What?! I'm Going to Lao Now?

That's an accurate reaction of myself this last Monday morning. With my Thai visa expiration date fast approaching I knew that I would have to travel to Lao eventually to apply for my missionary visa. What I didn't expect was on Monday after waking up and barely starting my day; I got a call informing me that Erin and I would be traveling on a bus in about an hour. I really hate finding things out last minute and this was definitely one of those situations. Maybe the way the trip started should have been an inclination of how the rest of it would unfold, but I had no idea that it would turn out so bad. Summing it all it up in a couple of words would be: horrible, confusing, frustrating and never-ending. 

After yet another long bus (we just got back from very long Chiang Mai trip) we finally made it to the city of Udon Thani. We waited there for what seemed forever for the 'international Thai/Lao bus.' It finally came and we boarded thinking, "finally, we'll be there soon!" While we were on the bus, the bus attendant asked us if we had a 'Lao visa' which we didn't. Apparently that posed another problem. We went through immigration at the Thai border and the officer told us that we probably weren't going to be able to obtained a visa this late at night, but he stamped our departure from Thailand anyways, and told that he would let us try. The bus took us over the 'friendship bridge' and stopped at the Lao border. Where we stood in yet another long line and then were told we were standing in the wrong line. By then all the people from the bus has gone through, and the bus attendant told us the bus would not wait for us to try and get a visa. So we got our stuff and bus left us. All I could think was, "great...we're potentially stranded." We finally found the right 'line' and applied for our Lao visa, which didn't take very long to process and we finally entered the country! Now posed the problem of getting to our hotel. Usually there are a ton of tuk tuk's around vying for your business, but it was so late at night we didn't see anyone. But then by the grace God a two men came up to us and said, "tuk tuk?" I've never been so happy to hear those words before...usually I'm quite annoyed with the drivers who never stop asking if you want a ride. Anyways we told him where we wanted to go and then asked him 'how much' and he said 250baht. Now in any other situation this would have been a major rip off, but given the situation and how much we didn't want to deal anything else other then a hot shower and comfortable bed; we said 'fine.' Not an ounce of me wanted haggle or even try all I wanted was to be inside in an hotel room.

I got my wish, and the tuk tuk man took us to the hotel we has requested. We quickly paid for a room and that was that. The night was finally over!! Thankfully we were able to meet up with three other missionaries from Bangkok. We were pleased to be reunited with our friends again! But that's about the only thing that made the trip bearable. 

The next day all five of us made our way to the Thai Embassy. We planned ahead got there early to avoid the lines. But unfortunately every other foreigner trying to obtain a Thai visa had the same idea. We waited in the hot sun for what seemed like forever just to get inside the embassy gate, and then we preceded to wait in another line for our papers could be processed. But wait, it didn't end there, then we had to go into a separate building; the room being quite small and yet filled with a ton of people. And there, we just sat and waited for our name to be called super quietly and in broken English. After sitting in that room for awhile, trying to make out what names were being called; the situation became quite comical. It might have been the lack of food and especially the lack of coffee in my system that give the situation that effect; I'm not really sure. But there we were, thirty or more foreigners sitting and waiting; every now and then being told 'to be quiet' by a very angry Thai man. Who later had a fit cause the door kept being shut. At that point, I just wanted to be back in Thailand!

The system there at the Thai Embassy is so messed up, it turns out we were all just waiting around for our receipt. And our visas wouldn't be issued until the next day. Unfortunately we had to spend another day, waiting for our visas to be processed. That left us with nothing to do, the rest of the day consisted of snacking and lying around in the hotel. The capital city of Lao; Vientiane was a complete and utter disappointment. I'll be fine if I never visit again. 

The moment we had all been waiting for finally came, when we picked up our passports and there inside was our newly issued Thai visa. We could finally leave! We didn't waste any time, thinking ahead we packed everything and brought it with us to the embassy and as soon as we could we caught a tuk tuk to the border! After a tuk tuk ride, then a bus ride, then another taxi and yet another bus we arrived in Udon Thani; where Erin and I would get our respective bus and the our friends from Bangkok could get theirs. Unfortunately for us, only part of that plan happened. Five minutes after we arrived in Udon Thani, the other SM's bought their bus tickets home, and were about to board. While we had to stay another night, because there were no buses leaving for Ubon until morning. The only thought going through my head was, "will the trip ever end!!" 

Thankfully we were able to get a hotel right next to the bus station and we planned on catching the first bus out at 5:40am. We were comforted in the hotel when we found English speaking channels, including "MTV"! It made the inconvenience a little bit more bearable. At last, morning came and we were finally homeward bound!! It would be an understatement to say I had missed my 'home' in Thailand; I was ecstatic to be back! Finally not in a bus, a hotel; but my own bed at last!

Chiang Mai

No words can fully describe the feeling I felt when I awoke from sleeping on the bus, and out my window I actually saw mountains. But not any mountains; lush, green mountains. I had arrived, I was in Chiang Mai.

It was technically my first vacation. The school term had just ended, and I was grateful to get a week off. Erin and I decided to travel up north and tour Chiang Mai. It all worked out, and we were able to meet up with the other SM's from Bangkok. Being reunited with them once again felt so good. It was as if no time had past, and yet we had so much to catch each other up on. It was great!

