I am waiting for the heavens to open and for a torrential downpour to begin! A storm is brewing - the sky is dark, the wind is blowing, and the humidity has increased. I cannot wait!
We are sitting on our "patio" in Langkawi, Malaysia.
And here it is!! The sky is thundering, the rain is pounding on our tin roof, and Matty is dancing. Oh, life is good.
We had a lovely beach day yesterday. We spent most of our time sweating in the shade, but we ran for short dips in the ocean. The ever-present fear of a sunburn was enough to keep us under cover. The sun is intense and the amount of sweat we produce makes it impossible to keep ourselves properly sun screened.
The rain is a welcome change, though I hope it doesn't last too long. We had rented scooters moments before the storm rolled in, but we quickly brought them back as a rainstorm isn't conducive to scooting around town.
We are settling in for a day of cards and reminiscing about lightning storms of old. I have a great story to tell you about the last time the four of us were together during a lightning storm, but that will have to wait for another day.
Monday, April 29, 2013
Friday, April 26, 2013
{this moment}
{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Wishing you a lovely weekend!
Wishing you a lovely weekend!
*** *** ***
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Packing Recommendations.
I have had a few people ask me how one goes about packing for six months of traveling, especially when one is visiting four continents in various seasons and with various amenities. I asked myself the same thing many times in the year before our adventure. In truth, I still don't know what one should bring, but whatever we did managed to work just fine for us. At least it has worked so far, after all, we still have plenty of trip left.
I was going to write a list of everything we brought, but that would take a while. Instead I will just touch on a few things.
Clothing
- I would recommend bringing less than you think you will need. I have 4 tanks, 3 tees, 2 light longsleeves, and a heavier longsleeve. I also have 2 shorts (short and knee length), 2 capris, and 2 long pants (tights and linen). I would have brought 2 tanks and 2 tees, but multiple bottoms have been a necessity. In regular life I prefer the opposite, but the length for bottoms options have been lovely. One of my capris are leggings/tights which are so comfy to travel in, but the tightness isn't always the most appropriate option. I only wear the short shorts when I am hiking or at the beach.
Hygeine
- It is fairly obvious, but it is worth reiterating -- hand sanitizer is wonderful when traveling. We don't use it too often, but it definitely comes in handy when you do not have access to a clean water source.
- Also wet wipes. These are w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l. Really they are. I wouldn't travel without them.
Medications
- Most people know to take immodium with them when they travel, but I would also recommend bringing sennekot in case you run into the other issue. Also, I would only recommend taking immodium if dehydration is an issue or if you are taking a long bus ride. My policy is, if you have a decent enough bathroom then use it!
Gear
- Headlamps are a must, especially when headed to a third world country as power is less than reliable or non-existant.
- Organization Bags are also handy. We have some mesh ones and, of course, ziploc bags. They help keep our packs clean and easy to navigate.
- Compression Bags are also wonderful. I have all my tops in one and all my bottoms in another. I think Erik has all his clothes stuffed into one. When space is limited, as it is when you have a single pack to carry eberything in, compression bags are awesome!
What We Didn't Bring
These are things we wish we had brought. None are necessary, but they would make traveling a bit more pleasant.
- For starters, air fresheners. I am talking the bathroom spray. I brought these to Ghana but didn't think to pack them this time around. I am particularly fond of the neutralizing spray... The tiny, super powerful spray things. They are especially delightful when you have an exceptionally stinky room. Or when you can't flush toilet paper and are frequenting the bathroom. Or if you are prone to gagging every time you use a public poop hole. I wish I could remember the brand I love.
- I canot tell you the number of times I have wished I had Ikea clips like these. They would come in handy to seal off crackers or bread or rice or whatever else. Nobody likes stale, soggy, or spilt snacks in their bag.
- I wouldn't like using one at home because I love real books but if I were traveling for an extended time again I would bring a kindle. I have SO many books in my bag!
And that is all I have time for right now.
I was going to write a list of everything we brought, but that would take a while. Instead I will just touch on a few things.
Clothing
- I would recommend bringing less than you think you will need. I have 4 tanks, 3 tees, 2 light longsleeves, and a heavier longsleeve. I also have 2 shorts (short and knee length), 2 capris, and 2 long pants (tights and linen). I would have brought 2 tanks and 2 tees, but multiple bottoms have been a necessity. In regular life I prefer the opposite, but the length for bottoms options have been lovely. One of my capris are leggings/tights which are so comfy to travel in, but the tightness isn't always the most appropriate option. I only wear the short shorts when I am hiking or at the beach.
Hygeine
- It is fairly obvious, but it is worth reiterating -- hand sanitizer is wonderful when traveling. We don't use it too often, but it definitely comes in handy when you do not have access to a clean water source.
- Also wet wipes. These are w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l. Really they are. I wouldn't travel without them.
Medications
- Most people know to take immodium with them when they travel, but I would also recommend bringing sennekot in case you run into the other issue. Also, I would only recommend taking immodium if dehydration is an issue or if you are taking a long bus ride. My policy is, if you have a decent enough bathroom then use it!
Gear
- Headlamps are a must, especially when headed to a third world country as power is less than reliable or non-existant.
- Organization Bags are also handy. We have some mesh ones and, of course, ziploc bags. They help keep our packs clean and easy to navigate.
- Compression Bags are also wonderful. I have all my tops in one and all my bottoms in another. I think Erik has all his clothes stuffed into one. When space is limited, as it is when you have a single pack to carry eberything in, compression bags are awesome!
What We Didn't Bring
These are things we wish we had brought. None are necessary, but they would make traveling a bit more pleasant.
- For starters, air fresheners. I am talking the bathroom spray. I brought these to Ghana but didn't think to pack them this time around. I am particularly fond of the neutralizing spray... The tiny, super powerful spray things. They are especially delightful when you have an exceptionally stinky room. Or when you can't flush toilet paper and are frequenting the bathroom. Or if you are prone to gagging every time you use a public poop hole. I wish I could remember the brand I love.
- I canot tell you the number of times I have wished I had Ikea clips like these. They would come in handy to seal off crackers or bread or rice or whatever else. Nobody likes stale, soggy, or spilt snacks in their bag.
- I wouldn't like using one at home because I love real books but if I were traveling for an extended time again I would bring a kindle. I have SO many books in my bag!
And that is all I have time for right now.
Friday, April 19, 2013
sometimes you just need to make something
This girl needs to create something.
I find myself with my journal open to a blank page in front of me searching for words because the desire to create is so intense. I want to create anything. I have gone so far as to consider creative writing, but that is a wee bit too intimidating.
I have been perusing Ravelry and dreaming up some fall or winter knitting.
