tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54622965410236590742024-03-05T14:47:16.994-08:00A BREATH OF THE EXOTIC...Emily's solo travel adventure through SE Asia and beyondemilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comBlogger38125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-50351504738023728052010-01-08T10:23:00.000-08:002010-01-08T10:40:34.055-08:00to view more photos from my travels...<div>It was difficult to keep blogging once I arrived in India because the internet shops were less comfortable, power often shut off during a session (causing me to loose all my work) and usually the computers were too slow to upload photographs.</div><div><br /></div><div>Over the past months since my return back to California, I've spent numerous hours sorting through the massive collection.</div><div><br /></div>visit my photo hosting site, where I've selected and organized by theme:<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); "><a href="http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Femeraldsparkles.zenfolio.com%2F&h=a305e6e86db59e4c9607dc521e56f356" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" onmousedown="UntrustedLink.bootstrap($(this), "a305e6e86db59e4c9607dc521e56f356", event)" style="cursor: pointer; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: underline; "><span>http://emeraldsparkles.zen</span><wbr><span class="word_break" style="display: block; float: left; margin-left: -10px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; "></span>folio.com/</a></span><br /><div><br /></div><div>or friend me on facebook to see more:</div><div>http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=708122982</div><div><br /></div><div>Hope your holidays were warm and bright!</div><div>enjoy. <3</div></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-84194500322617513482009-06-19T06:34:00.002-07:002009-06-25T08:15:51.294-07:00ऋषिकेश Rishikesh and हर्दिवर Hardiwar<div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYr0Ee43NanrjUOkZk2zoXxslhqi0Wp99ZDbuUymoq4xyU1yAnW6704i6tJXjCUYW89Fj3otO6rrliuQ4Nvl_Ss_HyBcSQETQPDQicHyPjXqxeIV3YHTiiBp3Re2K_RQIwokUbh_tkVQ/s1600-h/DSC09513.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349035370557341698" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 223px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGYr0Ee43NanrjUOkZk2zoXxslhqi0Wp99ZDbuUymoq4xyU1yAnW6704i6tJXjCUYW89Fj3otO6rrliuQ4Nvl_Ss_HyBcSQETQPDQicHyPjXqxeIV3YHTiiBp3Re2K_RQIwokUbh_tkVQ/s400/DSC09513.JPG" border="0" /></a>Early evening on the Ganges River.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qV5WGKhUuOHguTdb9dq_8PoDTr8PP45w-3UNpCz0pwdNCp9-nP6__GYRO9fifZ1N1aLZvaBsNNtZEOKQ_O5Ab18B2HClOzGJHSz8w7vqxjeA1BzDpS6i-Z_JNlbDYpKL9cH5s7hZQ7E/s1600-h/DSC09557.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349035385647409346" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-qV5WGKhUuOHguTdb9dq_8PoDTr8PP45w-3UNpCz0pwdNCp9-nP6__GYRO9fifZ1N1aLZvaBsNNtZEOKQ_O5Ab18B2HClOzGJHSz8w7vqxjeA1BzDpS6i-Z_JNlbDYpKL9cH5s7hZQ7E/s400/DSC09557.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP1yGmXVIBwcmXgNycidTLJbmb2OFKIFbirm497hCN4K1Xhyphenhyphendwr4VluxQLHjFpT3dQBbKoMdThlo_7YFxemNpVrExzybFAkBMr2kggO1y4dclsBF0La4qv6Ou3d5bqIfBAn-XCXytz00/s1600-h/DSC09573.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349035390825992722" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCP1yGmXVIBwcmXgNycidTLJbmb2OFKIFbirm497hCN4K1Xhyphenhyphendwr4VluxQLHjFpT3dQBbKoMdThlo_7YFxemNpVrExzybFAkBMr2kggO1y4dclsBF0La4qv6Ou3d5bqIfBAn-XCXytz00/s400/DSC09573.JPG" border="0" /></a>Enjoying one of many delicious Indian meals with Liz and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Suzan</span>. Eating is just so pleasurable when you can share with friends who love food!!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5C5zh3tY4sYl_hsUwEx2U45IwM3YYII1o0cCaW53lnAQ_Th-CkaxdUoi65T_KjFEv_J1jYlrbzmes2U7JlA2G1OQ9Y4OBKB3-bH9e48qPR4NY6XZ9z-YI6jXJ3bUACegXGowO2ps6JJw/s1600-h/DSC09543.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349035380032376642" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5C5zh3tY4sYl_hsUwEx2U45IwM3YYII1o0cCaW53lnAQ_Th-CkaxdUoi65T_KjFEv_J1jYlrbzmes2U7JlA2G1OQ9Y4OBKB3-bH9e48qPR4NY6XZ9z-YI6jXJ3bUACegXGowO2ps6JJw/s400/DSC09543.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;">New Delhi train station</span></span>. Curious observers.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkC9YqjnkjC5YvOYFVb4T-SymnMjlfiwzdL0XcPL1H-hwn-QNptLIFOuENv8m6zKo5OJi3UFWrO9PBGW2xWsdtes2ajb82na6LymDmkjVMx1u_saet2EmMcql9wenO9abBCW5CYJR4qc/s1600-h/DSC09488.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5349035368822567858" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 237px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDkC9YqjnkjC5YvOYFVb4T-SymnMjlfiwzdL0XcPL1H-hwn-QNptLIFOuENv8m6zKo5OJi3UFWrO9PBGW2xWsdtes2ajb82na6LymDmkjVMx1u_saet2EmMcql9wenO9abBCW5CYJR4qc/s400/DSC09488.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-35142338555477011732009-06-19T06:33:00.001-07:002009-06-25T08:35:38.155-07:00From Mumbai to Dreamy उदैपुर Udaipur<span style="font-size:100%;">Liz arrived in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Mumbai</span> six hours later than scheduled, as her flight was delayed and re-routed through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Abu</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Dhabi</span> airport. After our joyful reunion at New Bengal (a stuffy and claustrophobic hotel in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Colaba</span>), we booked the next bus (16 hours) north-east to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Rajastan</span> State. </span><div><span style="font-size:100%;">During our remaining hours in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Mumbai</span>, we took a taxi tour to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Chowpatty</span> Beach for lunch and our driver decided to take the "scenic" route through the city's slums. It was heartbreaking to see people living in such squalor. We grew silent as we passed through this area, my throat and chest constricted with sadness.<br /><br />Currently I'm reading a beautifully written and fascinating book, called "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Shantaram</span>." It's a true story about a man who escapes from an Australian prison to Bombay, living as a slum-dweller. In the opening chapter he details his first impression of this depressing place.<br /><br />"As the many motorways became one, and the trees disappeared, clutched at my heart with talons of shame. Like brown and black dunes, the acres of slums rolled away from the roadside, and met the horizon with dirty heat-haze mirages. The miserable shelters were patched together from rags, scraps of plastic and paper, reed mats and bamboo sticks... It seemed impossible that a modern airport, full of prosperous and purposeful travellers, was only kilometers away from those crushed and cindered dreams..." Although important to see how those less fortunate live, we were relieved to board the bus to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Udaipur</span>. Like I've said before, traveling has helped me evaluate my life, providing an entirely new perspective. In witnessing extreme poverty first-hand, I'm reminded of the countless blessings I've been given in this life....<br /></span></div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />This fancy hotel was just next door to our guesthouse. We made use of the pool facility, sipping cool watermelon juice, reading and sunbathing.</span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rcVUw_kG-i1nwRyQ8va3RuvLxaOM-m-gkQ8ZoWsya9uj6bn6aVJaUH9OCwOvzctfswvfFcZl0asgPM56yiKzWE52f7D08lWTM3m2n_B1LDmY4tJ3V9xkjOvarkQrdQOXrSxL5ohJClA/s1600-h/DSC09383.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351172914439375906" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 223px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1rcVUw_kG-i1nwRyQ8va3RuvLxaOM-m-gkQ8ZoWsya9uj6bn6aVJaUH9OCwOvzctfswvfFcZl0asgPM56yiKzWE52f7D08lWTM3m2n_B1LDmY4tJ3V9xkjOvarkQrdQOXrSxL5ohJClA/s400/DSC09383.JPG" border="0" /></a> <span style="font-size:100%;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Udaipur</span> is known as the "romantic city of lakes" but unfortunately when we visited the lake was dry. This is the view from our "Lake-side" guesthouse, just imagine glistening water where you see a herd of sheep, next to children and buffalo wading.</span><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5H5Fd1h-RQeVlrzipYk1AG2zhyhzFKtSb8ZmorCNWJ7QScgyvWxSF8pesucq80CUQquTzMS2kt6XDe1ah4HLhKHHjx-6BQfkR-n-vT3fWijsO94q0edMnKzGEeX_zZKslf6NFuaZaU8/s1600-h/DSC09470.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351172944235160114" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs5H5Fd1h-RQeVlrzipYk1AG2zhyhzFKtSb8ZmorCNWJ7QScgyvWxSF8pesucq80CUQquTzMS2kt6XDe1ah4HLhKHHjx-6BQfkR-n-vT3fWijsO94q0edMnKzGEeX_zZKslf6NFuaZaU8/s400/DSC09470.JPG" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-size:100%;"> Royal </span>burial<span style="font-size:100%;"> grounds, bathing and cremation site.</span><br /></span><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351172933329728514" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJb6Txu7Iu8sj_rzjncrjfPtma74DFyn0mnr7k0P3S1b2AfdBF8p12MyFbLdhsVtfj_s2Fd8XtoH07viWvHAHQeNGgeZOXMKRXJHKEgCHJyjGxmpnf7orsjxb8Whyphenhyphen840LVqHDCgykVYxY/s400/DSC09445.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351172926197530754" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJbtNfZimtnCbYWNtXL7NiekYdexoPxB5q7OVL1Gbj3X_w56SdxjJqIsCQgIjxd8Lis-g8-lpCYKJSk5LPvehVBy7fxTaMYYZTbmo4rv5G3vc_IUpLW1oLGoAxHQJSnnrJUuZUh_i6gB0/s400/DSC09425.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5351172916000713330" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 284px; height: 348px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PhKjuQNfkShg80PJ-vVKRdlLJZ0KPfv7d4osdW58MVVaMmxq-v4jA7edSyYV7PPSBE7dz_eVZlNeiiGPxEpxT0k_sPHMA8lKJTuS8WTDFUT_K9Ck-xlxMTUprxmTkaKi2vK-uRYkFFI/s400/DSC09405.JPG" border="0" /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-16896891159783646312009-06-11T09:39:00.000-07:002009-06-25T07:45:37.810-07:00Arrival in Mumbai मुंबईI snapped these photos below, on my first day in Mumbai (Bombay) - June 10th. I had a full day to roam around Colaba district on my own, before meeting up with Liz the following morning. Wow. India! is all I have to say!! Mumbai is a city like no other, more densely populated than any I've ever experienced before. It is home to 13 million people, and I found it shocking to hear that over half of those live in slums.