One of the many joys that Chiang Mai reunited us with, was 'western' food! That includes: Mexican, Italian and good old burgers. It would be an understatement to say I had been missing those options on the menu recently. Ubon doesn't give me many choices when it comes to food. So being somewhere, where any craving wasn't out of reach felt amazing! The first night, there was no disagreement; we had to have Mexican. "Miguels" was a Godsend. Finally being able to enjoy a simple bean&cheese burrito felt like heaven. Now, ordering Mexican food in Thailand had me half expecting a disappointment waiting to happen, but "Miguels" didn't let us down. It's Mexican food was definitely up to par. I was very sad to leave it behind.


Another relatively random find in Chiang Mai was used bookstores. Not just one or two, but many; on every street. I know I might sound weird when I say this, but this too made me feel as if I was in heaven. I love to read, and just the week before; Erin and I had been wishing for a library or something where we could access English books. Little did we know that our wish was just a couple of hundred miles northwest of Ubon. Believe me, we took advantage. A couple of nights before we left town, we dedicated one night to hitting up the bookstores. It sounds like a funny thing to do while on vacation, but I had a blast. Even in the U.S. I love to browse through old bookstores. You never know what you can find. I spent a good 600baht just on books alone. In the U.S. that only about twenty dollars, but in Thai money that could go a long ways; so it was a little bit of a splurge. But I'm still reaping the rewards, enjoying every single page of the books I purchased.

We were lucky, and we had a free place to stay while up in Chiang Mai. The local SDA church allowed us to stay there. It was definitely not a Ritz Carlton, but it had beds and a roof. Granted we had a few unexpected guests, a.k.a rats or maybe mice; I'm not sure. Anyways, they gave a few scares, but nothing too bad. I figure, it's free can't be too picky. Besides saving all the money I can is key; allows for more when traveling.




While on this trip we had the opportunities to do some really cool things. One of the main attractions was ziplining through the Thai jungle! There are really no words to describe how cool that was. It was probably one of the most exhilarating things I've ever done. I was a little nervous at first, because of how high we were going to be. But after the first course, that fear disappeared and I was just excited!! The last course we did, wasn't a zipline it was sort of 'bungee drop'. Which involves the guide lowering you to the ground. But in some cases, as in mine, they just dropped the line really fast. It was scary but at the same time so much fun! 

The next day we took a tour of Southern Chiang Mai. The day included visiting two different villages; Meo and Karen. Then we hiked to the Maewang waterfall. After we went to an elephant camp and got to ride them. It was so much fun. The elephant slowly made it's way through the jungle. Erin and I enjoyed the beautiful scenery while our guide sang a Thai song. It was quite comical. Several times our elephant would sneeze or something and we would get sprayed. I think it was angry cause I had run out of bananas ;] After the elephant riding we went bamboo rafting. I didn't really know what to expect, but it was really fun. Unfortunately I couldn't take my camera and I don't have any pictures to show for it. But believe me, it was fun. There was three to a raft and and one guide. The raft consisted of several bamboo sticks tied together at both ends. We stood up on the raft and attempting to balance ourselves down river. We didn't stay dry for long. It was great way to end the day!!

By far, Chiang Mai has been my favorite place in Thailand. There's so much culture and yet a bit of home (the food, hehe.) I'm so thankful I had the chance to visit and experience it all!

It's War!

I hate ants! It's official! Today, like every morning I took a shower. But this today as I was drying off with my towel, I was swarmed with ants. I didn't realize that my towel as ton of ants on it (I have no idea why!!!) But yeah, it was not a good feeling. I got a ton of bites, and it was impossible to scratch them all!! It was horrible. If I find anymore ants I'm coming at them with no mercy! It's war!

Sometimes I wonder...

how Erin and I get into the situations that we experience. Yesterday we decided to go out exploring. Nothing too special, but fun none-the-less. On the way back, while riding the song tao we met a man from the States. Side note: If you're a older white male, living in Thailand; you are part of a stereotype. It's just a fact. I have seen countless middle-aged Caucasian men with a very young Asian woman on their arm. It's usually a 'two-way' road he's using her for certain things, and of course she's using him as well, usually for money. Well anyways, yesterday we found ourselves in the weirdest most awkward conversation with....yes, 'a white man in Thailand.' 

He didn't hold back. He told us very casually exactly why he was living in Thailand: the 'ladies' (as he puts his hand on his Thai girlfriend.) I knew that was the answer, even without his explanation. I was just so shocked that he was being so open with us, as if it were something to be proud of. I couldn't wait to jump off the song tao and say exactly was on my mind to Erin (who was thinking the exact same thing.) But seriously, it's nothing to be proud of. I actually feel sorry for that man, because it won't be long until that girlfriend will swindle him too. 

What!? Typhoon??

That's the explanation my students gave me for the severe rain outside the classroom today. Now I've seen some pretty bad rain storms here, but tonight it was really bad. It just so happens that tonight Erin and I had plans with Amanda (the other SM here) to eat Italian food. We had our stomachs and hearts set on it. So even with the freak rain storm outside we (all three of us) jumped on her motorbike. It was definitely an experience driving in the rain, and all I could think was, "how do Thai people do this!" It's true, rain or shine nothing ever stops them from going somewhere. So what, we got a little wet, but it was worth it. The food was absolutely wonderful! Yay for pizza in Thailand!