I have been looking at this pattern and I am planning on some summer sewing. I know of two little girls turning one in August and they would look adorable in a couple of Lula-Loop Skirts.
I have been glancing at embroidery patterns even. That seems like a fairly transportable crafting project.
I want a kitchen so I can create delicious food. Even that would relieve this ridiculous need to make something.
Lynn, we may have to make a stop at a yarn shop when I come visit you. I am giving you a heads up. Just over seven weeks!!!
I find myself with my journal open to a blank page in front of me searching for words because the desire to create is so intense. I want to create anything. I have gone so far as to consider creative writing, but that is a wee bit too intimidating.
I have been perusing Ravelry and dreaming up some fall or winter knitting.
I have been looking at this pattern and I am planning on some summer sewing. I know of two little girls turning one in August and they would look adorable in a couple of Lula-Loop Skirts.
I have been glancing at embroidery patterns even. That seems like a fairly transportable crafting project.
I want a kitchen so I can create delicious food. Even that would relieve this ridiculous need to make something.
Lynn, we may have to make a stop at a yarn shop when I come visit you. I am giving you a heads up. Just over seven weeks!!!
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Genocide
*Warning: This post is disturbing.*
I am ashamed to admit that I have absolutely no idea there was a genocide in Cambodia in the 1970's. Please tell me someone else was unaware. How could I not know? We decided to visit Phnom Penh solely because of Erik's interest in this particular bit of history. During our brief stay in Phnom Penh we visited two sites, Choeung Ek and Toule Sleng.
Choeung Ek was used as a killing field during Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge's reign in Cambodia. An audio tour was provided and we silently walked around the mass graves that littered the landscape. We heard about the brutal murders that occurred on the site.
There were two things I found especially disturbing. The first was that of the estimated 20,000 people murdered, none were killed with bullets. Bullets were too loud and too expensive so victims were bludgeoned to death using whatever materials the Khmer Rouge had on hand. Bamboo sticks, shovels, palm knives, garden hoes, chains, and hammers were among the weapons used to end the lives of the innocent. I know murder is always inhumane, but the brutality of these murders seems even more evil.
The second thing that broke my heart was the Killing Tree. In the center of the killing field there was a particularly large grave and a large tree. When the grave was exhumed over one hundred naked women and children were discovered. Bones, blood, and brains were found clinging to the bark and at the base of the nearby tree. The Khmer Rouge forced women to watch as they beat their children's heads against the tree. They would toss the battered child into the grave before murdering the mothers and throwing them in after.
Choeung Ek, the Killing Field, was certainly eye-opening and horrifying and our second destination was equally so.
Toul Sleng was a primary and a high school prior to the Pol Pot coming into power. When he gained control in 1975 he ordered Phnom Penh to be evacuated and within three days the capital of Cambodia was completely deserted. At some point he converted the school into a secret prison that was used for interrogations, torture, and murder. When an individual was arrested his/her entire family was brought to prison along with him/her. Pol Pot did this so there would be no one to seek revenge or to revolt against the Khmer Rouge.
Prisoners were subject to various kinds of torture until they were forced to confess to crimes they did not commit before being tortured some more or being taken to Choeung Ek and murdered. Pol Pot targeted intellectuals, doctors, professors, and anyone who could possibly stand in his way.
Each individual imprisoned at Toul Sleng (also known as Office 21 or S.21) was documented with a photo. Copies of these photos were displayed around the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum. It was heart-breaking to look at the photos, into the eyes of these individuals, and to know the end they faced. Some had the hint of a smile left, some looked like ghosts already, some held sleeping children, some looked crippled with fear, and some looked defiant.
We quickly walked past some of the devices used for torture, barely stopping long enough to discern how such device was utilized. We walked through the rooms that held so many against their will. Some cells, poorly constructed from brick and wood, were barely large enough to house a human being. Some were larger, reserved for Khmer Rouge who Pol Pot no longer trusted.
When the Khmer Rouge fled the site, the liberaters found seven adults and a handful of children still alive. There were 14 individuals found tortured and murdered chained to their beds in the larger cells. The bodies were so mutilated and battered that they were unable to identify the individuals. As we walked through the cells, photos of how these people were found were hung on the walls. These were truly disturbing and humiliating to see. It was an impossible situation as I neither wanted to look at or look away from the photos.
I was reminded yet again of the terrible potential of human beings. Our ability to do truly evil things. It was disgusting. It is disgusting. I couldn't believe that anything like this would ever happen again and then there were bombings at the Boston Marathon.
We live in a broken world. In a world where it is difficult to have hope. But there is hope. There is hope in Jesus Christ who is gracious, merciful, forgiving, just, and loving. And we are given the task to be like Christ; to learn from Him and to reach out to our neighbours. We are called to play an active role in human history. Figuring out what that looks like in each of our lives is the tough part, but we are part of this broken and beautiful world.
I am ashamed to admit that I have absolutely no idea there was a genocide in Cambodia in the 1970's. Please tell me someone else was unaware. How could I not know? We decided to visit Phnom Penh solely because of Erik's interest in this particular bit of history. During our brief stay in Phnom Penh we visited two sites, Choeung Ek and Toule Sleng.
Choeung Ek was used as a killing field during Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge's reign in Cambodia. An audio tour was provided and we silently walked around the mass graves that littered the landscape. We heard about the brutal murders that occurred on the site.
There were two things I found especially disturbing. The first was that of the estimated 20,000 people murdered, none were killed with bullets. Bullets were too loud and too expensive so victims were bludgeoned to death using whatever materials the Khmer Rouge had on hand. Bamboo sticks, shovels, palm knives, garden hoes, chains, and hammers were among the weapons used to end the lives of the innocent. I know murder is always inhumane, but the brutality of these murders seems even more evil.
The second thing that broke my heart was the Killing Tree. In the center of the killing field there was a particularly large grave and a large tree. When the grave was exhumed over one hundred naked women and children were discovered. Bones, blood, and brains were found clinging to the bark and at the base of the nearby tree. The Khmer Rouge forced women to watch as they beat their children's heads against the tree. They would toss the battered child into the grave before murdering the mothers and throwing them in after.
Choeung Ek, the Killing Field, was certainly eye-opening and horrifying and our second destination was equally so.
Toul Sleng was a primary and a high school prior to the Pol Pot coming into power. When he gained control in 1975 he ordered Phnom Penh to be evacuated and within three days the capital of Cambodia was completely deserted. At some point he converted the school into a secret prison that was used for interrogations, torture, and murder. When an individual was arrested his/her entire family was brought to prison along with him/her. Pol Pot did this so there would be no one to seek revenge or to revolt against the Khmer Rouge.