<br />Just crossing the street is a challenge because you are competing with cows, motorbikes, goats, buses, men pulling ox carts, cyclists, barefoot begging children, and rickshaws. It's chaotic to say the least. A full bombardment to the senses. Smells wafting from perfume shops competing with mounds of stinky trash. Hindi music blaring at top volume, harmonizing with a flow of beeping car horns. New exotic tastes of sugar cane juice from a street-side vendor (probably not the most sanitary, but I've survived), sampling mango candy and dried figs from spice shops...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2aFwBC5urMGmY-TQHiFFDUfO494dkLVU797AtJET2kpn6MkmKN7zyYbqttblqgtg49722js-elQXN72kmXtcRrcj1xVdjahYFHf6Hfk-xR1oOAuaZ16ZJsCxWbt6OSEv01ZVcE1Pvms/s1600-h/DSC09341.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346114461822288402" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 216px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL2aFwBC5urMGmY-TQHiFFDUfO494dkLVU797AtJET2kpn6MkmKN7zyYbqttblqgtg49722js-elQXN72kmXtcRrcj1xVdjahYFHf6Hfk-xR1oOAuaZ16ZJsCxWbt6OSEv01ZVcE1Pvms/s400/DSC09341.JPG" border="0" /></a>Goats, cows and motorbikes a plenty.<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_tF0i389fqbnfaXTj21StHGrJEt_JR1iDfT9YV7dM7D8scugdnqqyfT_PL5c5QhCWFs6ZkhnP3HClI5tPMSaYWuKUyJgFWw8oBn77kF0xEcPPZlD8-A74RnPjS-jT148LCAywW54XLs/s1600-h/DSC09339.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346114456327572146" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 206px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje_tF0i389fqbnfaXTj21StHGrJEt_JR1iDfT9YV7dM7D8scugdnqqyfT_PL5c5QhCWFs6ZkhnP3HClI5tPMSaYWuKUyJgFWw8oBn77kF0xEcPPZlD8-A74RnPjS-jT148LCAywW54XLs/s400/DSC09339.JPG" border="0" /></a>How these men are able to nap on the noisy street, in the blazing heat, is beyond me....<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5vGkaHX7NEyRwGo5kKNblldLl9ac2UFTz5Z9p9rVOZmB8iSymt_H4D1YyOkKJp9HL6d8zXkWNtC-nXj8eW5pNHkA3Hvxq_wznMirTPvlNCirSembLBgO6-D_DLv7kz6yNep7p8ZEkDA/s1600-h/DSC09332.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346114447653026402" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 219px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK5vGkaHX7NEyRwGo5kKNblldLl9ac2UFTz5Z9p9rVOZmB8iSymt_H4D1YyOkKJp9HL6d8zXkWNtC-nXj8eW5pNHkA3Hvxq_wznMirTPvlNCirSembLBgO6-D_DLv7kz6yNep7p8ZEkDA/s400/DSC09332.JPG" border="0" /></a>Near Crawford Market. Betel nut, saffron, cardamon, anise and various other spices.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpdnJUngulHxyad0mc702w2LgiWDB4tJMARugP834o20KUvTHI1r89jWRwdT4cQWrcftY45jmoawfhnrKi19fUAfmTw33cCd9zRmQqPosBC7qnmTcGS8WfGWKd6pjXoxLG6RtrGLLPWw/s1600-h/DSC09325.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346114439955640898" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 203px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSpdnJUngulHxyad0mc702w2LgiWDB4tJMARugP834o20KUvTHI1r89jWRwdT4cQWrcftY45jmoawfhnrKi19fUAfmTw33cCd9zRmQqPosBC7qnmTcGS8WfGWKd6pjXoxLG6RtrGLLPWw/s400/DSC09325.JPG" border="0" /></a>Fabric market displaying rich Indian colors and fabrics. I walked through narrow hallways, along the lengthy rows of sari tailors sipping chai and greeting me with friendly smiles and a welcoming "namaste."<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-_ljh2g-74XWPK9OsW6oXwosT5mEve2efg0Yn1velMNyn0O7sEaCmahlAC1BXDU600PR3bhxBm4qlQj1GMD4DbfqmZbibUO1KqPBmo9bKWb8IYOCrklHaRy6i1erIDqrkFS8mI7tTqE/s1600-h/DSC09309.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5346114437547713218" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 215px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2-_ljh2g-74XWPK9OsW6oXwosT5mEve2efg0Yn1velMNyn0O7sEaCmahlAC1BXDU600PR3bhxBm4qlQj1GMD4DbfqmZbibUO1KqPBmo9bKWb8IYOCrklHaRy6i1erIDqrkFS8mI7tTqE/s400/DSC09309.JPG" border="0" /></a></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-78566943645330732342009-06-07T04:01:00.000-07:002009-06-08T03:48:11.745-07:00Cameron Highlands and jungle trekking<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltdBh2L5QLD8cySA7XVbwtq0en3vT2kSS9G9-ZkJ2TS8Y3QWhc_ebGISsAHVSiYeG6Pu6WjjllMiPhFV24TRbDzOUJgMNikOFOiBLSuduRwxe5BPvpYWCUk7IkogjG89RXmZNZRBmuPk/s1600-h/DSC08956.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344540958041650130" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 225px; height: 356px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgltdBh2L5QLD8cySA7XVbwtq0en3vT2kSS9G9-ZkJ2TS8Y3QWhc_ebGISsAHVSiYeG6Pu6WjjllMiPhFV24TRbDzOUJgMNikOFOiBLSuduRwxe5BPvpYWCUk7IkogjG89RXmZNZRBmuPk/s400/DSC08956.JPG" border="0" /></a>Discover of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Rafflessia</span> bloom. A natural oddity. World's largest bloom. Parasitic fungus. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344540960059217362" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 205px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir74Pm0YTjNxpdD1MbY9CDsdUyKCZ9odu3yqGHSRSL0AqtW0TkgygXCHuxmOiUHoR_OJKJhoievak9bst7IiwIv1ZOghASFS5Er2QoVAOxNDr7c3psGhucaqMAq8NyocUzpMo2pOKpP68/s400/DSC08948.JPG" border="0" />Camouflaged green vine snake along jungle path.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344540955443661650" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 199px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VtIc0aYq09leieBXI7uxK0G_cZ5SX0kRITKqpT2hlANCD3Ppjr2LAEG1wFh-okmH0rDothcQBS086CY3jyIyhQJk3ezW9Jlh3cH7IEPykG_90bInfWNGyqfHwMiwvg7FQVTJrseVnSM/s400/DSC08938.JPG" border="0" /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Boh</span></span> tea plantation, looking much like hills of velvet.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344540949509736050" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 215px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHGe3itTPgpaliNr-ud90hqmlqeTy_FFdUEmM-WWqUkc94Zz-zJTCz1dRUrOPPgUOSq7H4kfn5Pr7rabK5gN33Xs2XvXaJxscfJfy2PEbW7HS-OrTEXYZIz7lNpuvUrfwvXBVB_pJ9Jo/s400/DSC08923.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344540947976365522" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 205px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXM4rJDpYNPFRbsX14w7wQ5UUDXm4acoAnnmAOeWNZ5qcK9C7dW74ep3ZU-rduxr5gb1vW0wcql1UFppK-iv93NnmDsxxVjKcBHfL_hGAfRgTsyLfHvpxxWOx3EjJ1jRLfoHIyqHxTX1g/s400/DSC08896.JPG" border="0" />emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-19526732193372932042009-06-07T03:42:00.000-07:002009-06-08T03:46:29.370-07:00Kuala LumpurMuslim mosque in Little India district<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344537554886003058" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 229px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTelf5c5gY3f6gADqIeB3IBrl1YcHxBDEWW_CM7CdERmXCRTKd_n5DT5Y7JpeBbNXWuhBbvS8m9akednHkpbew_-kTzHeRaeC6-0ST4d2LywUdDKbsrdgueVTLkqCyrSH40ZdDFy_qrjg/s400/DSC08633.JPG" border="0" />KL Towers - symbol of modern city<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344537560446460034" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 260px; height: 297px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKuvJrZuBS4OS3waLfNok4ukd29zFoNAQGnTpVHLQZwmfvfUKPWxGS9H7p-eGZ9vjYKXYsIzC6XkSqNXwYy4Swx4-xBAOpsSgpJYntMzAI2kf6yjuEMscsUdsCDYnrcCsZtv6-7ndx7cc/s400/DSC08727.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344537550278012194" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 222px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3WQxD13JJhK8KIEcAPe764LWelZYPgvvkOg-2MHj2kL5GiLkzmweGKOLPmVpY0gUk4kDXahjoMTPaHt_9pnXkZEFKWCsdCrO_rMUfLToKU1Qu6RXrl9O2pPaj6rOfMaqZJbhGGJtOkm0/s400/DSC08619.JPG" border="0" />Batu Caves - it's difficult from this photograph to see the true size. Consists of a series of colorful Hindu temples and shrines inside an expansive cavernous space, about an hour bus ride outside the city. <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344537561676321538" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 225px; height: 301px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK6KUzpTEz_21ue5JG-WZ0EkNnVD5uLoLVfuKqRXWWXyLeMeIwpjE60AEiUSNDXsgntOwxg0lmihDtQrhq9ovJEAQ5iA7TK0uRyEJzrWJLJ9o_sLz3C8htTHUjUjkcDvUVFVxLQDpZO5k/s400/DSC08784.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlL1NouQ7cQ4fBKH3gwyjPfczsD1BD6f9fqR62q1O9fpMFyJay64iXm1RuWOXdxR9xImDiSdA09woBWBs4pm_HyF2PYlH3WNpopk5_Rvc3MrvJq_NlKVtqg4_jfSaX4y52Ioj2opz6uc/s1600-h/DSC08842.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344537566720925650" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 225px; height: 319px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlL1NouQ7cQ4fBKH3gwyjPfczsD1BD6f9fqR62q1O9fpMFyJay64iXm1RuWOXdxR9xImDiSdA09woBWBs4pm_HyF2PYlH3WNpopk5_Rvc3MrvJq_NlKVtqg4_jfSaX4y52Ioj2opz6uc/s400/DSC08842.JPG" border="0" /></a>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-23340133439488070212009-06-07T03:26:00.000-07:002009-06-08T03:31:43.447-07:00Burobudur Temple and surrounding village<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEp8TH6LylmhTPiLt_omTLdYkUcRZrs5nWTJNhQCMngRUbelwFJiLHyuZ_ScJl2LDWTXQGDj4I_wBoK8SlpgoQi2ykoA6CzXFlPG1H7bUOrYF2_hQttw6rvMlnK2Nb7i95Fy8h0fnhyphenhyphen3w/s1600-h/DSC08602.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344533048242260706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 225px; height: 336px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEp8TH6LylmhTPiLt_omTLdYkUcRZrs5nWTJNhQCMngRUbelwFJiLHyuZ_ScJl2LDWTXQGDj4I_wBoK8SlpgoQi2ykoA6CzXFlPG1H7bUOrYF2_hQttw6rvMlnK2Nb7i95Fy8h0fnhyphenhyphen3w/s400/DSC08602.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344533045386283394" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 232px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKfFh8wBjv57Zb_2iLFhTbIpDknxrMW9Jp9vfjBNnct7uBVtChd9jNe7-vzYUFczr3WQp0YDID3rdzUuvGFQImxjkeCLtJLbMG5z-C1KSXcDZivw6vk88G2GeVhcCUx9yH5dAXjLluCs/s400/DSC08595.JPG" border="0" /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344533034452989250" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 218px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0_IibjwLNpoJm9JavHHDhS9f3-46mYqGoazZOFYRHFZhFoq_aOVe_COAQGomtx8DiPpFyK4MLmSne821156hi88OaWfGLWzVEmTUi2KE5xH92WnStGspkxi4Rre9s5Vz4bG-OH3S4H4/s400/DSC08561.