SE ASIA: Sticky Rice + Mango w/ Sticky Rice

I would always laugh when tourists would try to eat their sticky rice with their chopsticks or forks. Or better yet when they would flag over the waiter and tell them that this rice was old. NO: it's sticky rice. And you don't use any utensils to eat it - you use your hands (which is why it is room temperature). You use your RIGHT hand, roll it up into a ball, and then dip it into sauces, and take bites from your ball of sticky rice.

First of all, this is no ordinary rice...it is called SWEET RICE or GLUTINOUS RICE, so be sure to buy the correct kind when at the Asian Supermarket....

There's two ways to make sticky rice: I attempted both and then ended up using the microwave version. Here it is:

How To Steam Glutinous Rice:

Soak the sticky rice in enough cold water to cover the rice: for 8 hours up to 24 hours. Take your steamer, put water inthe bottom, and cover the steam section with cheesecloth. Pour the sticky rice on teh cheesecloth, cover with the lid and put it on the stove on MEDIUM HEAT (if you put it on high, your water will evaporate quickly and then you will set your pot on fire...). Ten minutes into it, flip the rice so both sides get sticky. The sticky rice should take about 20minutes and it will become translucent when finished. It should be soft and chewy, not soggy.

Microwave Method:

Soak the sticky rice. The water level should be just above the rice. Cover the bowl with a dish and cook in microwave at full power for 3 minutes. Flip the rice. Microwave for 3 minutes more. If it needs a bit more time, go ahead. Again - you want the rice to become translucent - soft and chewy.

Now, for dessert: in Thailand you see a TON of Mango w/ Sticky Rice. This is super easy, especially if you've already prepared sticky rice.

Coconut Sauce:

1 can of coconut milk

2 tablespoons agave nectar

*simmer on the stove

Soak the cooked sticky rice in 1/2 of the coconut sauce mixture for about an hour. Scoop out into a dish and top with sliced mango...top it off with a few more spoonfuls of coconut sauce. ENJOY.

SE ASIA: Papaya Salad

For a buck, you can get FRESHLY prepared papaya salad on any street in Thailand. It's EPIC and refreshing. This was definitely an essential for my "Southeast Asian Supper". BUT: it took me THREE HOURS to julienne the goddamn green papaya - and thats WITH a little shit device that I purchased at the Asian Supermarket. Well, the hard work paid off - because it was freaking outstanding...I just recommend that if you plan to make this, you invest in a LEGIT julienner like the one here:

I ordered this off of Amazon for only $1.99 (plus $5 shipping!!!), and was wishing that I loaded up on them when I was in Cambodia (where they were only 50 cents!). A good tool goes a long way.

PAPAYA SALAD

Ingredients:

1 small green papaya, julienned

1/2 cup plain roasted peanuts, lightly crushed

2 plum tomatoes, cut into long strips (or a dozen cherry tomatoes, halved)

1 thai red chili, minced

2 spring onions, sliced into matchsticks

1/2 cup fresh thai basil, roughly chopped

1 cup fresh string beans, cut in half

2 tablespoons soy sauce

3 tablespoons fish sauce

juice of 1 to 2 limes

2 tablespoons agave nectar

Combine all of the ingredients and smash. If you have a large mortar and pestle use this -- otherwise just get a meat tenderizer hammer and tenderize the tough green papaya, marrying the sauces. Let sit and enjoy at room temperature.

Asia rendezvous recap.

I'm sitting in the Lao airport right now. It's 6:30am. I'm a bit foggy, a bit anxious and a teensy bit sad. Gave Linda a quick hug this morning before jetting out the door. I'm going to miss my funny, tell-it-like-it-is Dutch traveling partner. I've had two pretty amazing months, and now I'm preparing for my second half of the journey. Though indonesia is also southeast Asia, it seems to be an entity all it's own.

Cambodia was my favorite country in SE Asia. The people were incredibly kind and genuine, the prices were much cheaper than anywhere else I traveled, and the sights were outstanding. The travelers you met in Cambodia were a different breed...not there for the party like most that you meet in Thailand or Laos.

Though Thailand was overrun by tourists and jaded Thai people, PAI in northern Thailand was hands town my favorite town in all of SE Asia. Quaint, intimate, amazing. A sort of Utopia. A place filled with really outstanding food, cheap and delicious street food as well as inexpensive restaurants that offered up outrageously stupendous dishes. Also, here is where I had my good friends Ramzi, Linda...and of course, Mick. Pai is where I began to feel like myself again after such a shitty year. I will definitely be making a return trip....sooner rather than later.