Prisoners were subject to various kinds of torture until they were forced to confess to crimes they did not commit before being tortured some more or being taken to Choeung Ek and murdered. Pol Pot targeted intellectuals, doctors, professors, and anyone who could possibly stand in his way.
Each individual imprisoned at Toul Sleng (also known as Office 21 or S.21) was documented with a photo. Copies of these photos were displayed around the Toul Sleng Genocide Museum. It was heart-breaking to look at the photos, into the eyes of these individuals, and to know the end they faced. Some had the hint of a smile left, some looked like ghosts already, some held sleeping children, some looked crippled with fear, and some looked defiant.
We quickly walked past some of the devices used for torture, barely stopping long enough to discern how such device was utilized. We walked through the rooms that held so many against their will. Some cells, poorly constructed from brick and wood, were barely large enough to house a human being. Some were larger, reserved for Khmer Rouge who Pol Pot no longer trusted.
When the Khmer Rouge fled the site, the liberaters found seven adults and a handful of children still alive. There were 14 individuals found tortured and murdered chained to their beds in the larger cells. The bodies were so mutilated and battered that they were unable to identify the individuals. As we walked through the cells, photos of how these people were found were hung on the walls. These were truly disturbing and humiliating to see. It was an impossible situation as I neither wanted to look at or look away from the photos.
I was reminded yet again of the terrible potential of human beings. Our ability to do truly evil things. It was disgusting. It is disgusting. I couldn't believe that anything like this would ever happen again and then there were bombings at the Boston Marathon.
We live in a broken world. In a world where it is difficult to have hope. But there is hope. There is hope in Jesus Christ who is gracious, merciful, forgiving, just, and loving. And we are given the task to be like Christ; to learn from Him and to reach out to our neighbours. We are called to play an active role in human history. Figuring out what that looks like in each of our lives is the tough part, but we are part of this broken and beautiful world.
Three
Sawyer Dawn turns three today. I haven't seen her in four months so I won't do my usual character study. I can't because four months is a long time in a little one's life and I am sure she is a whole new little lady.
I will share one of my favourite Sawyer quotes. We skype with Mandi and the kids on occasion and at some point in our travels I asked her if I should have a baby. I am always trying to use the kids to convince Erik becoming a parent is a wonderful idea. Sawyer did not help my argument at all. Our brief conversation went as follows:
Me: Hey Sawy, should Auntie have a baby?
Sawyer: You don't want a baby. Babies are dangerous.
Thanks a bunch, Bean!
It was three years ago that my obsession with labour and delivery was, well, born. Witnessing and being an active member in welcoming Sawyer into the world turned my interest into a full blown obsession! Her being so delightfully adorable certainly helped, but it was such a moving and humbling experience.
It is what really made me consider becoming a midwife.
And I am still considering it. Planning on it, even. Obviously this is would have to fit somewhere along with Erik finishing his Masters first and us having children at some point in time, but I truly hope this dream is one day realized. I used to think that specializing in Labour and Delivery would be enough, but I want to take the extra step to midwifery.
I hope they develop a bridge in program for nurses so I do not have to do another four year degree, but another four years of schooling would be worth it.
Pregnancy. Labour. Delivery. Post Partum. All awesome! Mothers. Even more awesome!
Oh to be a midwife.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Cravings.
I love food. In my journal I sometimes keep track of what I am craving. At the beginning of the trip I didn't crave too much (mainly just veggies) but now that I haven't been able to prepare my own food for four months I am starting to develop some fierce and constant cravings. I may have just wasted some time drooling over recipes I was browsing on Pinterest.
Don't get me wrong, the food here is yummy, but nothing beats a good home-cooked meal. Or eating what you are craving when you are craving it.
What I have been craving most often? A juicy home-made burger... And we rarely eat them! I must be low on iron. Also dairy -- yogurt and cheese mainly. Yummmmmm.
Don't get me wrong, the food here is yummy, but nothing beats a good home-cooked meal. Or eating what you are craving when you are craving it.
What I have been craving most often? A juicy home-made burger... And we rarely eat them! I must be low on iron. Also dairy -- yogurt and cheese mainly. Yummmmmm.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Siem Reap
I have fallen off the blogging wagon again. It happens. I am back, if only for a moment, to play a little catch up. We will start with our visit to Siem Reap.
We intended to stay in Siem Reap for four days, though we were hoping to be ready to move on in three. We enjoyed the city more than we thought we would and ended up staying for an entire week! The number one reason for this was not, in fact, the Angkor Archealogical Site, beautiful as it was, but we stayed for the food.
Food is usually the number one thing that makes or breaks a town. Food or hammocks really. Across from our hostel was another hostel with an awesome restaurant. It was cheap and delicious -- two things we adore. We had plenty of traditional Khmer food. The interesting thing about Khmer food is that we can't find the same meals in different restaurants... they all seem to serve different "traditional' Khmer food. how does that work?
Aside from the food, which was excellent, we also enjoyed the Ankgor Archealogical Site. We purchased a three day pass as there was much to see and we wanted to take our time seeing it. The only thing that disappointed me in the park was the lack of information given at each site. There were billboards that explained the conservation of the sites, but nothing to tell of the history or significance of the massive temples. I think that would have helped me connect a bit more. Instead I was just in awe of how beautiful they were, but I would have appreciated and enjoyed reading about the people who lived there and what they were used for. Some of the sites held entire cities!
On our first day in the park we decided to bicycle from our hostel to Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat was about 5 km from our hostel and we ended up leaving later than we anticipated, at 09:30. It was already hot and humid, but we made it. We spent a few hours walking around and appreciating the sites and sounds. We watched monkeys playing in the forest while we had a snack and we climbed many many stairs. The Wat was beautiful! Stunning in fact, especially when one considers the time in which it was built. The heat and humidity wiped us out and at 14:00 we decided to head home rather than continue on to other temples. After all, we still have two more days of exploration ahead of us.
We hired tuk tuk drivers and did a full day tour and a half day tour on the following days. All the temples were amazing, but they start looking the same after a while. We were pretty templed out by the end of the third day so it is a good thing that the last temple we visited, Ta Prohm, was our favourite.
Ta Phrom was absolutely stunning! I enjoyed it because it was an engaging juxtaposition of tree and stone, organic and inorganic, thriving and ruin. It was breathtaking and mysterious and awesome! This temple was unique; you never knew what would be around the next corner or through the next doorway. It wasn't necessarily the temple itself that created this mystery, but the unexpected dominance of nature. It was amazing to see giant trees growing over, between, and through the stone structure. Even so, the trees didn't appear to bring destruction, they only added to the beauty. As I said, it was absolutely stunning.