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344533031231197634" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 226px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf_gpjKSiARJl9WCbcAd337zR88Xb99uamxG6MdJuzekgowgT_3ytzkCG9acKZ0-iaFcaI23mFbgY1DgEDuvyu97Z1lTiDD1mVaYcJPS8uznvrgWAoJtbQOTC2O76skKJR-GlCRpKiJwU/s400/DSC08530.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344533023189904306" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbRkdTRBGHN9ijNJDV2Pnzp3ZiRgx9GqrMC4CdC_aKFrY9bzfpWrOfK96sW_paaA1UWWO3Lk05JVr_qv0IUOLevoV_YzqvGe0AAOJw3DuDOrP1aGlPNSTS9SUz4xjhDTFkdyYoDP0vvTI/s400/DSC08510.JPG" border="0" /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-59275411646183251912009-06-03T01:25:00.000-07:002009-06-08T03:33:23.677-07:00Jogyakarta, Java (Indonesia)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4tjxYQnlWLlBq1FVoy-JLIpVlEz61gRA6uHv-EECexxvBrDF8URUlv48z4gtIIxq6ilLzn35doC2_FgBWJB1wKWsga1iBWfAS6YLBogbdojUVq_CGPN7hRSu3CSy-t8_afRg0-OAxjM/s1600-h/DSC08442.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344528526659763858" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 230px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4tjxYQnlWLlBq1FVoy-JLIpVlEz61gRA6uHv-EECexxvBrDF8URUlv48z4gtIIxq6ilLzn35doC2_FgBWJB1wKWsga1iBWfAS6YLBogbdojUVq_CGPN7hRSu3CSy-t8_afRg0-OAxjM/s400/DSC08442.JPG" border="0" /></a> Ruins amidst a modern city<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoR2xeaB-v6VgZUxQdcKQZg7AByWRML7ygUNgnlVFVHtn2PISNz6CbObPTPjYkhY0f7Ui0mfCRGotLtSUZL9ge-x2Ab9DFuT5cfcVDVLO-pCQzjeNAKfawRmlvYJE0YOJqQ5HZ6LpaXU/s1600-h/DSC08437.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344528521942667730" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 218px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoR2xeaB-v6VgZUxQdcKQZg7AByWRML7ygUNgnlVFVHtn2PISNz6CbObPTPjYkhY0f7Ui0mfCRGotLtSUZL9ge-x2Ab9DFuT5cfcVDVLO-pCQzjeNAKfawRmlvYJE0YOJqQ5HZ6LpaXU/s400/DSC08437.JPG" border="0" /></a> While touring the city mosques, many Javanese tourists wanted to take photos with us, feeling much like a celebrity just for being "white." I've become quite use to this during my Asian travels.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUD8BVniULCV7CUVRq3IA9BvLmVlDKLCrtKAtXpdW-PAwxzhnTv4L1EDicUj14j1egYhVcq0KwBCarvA9uYQGBkqPZeN5K2j9wmBAJ2Wlwew7_wzy6YCwB9MciqR0Zt19RE8fz3ogWkE/s1600-h/DSC08422.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343024834405322274" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 245px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLUD8BVniULCV7CUVRq3IA9BvLmVlDKLCrtKAtXpdW-PAwxzhnTv4L1EDicUj14j1egYhVcq0KwBCarvA9uYQGBkqPZeN5K2j9wmBAJ2Wlwew7_wzy6YCwB9MciqR0Zt19RE8fz3ogWkE/s400/DSC08422.JPG" border="0" /></a> Posing in front of sultan's palace pools.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343024827284842610" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 244px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhuHI-lnNGbshncXTLM_6OywE3ZSYhT05a6z4JJ2Rqfi7zQ4DCKzeWo41HcZTwRgwsd3e4NbFRdYfx3-boByG__lwUk6bxVyTbql5TNZmon9Yudec287SxtEODFHrJHrdyPpo5SWs63bY/s400/DSC08402.JPG" border="0" /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Cl17i0jlZBLBZAamUBe2DJ7wQ4xjTJ5AARuCZNVFIkXWkHMKgCtfqybAEz0ueADjZnHPXdycgnp6p82BejWvgwASsXKx6yvKpHHb0P0ISTHC_4WH8sr_ZMWDoVl8J-0_zJE47ROdR5o/s1600-h/DSC08395.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343024823338391170" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Cl17i0jlZBLBZAamUBe2DJ7wQ4xjTJ5AARuCZNVFIkXWkHMKgCtfqybAEz0ueADjZnHPXdycgnp6p82BejWvgwASsXKx6yvKpHHb0P0ISTHC_4WH8sr_ZMWDoVl8J-0_zJE47ROdR5o/s400/DSC08395.JPG" border="0" /></a>Traditional Javanese dancers.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9alM5kQ7_9WPSQWW3PJp7MRqp7_SfxwB-4D9j4R1dobYtyVf9FnaXtUujz12EC0jvanqdeHm23eE_pvSIv5UayxD8b2LFzf2XDC42SX-vee127yP4zDSWxWrHcKM9Zqwc7RmJ4zwkWCY/s1600-h/DSC08348.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343024818936594322" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9alM5kQ7_9WPSQWW3PJp7MRqp7_SfxwB-4D9j4R1dobYtyVf9FnaXtUujz12EC0jvanqdeHm23eE_pvSIv5UayxD8b2LFzf2XDC42SX-vee127yP4zDSWxWrHcKM9Zqwc7RmJ4zwkWCY/s400/DSC08348.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCcdD_zKJFYcD6cFiQ2PJdn2KXre49HNdVhkcfU_X1CC8Ad6zEbOLpKmwbQDkWj1MJVmRniRaxkdiO4I8QFAgyBRPIFutMhrrIWqKXO39VAz_MIAy3MRBY6CmMfZ067D7q8QI7a16IFU/s1600-h/DSC08325.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343024812777746178" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 225px; cursor: pointer; height: 357px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtCcdD_zKJFYcD6cFiQ2PJdn2KXre49HNdVhkcfU_X1CC8Ad6zEbOLpKmwbQDkWj1MJVmRniRaxkdiO4I8QFAgyBRPIFutMhrrIWqKXO39VAz_MIAy3MRBY6CmMfZ067D7q8QI7a16IFU/s400/DSC08325.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-6819347870863213102009-06-03T00:42:00.000-07:002009-06-07T23:04:59.203-07:00West Bali village and cacao farm pictures<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhJQWP3-lawW612xbNyIhMCnYoh_JAsDWT8dN4JRVtti3Mx7B09MszInMrudPz2nVZKtsncJSjFjNDeQl7pErbFyjwup2ASm2s7UNCpqX5apjMnmKVaLt_sdnoDwodW4KI7LHMZwrX2c/s1600-h/DSC08093.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344525929774251682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 381px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 217px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhJQWP3-lawW612xbNyIhMCnYoh_JAsDWT8dN4JRVtti3Mx7B09MszInMrudPz2nVZKtsncJSjFjNDeQl7pErbFyjwup2ASm2s7UNCpqX5apjMnmKVaLt_sdnoDwodW4KI7LHMZwrX2c/s400/DSC08093.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344525927626071602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 389px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMSskzlDfIxNb5YX5wZN1wilRe8gDukger1r6_op95YYRyw2pSw-VoG8TBBGZu4r1nnhrfcOr3SifwnrUT6KTlsccMKA0pYAiV4uk7v96VCz6TtwsozX6cVHS495KV1V-isE8l2IDz01s/s400/DSC08090.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344525920151845874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 244px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkcF21ReaU_ocCMFiHXVD-CUcLrAIZN_8uBWbvQrtyZ7_JtSM-zIM6hiWgixCDlxFcFhjJRXR4OeTfJWm_76LcHbqufDiWbTnrIczRkBmcqaO9PFoaxnx9cNnauZvPfQdmc5ZLSvYd36Y/s400/DSC08058.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344525916048526706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LYWv-_KekbTiqa2Tcg-fs23Y_FPznPDJV97y8uC_sWb2fsxCRu2x9XUza_7jy_B6AlQ_UoBqkpY3L4JJyNnWauQfXTny2zkO8LMi6FuKMa2brrIIiR0gkUpaAe36xggGMXBLfDxr1OU/s400/DSC08026.JPG" border="0" /><br /> <img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5344525912162546306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXFw7OZB4vJvVJVsjgMxDxforlwAtutwM63iVCsMCjpni35VMY0041EM7V0xudzcMQ7pfQHUDYbQxS_OX_ftgcl9dFtmU_rhtF9TBM3dmFfjEzScdq_UvLwFwhmTtLYFVD6h8yXAdthA/s400/DSC08007.JPG" border="0" /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-48831063944687221572009-04-15T19:44:00.000-07:002009-06-08T03:17:35.742-07:00Selamat Pagi! Greetings from Malaysia!Its been months since my last blog entry - let me briefly fill you in on my route since <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Lombok</span>....<br /><br />After trekking, I needed a few days of total rest because every muscle in my body ached and it was difficult to get out of bed, let alone walk. I spent a few days in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Sengiggi</span>, a small resort town, lazying on the beach, soaking in the Indonesian ocean and getting the complete beach-side pampering. When I had enough energy to move again, I rode the slow boat back to Bali and organized volunteer work-exchange in a tiny village on the island's west coast, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Jembrana</span> district. Similar to "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Wwoofing</span>" I stayed with a Balinese family, helping in their shaded garden, harvesting cacao (<span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">chocolate</span> bean) and coconut. This placement gave me the opportunity to see the real Bali, attend <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">religious</span> ceremonies and live like the locals, away from any sort of tourism. <br /><br />After two weeks on the farm, I was hooked up to volunteer and participate at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">BaliSpirit</span> Festival in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Ubud</span>. This special event consisted of five days yoga, dance and live music amongst like-minded yogis and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">yoginis</span>, a sort of peaceful utopia, set in the most beautiful of Bali's landscapes. <a href="http://www.balispiritfestival.com/">http://www.balispiritfestival.com/</a><br /><br /><span style="font-size:100%;">Following this time of heart-opening and spirit lifting, I decided to extend these blissful feelings and take part in a four-day juice fast at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Ubud</span> Sari Health Resort. After my experience and high success at spa <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Samui</span> detox center in Thailand, I yearned for more! </span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Once my body was fully cleansed, I flew to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Jogyakarta</span>, Java. I only had the chance to spend five days on the island because my Indonesian visa was due to expire. During my short visit, I explored <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Jogyakarta</span> on motorbike and cycle rickshaw with a friend from England and toured the largest (and most impressive in my opinion) Buddhist temple in SE Asia- called Borobudur.