And then there is Laos. The "fuckall hatefest" Laos. I know that my friend Emily Corkill will adamantly disagree...but Laos was absolutely my least favorite country. Yes, many Lao people have a smile on their face, but that's because they are ripping you off; you know it- they know it- and theres not much that you can do about it. The rain definitely tainted my experience here, along with the whole stolen bike scenario- but the trip was saved by the beautiful landscapes, delicious local food (laap, jaew mak len, Lao salad...I could go on) and of course- rock climbing. Almost every inch of Laos looks like a postcard. The heart of mother nature lives in the limestone cliffs of Vang Vieng (it's just a shame that the town has become overrun with inappropriately drunk and inconsiderate Brits). It was impossible to take a BAD picture in Laos...whether you were in the old sleepy town of Luang Prabang, party town and outdoor adventure destination Vang Vieng, or the french-inspired capital of Vientiane. If it weren't the case that I was blatantly ripped off Atleast once a day then maybe I'd leave with a better taste in my mouth. Oh well, a great time was still had, a new sport acquired, and some fabulous new friends were made.

And now- a short flight to Bangkok, several hours of killing time in Bangkok International before my afternoon flight to Jakarta, then to Bali. I can't wait to be reunited with my Meesh, and to be reunited with my beloved ocean...it's been too long.

bye bye pai

Me and My Two Dutch: Linda & Mick

Today I left Pai, and I'm not too sure how I feel about it. When I travel, I only fly with one way tickets. I have loose plans... guidelines that are completely open to interpretation. I hate feeling rushed or tied to deadlines. Unfortunately, overstaying your visa in thailand isn't as acceptable as it is in Cambodia- it's expensive, and if too much time passes then there are serious consequences. So, in Pai- with an amazing group of individuals who truly know me, understand me, and fill my days with love and laughter (especially the Dutch, who have me keeled over, clutching at my sides because im laughing so hard)- and I'm simply not ready to leave. We had an amazing Thai dinner followed by a night of drunken debauchery in town- singing and dancing, laughing and hugging- and taking loads of photos to document the good times. We stumbled into our huts a bit after 3am, then were up before 8am so we could say our goodbyes to Ramzi. Ooooohh RAMZI. Ramzi is from Germany. He has been studying in Bangkok for the past several months, and he is one of the funniest motherfuckers that I've ever met. The commentary that went on between him and my darling dutch Linda literally made me laugh until I couldn't breathe. They just bantered back and forth- all day and all night, every single day. A touch hungover with far too little sleep, we all headed to our favorite breakfast place in town, the Witching Well, for strawberry smoothies and mushroom curry crepes. Claire, Ramzi, Mick, Linda and Myself....recapping the night, looking through photos, reenacting moments and watching videos. Let me tell you- Mick has turned me onto making videos...and they are BRILLIANT. Photos are good but videos are great- they really help you to relive the moment. Mick is always making videos- combinations of photos and videos, with music behind them, of all the places that he goes. When I get home I'm going to start-- the movies bring you to tears ( of happiness ). We headed back to Ramzi's hut so that he could pack...and then out came our bottle of Thai whiskey. 10am and we all had some hair of the dog. Perfect. Again- an hour of paralyzing laughter. Shouting and insulting one another in Dutch, German and English. Ramzi left us, and then the 5 became 4. But not for long, because Dean joined us shortly thereafter. Dean is another amazing human being that I've been blessed with meeting this past MAGICAL week in Pai. He's been living in Pai the past 5months- training 6 hours a day, 6 days a week in Muy Thai. He's kindof taken Mick under his wing and is helping him find a place in the training. Deans life has been one hell of a journey, but he's come out on top, with a passion for life that matches my own. He has the most beautiful eyes that you've ever seen and a smile that makes YOU smile. Our group decided that it was too hot for anything other than swimming, so we headed to FLUID, the local pool. For 60baht ($2usd) you get to swim in the big, refreshing pool, a nice mat to lounge on the grass with, and use of the gym as well as table tennis. It's a nice way to spend a sweltering hot afternoon. We ate some "proper wedges" (for those of us in America, French Fries!), swam, relaxed, read and swam some more. We decided on Thai food for dinner and all went to Na's for some ammmmazing curry. On our walk there I had a lump in my throat. The pit that had been in my stomach for the previous two days wasn't going away- it was getting worse. Leaving Pai didn't feel right, Leaving my friends didnt feel right, and leaving Mick felt downright wrong. As we made our way to dinner I fought back tears, struggled to swallow and breaths were staggered with the millions of emotions that were pumping through me. It was like I was trying to breathe without lungs. I've never had an anxiety attack before, but I'm pretty sure that I experienced one tonight. Dinner was delicious, but my mind was somewhere else. We stopped for dessert and I couldn't hold it in anymore. The lump in my throat was overbearing and painful, i began to cry big tears that had a mind of their own and I literally couldn't breathe. I was so focused on just taking slow steady breaths that I nearly fainted. Holy fucking Christ, what the fuck is going on?!?! It scared the shit out of me- I've never reacted this way before to anything. Got it together long enough to make it to the bus station and say my sad farewells. I hated to leave Linda but we'll be meeting up again in Laos a few days from now. Still, leaving her, even if only for a few days- feels really awkward and awful. Dean is someone I will definitely be crossing paths with again, so we simply said "I'll be seeing you". Claire, always taking care of everyone despite being the baby (19) gave me the hug that I needed and then Mick. Oh my oh my oh Mick. Two weeks feels like two years. The universe has a way of giving you just what you need- and the universe gave me Mick. Yeah it didn't work out the way id perhaps dreamt it up in my head, but perhaps its better this way- we don't always know what's best for us. Mick has helped me to heal- leave behind the fucked up year Ive just endured and start living again. I can't pinpoint what exactly it was about him- what he said or what he did specifically, but just being around him made me happy, and brought on a sense of peace and safety that I haven't known before. I hated leaving him, and as I'm in the van headed towards Laos I just keep telling myself that all is well and that this is for the best. But honestly, I'm quite sad. I can't stop crying. It started as we pulled away and it continues now- well over an hour into my journey. Still struggling a bit to swallow and breathe- but I guess that what doesn't kill you will only make you stronger.

