Tying up Thailand

I'm home safe - dealing with the fun jet lag that comes from a 12 hour time difference. :)

I made a commitment this trip to be really present and not take as many photos. What I did take are all up on my Flickr here.

This trip was amazing. I'm sure part of it is because it was my first trip to Asia, the first time I've traveled without family in a while, and just because of where I am at in life. I also think it was huge to travel with a group and to have the entire trip planned for me.

Since this trip was part of an Entrepreneur's retreat the entire thing was planned by Insouciance Abroad. Leading up to the trip I was really uncomfortable with this lack of control, I've always planned my own trips and been completely aware of and in control of where I go when so to decide to go. So for me to decide to go on a trip, to a new place, without anyone from my comfort zone, two weeks before we leave AND have no control - man! The thing is, that was what made the trip so cool!

The people in the group were AWESOME. Not having to worry about what was coming next freed me up to be present, and focused and really enjoy each and every experience. I knew when I agreed to go that there was a reason I was going and it was true.... :) I think it will take time for all of the reasons to really sink in and reveal themselves. This was definitely a key part of my personal journey.

Cooking & Temple

Today we had an amazing cooking lesson followed by a temple. Now we're back in Bangkok with early flight back to US.

I'm exhausted. More to come.

Thai Culture or Thai Disney ?

Tonight we enjoyed a traditional dinner seated on the floor while watching a show about culture and history. It was good and a bit weird. I got flack from Damien for using Disney as a standard to compare to, until everyone else commented on how much it did indeed feel like a touristy theme park :)

It was fun though. The food was great. Also it was the first super touristy thing we've done.

My favorites parts, aside from awesome company, was the crazy long nails on the performers and lighting the lanterns at the end. The lanterns were massive and releasing them together was a really cool bonding experience.

Elephants!

I can't even begin to describe this day right now. I need sleep, time to digest and a proper key board.

For now I leave you with a few photos. My elephant was Big Mama. She's one of the oldest and was severely abused including a machete to the head prior to being rescued. We bonded.

More to come later.

Night Market

Tonight I spent $50 for an adventure and souvenirs for my entire family.

It started with a fish pedicure. There's a tank of flesh eating fish. They literally nibble dead skin. For less than $3 I put my feet in for 15 minutes during which I shrieked and giggled the majority of the time. The worst was when they got up between my toes. Afterwards my feet were silky smooth. It was bizarre and something I'll likely never do again.

From there I set out alone through the market to negotiate and fill up the extra suitcase I brought. All with 1,000B ($33). And I did! At one point I was looking at earrings and a little old toothless woman imbed out from under the stall and on top of the stall to get eye level with me. She asked for 90B for them. I say 20B. We went back and forth and I wouldn't budge. Somehow in the end she offered 10B....?!? So I got them for pennies.

It was an adrenaline filled experience. Kind of like garage sale-ing ^_-

Paradise with the Locals

This morning was amazing. I woke up naturally with sunlight streaming through the palms and into our hut/room. Outside the pool was calm and beautiful and it sounds like a nature soundtrack is running constantly only its real. I am in paradise. Wow.

Today was our 'work' day. We spent the day brainstorming and masterminding with local business owners. It was a really cool experience and really eye opening. It's surprisingly easy to do business in Asia and ridiculously affordable to live in Chiang Mai...wheels are turning...

Favorite take away 'mai pen rai'. It can mean lots of things depending on the context. The one I choose is 'in the end, let it mean nothing and let it go' :)

Chiang Mai & Zip Lines

Today we rose early to corral our group of 22 1/2 to the airport bound for Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Red Elephant gave the whole crew red tshirts to help us stay together which of course lead to a Tshirt customization party on the bus.

After a short 55 min flight, which they somehow managed to serve a meal during, we arrived and went straight to the Flight of the Gibbon zip lining course. It's clearly not wise to take valuables when flying high through the air so you'll have to wait until I get images from our photographer to see, there are already a few and some video on FB with me tagged. My favorite is one of me floating through the air in a meditation pose.

Before we took to the air we enjoyed a delish lunch, perched next to a delightful creek while being entertained by a quartet of locals on traditional instruments. It was like being in the Jungle Book and totally surreal.

It was by far the best course any of us have seen. It took us four hours to complete the miles, literally, of lines the course had. There were 17 zips (linear was about 1/2 a mile long), 24 platforms, 4 suspended bridges (one about 200 ft long), several hikes and two free drops (one about 12 stories). It was so cool. My favorite was one where the zip was hooked to our backs so we could fly superwoman style. It was freaky to step off without having the harness in my line of sight! The free drop was also intense, trusting a stranger with my life.

I am especially proud of Amy-Chan, my roomie and trip bestie, she's terrified of heights and owned the course. At one point she had a panic attack and seemingly stopped breathing while we were hiking the shear side of the mountain early on and somehow she recovered and made it through, by the end she was even laughing a bit. Watching her reserve and bravery was inspiring and an honor.

It was an exhausting day full of adventure. By the time we finally reached our new hotel, Horizon Villages Resort, we barely made it through dinner before passing out.

Wats (Temples) of Bangkok

Today was site seeing day in Bangkok. We went to several temples including one with a 150ft reclining Buddah at Wat Pho It was incredibly moving to be in the space and experience as people meditated and paid homage. 

While the reclining Buddah is most popular with tourists this smaller, more opulent Buddah is more spiritually important. There was a field trip of kids as well as several monks there with us. 

Our last stop of the day was the Wat Arun with a massive tower and ornate carvings. 

This hiking and riding in ornately de heated vans was exhausting, so a poolside nap was required. 

We completed the night with a river boat dinner tour. 

Acclimating

Chilling at the resort today enjoying the perfect weather along the river. It's easy to forget where we are until a boat goes by. 

Check out the location text at the top :)

The pool is amazing, the perfect temperature with these ledges that are ideal for sun bathing. 

Later we venture out for massages and food!

Flying to Asia

I've never been so happy to lay flat! I left home 30+ hours and spent about 22 hours on planes hopping my way to Bangkok, Thailand. SO much time sitting!

It didn't really hit home just how far I was  traveling until I looked at the flight tracker map. It was pretty cool to experience a bit of Japan. We landed at sunset, it was gorgeous. 

The airport is Bangkok is odd, it's definitely different but also the same, 7-11, Starbucks and Burger King to greet me. 

There was a lady with my name on a sign ready to wisk me off to the ShangriLa resort where I have a posh room with a pool and river view. One long hot shower later I should be asleep, lord knows it's been hours, days since I got a whole nights sleep. Thing is my body doesn't realize it's 3AM here, not 3PM...

 

Thailand Bound!

I'm off on an Entrepreneur's Retreat. Typically I plan my own adventures for months in advance, for this one I decided to join in at the last minute and I'm leaving the heaving lifting toInsouciance Abroad.

We're starting in Bangkok and then going to Chiang Mai.

The itinerary includes things like zip-lining, night markets, cooking classes, temples and ELEPHANTS!

I have an all day commitment on Saturday so I have to be all packed up and ready to go by Friday night, now that I have the blog all set up I'm off to knock more items off the to-do list! :)