<br /><br />After exactly two months in Indonesia, I flew to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Kuala</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Lumpur</span> (Malaysia). This was the easiest and most painless border crossing yet- and free to obtain a visa, which is always a plus! For the past month in Malaysia I've eaten well, sampling multicultural cuisine: <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Malay</span>, Chinese, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Portuguese</span>, Dutch, Arabian, Indian etc. Soaked up the sun on the most beautiful white sand beaches, explored the thriving underwater environments, and tromped through tea plantations, highlands and ancient <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">rainforests</span>. KL->Cameron Highlands->Perinthian Islands->Taman Negara (national forest)->KL->Melaka<br /><br /></span><span style="font-weight: normal;font-size:100%;" >As my dear friend Bridget recently exclaimed, "Asia's captivated our Emily and is not giving her back!!" ...well it's true, for a while longer. </span><span style="font-size:100%;">I only have two more days in Melaka, Malaysia before embarking on an entirely new journey through India!!! On June 10<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">th</span> I'm scheduled to fly into <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Mumbai</span> during a HOT Indian summer, where I will re-convene with Liz who will make for a perfect travel buddy!! More clear plans are yet to materialize</span>, but as of now we will take the train North to Delhi, through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Udaipar</span>, to meet <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">Suzan</span> (another friend from SF). Then we will search out an ashram in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Rishikesh</span> to practice yoga and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">meditation</span> = truly living the dream:))) Seven months of traveling thus far and still going strong! x<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"></span><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" ><br /><br /></span><span style=";font-family:georgia;font-size:85%;" ></span>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-1195588664723289342009-04-10T08:42:00.000-07:002009-04-12T21:31:51.191-07:00Three days trekking Mt. RinjaniView of volcano and crater lake- photo shot from first night base camp. Yesterday, I was speaking with a Balinese man who told me about the pilgrimage he took with 2,000 Hindus, climbing to the lake to conduct various ceremonies. One part of this involved cutting off the head of buffalo, goats, pigs, and tossing them into the lake. They also threw beaded necklaces into the water as an offering for the gods.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLX4hqM-B4772SKHuehs7KDt31TiRTgJzjh-OkwgiXkquOHwqev1IEY198uCyyGtpy3SrKm3rBZWSr4tZYxgmEvyK3URSh_37RtoPDAkVp8wKpp-xSr85KC5BgF__9w9-H2iQ_3K5xpI/s1600-h/DSC07870.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323103737858498338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOLX4hqM-B4772SKHuehs7KDt31TiRTgJzjh-OkwgiXkquOHwqev1IEY198uCyyGtpy3SrKm3rBZWSr4tZYxgmEvyK3URSh_37RtoPDAkVp8wKpp-xSr85KC5BgF__9w9-H2iQ_3K5xpI/s400/DSC07870.JPG" border="0" /></a>Meal preparations by porters. These boys are 15 years old and carried all of our food, sleeping bags and tents in full baskets secured to the ends of a bamboo stick. They wore <em>flip-flops</em> on these incredibly steep trails, gnarled by roots and loose gravel! At night it grew extremely cold (about 5 degrees Celsius) and one boy didn't even bring socks, so I lent him my extra pair.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSK5G7otBJSpBH6DDoYnHNMu-GL9kSUcraK0oji8PzZb3UuF5FYTI_MXGHuu9gFciZEoICRh3ltVxwvxVG2SUtbKGmv6XygjdfEuAUcUdTiuUMMmDW39gmg9moBZgfs8gA7BG3MxRH5yM/s1600-h/DSC07847.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323103731972968338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSK5G7otBJSpBH6DDoYnHNMu-GL9kSUcraK0oji8PzZb3UuF5FYTI_MXGHuu9gFciZEoICRh3ltVxwvxVG2SUtbKGmv6XygjdfEuAUcUdTiuUMMmDW39gmg9moBZgfs8gA7BG3MxRH5yM/s400/DSC07847.JPG" border="0" /></a>On the second day we stopped for a cool dip in this waterfall and soothed our sore muscles with a soak in natural hot springs. After this we had lunch and a much needed nap in the shade, then another three hour push to the next camp.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsEQrEXpHOF5ghUnZyFI50Qg9XGP2TrxyGbqVjyFVJDVYv1-Juqy93ed4Abiq68IEtWfFvEsLSZ9gj3Z_ETXV_CRxfJu7wszfFj7MAR4KsNcgJZUHx16bgGkc_HwVaVBcSf-DHnADW54/s1600-h/DSC07888.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323103742047156130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRsEQrEXpHOF5ghUnZyFI50Qg9XGP2TrxyGbqVjyFVJDVYv1-Juqy93ed4Abiq68IEtWfFvEsLSZ9gj3Z_ETXV_CRxfJu7wszfFj7MAR4KsNcgJZUHx16bgGkc_HwVaVBcSf-DHnADW54/s400/DSC07888.JPG" border="0" /></a>Third porter carrying our gear through the jungle.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr82Tx0xcpYLgm4dmjxoR6Ytf9CvK2QOIy8CGWHMIUTLJJ2mkZyxFsh8UfwZHg04jFsm35JDIacjmtu5vv1HdzpRxvUBfx4aCOMoj6VE4cSmO-EZavbr3FcK7IwTH_AaC0XIXC3EPlug/s1600-h/DSC07794.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323103723802645554" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr82Tx0xcpYLgm4dmjxoR6Ytf9CvK2QOIy8CGWHMIUTLJJ2mkZyxFsh8UfwZHg04jFsm35JDIacjmtu5vv1HdzpRxvUBfx4aCOMoj6VE4cSmO-EZavbr3FcK7IwTH_AaC0XIXC3EPlug/s400/DSC07794.JPG" border="0" /></a>Many frisky macaques along the path.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbt6MwPe8-fjWe-Dj5ch2oSVuksH85y9hBqvFrbiAmjT-0W6jtKui6RTqaqQn8nYbWqmoFuFhV53cWZJVwA4xTTbZmH0HGEB4gUgisSZSuXdjtE6HMBjzQM-PeV5pkGXJSM7nw7W2Evg/s1600-h/DSC07816.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323103727329578674" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTbt6MwPe8-fjWe-Dj5ch2oSVuksH85y9hBqvFrbiAmjT-0W6jtKui6RTqaqQn8nYbWqmoFuFhV53cWZJVwA4xTTbZmH0HGEB4gUgisSZSuXdjtE6HMBjzQM-PeV5pkGXJSM7nw7W2Evg/s400/DSC07816.JPG" border="0" /></a>We woke up at 2:30am, had some warm tea and set off to trek three hours to the summit (12,224 ft), full moon shining the whole way. It was a challenge, but we all made it!! Our Indonesian guide took this photo just before the morning sun exploded into the sky. As you can see we are huddled close together to keep warm because it was chilly, to say the least. I was fortunate enough to trek with a fantastic group of people (French-Canadian, German and American), everyone was full of optimism and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">positive</span> support- helped me make it to the top.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLGljf2u7GrTnT83d0UOn2bKLi46D7qBvF-Ywtn9w4JLfEIV8JY7PGg7NWvVoXy4oBZtS_Jva15m5ScG8kscKJLE0thH8_kIn8ArhQ6GWJpQNImKt3yFfqxYIbhAH8aaGt8xJU5CHpzE/s1600-h/DSC07956.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323107155723837442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcLGljf2u7GrTnT83d0UOn2bKLi46D7qBvF-Ywtn9w4JLfEIV8JY7PGg7NWvVoXy4oBZtS_Jva15m5ScG8kscKJLE0thH8_kIn8ArhQ6GWJpQNImKt3yFfqxYIbhAH8aaGt8xJU5CHpzE/s400/DSC07956.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAoQJWdQ1z0wbb7mJ3tE7J5KuClgTGW8fbrKdgetoyi3nCwSzLsm34zOXXVX0k40Fj7Jhhla_jBf5piqCNWFH_HBva3LKmeGSvPNhOKsA5klOEYj8vsLlWNwWFvi5IbiWaPczqYqTRSo/s1600-h/DSC07920.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323107150418447154" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAoQJWdQ1z0wbb7mJ3tE7J5KuClgTGW8fbrKdgetoyi3nCwSzLsm34zOXXVX0k40Fj7Jhhla_jBf5piqCNWFH_HBva3LKmeGSvPNhOKsA5klOEYj8vsLlWNwWFvi5IbiWaPczqYqTRSo/s400/DSC07920.JPG" border="0" /></a>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-28478049668166603372009-04-03T03:35:00.000-07:002009-04-10T08:40:08.161-07:00Gili Islands, off coast of Lombok<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_1SA8hpHRSv5_WN-YuKbVcqnmf1G53JRHPRy7plQOJB_1vaV3iNNVGKylqIMP3cHpM-z5E5JXSR81Mh24Ow6VXTKHKDsR5qatRSVo-ARSMV7LhMXN8nEhn-6Unvg1w1PUrUdmnE90mI/s1600-h/DSC07953.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii_1SA8hpHRSv5_WN-YuKbVcqnmf1G53JRHPRy7plQOJB_1vaV3iNNVGKylqIMP3cHpM-z5E5JXSR81Mh24Ow6VXTKHKDsR5qatRSVo-ARSMV7LhMXN8nEhn-6Unvg1w1PUrUdmnE90mI/s400/DSC07953.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323085451662365474" border="0" /></a>Transport.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmDGN-RRcAOEXnDiB_c6CnHaDjcDJGby-Vn-kJ9zruAKh6dvFp5dLeCNda4gEs-jIMRr_kVNNmRbwNMLZcPBT-6uh0DS5WGwB2XNsLIGUD0_uNwphEFw1hg5Z8URGeMmnmh9ZZZjOXDY/s1600-h/DSC07763.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmDGN-RRcAOEXnDiB_c6CnHaDjcDJGby-Vn-kJ9zruAKh6dvFp5dLeCNda4gEs-jIMRr_kVNNmRbwNMLZcPBT-6uh0DS5WGwB2XNsLIGUD0_uNwphEFw1hg5Z8URGeMmnmh9ZZZjOXDY/s400/DSC07763.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323085445689335042" border="0" /></a>Seaside hookah lounge.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwXOIwM8kWKOAE-h7R7wyUyVhJOeQUbxlnl1SYzOfMgstQdwNtQh6N8vHwhM3JsBFoTTVdotiFU8MaHjQNgupqfFPHaG7ePdWOd8KXbFMYK4AqYE_WQDGJwzrpuE0AOjqyg2P2VVj4YE/s1600-h/DSC07739.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqwXOIwM8kWKOAE-h7R7wyUyVhJOeQUbxlnl1SYzOfMgstQdwNtQh6N8vHwhM3JsBFoTTVdotiFU8MaHjQNgupqfFPHaG7ePdWOd8KXbFMYK4AqYE_WQDGJwzrpuE0AOjqyg2P2VVj4YE/s400/DSC07739.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323085437332674722" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdkORFBDkRTxZvj29uqfVhEvFhDMTAmeAGVhi6lGDQrLaOZN-X6LuonIVZ7oVS3sZ6iLaw8ZBNhSFw7K1SfapnIy9kAkfM85tgMdqSsrOqVDxCTNJ1K_e9OuyhfmtxcbULrW7A9UkqaY/s1600-h/DSC07734.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdkORFBDkRTxZvj29uqfVhEvFhDMTAmeAGVhi6lGDQrLaOZN-X6LuonIVZ7oVS3sZ6iLaw8ZBNhSFw7K1SfapnIy9kAkfM85tgMdqSsrOqVDxCTNJ1K_e9OuyhfmtxcbULrW7A9UkqaY/s400/DSC07734.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323085432513930834" border="0" /></a>Glass bottom boat.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MrrFEApHGfE5bf59vFqQKuZPKU9jALDMVGT-pexLTBhnl5kRptTdpvI2FRl3uptobcacxO11AFzTrOWy32bXntENKGEgOyy26bRiSgyKB6lrWb0fa_HUInmlB_GWRg0KBfhrCWchhto/s1600-h/DSC07733.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9MrrFEApHGfE5bf59vFqQKuZPKU9jALDMVGT-pexLTBhnl5kRptTdpvI2FRl3uptobcacxO11AFzTrOWy32bXntENKGEgOyy26bRiSgyKB6lrWb0fa_HUInmlB_GWRg0KBfhrCWchhto/s400/DSC07733.