We intended to stay in Siem Reap for four days, though we were hoping to be ready to move on in three. We enjoyed the city more than we thought we would and ended up staying for an entire week! The number one reason for this was not, in fact, the Angkor Archealogical Site, beautiful as it was, but we stayed for the food.
Food is usually the number one thing that makes or breaks a town. Food or hammocks really. Across from our hostel was another hostel with an awesome restaurant. It was cheap and delicious -- two things we adore. We had plenty of traditional Khmer food. The interesting thing about Khmer food is that we can't find the same meals in different restaurants... they all seem to serve different "traditional' Khmer food. how does that work?
Aside from the food, which was excellent, we also enjoyed the Ankgor Archealogical Site. We purchased a three day pass as there was much to see and we wanted to take our time seeing it. The only thing that disappointed me in the park was the lack of information given at each site. There were billboards that explained the conservation of the sites, but nothing to tell of the history or significance of the massive temples. I think that would have helped me connect a bit more. Instead I was just in awe of how beautiful they were, but I would have appreciated and enjoyed reading about the people who lived there and what they were used for. Some of the sites held entire cities!
On our first day in the park we decided to bicycle from our hostel to Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat was about 5 km from our hostel and we ended up leaving later than we anticipated, at 09:30. It was already hot and humid, but we made it. We spent a few hours walking around and appreciating the sites and sounds. We watched monkeys playing in the forest while we had a snack and we climbed many many stairs. The Wat was beautiful! Stunning in fact, especially when one considers the time in which it was built. The heat and humidity wiped us out and at 14:00 we decided to head home rather than continue on to other temples. After all, we still have two more days of exploration ahead of us.
We hired tuk tuk drivers and did a full day tour and a half day tour on the following days. All the temples were amazing, but they start looking the same after a while. We were pretty templed out by the end of the third day so it is a good thing that the last temple we visited, Ta Prohm, was our favourite.
Ta Phrom was absolutely stunning! I enjoyed it because it was an engaging juxtaposition of tree and stone, organic and inorganic, thriving and ruin. It was breathtaking and mysterious and awesome! This temple was unique; you never knew what would be around the next corner or through the next doorway. It wasn't necessarily the temple itself that created this mystery, but the unexpected dominance of nature. It was amazing to see giant trees growing over, between, and through the stone structure. Even so, the trees didn't appear to bring destruction, they only added to the beauty. As I said, it was absolutely stunning.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Play Date!
I missed another play date with my six favourite littles. My jealousy was outweighed by my pure delight of seeing them all together. Oh to be snuggled on the couch with the lot of them.
The three youngest hardly resemble the babes I left four months ago. Our reunion will be oh-so-sweet, though I am anticipating stranger-danger from at least four of them.
Elinor is four months younger than Peyton and Avery (half their age) and she is the same size as them. This comes as no surprise as her big sister was ahead of her class in size.
Just look at them! Oh how I love them.
The three youngest hardly resemble the babes I left four months ago. Our reunion will be oh-so-sweet, though I am anticipating stranger-danger from at least four of them.
Elinor is four months younger than Peyton and Avery (half their age) and she is the same size as them. This comes as no surprise as her big sister was ahead of her class in size.
Just look at them! Oh how I love them.
{this moment}
{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Wishing you a fabulous weekend!
Wishing you a fabulous weekend!
*** *** ***
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Wasting Away
My muscles (my entire body) has been wasting away.
W.A.S.T.I.N.G.A.W.A.Y.
And I'm not exaggerating. It is almost worrisome. I still feel and look healthy (though quite skinny), but I have definitely lost every ounce of muscle my body once possessed.
Explain this to me: Erik and I have been eating the same things in the same quantities. We do the same activities. Everything is exactly the same yet he has maintained his pre-travel weight and I have lost 16lbs.
16 pounds!!
That is a lot!! It may even be up to 21 lbs, but I'm not sure what my weight was when we left. I always have a five pound range. I'm being generous and saying it is "only" 16.
Yes, I am eating less than I did at home, but let's be honest, I ate waaaaayyy to much. We eat proper portions and seek out nutritious meals (though, before South East Asia, they were hard to come by). We don't snack though... maybe that's the deal. But Erik hasn't lost any weight!
My muscle wastage was only reiterated at the gym (obviously). We ran for 12 minutes and then did two other exercises (abs and arms) and I was beat! We went on our 32 hour trip the following day and I think I must have pulled my lower abs a bit because I was miserable.
I actually spent the first day here in Siem Reap on self-prescribed bed rest because I was in great discomfort any time I stood or sat. Going to the bathroom was exhausting and painful so I honestly stayed in bed all day. It worked though -- I felt much better the next day. It obviously wasn't a torn muscle and I was unable to describe the pain (not stabbing or sharp or anything) but I was miserable. I had to get out of bed like a patient who had just had abdominal surgery. But it is fixed now. I was far too sore and uncomfortable post workout though. Especially considering the workout only lasted 20 minutes. Walking doesn't do much for muscle maintenance.
It's too hot to do anything overly active in these parts, but we went biking yesterday and we walk everywhere. I am looking forward to hitting a beach and maybe swimming or diving or something. Maybe I will pretend to know how to surf again, though I doubt that will happen.
W.A.S.T.I.N.G.A.W.A.Y.
And I'm not exaggerating. It is almost worrisome. I still feel and look healthy (though quite skinny), but I have definitely lost every ounce of muscle my body once possessed.
Explain this to me: Erik and I have been eating the same things in the same quantities. We do the same activities. Everything is exactly the same yet he has maintained his pre-travel weight and I have lost 16lbs.
16 pounds!!
That is a lot!! It may even be up to 21 lbs, but I'm not sure what my weight was when we left. I always have a five pound range. I'm being generous and saying it is "only" 16.
Yes, I am eating less than I did at home, but let's be honest, I ate waaaaayyy to much. We eat proper portions and seek out nutritious meals (though, before South East Asia, they were hard to come by). We don't snack though... maybe that's the deal. But Erik hasn't lost any weight!
My muscle wastage was only reiterated at the gym (obviously). We ran for 12 minutes and then did two other exercises (abs and arms) and I was beat! We went on our 32 hour trip the following day and I think I must have pulled my lower abs a bit because I was miserable.
