'Nam

Angkor Wat was incredible. Sadly, Phnom Penh is a big ole stinker. We got ripped off, we got hassled, and Josh made enemies with some street kids who threatened his life and punched him in the face. We left a day early for Vietnam because we just had to get out of Cambodia. Turns out, it was a great decision. Vietnam has been amazing, we rode on the back of motorbikes along the coast up to sand dunes. We swam in blue waters, and relaxed on white sands. We ended up spending a few days at an isolated beach resort called Paradise, and it truly did live up to its namesake. There were communal meals, the best salad in the world, all you can drink coffee, and a funny Frenchman owner to boot. A very long and bumpy bus ride later, where I slept in a space pod like bed, we ended up in Hoi An and saw some ruins out in the jungle. A quick fight up to Hanoi and a 4 hour journey east later, we were in the mesmerizing Halong Bay. We spent the next few days on a boat traveling around the bay, meeting our fellow shipmates, kayaking, jungle trekking, and being blown away by the massive limestone cliffs that jut out of the waters. Now, we are in an internet cafe in Hanoi getting a much needed LOST fix. We leave for Sapa tonight on an overnight train, and are ready for 3 days of village life and rice paddies. Then it's back to my homeland, Thailand.

Arrest Free for Two Weeks!

Its been a wild week here on this side of the world. The camel trek was a great way to end our time in India, and sleeping under the stariest sky these old eyes have eyes have ever seen on soft sand dunes was certainly a highlight. It was a hectic transition into Cambodia, when we took a red eye flight from India to Bangkok then straight to the bus station to make our way to the Cambodian border. The border crossing wasn't as easy as when I accidentally entered Burma... it was hot, long lines, big backpacks, and the most uncomfortable van ride of my life. We did get to meet a great Danish girl who we became friends with and we've been hanging out with her for the past couple of days. Now, we have completed our temple tour of Angkor Wat over the past three days, and it sure was something special. Especially when you leave a temple and a stampede of Cambodian vendors come up to you screaming, "Hey mistaaa you want some coal wataaaaaaaaa!?!?!" They all sound exactly the same, and I'm pretty sure it might just be the same few ladies following us all over the different temples. In a few hours we are off to the capital city, Phnom Penh and before we know it, we'll be on the beaches of Vietnam, soaking up some much needed sun and relaxation time. I'll try to put up some pictures as soon as I'm at a computer that can handle it. Until next time...

Highlights From the Road

1. Getting arrested in India.
2. Throwing up at the Taj Mahal.
3. Walking through narrow streets filled with cows and cow poop.
4. Pretending we are from different countries (or outer space) when people ask us where we are from.
5. Talking about Lindsay Lohan while under the influence of sleeping pills on a sleeper train.
6. Chocolate balls and peanut butter.
7. Enjoying rooftop dinners everywhere we go, and the beautiful, colorful scenery.
8. Getting ripped off in every rickshaw we've been in.
9. Picture of the day.
10. Our never ending quest of reenacting as many scenes from the movie, "The Fall" as we possibly can.
11. Doing crossword puzzles that seem to gather the interest of every single Indian person within an arms reach.

Still to come in India: Village jeep tour tomorrow, then off to Jaisalmer where we will hop on the backs of some camels for a trek into the Great Thar Desert. Two days full of slow, spitting camels, baking in the hot Indian sun, sunset at sand dunes, and a night under the stars. Heyo!

Check out Josh's blog for his take on our Indian adventures... The Awkward Traveler.

A Fond Farewell

Friends, followers, dreamers. The end has come. I have finished my tenure as an English teacher in Thailand. It was a long and bumpy road, but I'm here on the other side to tell you it was an experience of a lifetime and will only help me grow as a teacher and as a person.

My bags are packed, and I'm ready to go (on a jet plane). I'm about to leave for Bangkok to pick up Josh at the airport after his flight was delayed in New York, causing us to lose a day. Oh well, do with what you got, right? I'm just so excited that he's finally coming today.

I will try and update this blog as much as possible while I am on the road. I'm not sure how often I'll be able to do it, but I'll do the best I can!

Alright, so this is it. Goodbye, farewell, aurevoir, adios, I bid you all adieu. I'll see you on the flipside.