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5323085430913164754" border="0" /></a>Internet is expensive so I'll keep this brief... twelve hour journey on slow boat and bus transfers from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ubud</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Gili</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Trawangan</span> (largest of three <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Gili</span> islands).... imagine warm, crystal clear waters with at least 30 ft. visibility, filled with turtles and sea creatures spanning all colors of the rainbow, and every shade in between. Slow paced island time, power only available through generators, no <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">motos</span> or vehicles, only horse drawn carriages and push-bike transport. Laying around on fine white sand during the day, grooving to live reggae at night and bathing in salt-water showers fed straight from the sea... have I enticed you yet? Tomorrow a.m I've booked a scuba trip to "Shark's Cove"- where there are rumored to be daily sightings of white-tip reef sharks!emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-17326950865774133382009-03-25T02:15:00.000-07:002009-03-25T05:32:12.169-07:00Nyepi birthday - a day of silenceAs I type this entry, fireworks are crackling in the distance with the melodic sounds of chimes from a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">metallophone</span> (long instrument consisting of many metal bars).... these are the celebratory sounds, in preparation for silence. Tomorrow morning at 6am - is the beginning of Bali's Hindu, Lunar New Year, a day of contemplation, reflection and fasting for some. No one on the island is allowed to leave their house for 24 hours, not even to buy water because all stores, restaurants and airports close. There will be security patrolling the streets to politely, but sternly, direct people home if they're found wandering outside (most likely will be uninformed tourists). According to Balinese folklore, we stay indoors as a way of tricking the evil spirits into thinking the island is uninhabited. This way they will fly off and leave Bali safe for another year. Isn't that convenient?!<br /><br />Luckily for me, I currently reside at Hibiscus Cottages, a safe guesthouse far far away from evil spirits, right in the middle of rice paddy fields. My room looks onto a lush garden setting, where I'll spend the day practicing yoga, reading, writing and meditating. Since it is also my birthday on the 26<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">th</span>, I will not be fasting... but rather enjoying such luxuries as homemade <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">gado</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">gado</span> (traditional dish of boiled veggies with spicy peanut sauce), tropical fruit juices, special raw organic mulberry pie, and local rice wine. When in Bali... do as the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Balinesians</span> do.... sort of :)<br /><br />In two days, for my Balinese-American birthday celebration, I'll attend a Michael <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Franti</span> & Friends benefit concert in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Ubud</span>!!emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-16698943460390992572009-03-18T06:45:00.000-07:002009-03-25T02:29:10.380-07:00"Island of a Thousand Temples"<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314529447601628370" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLKw4GlXbgyuHJ3mbZrhXgCUI2RmkhXCFHqOWSx896kyc7c53Runq8O0krmZ7ze2-FZd9EZPsBS-R6kJEaKdx60UuU6aSsfXU9TBQiBndvNP1FU-2TVjNTMEjdfbyXGgEnb3KqUlx_5S4/s400/DSC07064.JPG" border="0" /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdk5fdQp27sxuo8QaN7vYqKCUBBD4jvht3le1zoF7IT7O6wHYiw7jdSIoWknY7j5j6pWcvenS7VPHtcA0sIMHmtOee1ILMQ-LdR9wPYzPJ4wvT51W6zsNoCZ6f1bO4niTtGmHPVY6B4E/s1600-h/DSC07000.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314911471842586546" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 225px; height: 318px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkdk5fdQp27sxuo8QaN7vYqKCUBBD4jvht3le1zoF7IT7O6wHYiw7jdSIoWknY7j5j6pWcvenS7VPHtcA0sIMHmtOee1ILMQ-LdR9wPYzPJ4wvT51W6zsNoCZ6f1bO4niTtGmHPVY6B4E/s400/DSC07000.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsugZhzl-FFpR4Osrwk91RfMTcE_TcHVkBG4-sVMY41FqhM59LVEvnZBF96MK6DnsDgUHRdTLEDD2XYZu-sv9XSGi3jTX6-JIQWd-vF-7WA7dgn7nhEK3BWpw2W6JaTcKxv9Wg5K1R4U/s1600-h/DSC07042.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314907015176217266" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVsugZhzl-FFpR4Osrwk91RfMTcE_TcHVkBG4-sVMY41FqhM59LVEvnZBF96MK6DnsDgUHRdTLEDD2XYZu-sv9XSGi3jTX6-JIQWd-vF-7WA7dgn7nhEK3BWpw2W6JaTcKxv9Wg5K1R4U/s400/DSC07042.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Kz592uUdSDrE455o5MmzamZULkbKWIEPEBtCAN_hgYM_g9fKaH30MJq1wZFZxXJ8KLG34atay6AUiyLrBlomZGeiBEGft-Omq523aPtxmcnL8EaDN_y2q1j4EAssEdUfTZdHJh30jRA/s1600-h/DSC07009.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314907003655670994" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0Kz592uUdSDrE455o5MmzamZULkbKWIEPEBtCAN_hgYM_g9fKaH30MJq1wZFZxXJ8KLG34atay6AUiyLrBlomZGeiBEGft-Omq523aPtxmcnL8EaDN_y2q1j4EAssEdUfTZdHJh30jRA/s400/DSC07009.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314529435826904034" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; cursor: pointer; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk5gLljzIrdl4qxwnUeNSm7rZG1p1P9aZa1D9NhK0su3Nh6nR3kaANqcLoB1WC4sIR1kgx_srTWtRYevFzxSUiFbjAFxf2clwnvo0Z-8Tp_9wQk6ApyLGXLA9lfouM-OF5y0sG0ENhYf0/s400/DSC07059.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5314529432297232818" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 225px; cursor: pointer; height: 336px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNanV-0ixRBaHDNKi4x9-8LFQBzXwPPqWqM4yM9bwTu4BJPH1bGwE71pJ8QG-5C7rpgmdPS2akXNSbfNmGLvyHE9mZepGmagLOl5ZkVUNn_JAOdaXH7zTSqILA8flS1v36AVHsjYU4WW0/s400/DSC07055.JPG" border="0" /><br /><div></div></div></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-58705052404438436292009-03-16T06:27:00.000-07:002009-03-17T08:23:37.692-07:00Arrival in Legian, Bali!!After flying from Hanoi to Bangkok, going back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Khao</span></span> San Road for one night (staying up until 4am to hail a taxi to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">BKK</span></span> airport and catch the 6am flight to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Depensar</span></span> airport- I arrived in paradise. When stepping off the plane, "the sun was shinning, the weather was sweet... makes you wanna move....." greeted with smiling faces, deep blue sea on the horizon and clove cigarette smoke wafting through the air.<br /><br />The Balinese are profoundly spiritual people. Every morning and several times throughout the day men and women in traditional garb lay small basket offerings onto sidewalks and alters (you literally have to step over them while walking down the street). These are filled with fresh flowers and pungent incense. Every neighborhood has a temple, which holds many shrines and statues. Each of these are thoughtfully clothed in Balinese tapestry. I've never seen anything like it before. When I think it won't get any better.... I arrive in Bali.<br /><br />It's going to take some getting use to the intense humidity. This cooled off some when it started raining yesterday and continued on into the night. The storm, of booming thunder and heavy downpours, woke me many times throughout the night.<br /><br />Tomorrow is a Hindu holiday celebrated in temples, all over the island. Many stores will be closed for special ceremonies. I look forward to waking up early and hopefully see some of the festivities.<br /><br />Local street art.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMM_LHGY74Y7R8aMytDn0XoyOlC_l0McSje1oE4k-gIFYPZRzdDjT4PWg149MVE3HMQFg7XCMUQPp1a00ziCt78re6lgCxLW-navwD-OPuSAmgedN66z4ALa-yc413fszh85egdk8PJNk/s1600-h/DSC06949.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMM_LHGY74Y7R8aMytDn0XoyOlC_l0McSje1oE4k-gIFYPZRzdDjT4PWg149MVE3HMQFg7XCMUQPp1a00ziCt78re6lgCxLW-navwD-OPuSAmgedN66z4ALa-yc413fszh85egdk8PJNk/s400/DSC06949.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313780666580639522" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtbVcI3_PGVHth-gkKhUjyGG5qw5g8ijwKX4XZAzr898Nwfkigg4uc9xsWLJg4_87WYHpZCtWmmvSWZ9M1uEjdk4rP98ljR77OUnj-zGGfhNYYTds4mfGcakR-zNXCm0bQk8_oHTKKGI/s1600-h/DSC06951.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPtbVcI3_PGVHth-gkKhUjyGG5qw5g8ijwKX4XZAzr898Nwfkigg4uc9xsWLJg4_87WYHpZCtWmmvSWZ9M1uEjdk4rP98ljR77OUnj-zGGfhNYYTds4mfGcakR-zNXCm0bQk8_oHTKKGI/s400/DSC06951.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313780682767930050" border="0" /></a>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-52515812923741587812009-03-16T06:05:00.000-07:002009-03-17T07:25:52.431-07:00Cruising through Halong BayThree hours on bus from Hanoi to docking point, where a large group of twenty loaded onto the overnight ship. During the day we worked ourselves sore while kayaking through dramatic limestone islands. At night, the atmosphere turned into more of a booze cruise than anticipated. I was by far the oldest on the boat, with the exception of captain and crew. Fun times though.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xRahhU8zVAFBAEnOZ269D-c8PXhH-ZW032a7mH1aqpLFECLZMkEPCNh97fPIaYQVTXtEDU3WwBR7KQRuaeMFXfHKjv1Ygc2AX0ekesO_YPr-icp6r5nbHsBQolSDpDUDUd0pMzD0hF8/s1600-h/DSC06917.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xRahhU8zVAFBAEnOZ269D-c8PXhH-ZW032a7mH1aqpLFECLZMkEPCNh97fPIaYQVTXtEDU3WwBR7KQRuaeMFXfHKjv1Ygc2AX0ekesO_YPr-icp6r5nbHsBQolSDpDUDUd0pMzD0hF8/s400/DSC06917.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313774521954322834" border="0" /></a>My kayak partner happened to be a professional rower in England- lucky me!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBD3eH2CeF-j9pZgIxF7VdxY2Rk4Wy0ibKF8gwzB1KGX6YVesLj0Vm-LfkVKP_Zdsj_7veq8us8L7wvm6OIYuaF39SCQ8ljfd-G6oceXhpamIXRttzINO-Mi5zbSmF-mJ4CtuUX3yyuZE/s1600-h/DSC06858.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBD3eH2CeF-j9pZgIxF7VdxY2Rk4Wy0ibKF8gwzB1KGX6YVesLj0Vm-LfkVKP_Zdsj_7veq8us8L7wvm6OIYuaF39SCQ8ljfd-G6oceXhpamIXRttzINO-Mi5zbSmF-mJ4CtuUX3yyuZE/s400/DSC06858.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313774513703438978" border="0" /></a>These pictures don't even come close to showing the absolute beauty of these wondrous formations. Nor do they capture the peace and tranquility I felt while paddling though the cliffs.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_HqTAUc_RQxBtNw72hDYNSISOv9XNXI0KdUYEwL7dsaY3jWXysN8wZwB3ck0cDBkpmHO1hLjCx-wEHVDEC_vuijRET2UndLYSxjWf2L6NrDw5Z7J04_PChbo-b9DO9l_6vgHAaQpKoE/s1600-h/DSC06848.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR_HqTAUc_RQxBtNw72hDYNSISOv9XNXI0KdUYEwL7dsaY3jWXysN8wZwB3ck0cDBkpmHO1hLjCx-wEHVDEC_vuijRET2UndLYSxjWf2L6NrDw5Z7J04_PChbo-b9DO9l_6vgHAaQpKoE/s400/DSC06848.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313774506597060994" border="0" /></a>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-86341670189954609342009-03-15T05:34:00.000-07:002009-03-17T07:18:41.437-07:00Hanoi - capital of VietnamThe picture below is of me standing in front of the old cathedral. Looks more like Europe eh? The rest of the city was a reminder that I was actually in Vietnam - jam packed with people, shops and of course noisy motorbikes . Numerous street side cafes, with small plastic picnic chairs and tables line the sidewalks. On adjacent streets in the Old Quarter, many high end boutiques and French-fusion restaurants.