I actually spent the first day here in Siem Reap on self-prescribed bed rest because I was in great discomfort any time I stood or sat. Going to the bathroom was exhausting and painful so I honestly stayed in bed all day. It worked though -- I felt much better the next day. It obviously wasn't a torn muscle and I was unable to describe the pain (not stabbing or sharp or anything) but I was miserable. I had to get out of bed like a patient who had just had abdominal surgery. But it is fixed now. I was far too sore and uncomfortable post workout though. Especially considering the workout only lasted 20 minutes. Walking doesn't do much for muscle maintenance.
It's too hot to do anything overly active in these parts, but we went biking yesterday and we walk everywhere. I am looking forward to hitting a beach and maybe swimming or diving or something. Maybe I will pretend to know how to surf again, though I doubt that will happen.
Monday, April 08, 2013
On To Cambodia
It took a long and exhausting 32 hours, but we have made it to Siem Reap, Cambodia. In South America I didn't mind the 31 hour bus ride we took from Guayaquil to Lima, but this adventure was quite unpleasant. For starters, we weren't on the incredible Cruz Del Sur (you can read about Erik's love affair with said bus company here) and we had to change vehicles seven times. The buses we were on were of varying comfort levels. They ranged from sleeper buses (essentially beds) to uncomfortable, non-reclining buses (much like you would expect when traveling in this part of the world). Needless to say, we didn't sleep much and were beat when we arrived at 0200.
I haven't posted in a while. Woops. After our jaunt to Northern Laos we spent a couple days in Luang Prabang before heading to Vientiane (the capital of Laos). We stayed with a friend of a friend and it was awesome! They were lovely. They had air conditioning, which was obviously lovely. And we had a lovely time.
We lazed around. We played with their one-year-old son. We painted some furniture for them. We cleaned. We helped them organize. We cooked. We went to the gym. We got massages. We toured the city. And we had plenty of delightful conversations.
Cambodia has been lovely and humid so far. We sweat from the time we start moving in the morning until after we have fallen asleep at night. It's something.
We went to a circus/performing arts show last night. Erik knows more about it than I do so you should head over to our travel blog to read about that... when he gets around to writing about it. It was held outdoors, which shouldn't have surprised me, and was fun to see. I wish I could do acrobatics or tumbles or the splits even, but instead I sat with my mouth gaping as I watched the performers.
And we have plans to explore Angkor Wat today. By bicycle. It's going to be awesome.
I haven't posted in a while. Woops. After our jaunt to Northern Laos we spent a couple days in Luang Prabang before heading to Vientiane (the capital of Laos). We stayed with a friend of a friend and it was awesome! They were lovely. They had air conditioning, which was obviously lovely. And we had a lovely time.
We lazed around. We played with their one-year-old son. We painted some furniture for them. We cleaned. We helped them organize. We cooked. We went to the gym. We got massages. We toured the city. And we had plenty of delightful conversations.
Cambodia has been lovely and humid so far. We sweat from the time we start moving in the morning until after we have fallen asleep at night. It's something.
We went to a circus/performing arts show last night. Erik knows more about it than I do so you should head over to our travel blog to read about that... when he gets around to writing about it. It was held outdoors, which shouldn't have surprised me, and was fun to see. I wish I could do acrobatics or tumbles or the splits even, but instead I sat with my mouth gaping as I watched the performers.
And we have plans to explore Angkor Wat today. By bicycle. It's going to be awesome.
Monday, April 01, 2013
For Your Viewing Pleasure.
I know that I appreciate and enjoy looking at peoples photos. I feel as though my posts have just been words, words, words lately so I uploaded a few pictures to share with you.
Cruising down the Mekong in a river boat. I think this was actually crossing the border from Thailand into Laos.
What life is like along the Mekong.
I am sadly not a fan of temples. It's not that I don't like them, but I am not really interested in them. And I am in South East Asia, what's my problem? We stopped by this one on a walk around Luang Prabang.
This was our little bungalow in Muang Noi. It overlooked the river and we had a decent view when it wasn't smokey or hazy. This is where I spent four hours each morning wrapped in a duvet and lounging in a hammock.
And this last one is Erik playing cards with a few of the girls from the village who were brave enough to venture onto our porch. The game involved holding cards in your hand and randomly laying various amounts of the cards on a pile and then giggling furiously.
Cruising down the Mekong in a river boat. I think this was actually crossing the border from Thailand into Laos.
What life is like along the Mekong.
I am sadly not a fan of temples. It's not that I don't like them, but I am not really interested in them. And I am in South East Asia, what's my problem? We stopped by this one on a walk around Luang Prabang.
This was our little bungalow in Muang Noi. It overlooked the river and we had a decent view when it wasn't smokey or hazy. This is where I spent four hours each morning wrapped in a duvet and lounging in a hammock.
And this last one is Erik playing cards with a few of the girls from the village who were brave enough to venture onto our porch. The game involved holding cards in your hand and randomly laying various amounts of the cards on a pile and then giggling furiously.
Sunday, March 31, 2013
A Trip Further North
We spent just over a week in two villages in northern Laos -- Nong Khiaw and Muang Noi.
In Nong Khiaw our days were spent eating yummy food, reading, exploring the river and a cave, talking, and siting on the front porch of our bungalow. Our evenings were spent at a delightful little restaurant in town that played nightly movies, the two most notable being Forrest Gump and Good Morning, Vietnam. We had a nice rhythm in Nong Khiaw with three restaurants we ate at daily. We discovered a new dish that we enjoyed -- a sticky rice patty wrapped in an egg omelet.
Surprisingly delicious with a sweet chilli sauce. Two new dishes actually; Erik really loved this crushed olive sauce that we dipped sticky rice in. The dish was a bit sour for my liking, but it was alright.
In Muang Noi, a town an hour north of Nong Khiaw by river boat, we could be found lounging in hammocks, venturing through rice patties to a smaller town, swimming in a cave, reading, playing cards (cribbage and rummy), swimming in the river, eating at buffets and swatting bugs. It was surprisingly cool in the mornings and I would drag the duvet into the hammock with me until 11:00am because I was chilly.
Muang Noi was literally a street -- a single dirt road riddled with children, puppies, and chickens. The roosters made it impossible to sleep past 06:00, though I usually didn't manage beyond 05:30.
I have been a sleeping champion lately. I usually go to bed around 20:00 and wake up around 06:00. And, I nap most days. I don't know what my deal is, but I am so glad I am on vacation because sleeping feels oh-so-good. I am dreading going back to work and needing to be awake and functioning for twelve hours straight! Ugh.
One thing that has surprised me about traveling, though I suppose it shouldn't, is how important food is. I cannot tell you how much food affects our days. We are grumpy when we can't find good cheap food and are elated when it is plentiful. We have noticed that we sometimes enjoy a town solely because we found wonderful places to eat. These establishments range from the delicious Thai restaurant in Nong Khiaw (where we had Pad Prik Gaeng every night) to my little noodle soup lady on the street in Luang Prabang. We are on an increasingly tight budget so we are always on the look out for cheap, delicious, nutritious food that is preferably big enough to share. Or I am looking for Pad Thai -- that is always delicious.