This is why I travel. For moments like these and people like this. People that make you excited about living and breathing- people that inspire you to be more, see more, and EXPECT more- instead of just settling. Because despite these flowing tears, I'm happier than I've been in a Very LONG time. Because right now I'm so very ALIVE. THIS... this is why I travel.

Sent from my iPhone

Bangkok. Chiang Mai. Pai.

This Tshirt sums it up. As Mick said...

Bangkok sucked.
Chiang Mai was an improvement.
But Pai...is heaven.

Circular Yoga.

I love yoga. I love taking a class, teaching a class, and having my own personal practice. But more than anything, I love practicing yoga in a CIRCLE. I think this is why I loved the Yurt (yoga Swami's) in Encinitas, CA so much. The sense of community is profound, and when you practice in the intimate setting of a circle, it has the ability to break down walls and make the practice more than just physical. In Pai (northern Thailand), I have been taking classes with Bhud, a lovely Thai woman. She teaches on a deck by the river, that just so happens to be laidout in a circle! Brilliant! As we flow through class, the energy that we are creating is just being passed around the circle from one to another. In warrior II you gaze across the circle to find another yogi smiling back at you. It is a safe place in a foreign place- a home away from home. Bhuds two hour classes aren't as physically intense as most- but they are soul satisfying for sure! We begin with 20minutes of breathing exercises (pranayama), followed by the physical practice (asanas), then a LONG delightful savasana >>the best savasana I've EVER had, and then 20minutes of seated meditation. From 10am til noon, it's a great way to start my days.

Drink Drink Drunk.

Drank my body weight in Thai Whiskey last night, woke up- stumbled to coffee and water. Still a bit drunk I believe- stalked my ex on facebook, and now headed back to bed. Christ, my lil midget body is not meant to consume alcohol....especially Thai whiskey. Good night, or shall I say Good Afternoon....

Beautiful Day.