<br />Maybe the best experience in Hanoi was jogging in the rain around Hoam Kiem Lake, location of the red Huc bridge. Also, the Backpacker's Hostel. Great place for meeting other travelers- mainly Aussies, Brits and Canadians during happy hour on roof-top deck.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6m8cSmvuYU1mmGjpAtvwM6Gxm7G7BsREwWoxdc9G3ia5VJ4axEmtbHps013h2X-Xmsa06QcW-cmVinoqAuRfdc9SVaaKYKixV9jvGFTnw-W8My9A871r-XzwKfCd9KjjJuQ43Nz6gxRI/s1600-h/DSC06937.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6m8cSmvuYU1mmGjpAtvwM6Gxm7G7BsREwWoxdc9G3ia5VJ4axEmtbHps013h2X-Xmsa06QcW-cmVinoqAuRfdc9SVaaKYKixV9jvGFTnw-W8My9A871r-XzwKfCd9KjjJuQ43Nz6gxRI/s400/DSC06937.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313762939812447378" border="0" /></a>Hanoi is famous for water puppetry. 1,000 year old art form, a unique and slightly bizarre cultural experience. Paired with traditional Vietnamese music, live musicians, green water and puppets of all sorts - buffaloes, swans, dragons...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbShzQwNJYz4jTK5LsgP-dHUkXOcFKGw_c8K_PMB7jl9gwRWU_Jq1_3_qXODlFRfjGWoTPwqs5FApEbbg2OYdbWju59L_e6I0hjemu3uCO57oMehtRcICZOG_I8d1XzZ5i0ONNz7Guvq0/s1600-h/DSC06792.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbShzQwNJYz4jTK5LsgP-dHUkXOcFKGw_c8K_PMB7jl9gwRWU_Jq1_3_qXODlFRfjGWoTPwqs5FApEbbg2OYdbWju59L_e6I0hjemu3uCO57oMehtRcICZOG_I8d1XzZ5i0ONNz7Guvq0/s400/DSC06792.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313762929142046514" border="0" /></a>Hand painted drums used in water puppet performance.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljWarp1sCgy6ntEDtjIZAySliU87byHOpan5hFfeeCCPOVJWO4p6exoHh-MLJ4iOqVueXPLw1gumdzeB6oNesu87oFw6YZXpLfm5fA27sb__8B7jhMhQNJvTsN22rJvrDksMMLnFAtNY/s1600-h/DSC06785.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 225px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiljWarp1sCgy6ntEDtjIZAySliU87byHOpan5hFfeeCCPOVJWO4p6exoHh-MLJ4iOqVueXPLw1gumdzeB6oNesu87oFw6YZXpLfm5fA27sb__8B7jhMhQNJvTsN22rJvrDksMMLnFAtNY/s400/DSC06785.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5313762926943664850" border="0" /></a><br /><div> </div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-80304566665889153482009-03-04T04:07:00.000-08:002009-03-15T05:34:16.848-07:00Long journey to lovely Hoi An, VietnamAfter spending four nights in Saigon, I was more than ready to move on from the hustle and bustle. So, Jesse and I hoped a bus to Mui Ne, a quiet little fishing village on the China Sea. This was a perfect place to rest for a couple days and watch kite-boarders fly across the waves, before getting on the next bus heading north.<br /><br />Mui Ne Sunset.<br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309336598793706770" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNaqrslx8A5pR_4QCo2NGLgYDtFiVni_QbC0zHvkAFRb0u7czEU7RFej0r5Rd4GdELlRDyS2CUlSVwl8mvjF8gRAy_vJi8Y-jA9g6YfjlU4kuapGeFu5fd3ic1OUkkF3YOULIRWG-Dsyk/s400/DSC06280.JPG" border="0" />Once in Nha Trang, I knew immediately that I wouldn't stay long. Sleeping there for only one night, I booked an overnight sleeper train to Hoi An. Not so bad, just that my bunk-mates decided to chow down on a stinky durian in the cramped space! This trip took about 10 hours to Tam Ky, then another 45 mins. to Hoi An by moto taxi. This stretch of scenery was absolutely breathtaking. Halfway into the ride, rain began pouring down against the back-drop of flourescent green rice-paddy fields, truly magical.<br /><br />Yesterday morning I checked into my hotel room - only $10/night, outrageously cheap for all that's included in the price: swimming pool, tv, queen bed, large bathtub, balcony, free internet, clean, tasteful interior etc. etc. Hoi An is a cultural heritage site, unaffected by American bombs, truly picturesque. Think I'll stay a few extra days!<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309336619390075778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaUMbxRtkvvM7emVDSz2uGFCT7XSPqvOu_iG9mcEqSIWAFlHOCuHheU4gDo0_vAM_AK2aeIiHKekDQAssojhckRVyBku5UDPa0NUGlUGUSp0eAXuq4yoi5fj2R6vgNVnawmJ3F5smfxJc/s400/DSC06529.JPG" border="0" /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309336617226184162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQrtceIWdm2cNiLLiYeycGTjSXy7PYKDShNh4YYr9rtMmrEyVPr7PO_yrK_DUS5mkAYCdXh_FXVceLDCpFyLlfvSRMDz8YWMlp0OrzI7vhLWz9iRykYnmPb4Fn2fnc8xDib9zvcSogo10/s400/DSC06412.JPG" border="0" /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309336608733961202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxrVgIRQO6_ZZ5hXmQ3cvv0cm3V5pldaznA-4rtMhPlKEW5tIKFuZqBX3kMQ9BNBJr6HxAgCt_q_CqBVeQ8ruxDIhtKt-C2l1qLEbVbkBegvMLjGeXtSIOEabMbmwUbR0eJkzSg0BAFtE/s400/DSC06395.JPG" border="0" />emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-74686337994442377532009-03-02T02:20:00.000-08:002009-03-03T20:41:02.027-08:00Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City)Bien View district. Street lined with budget hotels (my room was on the right side on the 6th floor and of course no elevator), delicious cuisine, silk shops, noisy motorbikes, cheap beer....<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308534894418813842" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQvtmNlL9IGSeElPeOJWGUkDbv4sTykNBcRZlcEd6MAwsxK3EEDt-ioyiuYvRzd_pdZCxs0auDdaA0BucLPdBizMu0ISCSpTBOfmlld3K_2Qxh-AWOZYmrB9AbgE8p-ygXvMJkZO1JOtQ/s400/DSC06198.JPG" border="0" />Hanging with my new friend Jesse, we met on the bus from Phnom Penh to Saigon, who is also from San Fran. On this evening, we discovered a live Philipino cover band - best live music I've heard during my whole trip so far!! Everyone in the venue was dancing and singing along to Pearl Jam, Beatles and Dire Straits covers.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjh2lg7XmHeOxy581CeMs__ZtmGEanNfURQ_W4Ge9oTNS8t5rHgbuxdCwjzP-SnweUGQG9mLW3wd9d3Izp6HgGMbe2UNZFs4ZQxcgUVQrmKw2OyIgfKe3CX4QJwfycL9THkq5xT6H0zA/s1600-h/CIMG2008.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308534910569749778" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 278px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUjh2lg7XmHeOxy581CeMs__ZtmGEanNfURQ_W4Ge9oTNS8t5rHgbuxdCwjzP-SnweUGQG9mLW3wd9d3Izp6HgGMbe2UNZFs4ZQxcgUVQrmKw2OyIgfKe3CX4QJwfycL9THkq5xT6H0zA/s400/CIMG2008.JPG" border="0" /></a> Street-side food venders.<br /><div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bU81cRxeFwVmN1O57f0HhQTWv5HIKlV_Yvx5aJ76HBo9IJDA0vH1hlyBFYugYDYT_rDjsfPB28SAwy9sLDZxiuRB8cjI7Zt1S1f-qTILHGH_oBkKqW7bR3VBXc7eBJg-T7SHCWJ2cns/s1600-h/DSC06271.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308534910021438802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5bU81cRxeFwVmN1O57f0HhQTWv5HIKlV_Yvx5aJ76HBo9IJDA0vH1hlyBFYugYDYT_rDjsfPB28SAwy9sLDZxiuRB8cjI7Zt1S1f-qTILHGH_oBkKqW7bR3VBXc7eBJg-T7SHCWJ2cns/s400/DSC06271.JPG" border="0" /></a>Visit to the Chu-Chi tunnels. Site where Viet Cong hid in intricate pathways underground, while fighting against American soldiers during Vietnam War. Walking through the tunnel was quite a claustrophobic experience. This is one of their teeny tiny hiding places. That's me inside!<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMKX-kfRB9wEXVGxu6Z1EBBk3gRYPTStMwR5Rp8IZ419IQbHxzad12nZ8CtV6ebRbDjs5AzP3px7i1-_6XGmDX93F08KVMPqJ_-Z_1znRt57fzIJHHx00nII6POvPlm2FsbL1bl7dAgQ/s1600-h/DSC06251.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308534901779840018" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMKX-kfRB9wEXVGxu6Z1EBBk3gRYPTStMwR5Rp8IZ419IQbHxzad12nZ8CtV6ebRbDjs5AzP3px7i1-_6XGmDX93F08KVMPqJ_-Z_1znRt57fzIJHHx00nII6POvPlm2FsbL1bl7dAgQ/s400/DSC06251.JPG" border="0" /></a>Artists in Saigon, creating replicas of famous paintings - impressive. Yes that's Obama on the right, he's a big deal in SE Asia:)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5308536283658189794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW7eXFV7s-KdJxhMmm8dN3M6gyEG1fbPrInQMBapTj1RCTvuTtdzZ5F8MFYvgdHQu6a0-vbTenXDBvF5DVa_mnh5lKH-e1_eXYQicMl1pofmN2r29adJ0uh-Gff8fF5OsttPu2pXTVrY4/s400/DSC06191.JPG" border="0" /> </div></div></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-91813969562948414742009-03-02T02:01:00.000-08:002009-03-06T19:55:47.599-08:00Phnom Penh's dark pastThere's so much to say about Cambodia as a whole.... My experience differing drastically between one town to the next. For the most part, I found the Cambodian people to be friendly, kind and especially beautiful. Their exoticism spans widely through music, food, art, language etc. Unfortunately they are still very much haunted by recent history.<br /><br />I've just begun reading a book called, "Off the rails in Phnom Penh: Into the dark heart of guns, girls and ganja." This is an excerpt that I found very fitting of my experience, "There is an overwhelming rawness that confronts the visitor: the trash on the streets, the little children running around naked (and begging), the dust, the unpaved roads, and the shacks. And amongst all of this one regularly chances upon a beautiful wat [or a private mansion] rising up into the sky. While stunning in its own right, the sight is even more amazing in the middle of all the shit that surrounds it."<br /><br />I'm shocked that nothing in my school was taught about the massive genocide which took place only 30 years ago. The number of lives taken by Pol Pots regime, during Khmer Rough rule is believed to be a higher number than all those killed during the holocaust. Pol Pot and his men killed around two million intellectuals and artists; doctors, lawyers, engineers etc. As a result, many Cambodians are are still afraid of education.<br /><br />Rice paddies just outside the city on the way to the Killing Fields<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309289987990492946" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjAyxR2r_ccdf0ymwKHDCRYi1_KQ_zbGWke1VVL67BrBYGb9TA9mggkM_NdcwFVmdljnK9gA0MtRWib_e1DgDTciRPUqcnnEoFymdFvRwsbaL3xZPoA3aWMmX7w_HDqd2pAIo8_FsPyfg/s400/DSC06074.JPG" border="0" />Thousands of sculls on display, excavated from the grounds along with bones, teeth and clothing of the victims.