Thai eats

So, I figured we needed to talk about the food in Thailand and how we've been eating it considering it's still fresh in our minds....before we get too Laos on you.
I guess you always start with the general, so to sum it up it's been great, both in flavor and in the fact that that none of us have been puking our guts out....... yet (and now, the proverbial knock on wood.... I doubt that's a proverb) So yeah, tons of pad thai, tons of fried rice....we like to keep it cheap even though nothing costs over 4 dollars. In a sense, we've been playing it safe at the restaurants, not so much because we're cautious but just because there's a lesser number next to the pad thai, fried noodles and rice, and the soups which Jesse digs. No fish, no pig hoofs, no dog (haven't seen any....pass the word to Sadie, Metro, and Maren).
Jesse is by far the most adventrous of us opting for the street vendors before anything else, which i give him some credit for (I don't know why), but it's mostly because the guy needs to eat 10 Thai meals a day to satisfy his gut and the vendors are usually much cheaper. Adam and I dabble here and there though (especially here in Luang Prabang). In Thailand, Adam ate nothing but fried rice and pad thai... he needed a pad thai fix everyday and he's going through withdrawals here in Laos, getting all jumpy and hallucinating. As for me, I think Adam and Jesse think I'm anorexic simply because I've been sticking to three meals a day, but in my defense (which I have the liberty of offering seeing as how this is my post) I enjoy not overeating, which can be devastating in the heat. Also, I've vowed to supplement with fruits, but that hasn't happened at all.
As for the spices, we've all had some curries, but mostly watered down. I think I handle the spice better than the other 2 but that's definitely not saying much at all. One day in Pai before a bike ride, Jesse had this chili fried rice that he ate as fast as he could because it was so spicy. He didn't talk to us for half an hour; I think his brain was actually fried.
And as for any western food, we've pretty much avoided it except for the occasional sandwich and burger. Jesse actually ate a burger with his chili fried rice in Pai (he claims everyday that he's a "growing boy")....he ordered a BLT and they brought out a pork burger that a vampire couldn't penetrate. He ate it though, and then another lady brought out a BLT and he realized he ate someone else's pork jerky. There's plenty of other food stories that maybe we'll add in the commentary but I'll leave you with this for now.

North...

Another day, same old, and yet totally different. Nothing's to be expected or regretted. Everything's to be experienced to the fullest. How else did you expect us to roll? Just a lot of fun, living here, living now, not thinking too hard about what's next. Just hoping for enough time left over for the south - Beaches, Bali? Who knows where we'll end up. Anything's plausible...I mean, we're already in the North of Thailand..can't get that much further out.

But we're thinking of everyone back home. Friends, family, moms and dads. Relax. We are.

Peace.

Pics In Order: Chiang Mai Zoo - hungry giraffes, Oh my buddha! Dill in prayer at Doi Suthep, Again, Muay Thai styles, The Chiang Rai chill shack (today).

Check off Chiang Mai

Adams flat tire was a set back yes, but I merely made the best of it =) I don't think the guys were bitter at me riding down the easy terrain while they walked... but maybe waiting for them with a cool beverage at each street side hut was a bit much... But hey, I was the first one to see where we should of turned off, and the first one to map out the turnoff to the pool... a leader you could say !

Now that I have defended myself-- all three of us are feeling refreshed and rested after a night in Chiang Mai... upon arrival we decided to get a taste of home with an enormous double cheese burger and fries. Overpriced yes, but tasty. The regret was that 10 minutes after our meal we discovered the biggest Sunday market in Thailand.... for the Victoria crowd, picture Douglas street lined with hundreds of vendors selling clothes, jewellrey, paintings, carvings etc etc and then all the parking lots crowded with food stands and people vying for a stool seat to eat their 25cent curry..... my fav was the green curry with coconut milk

Today is the last day we have to conquer Chiang Mai and it has involved the Zoo (great local species but as always, semi depressing).. the big attraction for the Thai people was refrigerated penguins.. the Zoo was only in passing on our way too Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep.. a towering temple that you have to walk many steps to reach.. amazing stuff and a great view of the entire city, but unfortunately camera compatibility problems continue. They will start to come in piles.

Lastly, a quick shout out to Joe Brooker, who's Colts pulled out a stellar 2 minute drill to take their arch rival, the Patriots.... we caught the 4th quarter live at 10 am... If the super bowl is being televised in Loas, we'll find it!

