Back In Bangkok

Being back in the Mango Lagood Guesthouse in Bangkok for the third time is a little surreal to me. It's familiar... which is nice; but also weird how home-ish it feels for being so far from my actual home. It's the kings 82nd birthday here, so there is a big celebration. It is hard to celebrate though knowing that my time here is so close to being over. I was the last person to fly out today, so goodbyes have been difficult and there have been many. I stayed up until 4am talking with Mike, Julie and Jeff, to say a tearful goodbye to my roommate Kate, then all the LTC crew this afternoon, and then saying goodbye to the leaders and getting in the cab with Julie, Sabrina, Nick and Hanif to head to the airport was SO hard. Right before we left, we all went up to the guesthouse rooftop and sang some last songs while Dennis jammed on the guitar, and we sang a little of those songs in the cab on the way out of Bangkok. I'm excited to go home to Canada now, but also excited to come back to Thailand... and I will be back :P ♥t

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EkHTsc9PU2A

"Listen to the moment, people dance and sing, we're just one big family'' - Jason Mraz

Full Moon Party in Koh Phangan

Koh Phangan is Paradise! We are staying right on Haddyuan beach in hillside bungalows with amazing views and a totally relaxed beach life! I get up in the morning, go and do some yoga on the beach with Kate, enjoy the sun, have some drinks, or just relax. If I could stay anywhere... it would be right here. There isn't much to say about the first two days that we were here other than that we just relaxed ... but night three was all the excitement. Night three was the Full Moon party; 10, 000 people on the beach, all painted with glow paint, dancing, drinking, glowing. We all went over at midnight and then partied until after the sun came up. On the way over, our boat broke down in the middle of the ocean and the waves crashed down on us.. soaking us... until help came. On more than one occasion we hit waves so hard that the entire boat went verticle. All in all though, full mood and Koh Phangan were amazing, and so beautiful. On top of it all, it seemed like one of those places where everyone on our trip came together and really got to know eachother as more than fellow travelers, but learn things about who we are back home.
At the end of it all, I said my second set of goodbyes to those who were moving on their way.. and as much as I know that more goodbyes are coming... I couldn't have asked for a better Free & Easy Family. Cheers to Koh Phangan and Full Moon November 2009. ♥t

Railay... Oh Railay ♥

There was tons to do in Railay! Of course, on the first night none of us got to take advantage of all the fun, because nine of us got super sick and get held up in our bungalows. Having already had my hospital stay in Chiang Mai, being sick made me more home sick than ever. Kate (my equally ill roommate) cried for her boyfriend Ryan, as I cried for my boyfriend Ryan, as we sat together on the bathroom floor with our group leader Jeff. Oh poor Jeff... on the floor with two ladies as they cried for their men lol. And, while I had a master plan to find myself the next flight home and go home to my bed, the sickness soon passed and I had a record breaking day of amazing Railay adventures!
We visited a school and played games and sang songs with the most adorable children. Then, from one extreme to another, we stopped on the way home to go bungee jumping! It felt as if the only thing holding me in was two yoga matts around my ankles and a bungee chord... but it was so much fun! I jumped with Janelle which made it a lot easier. In the first few seconds of the drop all I wanted to do was scream... but Janelle did enough screaming for us both so all I could do was laugh haha!
That night we went to get needle tapped bamboo tattoos after a dinner of crocodile meat, and then sang kareoke at an open mic. night. Then, when it was all over and done with, we hopped on the Ferry and sang along with Dennis on the guitar for the ride to Koh Phangan.
My tattoo was the quote "not all who wander are lost'' written in thai, and the more I travel, the more I feel that way. I can't wait to see what comes next! ♥t

Leonardo Love in Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi has been quite the experience. You've never seen more beautiful sunsets, white sandy beaches, crystal clear waters or had a more relaxing Thai massage then you'll have right here. The first night that we arrived, myself, kate, monica and Janelle went on a night time adventure down the beaches and to the bars (just to get an idea of our surroundings)... and what started as a casual walk, turned into tequilla shots and jumping rope... with a rope a made of fire.
Day two was SO relaxing! We lay out on the beach all morning, and then took a boat tour in the afternoon to Maya Bay (and the beach where they shot.. the beach lol... with Leonardo Dicaprio) where we went snorkling, swimming and ate a yummy curry dinner. At one point, I snorkled under the water with pineapple in hand and was swarmed by hundreds of the most amazing, brightly colored fish! We then watched the sunset and went to see ''Job To Do'' play live accross the island.
We stayed in Koh Phi Phi for such a short time, and while I did have a minor bout of home sickness here, it was a beautiful stop on the trip that I definitely will not forget. ♥t