I woke up this morning and had to pee-- it was freezing and I was dreading my departure from the warmth of my bed. Finally drug myself up and out, went to the loo, and was wide awake despite the early hour. I decided to just sit on the deck of our hut and take it all in. I watched the beautiful sunrise and enjoyed the tranquility that only the early morning hours has to offer. Crossed the bamboo bridge into town and caught up with my mom on Skype. My dads vision has been shit lately- he has to wear a patch over his one eye, otherwise he gets insanely dizzy and is plagued with headaches. They had a doctors appointment yesterday, and the news wasn't great..the tumor is causing this nuisance and there is nothing that we can do about it. I let it get to me for a bit, and then my attitude changed. He was supposed to bed dead a few months ago, so if now all he has to do is wear a patch, I'd say he's gotten a good deal. After the call I headed back across the bamboo bridge to wake up my traveling partner for another delicious breakfast in Pai. As I crossed the river I couldn't help but to grin from ear to ear- goddamn beautiful. ANOTHER beautiful day...

PAI. PAI. PAI.

I love Pai (which is not pronounced "pie", but "BYE"). Out of all the places I've been in southeast Asia, this town is hands down my favorite. I havent really loved Thailand. Bangkok was pretty awful and Chiang Mai was an improvement- but Pai is heaven. Raw, vegan, vegetarian food everywhere. And cheap. The street food is so so SO much better than any I've had elsewhere in Asia. The mango with sticky rice doesn't even taste like the same dish that I had in Bangkok....heaps more delicious, fresh...and simply amazing.

The ride here was only 3 hours, but with nearly 700 turns in the curvy mountain road, there wasn't one passenger who WASN'T nauseous. We pulled into town and from that moment on I have been unable to shake this smile from my face. We booked a room at Golden Huts on the river. It was nice, but I figured that we could do better. We cruised town, loaded up on lots of street food, and ran into some familiar faces from Chiang Mai. We met up with them and some other random wanderers for some whiskeys. Good times, good conversations- but we were both exhausted from my birthday party the night before. So, called it an early night and went to sleep. It was a pretty uneventful birthday- the night before was great, but the actual day was quite mellow. Wake up (bit hungover), amazing yoga class @ Wild Rose with Mick and Andy, delicious curry lunch with Mick, then bus to Pai.

We woke up this morning and moved into a hut across the river. For 150 baht ($5usd, so 2.50each) we have a super cute hut with our own bathroom and shower!!! Yeeew! The common area is ON the river and it's adorable. So lovely. When I stop having so much fun, I will upload some photos and write some longer blogs. Anywho- love our new spot. Had an AMAZING breakfast. Fresh tomato salad and curry potatoes and mushrooms tucked into a thin egg Omlette. Holy Christ. A bit expensive- $3, but so outstanding- it was worth $10! Lined up some morning vinyasa yoga classes, and evening yin yoga classes. I'm in heaven. We rented a motobike and then met up with some friends around noon. I'm pretty adventurous- and this past year I have become rather fearless- but I have no desire at all to drive a moto. It's terrifying to me. Mick has lots of moto experience in Asia, and he didn't mind driving me around- which was awesome. It was $3usd to rent a moto for 24hrs, $3 for the biggest insurance package, and $3 for petrol. Not bad. Ryan, Katie, Fabian, Mick and I hopped on our motos and made a 90minute journey up and down twisty twurvy mountain roads to a huge cave. We were a bit skeptical at first because it looked abandoned, but I was great- no one was there! it was like a natural playground for adventurous adults. We climbed and and crawled our way through- sweating and completely covered in dirt and bat shit. It was the most interactive cave that I've ever been in- and I have visited many caves in multiple countries. We took a ton of badass photos then hopped back on our motos towards town. A few kilometers outside of Pai is a beautiful and refreshing waterfall, so we stopped to clean some of the dirt off of our filthy bodies.

Back home in Pai now- full of street food, and still full of gratitude to be in such a cool place.

High, Low, InBetween and UpsideDown

So the response to my Wild Rose blog has been mixed. "Jesus, THAT was depressing", or people offering words of reassurance. Okay- so it's like I've said before, about the poo. Honesty is my policy- it's not all rainbows and unicorns. Sometimes I'm sad, sometimes I have tragic poo pain from street food- and no matter what, I choose to share it with you. I don't think that anyones life is ever perfect all day everyday- so why should mine be any different? I could pretend that all is well- but as Meesh said "to not say important things....is like lying". So, I'm sorry if I upset or offended anyone with my blog. But to keep the balance I find that once I succumb to and admit to any emotions I'm experiencing, I just Feel better. As soon as I wrote that blog the other day I felt the weight of it fade away. I had an amazing night last night, I've had an amazing morning- and im pretty sure that I'm going to have an amazing day. Just packed my bags, opened up a refreshing soda water- and I'm getting ready to hop on a bus to Pai...

