the temple.    

4.) Wai to Buddha (place your hands in front of your face as if you are going to pray and bow).  This demonstrates respect.

So far we have visited a lot of temples! They have all been really interesting and VERY beautiful! 

A Spirit House