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309292578882396706" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 225px; height: 376px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFpdn10XCszFvTuxXIDWnE3fD060S3Uw11JcON0guukZwdqqAVdSPcgfB6cPV2hAIkFCyUIMzGWnEhUThIjGfXWwBnsY2GeTIP_tae6AHpfxPf6a-0580vE6PZmN1IE7gRCnwuxPOJi_U/s400/DSC06053.JPG" border="0" />Quite eerie walking through these corridors, knowing they were once high school classrooms, turned into S-21 prison cells and torture chambers.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309289997508778370" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_FhtsubjH1NYUEMMK7goucCOor5LpHG_jXGvZRTerFbVL1WMjdkFZoq-TRFtkE-0LFV9baWJwuM5JWZ67ZuaMep7qkcA6jcdgNC359ALseIAm-YIKQEI6xD7JoAkSP7dcgq1AxevtnA/s400/DSC06122.JPG" border="0" />Ghostly photograph of an S-21 prisoner, from the viewing rooms of the old school - sparing you the graphic, disturbing images that were also on display.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309289993532305474" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Pbvwa2AnPKEz_uHQAG6IDeFBcInD3IByEK7TGgcfCdtu2sklv5m4jqwsO7hhTV1DT9dXMrFNXhyRRMBp8A64rnNvd6_xv_2GzLigfgkWifl3aOIQzXlU9DyPzSSz-CjgiGAPfSVT8Pk/s400/DSC06108.JPG" border="0" /> Small children taking an afternoon snooze, right in the middle of a central market.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309289980853186098" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 225px; height: 360px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6xpDHgqIK7_BXeOmW29qIpJrZPjSDFEMkPrAQyoqzkoglHgB2MLhvPhzRB-ku8QKbLEGUm212WC3TnCDAu_DQuEK_Ny_2ltWdoP5IPElD_HgoHDRU1CrVYj3QflG_Kt7VwBFWWNiwV7s/s400/DSC06047.JPG" border="0" />The stunning National Museum in the city center, near Royal Palace.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309290469142634386" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; width: 400px; height: 225px; text-align: center;" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgETVBzkdOB3tQe5LnOhE_zWkRHnt4HjfAHb2M3v00HCI3Kd9-Q043cAApaISHJPq2wmh-whbk2zE-Ej01WYQGu3cHzB_Chws3pw3KOXobsuEpDMHZqlaEpoAgLe27WkhW5LGrAfByGb2E/s400/DSC06141.JPG" border="0" />emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-54109985810399249172009-02-17T23:25:00.000-08:002009-03-01T08:11:47.896-08:00Temple complex at Angkor Wat...and sights around Siem Riep:<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm6tpyTYJe46P9I3EbpNymobVVyEpUZGvBzhS8IZt02I8vJjJCNWQgjvHZ0uzJtNSGHNrAh9cTDlh5uvq3Jk6EfqDYM-xw6ozfddRG6v9Gypcm5Zl5KJpQHemGg2RvPWHrRmMRgj3BnM/s1600-h/DSC05679.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304039330848905074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 370px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWm6tpyTYJe46P9I3EbpNymobVVyEpUZGvBzhS8IZt02I8vJjJCNWQgjvHZ0uzJtNSGHNrAh9cTDlh5uvq3Jk6EfqDYM-xw6ozfddRG6v9Gypcm5Zl5KJpQHemGg2RvPWHrRmMRgj3BnM/s400/DSC05679.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsoWjKokWl1JFg5lrnyYwDmslJForSYHkAfCchVLzRK5oxGLDzOMSd1c2Wl-YKVPnhi_2wJrKDI-G5MOREzgeSZfcLCs_wsqfWx35MHKhEjOB-TG_HEht2-tm3qFvwJsYeW2frzv-FKE/s1600-h/DSC06006.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304041776306212034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDsoWjKokWl1JFg5lrnyYwDmslJForSYHkAfCchVLzRK5oxGLDzOMSd1c2Wl-YKVPnhi_2wJrKDI-G5MOREzgeSZfcLCs_wsqfWx35MHKhEjOB-TG_HEht2-tm3qFvwJsYeW2frzv-FKE/s400/DSC06006.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgni2rjF9PAODlcNVAt_jjbBvnGBlQvDYWR_FwdMioPCRC1fmNVw6fEeYSLQe5vImGecmQNZznLB25mneDV2FYwiRji0F6aW1JaT9N35a6bNWqBXY1-S6gsv9_Xa-O6DfGmXDH5VgtmSsU/s1600-h/DSC05795.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304039338025313810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 296px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgni2rjF9PAODlcNVAt_jjbBvnGBlQvDYWR_FwdMioPCRC1fmNVw6fEeYSLQe5vImGecmQNZznLB25mneDV2FYwiRji0F6aW1JaT9N35a6bNWqBXY1-S6gsv9_Xa-O6DfGmXDH5VgtmSsU/s400/DSC05795.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHGlHzyFh774-f8YMRBAv6ndAfo-V0qOWFYvot4frK7b49NI_ZLptD3DW3u2Ef48JZ9spJsrr3NqpwaKHpsBFBHl_iZj78hUeWAxu_OLY1qVSfHJQfbf7t63Xgn-MW_GPdaDSVrqPjM8/s1600-h/DSC05985.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304041769884948994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMHGlHzyFh774-f8YMRBAv6ndAfo-V0qOWFYvot4frK7b49NI_ZLptD3DW3u2Ef48JZ9spJsrr3NqpwaKHpsBFBHl_iZj78hUeWAxu_OLY1qVSfHJQfbf7t63Xgn-MW_GPdaDSVrqPjM8/s400/DSC05985.JPG" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7jLBwUr3QpXtrYWTozMnISYew9yxzjNUj7b0h8N0xFC48JbGUHnY1rwmTmHAxK8J2pZF6uLSgq4D4JHoiAlhCf6sDz7PqCLoamJF1ARcgv__RiaySXh-VzW2_qX7pGxTMZ-Q5wqGgDE/s1600-h/DSC05778.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304039334604327074" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc7jLBwUr3QpXtrYWTozMnISYew9yxzjNUj7b0h8N0xFC48JbGUHnY1rwmTmHAxK8J2pZF6uLSgq4D4JHoiAlhCf6sDz7PqCLoamJF1ARcgv__RiaySXh-VzW2_qX7pGxTMZ-Q5wqGgDE/s400/DSC05778.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUDNpIGwF3acxcU5Kqa0XelmNY98agy-DeFVcozt8rZAD7I56wLOtDK47SrXVedmYrSRDakVrbUvAmvbr9fAMZPTY2e1xR_K1t4LS_LRofk36JsR2dLUEUV1jDhsTPoaSd4CLammQVwI/s1600-h/DSC05973.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304041767405775298" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKUDNpIGwF3acxcU5Kqa0XelmNY98agy-DeFVcozt8rZAD7I56wLOtDK47SrXVedmYrSRDakVrbUvAmvbr9fAMZPTY2e1xR_K1t4LS_LRofk36JsR2dLUEUV1jDhsTPoaSd4CLammQVwI/s400/DSC05973.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXflabOrAeAsOHcZqHFEdrW8mELHnaoTEo0NfHGQNAtWVKIz6-j1nmLJsHXZJWHB9XF62Bw5MDOgnrH9bBCKVpzE8C_vwe-9s3aOEwMzE0zNKYML_k-h2t2ogIB6NX4NOwgUSqMIBpYg/s1600-h/DSC05891.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304041763825916114" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuXflabOrAeAsOHcZqHFEdrW8mELHnaoTEo0NfHGQNAtWVKIz6-j1nmLJsHXZJWHB9XF62Bw5MDOgnrH9bBCKVpzE8C_vwe-9s3aOEwMzE0zNKYML_k-h2t2ogIB6NX4NOwgUSqMIBpYg/s400/DSC05891.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRlZASXio7UPPmteILzUjpPhUV0ufa6pJubtLdVRP9ly7Klwpo7EmEwgH7o06u4sJSnsSZgg5Hd5NbHktjrcLPOBNnLueeBdEXZlPIhxsIIsEMWU1Qs4rv8Hot90VYiFdqPOqkZCxi1c/s1600-h/DSC05871.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304041759378456722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 385px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRlZASXio7UPPmteILzUjpPhUV0ufa6pJubtLdVRP9ly7Klwpo7EmEwgH7o06u4sJSnsSZgg5Hd5NbHktjrcLPOBNnLueeBdEXZlPIhxsIIsEMWU1Qs4rv8Hot90VYiFdqPOqkZCxi1c/s400/DSC05871.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9S7E1UwNuAG-iwijjZb-X8Fiojq6q-DQKwGhWOTX2mN7aaF7q0h66cgClwmpsZtn19Ab6qXlJxDAsxvsIuKU8B_J5Dbm0ghizbZ_dDQXZEZ9TLt7NCH0QZa_1vnpbwwvj-hAS5JTIGk/s1600-h/DSC05813.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304039345433712866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9S7E1UwNuAG-iwijjZb-X8Fiojq6q-DQKwGhWOTX2mN7aaF7q0h66cgClwmpsZtn19Ab6qXlJxDAsxvsIuKU8B_J5Dbm0ghizbZ_dDQXZEZ9TLt7NCH0QZa_1vnpbwwvj-hAS5JTIGk/s400/DSC05813.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6TK38HCNR15cEtIa4HeKL7wsgtmw_jC1DxSD-XDnI_5ZduMGF8KhBupdplcfTe2UcnyMdukd2S1rSLtQtZ8r20spEiIxXbPlfmQn8U5c8ky-KND-0ob9KyLcGDNB-MqF4BB0HTQv-6o/s1600-h/DSC05616.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5304039328885912546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE6TK38HCNR15cEtIa4HeKL7wsgtmw_jC1DxSD-XDnI_5ZduMGF8KhBupdplcfTe2UcnyMdukd2S1rSLtQtZ8r20spEiIxXbPlfmQn8U5c8ky-KND-0ob9KyLcGDNB-MqF4BB0HTQv-6o/s400/DSC05616.JPG" border="0" /></a>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-62426473014670319002009-02-12T20:54:00.001-08:002009-02-12T22:13:18.901-08:00Welcome to CambodiaI've been traveling in the country for almost a week now and already had an infestation of ants in my backpack, burned a quarter size wound into my calf (from the hot muffler of a motorbike) and was hustled by immigration (so called "police") at Don Kralor international border between Laos and Cambodia. Surprisingly I'm in high spirits. These are minor inconveniences in the grand scheme of things - I feel blessed to be in SE Asia, having the opportunity to travel to such exotic locations.<br />Story of mishap at the border, confrontation with corruption... On my way with some friends I met in Don Dhet. Heading from Si Phon Don to Ban Lung in Northern Cambodia, a town recommended as a mellow beginning to slowly ease into all that is Cambodia. When we arrived at the border, there were several stations set up for paying Laos exit tax, Cambodia entrance fee and a building for filling-out visa applications. My first impression was that the officers appeared helpful and friendly, just going about their bureaucratic duties. I was last in line when it came my turn to pay $21 for a sticker. I set the money down, while also offering an officer my Laos phone card (which I could no longer use). He graciously accepted with a spanning grin and a nod. At the same time, the other man slid my money under the table, stashing it in his box of cash. A western man came over to vouch for me, explaining what he'd seen, but the men insisted I hadn't paid yet. To make matters worse, that was the last of my cash with no ATMs within miles of the boundary crossing. Fortunately enough, a sweet man gifted me with $21 and went on his way. I had no way of paying him back because he was heading to another town than me, but I truly believe this good deed will cyclically return to him through positive karma.<br />Today is the date I was originally scheduled to fly home, BKK -> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">SFO</span>. Now I've extended my flight for, at the very least, another month. Couldn't be happier to be in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Kompong</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Cham</span> - quaint, mellow city, staying in a comfortable guest house overlooking the Mekong. Tomorrow will be heading to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Siem</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Riep</span> - to see Angkor Wat!emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-24670968121956345672009-02-04T19:35:00.000-08:002009-03-04T05:35:28.797-08:00It's a small world afterall...<div>Below I've uploaded photos from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Luang</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Prabang</span>, Laos- providing a small glimpse into all the beauty of this special country. Spent fifteen days in the whole of Laos- flew into LP airport, taking buses south, through Vang <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Vieng</span>, short stop in Vientiane, then <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Pakse</span>, ending in Don <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Dhet</span> (of Si <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Phon</span> Don, 4000 Islands), plus a few other towns not exactly worth mentioning.