Yes to Yoga.

Loooove yoga! And I'm so glad to be able to take some classes in beautiful Chiang Mai. Last night took a power yoga class in the heart of the city @ Weena Yoga- and this morning I'm headed to a flowy vinyasa class @ Wild Rose. Happy 24 to me!!!

Thai Party Time.

Last night after yoga, Mick and I headed out with some of our fellow hostel dwellers. We headed a short walk into town for some drinks and (hopefully) some dancing!! I sipped on Sangsom, local whiskey- and we all had a giddy kind of aura happening. Made our way to the reggae bar- where we danced and danced!! SO much fun! Lisa, one of the lovely ladies that we were out with, had told the band that it was my birthday- so before their break they sang a badass reggae version of Happy Birthday Cailin!! Yeeewww! Ended my night with a banana chocolate pancake! Hooray!

Wild Rose

Inside I feel beautiful and unique and sassy. And then I see a photo of myself and I don't recognize the person that I'm staring at. Was it the break up? Was it the stress of my Dad? How did I get this body, and why cant I seem to get rid of it? As shallow as it may sound, I have been brought to tears a few times about it during my trip. I think that most women are completely ludicrous when it comes to our assessments of our own (beautiful) bodies- but someone can only be surrounded by stunning slim ladies and handsome uninterested men before they begin to think, "Wow. I'm lacking....in this that or the other thing". Chubby girls need love too, goddamnit, and I'm lonely. This was what I was thinking as I was walking to yoga today. Got a bit turned around for a minute, but eventually made my way to Wild Rose Yoga for a 2hr vinyasa yoga class with Pancho. It cost 250 baht ($9usd) which is 3x more than I'm paying for a bed in the dorm. Well, it was worth every penny and THEN some. One of the best classes that I've ever attended...physically as well as spiritually. Pancho was great at guiding us in and out of poses and his voice was as smooth as silk. We started class with an Anusara yoga invocation chant and then he did some chatting before having us set our intention. He said that when he woke up this morning that he was angry and anxious- and that throughout the day, the more that he focused on shaking it off, the more that he gave it Life. On his way to class he still hadn't rid himself of these emotions- he knew that he couldn't hide it from us- so as soon as he accepted it and decided to share his emotions with us, well- it disappeared. As soon as you stop trying to shove emotions into the corner, to forget about them- once you accept them as a part of you, the intensity begins to fade away. WOW. It really resonated with what I was feeling. Loneliness. The more that I think about it, the lonelier I become. SelfDoubt. The more that I think about and fret about my looks, my body, my personality- the more that I hate myself. Stop giving these negative emotions life- stop feeding them and they will cease to exist. We dedicated our practice to acknowledging and loving all of it- every dirty bit of it. And that way we can get on with living and growing. Well, the class was brilliant. 2 difficult but blissful hours of yoga in a beautiful space, with an amazing teacher, surrounded with special individuals- with an intention in my heart, riding on every breath. I left class with clarity and confidence- smiling on the outside as well as the inside. I joined up with my amazing travel partner, Mick, and we headed out for yet another delicious meal- filled not only with great food, but soul-nourishing conversation. And then, about halfway through my Thai peanut curry all of that confidence, clarity and calm left me- replaced by insecurity and loneliness. This has nothing to do with Mick, it's one thousand percent of my own self doing and self destruction. But I'm seated across from a compassionate, attractive, funny and very talented individual, of the opposite sex, who doesn't think twice about where one another stands in this relationship- this friendship. We talk about his exgirlfriends and the ladies he's interested in. And though everyone is entitled to their own 'type', and rarely is a love something that is mutual or always reciprocated, I can't help but to feel a bit hurt. So we're back at the dorm. Micks asleep as I lay here, attempting to nurse back my ego and any bit of self confidence - focusing hard on the important lesson that Pancho shared with us today in class. I need to stop feeding these emotions if I don't want them hanging around any longer....

I'm hoping to catch a class tomorrow AM...hopefully another dose of Panchos medicine will fix me up. I have one day left of being 23...I want to make sure that I start of 24 RIGHT: feeling fulfilled, loved and goddamn amazing. Man or no man.