Pai and Other Things

Pai:

4 hour bus trip from Chiang Mai, windy roads, old buses. Both trips, there and back, at least one co-passenger at the brink of letting everything in their stomach into a plastic bag. Nervous times for all those involved.

Small town, many tourists, but one of the only places where you'll find locals and tourists living and partying together. Almost so touristy that it becomes OK. Western business owners, white musicians, hippies of every color.

Rented bikes for 2 of the 3 days. Everyone else rented motorbikes, but we saw one too many head injuries and were down for the workout anyway, well we weren't but we thought so. Rode 2 hours in the desert sun to see a waterfall without water falling on the first day. The ride back made it worthwhile though. Countryside flowing.
Second day, rode to see another waterfall. Missed the turnoff by about 7 km. Turned around and Adam blew his back tire. I got off and walked with him as Jesse rode every 1km and just waited for us. Still bitter. Decided against the waterfall and went to the pool instead. Great decision.
A couple nights of drinking, sleeping in huts and that was Pai.

Quick note about my last post. Not to worry, we aren't jaded, just that the tourist/traveller divide is an element of this experience I thought needed some air time. We're all smiles, and taking all the good and bad, the ups and downs.

I was hoping to post a couple of pictures, but it's always a battle to get your camera connected to some of these computers. Next time.....hopefully.

Small World

It's funny how sometimes we read about places, and picture them to be another world, almost as if they don't exist. When you're finally there, you realize how real it is, and how connected everyone is. Even if we don't speak the same language, there are a lot of universals that are present everywhere that we all can relate to.

With tourists everywhere, there's really not many spots you can go to that are truly untouched. It makes it feel like a small world. Just today I saw a guy wearing a Storm t-shirt (Tofino surf shop). Just made me feel that really, we're not too far from home.

Pics: Chiang Mai, Tuk-Tuk action, Elephant rides - hills of Chiang Mai, Took - The God, Pai resort.

The Tourist

I guess you could say I thought we were coming as travellers, but it seems more and more that we are tourists. Victoria and San Francisco, you are all familiar....bulky cameras, high shorts, dorky hats, funny language, awkward movements....we are the same give or take some details.

It is far less romantic than we had envisioned, or at least I. We are not in the in-crowd (locals), and it seems often that we are not even in the out-crowd (that is those "world travellers" who have advice for every city we go, not necessarily things to do but things not to do. They dress right and chain smoke).

But here we are, still dressed the same, perhaps even goofier than we would back home. The tan hasn't engulfed us, and as all of you know, our facial hair is sparse.

We are neither here nor there.

I'm not sure what there is to this. Whether we embrace being a tourist, whether we start hiding our home identity in new clothes, whether we start hitchiking to the jungle....I don't know. I guess something I take away is that travelling in itself is nothing really, it is always apart from something, and that the buddha won't find you and you it simply by leaving for somewhere else. Perhaps travelling just shows you the various entrances, some cool things along the way. And whatever it is you do find, you will have to do as a tourist of some kind.

Hill Tribes to Night Vibes

Listen Up! Ok, so you all know we've been in Thailand for a week or whatever (to be honest, I don't think any of us keep track of days or dates, or durations). Currently in Chiang Mai, just back from a 3 day hike through the jungles, banana/papaya trees, bamboo forests, waterfalls of the mountains out here. Yes, we visited, interacted, and stayed with hill tribes throughout the area, gave our eyes some of the most amazing scenery they have ever witnessed most likely, and have generally been humbled to say the least. Whatever, big deal. It wasn't until last night that it happened. A couple Changs, and a Leo and we're out the door, on our way to the night life. Bout to reak some farang (foreigner) havoc on Chiang Mai (or so we think). First bar - cover band of about 20 locals who rotate through Britney, JT, Pussycat Dolls...pretty funny, but we embraced it all like we were teenage school girls - I think they embraced us too, we were the life of the crowd. No biggie. Second bar we go. Small club banger, some hardcore vibes, farangs for days - we're out. Last bar, one that was passed quickly earlier this evening. We stumble in (mind you, we're at LEAST a few singha pitchers deep), the waitress sits us down. Tables are small, round, candles on each, posters of Hendrix, Marley, The Greatful Dead on the walls. On stage, a guitarist - Santana look a like. We open our souls to some of the most mind melting riffs that fingers have ever riffed on an acoustic guitar. It tore our eye sockets out and disintegrated our ear lobes. Afterwards we each tell this God (at least we're in the works of basing a whole religion, a way of life if you will around this human) that it was the best show we've ever seen. His reply "For all the 20,000 soldiers they send to Iraq, we need 3 of you over here." We'll see ya tomorrow at 10:30 Tuk.