<br /><br />While in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Luang</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Prabang</span> I randomly met up with friends Shaina and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Emiliano</span>. I heard they were somewhere in SE Asia. Then they spotted me on the main road, in the terrace of a French cafe while sipping wine. That very morning I had emailed Shaina, titling the message, "Where in the world are you now?"- it turned out she was in the same town as me. It must have been meant to be! Heidi met us in LP several days later, flying in from Hanoi. Us three girls were roommates together in Santa Barbara reuniting unexpectedly in Asia.<br /><br />Me, Heidi and Shaina stopped for a photo op when the bus broke down on our way to Vang <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Vieng</span>. If the scenery hadn't been this beautiful maybe we would've been more upset.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVb5vC3ehQ6-ZVuoVmhjcWrwGDbKAnou7uMpAvjE9uA2CnksV5Fh8pN8Yew7QoQwFq6JyMSHUjFED0jccGaxzXPRENV125KUZczdWCSvRLXZBqBDEaeDV9i23BpHkKx8ghq0wZFiQJDeE/s1600-h/DSC05207.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299159695209811378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVb5vC3ehQ6-ZVuoVmhjcWrwGDbKAnou7uMpAvjE9uA2CnksV5Fh8pN8Yew7QoQwFq6JyMSHUjFED0jccGaxzXPRENV125KUZczdWCSvRLXZBqBDEaeDV9i23BpHkKx8ghq0wZFiQJDeE/s400/DSC05207.JPG" border="0" /></a>View from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Phusi</span> Temple. Funny how we almost looked superimposed onto this unbelievable backdrop overlooking the Mekong River.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gw8zWr7Wcdl-ozpDsR9nl7yCkk2XNT0NwE_3VDLfFuZLpOIdMKayhabJpPhqWHAfq_4jmZhpiy-_nSF3yfJ9B43tn4MgaiIG83EQ56s7eC3yXHy0cV4ElqeYrH_aOal_e7lSkrQiJPo/s1600-h/DSC05076.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299159688815577330" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4gw8zWr7Wcdl-ozpDsR9nl7yCkk2XNT0NwE_3VDLfFuZLpOIdMKayhabJpPhqWHAfq_4jmZhpiy-_nSF3yfJ9B43tn4MgaiIG83EQ56s7eC3yXHy0cV4ElqeYrH_aOal_e7lSkrQiJPo/s400/DSC05076.JPG" border="0" /></a>Early, misty morning market in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Luang</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Prabang</span> after watching the monks receive alms.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFYBwX670PFl3RVdiUChNXokHnV97w7ZRwDZfMQFNYMylzRdhUWkvpPZi1kZhIJqXcfNBNVLLGmcHAioKfISCLKM9RJ6ay3_QiEJz9bgWiLitVutbX1OtkkG5vnCA2Mhl9TD1Y6eGnBo/s1600-h/DSC05002.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299159688501619618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqFYBwX670PFl3RVdiUChNXokHnV97w7ZRwDZfMQFNYMylzRdhUWkvpPZi1kZhIJqXcfNBNVLLGmcHAioKfISCLKM9RJ6ay3_QiEJz9bgWiLitVutbX1OtkkG5vnCA2Mhl9TD1Y6eGnBo/s400/DSC05002.JPG" border="0" /></a>This night market was one of the most visually stimulating, colorful markets I've encountered during my travels. Very refreshing to see the chilled-out vibe of the Lao people. For the most part, they are exceptionally kind and soft spoken.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicGrKhdWywrqIJRAdp9ocSBkxvuraIY8_Wd1hQRtddkT-1edjLP5WdAVM_ZWhC5qRT2AiqQ6LwyMhvRTpmBTFtG2xsF8c-v7HirIlXcBv7ubnK_Dtfeu75JhedIP-Qbm5WEiafLRy7Nk/s1600-h/DSC04816.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299159683961000434" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgicGrKhdWywrqIJRAdp9ocSBkxvuraIY8_Wd1hQRtddkT-1edjLP5WdAVM_ZWhC5qRT2AiqQ6LwyMhvRTpmBTFtG2xsF8c-v7HirIlXcBv7ubnK_Dtfeu75JhedIP-Qbm5WEiafLRy7Nk/s400/DSC04816.JPG" border="0" /></a>Wish I had room in my backpack for many of the beautiful handmade goods sold at the market.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTkq8X1XMF9OVMjbTgAVUEnaZPWulko4RZSRYJysZU6IgnIucJkVrfZv0Xg1p2sjFcV3qnCHiu-LmWGvc24j-DQDFTllebUukOCNsAOtKJBgcHxUkaZjlDWY48OeGRxQ5aKqqbgxcOug/s1600-h/DSC04815.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299159683177173314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBTkq8X1XMF9OVMjbTgAVUEnaZPWulko4RZSRYJysZU6IgnIucJkVrfZv0Xg1p2sjFcV3qnCHiu-LmWGvc24j-DQDFTllebUukOCNsAOtKJBgcHxUkaZjlDWY48OeGRxQ5aKqqbgxcOug/s400/DSC04815.JPG" border="0" /></a>Lounging in the Reggae Bar (Don Dhet) with Shannon from Australia.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309321619694707714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUsRqq_f2qJ7IlPg4Z8HJK-fO2ai-j0O9-tgrD2CHO-mBNP1CEYuAn1Ek27JBtUhxn2J23lpfzde0wHSe57HpFgDDxRUI0mjguHuj5QS7lab7p1ijXUy9Z1AKsTO1pAV37NiQFaP3PyA/s400/Image174.jpg" border="0" /></div>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-74108406226771054012009-01-22T07:36:00.000-08:002009-01-22T08:13:49.687-08:00Raw "cooking" with a Thai zingI've now completed seven days of fasting and feel like a new person both inside and out! All through my cleanse I was looking forward to taking a raw food class only to discover on the last day it had been canceled. Luckily, I found an alternative outside of the health retreat. Even better, it turned out to be a private session in Lam Sor, a peaceful area on the southern tip of Samui island. The food was deliciously fresh and bursting with flavor! Maybe it's because I'm finally able to eat after a lengthy period of ingesting only liquids or Ms Ta is a fantastic "cook" - it's probably both;)<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294147875655688994" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-gEJrrF4xkOk-0Rp58pf4z9F6GIC-gpvkrKcQJsqnA7e28oYvpjh5DNyToAL28J9CpJ6aIdAHV-W6dQnlxGfA2QzbtXy7edSPlUIySsrP_tP2qrdq8TRGGN0mVVsnLiw5iWsDnkBTVqA/s400/DSC04698.JPG" border="0" />I helped prepare five fully raw and organic Thai dishes. All vegetables picked fresh from her garden.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294147887923651314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1WETaWLXJQdJaBnGuEDetx1U2_jl4g8EMWa9nYtdtDBAunablQ_n02IOsNqMISSOwzN8rYKzLM9d3j8yQEcdtwaTOllrzOr3C61bmsqpj1P3CDbNwrHSv9J-0XSU2712gN3ss82b36A/s400/DSC04712.JPG" border="0" />Serious preparations...<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294147879772973874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3I-jIbeqSxJiWjlFZYQPR2z4ej9lekIIKA3ArYAGYiXiTVLKJoPooXMH3mJWJKKtTA0NBXiSUDkbyQCCqprEngMHz0cLyK_uJecbzOs774iMU3DnwsnIvm3aMB4ZaJgZ3i8jAH0yCkg/s400/DSC04711.JPG" border="0" />Gorgeous colors and flavors.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294147881734739282" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj296axmpEdVwQ_RzCXpi2bU39yGhtJkihzbtOHnEXAjnumZDroQY1ml2l24Hh5_7lmxRx2AhFEp7AFQJkYAWl1XlaQ5bej_LOIiVT-EUS1fBi_ROM_2x93w-5ntmP3-OFY6B_7Jrk3qFs/s400/DSC04707.JPG" border="0" />Ok, maybe not so serious... She's wearing a pamelo rind on her head.<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5294147890976110626" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFO3r3cVm_Iu3eLAOp8Yj6J-t627KWEzUqjp0qMmqWwW0T96lAxPykXaf1h9SMe870FLNWrQukx1XflPESRZzqLOapB6p1YzHTuL_F2827ammxMvsFz05zZeVwFMvy99BveG8oJvbw9dI/s400/DSC04735.JPG" border="0" />emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5462296541023659074.post-70657326895962864192009-01-21T06:32:00.000-08:002009-01-22T07:06:43.289-08:00Phuket Province<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">JW</span></span> Marriott Resort - Stayed in a lovely villa for a week, time went by much too quickly!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ajBrcDNk8k227CsgRPssxKjTQApzpnrDBd4Ih51eQ3JGEgW8-MSEfsmgLksAWYgZD8N7Li0lkzPJJgve330C6ttuc5Y6VLoYe_kC86bBdiJ3e2YxK0ZtDUojytvyHlcooxenDZKeocE/s1600-h/DSC04491.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293759374618898194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ajBrcDNk8k227CsgRPssxKjTQApzpnrDBd4Ih51eQ3JGEgW8-MSEfsmgLksAWYgZD8N7Li0lkzPJJgve330C6ttuc5Y6VLoYe_kC86bBdiJ3e2YxK0ZtDUojytvyHlcooxenDZKeocE/s400/DSC04491.JPG" border="0" /></a> Tropical flowers blooming all over the grounds.<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOK1iJhikM_y9xNZf7DvRUq2O6p7-ETaG_ad5uDuFT5LYL5vynTADMuGgo7ZYxKLQ_xtpHeR3uaatbBjRhNRuJbjDriHTSxZ_2q7UMhFTPLh52sCZc-3n7ba0mChHbhNcgN_wQJsC3UDc/s1600-h/DSC04388.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293759371021105266" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOK1iJhikM_y9xNZf7DvRUq2O6p7-ETaG_ad5uDuFT5LYL5vynTADMuGgo7ZYxKLQ_xtpHeR3uaatbBjRhNRuJbjDriHTSxZ_2q7UMhFTPLh52sCZc-3n7ba0mChHbhNcgN_wQJsC3UDc/s400/DSC04388.JPG" border="0" /></a>As you can see, it's difficult to travel far in Thailand without seeing an elephant (most are domesticated of course).<img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293759353011600738" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzccYYhkMDJGhNVq3eWpt1NXA-MZHEIAGixmz7WAgRy-hlfTG1uA7QXJ0qBbYcqH2jURfwWjzvVzgCA1cpK5Me8TBDY-fhwMXfVOVAlJ-z-2QXpC-k4Pw7bWqCQFVj53YAygg2HBjvog/s400/DSC04028.JPG" border="0" />Beauty found.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4DCxdP553HTTJyWJd3JzrQsx9eImdHY4Fh2tZjKSDubIVh9LRtT5sJQrKypfkjfj67P4Fe_pncwhd-TzVc7Mf8zmr3hnHFv4W6mRvW97ApK-Yixf_55fnxtB0pdktiTqR1OYjSKM1CA/s1600-h/DSC04313.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293759363938104834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 225px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig4DCxdP553HTTJyWJd3JzrQsx9eImdHY4Fh2tZjKSDubIVh9LRtT5sJQrKypfkjfj67P4Fe_pncwhd-TzVc7Mf8zmr3hnHFv4W6mRvW97ApK-Yixf_55fnxtB0pdktiTqR1OYjSKM1CA/s400/DSC04313.JPG" border="0" /></a>One night we were invited for dinner in a neighborhood directly next to the airplane runway . These are some of the adorable children we got to play with. Happy happy family! Heard this repeated numerous times throughout the night!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAPc8RgMfWk8bhyddXvTc9jbGxpS13Xt6U26pqUQHv-47HWXxvceG23APA4DCIiNT8S5_dbIkH__bCYC3qWwojMmBF6DKLtXwbVMCH_TH-jcCmsIGk_k5cTU8YsflB7LfgLLLpqUu10k/s1600-h/DSC04166.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293759361349830802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: pointer; HEIGHT: 225px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKAPc8RgMfWk8bhyddXvTc9jbGxpS13Xt6U26pqUQHv-47HWXxvceG23APA4DCIiNT8S5_dbIkH__bCYC3qWwojMmBF6DKLtXwbVMCH_TH-jcCmsIGk_k5cTU8YsflB7LfgLLLpqUu10k/s400/DSC04166.JPG" border="0" /></a>emilyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09704000543317167988noreply@blogger.com