Down Down Up, Up Down Up.

Down Down Up, Up Down Up. That's the strumming pattern that I'm teaching to Mick as part of his "Intro To Guitar" lessons. As would be expected, he's a natural. He takes direction well and is quick to pick up the little things that escapes most beginners. And as is HIS way- he's way too difficult on himself and doesn't give enough credit to himself when credit is due. I give him a week before he has a handle on it, a month before he nails it, and half a year before he starts a band of his own.

Sa Wat Dii Kha Chiang Mai!

Hello Chiang Mai!!! Mick and I are SO thankful to be out of busy, boozey Bangkok!! The 12 hour train ride wasn't as painful as I thought it was gonna be....we passed the time playing cards, chatting, snacking, and watching a movie. Our full car cleared out because the aircon was broken- but we stayed. The fans were working fine, it was plenty cool, and we both hate aircon anyways. First up: snacking on pastries we picked up @ the train station. Then a few heated matches of ShitHead, a Dutch card game! I was smoking Micks ass the first two rounds...bent out of shape about losing at his own game, he challenged me to another round. Cocky- I complied. He beat me. Okay, okay- go again! Damnit, he beat me again. Now we were tied. The final round JUST slipped through my fingertips, giving up the World Domination ShitHead title to the Dutchman. To ease the competitive tension, we threw on a movie - the animated movie Over The Hedge. It was super cute and it was nice to pass some time. Mick went to sleep shortly after the movie, and me- Miss Insomnia, opted for a book instead. I finished SHANTARAM, and I pray to god that there is a sequel coming out!!! There are so many more details that this nosey girl wants to know! Still not tired, I tossed and turned, eventually settling into the uncomfortable seats. I was in and out of sleep for a few hours, admiring (or shall I say envying) Micks deep sleep. He moved around to every available seat in the car, somewhere different each time I woke up. He said that he did this to keep his back from cramping. Ha. Arrived in Chiang Mai 30minutes early- hooray! Made our way to our guesthouse, which was still closed, and had some coffee next door. Let the Chiang Mai adventures begin.

Lazy Girls Luxury for Less.

I am lazy when it comes to beauty maintenance. To scrub, buff, polish, moisturize, shave...it is just too much for this gal. A few months before setting out for Asia I discovered the beauty of WAXING! Get this done once every 3 weeks and there is no need to ever use a razor again!! Hooray!! In the beginning I just waxed my bikini line, but once in Cambodia I started doing my underarms. Amazing. Everytime I shave my armpits they have 5oclock shadow about 30minutes later. Wax em and they are golden for weeks!! I went in today to get them done ($3) and figured that for $2 I would get my eyebrows done as well. They didn't seem too bad to me- but I'd never had them done, and I hadn't touched a pair of tweezers in atleast a month. Well goddamn! I look like a new woman! For $5 I got underarms and eyebrows, and was in the chair for a full half hour. This wasn't a wham, bam job....there was alot of TLC that went into it! Next addition to the wax card is my LEGS, cause lord knows that I don't shave them that often either. I followed up my wax sess with a Deeeelicious plate of fresh pad Thai. For $1 I got a sprin roll with some epic vegetarian pad Thai with egg. Yum!

I'm smiling from ear to ear now as I'm typing this up in the cab (on my way to the Indonesian Embassy), and I gotta admit- I have a really good life.

No Sleep Til Chiang Mai.

