summer.

summer.

I miss summer right about now. I was flipping through pictures from last summer and they brought back so many good memories! As I was looking at them I realized that summer isn't really that far away! Only about 4ish months until warm weather and boat rides! (yay)
Thought I would warm you up with these photos of summer and give you something to look forward to in these freezing winter days. 

train ride.

train ride.

"For about 6 days we travelled to a beautiful beach town called Ao Nang...the beach was gorgeous but how we got there was a different story..."

The mall

While travelling you always manage to come back with stories of crazy adventures. I think this is because there is always chaos when you're thrown into a new culture with a different language, so something almost always doesn't go as planned. After a couple days in Bangkok, we went down south to a beautiful beach town called Ao Nang. The beach was gorgeous, but how we got there was a different story. We decided to eat dinner at one of the malls before our train left at 6:30. Amazed at the mall that was just gorgeous, (check it out above) we took our sweet time eating. What we didn't realize, was that the line of tourists waiting for a cab, was about a mile long and well, we needed a cab pronto to catch our 6:3o train. It was about 6:00 at this point. After looking at the line, my dad just started running...down the streets of Bangkok...and we naturally followed him. Theres a fence-type gate that surrounds the mall and on the other side is traffic...lots of traffic. So after running for about 5 minutes, we realized that this gate goes on forever so there was no other option but to jump that fence and wave down a taxi. So we jumped..into the scooter lane. Thankfully the kind souls driving the scooters stopped and let us stand there while we caught our taxi! Oh and I was in a dress..which got caught on the fence as I was jumping over it...so I just jumped in the taxi and didn't look back at the 20+ people who saw. At this point the taxi driver already thought we were nuts...and we didn't even tell him our train left in 15 minutes at a train station that was 30 minutes away. Somehow, someway, by the grace of God, we arrived at that train station and jumped on the train. And just when I didn't think it could get any worse...

The train didn't sound so bad until I realized it was 3rd class (we booked too late) and that it was 13 hours. Worst experience ever. Seriously! Just look at the picture and you be the judge...

I'm going to admit, I did in fact cry when I sat down and realized I had to sit on this awful train for 13+ hours surrounded by strangers, while being half way across the world. Can I just say, thank God my family was with me! I have some pictures of me and my sisters looking pretty rough about 11 hours into the trip...but you don't want to see those!! Oh and did I mention I decided to wear a dress on this 13 hour train ride? Yep that was fun. 

A bus stop on our way down south

Well after this craziness...we did in fact arrive at a beach. And it was worth it. Can't say I'd take a train again...but the beach was beautiful and maybe next time we'll just take a plane down south! 

thailand day two.

day two.

After getting over the scooters flying by, jet lag, and ugly dogs running around, we decided to visit the school where my sister teaches. The walk there was pretty interesting. It is pretty much down a back ally packed with a million Thai vendors. I'm pretty sure I dodged about 10 scooters and 20 cars, but no worries because there are basically no laws! Anyway, we stopped and got our 25 cent smoothies (starbucks you should be ashamed of yourself) then grabbed breakfast at the restaurant across the street from the school, B's. I'm going to admit, I did not want to eat there at all when I first saw this restaurant...(I don't think you would either) but I tried it and surprisingly it was one of my favourite places to eat in Thailand! 

The street to my sisters school

school time.

Organized!

Visiting the grade one kids at my sisters school was one of the many highlights of the trip. They are precious! Funny story...when we were being introduced to the class, one of the kids yelled out at me: "Why do you look Thai?" I didn't know I looked Thai....maybe it was because I was wearing a high bun that day?! Oh kids...who knows! Props to my big sister though...those kids are hyper active! We spent time reading to them and I remember thinking...when is lunch? They were so happy to see us and it was special to be able to see my sister do what she does best...teach!

-m

My sister and I in front of the school

Making finger paint snowmen...in Thailand? 

thailand first impressions.

I am home from one of the most amazing experiences of my life!

My trip to THAILAND!

Where to begin...well from the first step into the Tokyo airport during one of many layovers, I knew I was in for a big culture shock, but it was not until I first saw Bangkok that I knew how different the world could really be. Here in North America, we don't know how fortunate we are to have everything we need. The place we stayed at was NOT touristy at all, so there were people who lived around there that had next to nothing at all. They ran little markets and thats all they did. Everyday. What amazed me the most was not that they actually could live on so little, but it was how happy they were. Every morning during our smoothie runs (there was a lady who made the world's best strawberry banana smoothies), they would smile the most genuine smile and continue on with their daily life of selling market food, running a little restaurant, or making clothing. They truly inspired me to not only be grateful for the life I have been given, but to also understand that true happiness does not come from the typical North American ideas of success, it comes from doing what you love and making the best of your circumstances no matter where you are in life. These people are some of the friendliest people I have met in my entire life. 

some of the ladies who ran a market on the street

DAY 01: First Impressions

 Now I'm going to be honest...the first day I arrived in Bangkok I wanted to hop back onto a plane to my comfort zone. I did not know that the world could be SO DIFFERENT! I guess I was experiencing culture shock. Actually one of my famous quotes from the trip was: "I wish I would've got more vaccinations" 

As time went on however, I adjusted and looking back on it...I now understand that it's not some gross city and the people aren't 'sketchy'. I know that this is their culture and it's just different than ours. It is truly an amazing part of the world and 'don't judge a book by it's cover' applies here. The first day was crazy. Scooters were flying down the sidewalk left, right, and center and there were people everywhere. Did you know there are something like 12 million people in bangkok? CRAZY. The way they drive is also bizarre. They don't really use their lanes and also do not have speed limits...lets just say I wish I would've worn my seat belt but oh that's another thing...there are none. Funny thing is, I was scared out of my mind the first time I saw how they drive, but I realized that they are actually good drivers and they are pros at how to drive fast, while switching lanes and not shoulder checking! 

unreal strawberry banana smoothie

 The first few days were definitely shocking but I miss it already. Crazy how you can fall in love with a country!

-m 

fresh fruit