We are going south tonight. On a night bus that gets into Vientiane around 05:00. We are being picked up at the fountain in the town center at 10:00 by friends of a friend. After I posted a few photos on facebook a friend emailed me saying that he has friends living in Laos and they happen to live in the city we are headed to next. They graciously offered to host us and we gladly took them up on the offer. So, that is where we are staying tomorrow night.
I believe we are making our way to Cambodia the day after that, though I could be wrong. There is a bus from Vientiane to Phnom Penh that takes 24 hours and we are thinking of taking it. Or we may stop in Pakse, a town in southern Laos where another friend of a friend lives. We need to be back in Bangkok on the 22nd to meet some friends (real life friends) so we have to figure out how long we want to spend in Cambodia.
But that is where we are at right now. If we do head to Cambodia right away then I am assuming you won't hear from me for a bit.
Hope you are well.
In Nong Khiaw our days were spent eating yummy food, reading, exploring the river and a cave, talking, and siting on the front porch of our bungalow. Our evenings were spent at a delightful little restaurant in town that played nightly movies, the two most notable being Forrest Gump and Good Morning, Vietnam. We had a nice rhythm in Nong Khiaw with three restaurants we ate at daily. We discovered a new dish that we enjoyed -- a sticky rice patty wrapped in an egg omelet.
Surprisingly delicious with a sweet chilli sauce. Two new dishes actually; Erik really loved this crushed olive sauce that we dipped sticky rice in. The dish was a bit sour for my liking, but it was alright.
In Muang Noi, a town an hour north of Nong Khiaw by river boat, we could be found lounging in hammocks, venturing through rice patties to a smaller town, swimming in a cave, reading, playing cards (cribbage and rummy), swimming in the river, eating at buffets and swatting bugs. It was surprisingly cool in the mornings and I would drag the duvet into the hammock with me until 11:00am because I was chilly.
Muang Noi was literally a street -- a single dirt road riddled with children, puppies, and chickens. The roosters made it impossible to sleep past 06:00, though I usually didn't manage beyond 05:30.
I have been a sleeping champion lately. I usually go to bed around 20:00 and wake up around 06:00. And, I nap most days. I don't know what my deal is, but I am so glad I am on vacation because sleeping feels oh-so-good. I am dreading going back to work and needing to be awake and functioning for twelve hours straight! Ugh.
One thing that has surprised me about traveling, though I suppose it shouldn't, is how important food is. I cannot tell you how much food affects our days. We are grumpy when we can't find good cheap food and are elated when it is plentiful. We have noticed that we sometimes enjoy a town solely because we found wonderful places to eat. These establishments range from the delicious Thai restaurant in Nong Khiaw (where we had Pad Prik Gaeng every night) to my little noodle soup lady on the street in Luang Prabang. We are on an increasingly tight budget so we are always on the look out for cheap, delicious, nutritious food that is preferably big enough to share. Or I am looking for Pad Thai -- that is always delicious.
We are going south tonight. On a night bus that gets into Vientiane around 05:00. We are being picked up at the fountain in the town center at 10:00 by friends of a friend. After I posted a few photos on facebook a friend emailed me saying that he has friends living in Laos and they happen to live in the city we are headed to next. They graciously offered to host us and we gladly took them up on the offer. So, that is where we are staying tomorrow night.
I believe we are making our way to Cambodia the day after that, though I could be wrong. There is a bus from Vientiane to Phnom Penh that takes 24 hours and we are thinking of taking it. Or we may stop in Pakse, a town in southern Laos where another friend of a friend lives. We need to be back in Bangkok on the 22nd to meet some friends (real life friends) so we have to figure out how long we want to spend in Cambodia.
But that is where we are at right now. If we do head to Cambodia right away then I am assuming you won't hear from me for a bit.
Hope you are well.
Friday, March 29, 2013
{this moment}
{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Wishing you a hopeful weekend!
Wishing you a hopeful weekend!
*** *** ***
Sunday, March 24, 2013
On the Move.
We are on the move again. We are leaving Nong Khiaw and heading about an hour north, by river boat, to Muang Noi. I don't think there is anything to do up there, which we are both excited about.
I think we have come to a point in our travels where we are exceptionally conscious of our budget (friends are meeting us in about a month and we will want a little extra cash while they are here) and, as I said earlier, we are tired. We have just been using our time to mosey around, take walks, and do whatever we want. We are investing in ourselves and in each other and it is w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l! We have endless amounts of time to do whatever we please and it we are taking advantage of it.
How often do people get a chance to live without responsibility, time constraints, or appointments? How often are we able to "do nothing" all day long? That is exactly what we are doing and it is refreshing. Days that we "do nothing" are sometimes the most full and memorable days.
I am sure we will get back to being adventurous and being busy, but this is exactly what we need right now and we are savouring every moment.
Muang Noi has no internet and we are told it only has power from 19:00-22:00. That's why I felt the need to squeeze in this little post -- to update you and let you know you won't be hearing from us for at least a few days. We have no plans beyond getting on the boat so we could be back tomorrow or we could be back next week... who knows?
I hope you are all enjoying spring! It's one of my four favourite seasons. It even holds the number one spot for a quarter of the year.
Love from Laos!
I think we have come to a point in our travels where we are exceptionally conscious of our budget (friends are meeting us in about a month and we will want a little extra cash while they are here) and, as I said earlier, we are tired. We have just been using our time to mosey around, take walks, and do whatever we want. We are investing in ourselves and in each other and it is w.o.n.d.e.r.f.u.l! We have endless amounts of time to do whatever we please and it we are taking advantage of it.
How often do people get a chance to live without responsibility, time constraints, or appointments? How often are we able to "do nothing" all day long? That is exactly what we are doing and it is refreshing. Days that we "do nothing" are sometimes the most full and memorable days.
I am sure we will get back to being adventurous and being busy, but this is exactly what we need right now and we are savouring every moment.
Muang Noi has no internet and we are told it only has power from 19:00-22:00. That's why I felt the need to squeeze in this little post -- to update you and let you know you won't be hearing from us for at least a few days. We have no plans beyond getting on the boat so we could be back tomorrow or we could be back next week... who knows?
I hope you are all enjoying spring! It's one of my four favourite seasons. It even holds the number one spot for a quarter of the year.
Love from Laos!
Friday, March 22, 2013
{this moment}
{this moment} - A Friday Ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.