My sleeping schedule is so out of whack right now. This town never sleeps, and the music is bumping til about 4:30 in the morning. At 1am, our hostels courtyard is full of all it's tenants: on the Internet, drinking beers, or heading out for a meal on the streets. We don't even Head Out for dinner until 10pm! Usually I'd have been asleep for almost an hour! Not in Bangkok. We left for dinner around 10pm, to Ethos...an adorable vegetarian/vegan restaurant that we'd discovered on a back alley earlier in the day. Mick had Panang Curry with brown rice and a mixed fruit shake. I had traditional Arab mint and lemon iced tea, a big green salad, and a side of hummus. So delicious!! We were there for just under three hours...a lovely, leisurely dinner. I'm so grateful to have Mick as a travel partner. He is so easy to just...BE with. I feel completely relaxed and able to be myself. The conversation flows effortlessly, as does the laughter. We got home and I decided to do some yoga. At 1am I rolled out my mat in the dark foyer of the building next door. I has Bonobo BLARING through my headphones- drowning out the 10 different songs that were bumping from surrounding bars. It was raining outside and there were spurts of lightening. It was hot, and the humidity was weighing down on me like a heavy winter blanket. I began with a 20minute meditation. When I was finished I had a thick coat of sweat all over my body. Then- it began. An hour and a half of intense, flowing, dedicated YOGA. The sweat was pouuurrring off of me by the bucketful. I ended with viparita karani (legs up the wall), savasana, and then a refreshing headstand (which in getting pretty damn good at!). It was 3am when I jumped into the shower to rinse off, and about 315 when I crawled into bed. Mick was fast asleep, and I was hoping that a deep sleep was in my near future as well. No such luck. BEEP: Micks watch letting me know it was 4am. BEEP: Micks watch letting me know it was 5am. Fuck. BEEP: Micks watch letting me know it was 6am. Fucking christ- you're KIDDING me!!!???!!! Im tired. I want sleep. It's hot. I'm sweaty. My pillow is uncomfortable. Pillow on the bed, pillow off the bed. Sleeping on my right side. Roll over- left side. On my back, on my stomach....covered in sweat. Fell asleep sometime before 7, had a vivid disturbing nightmare and then was up by 915am. Great. Surrendered to the insomnia and came downstairs to Skype my parents and Julia. Had a cup of tea. Had an iced coffee. Headed out now for some chai and espresso. When I crash, I'm gonna crash hard.

6pm...catch the 13hr night train to Chiang Mai. Oh yeah, waited too long to buy a ticket and missed out on one of the beds. Sleeping in a seat. Brilliant.

Sightseeing in Bangkok.

Decided to mix it up a bit, stray from the two streets that we know intimately- and venture out for some good old fashioned, touristy SIGHTSEEING. We crossed town and caught the Orange Express. For 14 baht (50cents) we took the crowded boat a few stops to Wat Pho...or atleast that's where we hoped to be headed. We ate a delicious lunch in the market, got lost, ended up taking a ferry to Wat Arun, then took in the sights of the beautiful temple. Its not actually that HOT in Thailand, but it's so goddamn humid that you infinitely feel as if you've just stepped out of a hot steamy shower. We both agrees that sightseeing isn't really our thing- yeah, it's nice- but we both agreed to head back home after this temple. Got back and just took a LONG nap. Glorious. Next adventure: Dinner!

Night Yoga, Late Night.

Meesh set off in the morning to pack her bags and prepare herself for her flight to Bali. Mick and I spent the day lounging around. He had my iPod in his ears, and I kept him on a steady rotation of good music while he worked on a video project. I read SHANTARAM (almost finished!) and made a few Skype calls. The Internet connection here in the morning is perfect, so I was able to video chat with my parents for quite awhile. Also had a long time on the phone catching up with my Auntie D. She insists that I turn this lifestyle of mine into a career: reality tv travel show or some kind of travel writer. I FULLY agree- so if there's any of you out there with ideas of how to do this, or have connections to do so- let me know! Anywho- lazy day. Again. Meesh returned around 730 and we all decided to do some yoga. Our place has a small open space in the apartments next door, so we snuck over. The day before I'd done yoga on our roof- but the space was small and the fall was pretty far down. It was a beautiful view though looking out over Bangkok so I skipped a flowy practice and opted for a restorative one. So, the 3 of us had a great session in a dark room next door. Mick is new to yoga and Meesh has only taken a few classes- so I was TOTALLY blown away when they were flowing through my class like seasoned veterans. Brilliant. Mick was not as flexible- but he has incredible strength and he listens really well. Michele is a bit more flexible, with the most open hips that I've ever come across. We worked up a Good sweat, enjoyed a long savasana and then cooled down with a shower.

For Meesh's last night we ate our favorite....street food! After mango salad we smoked some apple Shisha and sipped a cocktail. We dipped into a packed, sweaty, smelly bar to listen to a great cover band and drink overpriced beer. By the time we got home it was 2am...and Meesh's shuttle to the airport was leaving in an hour and a half! So I vowed to stay up with her until she left. We chatted and packed and planned our Indonesian surf adventures...I'll be meeting up with her in less than 4 weeks time! Fell asleep a bit after 4am, probably the latest that I've ever gone to bed!! Let's hope I don't make a habit of this....

Party Boy Fan Club

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