We are finally coming into our own here in thailand, feeling "Saibai" or comfortable and laid back. With time to kill before our overnight bus ride to Chiang Mai we ventured for our first thai message. Some of you yoga masters would find it relaxing but I feel like its a workout that need a lot of mental preparation (anyone seen me try and touch my feet?). I had the satisfaction of getting thrown around by a male massuse- its hilarious, he beat the crap out of me, and it felt great. Were loving the northern vibe of mountains, good air, and a prize city in terms of tradition and history. We were funneled into a guest house with a heavy Isreal influence, both in its menu and people, which means we could be the only english speaking dudes on our jungle adventure. Never a problem with Ryan around, as locals love him! the guy is culturally universal.. Tommorow were off on a three day trek north that includes elephant riding, hanging out with snakes that dont like humans, bamboo rafting, and visiting and staying with some well known hill tribes, ah wow! I dont call myself an entertaining writer so in coming blogs I promise some outrageous photo's of urban and rural madness. As for today, were going to check out friday night thai boxing, Muey Thai! I feel good about my betting skills.

small in southeast asia

We are here/there. 20 hours of plane-riding and we end up half-way around the world. We got in to Bangkok at 230 in the morning, wandered around the airport with wide red eyes and decided to just dive right in to thick of things. A 45 minute taxi ride brought us to Soi Ram Buttri Road which is just a block away from the famous Khao San road (which you might remember from the movie the Beach). The street actually seemed pretty alive; we weren't the only foreigners arriving at the strangest hours. No rooms were available, but plenty of bar space was, so we anchored ourselves in one and started to fight through our first sips of alcohol. We ended up meeting a few people that first night/morning; in fact, one girl was from victoria and she said she recognized us from 90's night at Lucky Bar (she works at Lucky) ... pretty funny. And again, last night there was a girl from the Sunshine Coast that recognized Jesse. Small world....maybe....
Bangkok is a crazy city...lots of smog, lots of people, a chaotic blend of east/west, ancient/modern. We hiked around the city yesterday with some destinations in mind, and it only took a thousand wrong turns to find what we were looking for: a park, a temple, and some statues. The maps here aren't that reliable, but that's not so much the map makers fault as it is the lack of any real street designations. Even the locals seemed perplexed when forced to use the map as a reference to direct us......fingers pointed us in every possible direction. I had a feeling that would happen so I let Adam and Jesse pick out the destinations and the routes and just went along for the ride. I figured my job would be getting us back. It was a good city trek that took us around 4 or 5 hours of almost constant walking. When we got back, all of us took a good nap from 5 pm until 11pm, which was obviously the smartest thing we could do to combat our jet lag. Some dinner at 1130, some beers, and next thing we know we're awake for another sunrise. Another sleep from 7am to 11, some lunch, some reading, and here we are....1:15pm, Day 2. We leave in 4 hours for Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand on a 12-hour bus ride, should be fun. That is where you'll probably be hearing from us next unless Adam or Jesse decide to post in the next couple of hours. So until then, be happy on the other side of the world.

Bay Area

We've been down in the bay for a few days now, relaxing, hanging, seeing the sights. This is a trip in itself - Berkely, Mt. Tamalpais, Stinson Beach, Santa Cruz, Mavericks, San Francisco....Everyday has been full, and the weather's been really nice. UC Berkely was an amazing campus, and we got to rush the field, Tomlinson style. Next time we'll have to actually bring a football. Tamalpais and Stinson Beach were really crazy. You can see the whole bay area from Mt. Tamalpais (http://www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=471), after a long windy drive up, and a 10 minute hike to the peak. A lot of the terrain down here is hilly, really rolling, dry and grassy and the beaches get decent peelers, although nobody was in the water at Stinson. I guess down here it wasn't considered good surf, but in Tofino people would be grovelling over the slop. Non-stop dropping in on one another. Santa Cruz was another story. Steamer lane was bringing in the glassy barrels - lot of humans in the water. Mavericks wasn't on, but still gnarly (http://www.mavsurfer.com/), and San Fran was pretty gorgeous, although it smelled like *ss.
Ok, this is the first post, so I'm just typing straight forward, who knows how the narrative will progress as the adventure moves on - might get sloppy, might get concise, but hopefully it won't get boring. To anyone reading this, we probably know you personally, so post your comments whenever you have the time. We'll try and post regularily, or whenever we can get online. So stay tuned. PEACE!