Wishing you a peaceful weekend!
Wishing you a peaceful weekend!
*** *** ***
Northern Laos, Reading, and Whatever Else Comes Out.
We have made our way up to Nong Khiaw in Northern Laos today.
I had a bit of a rough night, I was feeling nauseated and a wee bit poopy so I was up quite often. My nausea sadly hadn't subsided when we boarded the bus so I had a bit of an unpleasant trip. At one point I thought I was going to vomit all over, but it passed as Erik was trying to communicate to the driver that he needed to pull over. His panic almost equalled mine as I sat there desperate to either puke or have the nausea subside. I was thankfully able to swallow the bit of vomit that made its way to my mouth and then the nausea was held at bay until we arrived at our destination. I promptly fell asleep on a bench while Erik went in search of a hostel.
And now I sit in our little bungalow thing. Erik went to a restaurant that is playing the King's Speech tonight, but we decided it may be better for me to stay in and get some actual rest.
I finished my book today. I was reading Cider House Rules by John Irving. It is the first "good book" I have read on our travels. The rest have been entertaining at most, but I would not go as far as to callany of them good. Erik read the book last week so it was fun to be able to chat with him about what I was reading and what we both thought about it. The book is character driven rather than plot driven and I found that refreshing. I enjoyed Irving's writing; it was fluid, entertaining and engaging. Erik and I are both looking forward to watching the movie sometime. Has anyone seen it? Is it any good?
My sister and brother-in-law just had their 20th anniversary! I cannot believe they have been married for 20 years already. They spent the day in Disneyland with their boys -- what a treat!
I thought I had more to say, but this is apparently all my weary brain can muster. Goodnight!
I had a bit of a rough night, I was feeling nauseated and a wee bit poopy so I was up quite often. My nausea sadly hadn't subsided when we boarded the bus so I had a bit of an unpleasant trip. At one point I thought I was going to vomit all over, but it passed as Erik was trying to communicate to the driver that he needed to pull over. His panic almost equalled mine as I sat there desperate to either puke or have the nausea subside. I was thankfully able to swallow the bit of vomit that made its way to my mouth and then the nausea was held at bay until we arrived at our destination. I promptly fell asleep on a bench while Erik went in search of a hostel.
And now I sit in our little bungalow thing. Erik went to a restaurant that is playing the King's Speech tonight, but we decided it may be better for me to stay in and get some actual rest.
I finished my book today. I was reading Cider House Rules by John Irving. It is the first "good book" I have read on our travels. The rest have been entertaining at most, but I would not go as far as to callany of them good. Erik read the book last week so it was fun to be able to chat with him about what I was reading and what we both thought about it. The book is character driven rather than plot driven and I found that refreshing. I enjoyed Irving's writing; it was fluid, entertaining and engaging. Erik and I are both looking forward to watching the movie sometime. Has anyone seen it? Is it any good?
My sister and brother-in-law just had their 20th anniversary! I cannot believe they have been married for 20 years already. They spent the day in Disneyland with their boys -- what a treat!
I thought I had more to say, but this is apparently all my weary brain can muster. Goodnight!
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Parenthood
No, I am not pregnant. Nor do I have any plans in becoming so in the near future.
Traveling, at least long term traveling, gives you plenty of time to think. I could write a book about my many thoughts, but it wouldn't be interesting to read. And it would be far too embarrassing to share. I started a post like this a few months back. I have actually started it many times, but felt like an imposter writing it as we aren't quite there yet. But, there or not, parenthood, birth, and babies are regularly on my mind.
I have been baby crazy for as long as I can remember. Getting married intensified it and now leaving all the babies I love has made it almost unbearable at times. Without the usual children-that-don't-belong-to-me to distract me, I only have my non-existant wee ones to occupy my thoughts. My loving husband trudges on as I regularly plead my "let's have a baby" case. He is unfazed and unfaltering. Just my luck.
I do have a few concerns regarding parenthood and, more specifically, being a mother. I don't worry about providing for an infant's daily needs, but I worry about what kind of a mother I will be.
Does anyone else think they will be a bad mom? Or did you? I can honestly say that I am a great auntie, but being a mother is a whole different ball game. Maybe I don't think I will be a bad mom, but I do have concerns.
Firstly, and most frighteningly, I am worried about sleep deprivation. Not sleep deprivation itself, I know this is inevitable, but about what it will do to me. Sadly, sleep deprivation makes me into a not-so-nice person. Strangers, friends and patients are safe from my wrath, but my poor husband, and I fear our future children, are not so lucky. I am afraid that sleep deprivation, coupled with a crying dependent, will turn me into a harsh, impatient, unkind and "yell-y" mother. When I know I am feeling this way as a wife, I just sequester myself and nap, knit, eat, or read until it passes and I feel like a human being again. You don't have that luxury when you are a parent.
I am worried that, once my child needs parenting rather than just caregiving, I will be inconsistent, too strict and emotion driven. I am worried that I will discipline based on my emotional response to a child's behaviour whether the response is warranted or not. I want to discipline appropriately and fairly rather than based on how I am feeling on a particular day. Kids don't need to be disciplined for being kids -- they aren't misbehaving just because they are being annoying.
I am very worried about how much I will love those wee ones. My heart aches and my eyes well up when I think about children that aren't mine so I can't imagine how it will feel when they are mine. I have spent many a night snuggled up with a tiny child and weeping because of how deeply I love them. The thought of loving anyone more (maybe not more, but differnently) terrifies me.
Along with this deep loving, I am worried about not being able to let go. I know that I often feel the weight of others' decisions, especially poor decisions. I feel embarrassed when someone embarrasses themselves. I feel sad when they do something I know they shouldn't (and I know best, right?). I feel heart broken when they are heart broken. I very much carry the burden of others decisions and emotions. I should clarify that I only do this with people I care deeply about and I have no problem with this at work or with acquaintances. But my own child?? I am afraid I will feel responsible for their decisions and that I will be hurt when they make poor ones. I think everyone feels this to some degree, but I am worried that I will be a bit ridiculous.
And, of course, I am concerned about how having a child will affect my marriage. I love my marriage. I love my husband. I love the endless amount of time we can spend together. I cherish our time together and the thought of sharing him makes me a little sad. I am afraid our marriage, though it will always remain a priority, will be the thing that gets the short end of the stick (is that what I mean to say?). I feel as though parenting takes over your whole life... I want us to maintain our roles as husband and wife rather than just becoming parenting partners. I want to know how to maintain both roles now though I know it will be a journey we have to walk through and discovery together.
I want everyone to get the best of me all the time, including myself. How do you do that? I hope you will all have wonderful advice for me when we are ready to journey into parenthood. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but I'm hoping that village is there to raise this mother as well.
It's too bad worrying gets you no where.
And it is a good thing that I can put my hope in the Father, trusting that He has shown me areas in which I can grow, and knowing that He will be faithful as I journey along.
Traveling, at least long term traveling, gives you plenty of time to think. I could write a book about my many thoughts, but it wouldn't be interesting to read. And it would be far too embarrassing to share. I started a post like this a few months back. I have actually started it many times, but felt like an imposter writing it as we aren't quite there yet. But, there or not, parenthood, birth, and babies are regularly on my mind.
I have been baby crazy for as long as I can remember. Getting married intensified it and now leaving all the babies I love has made it almost unbearable at times. Without the usual children-that-don't-belong-to-me to distract me, I only have my non-existant wee ones to occupy my thoughts. My loving husband trudges on as I regularly plead my "let's have a baby" case. He is unfazed and unfaltering. Just my luck.
I do have a few concerns regarding parenthood and, more specifically, being a mother. I don't worry about providing for an infant's daily needs, but I worry about what kind of a mother I will be.
Does anyone else think they will be a bad mom? Or did you? I can honestly say that I am a great auntie, but being a mother is a whole different ball game. Maybe I don't think I will be a bad mom, but I do have concerns.
Firstly, and most frighteningly, I am worried about sleep deprivation. Not sleep deprivation itself, I know this is inevitable, but about what it will do to me. Sadly, sleep deprivation makes me into a not-so-nice person. Strangers, friends and patients are safe from my wrath, but my poor husband, and I fear our future children, are not so lucky. I am afraid that sleep deprivation, coupled with a crying dependent, will turn me into a harsh, impatient, unkind and "yell-y" mother. When I know I am feeling this way as a wife, I just sequester myself and nap, knit, eat, or read until it passes and I feel like a human being again. You don't have that luxury when you are a parent.
I am worried that, once my child needs parenting rather than just caregiving, I will be inconsistent, too strict and emotion driven. I am worried that I will discipline based on my emotional response to a child's behaviour whether the response is warranted or not. I want to discipline appropriately and fairly rather than based on how I am feeling on a particular day. Kids don't need to be disciplined for being kids -- they aren't misbehaving just because they are being annoying.
I am very worried about how much I will love those wee ones. My heart aches and my eyes well up when I think about children that aren't mine so I can't imagine how it will feel when they are mine. I have spent many a night snuggled up with a tiny child and weeping because of how deeply I love them. The thought of loving anyone more (maybe not more, but differnently) terrifies me.
Along with this deep loving, I am worried about not being able to let go. I know that I often feel the weight of others' decisions, especially poor decisions. I feel embarrassed when someone embarrasses themselves. I feel sad when they do something I know they shouldn't (and I know best, right?). I feel heart broken when they are heart broken. I very much carry the burden of others decisions and emotions. I should clarify that I only do this with people I care deeply about and I have no problem with this at work or with acquaintances. But my own child?? I am afraid I will feel responsible for their decisions and that I will be hurt when they make poor ones. I think everyone feels this to some degree, but I am worried that I will be a bit ridiculous.
And, of course, I am concerned about how having a child will affect my marriage. I love my marriage. I love my husband. I love the endless amount of time we can spend together. I cherish our time together and the thought of sharing him makes me a little sad. I am afraid our marriage, though it will always remain a priority, will be the thing that gets the short end of the stick (is that what I mean to say?). I feel as though parenting takes over your whole life... I want us to maintain our roles as husband and wife rather than just becoming parenting partners. I want to know how to maintain both roles now though I know it will be a journey we have to walk through and discovery together.
I want everyone to get the best of me all the time, including myself. How do you do that? I hope you will all have wonderful advice for me when we are ready to journey into parenthood. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but I'm hoping that village is there to raise this mother as well.
It's too bad worrying gets you no where.
And it is a good thing that I can put my hope in the Father, trusting that He has shown me areas in which I can grow, and knowing that He will be faithful as I journey along.
Monday, March 18, 2013
South East Asia so far
It has been a while since I have given a proper update. We have been in South East Asia for nearly two weeks now. The heat has been a welcome change from Scotland, but I have to admit that I really miss Scotland. I loved it!
Coming to South East Asia feels like starting over again. We were expecting this, but the excitement of figuring out an entirely new place has lost its luster and seems tedious at times. It probably doesn't help that we haven't been feeling the best. We spent our first two days in Bangkok in our room trying to sleep. Then, we both had lingering colds. Then, I lost my voice and I still have a wicked cough. Thankfully the cough is as far as my unwellness goes; I feel fine aside from that.
Bangkok. That was a bit of a blur. The main thing I remember from the few days we spent there (I think it was three nights) was the yummy pad thai we ate for every meal. I kid you not, we had Pad Thai for every.single.meal. And let me tell you, it was delicious. It was cheap, it was twenty feet from our hostel and it was yummy.
We headed north from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. We were relieved to get out of Bangkok. We have learned that we aren't particularly fond of big big cities. We much prefer towns that at least have the feel of being much smaller than they are. Chiang Mai was less aggressiventhan Bangkok and for that we were thankful.
We didn't spend much time in the city. We ended up doing a three day trek the day after we arrived. I have no idea where we went, but we did have a view of the tallest mountain in Thailand while we walked. erik liked the trek more than I did. I would categorize it as a glorified walk as it certainly wasn't hiking. In my opinion, hiking requires sweating and being short of breath. You need breaks when you hike and I, for one, hate hiking every single step of the way. Yes, I hate the act of hiking, but I love love love everything else about it. We "hiked" for seven hours, in the sun, and nobody broke a sweat. That isn't hiking.
On our trek we also rode elephants and did some bamboo rafting. The rafting was surprisingly the highlight. It was peaceful and relaxing and lovely. I was disappointed with the elephant riding. It seemed... I just didn't really like it. We were told we were going elephant riding, but we didn't know who we were going with or how they treated their animals and I didn't like that. I also didn't like that all we did was climb up to a platform, walk in a circle on the elephants, and then climb back onto the platform and they left. I didn't even have a chance to take a picture! I know pictures aren't everything, but when am I ever going to ride an elephant again? Never, that's when. I think I had the romantic idea of interacting with the elephants a bit more/at all.
We were supposed to do cooking classes the day after the trek, but I woke up sounding like I smoked 40 packs of cigarettes every day of my life. I felt as terrible to so we rescheduled for the following day. Trekking was Erik's highlight, but our cooking class was definitely mine. I learned hoe very easy Thai food is to make. The only difficult part is finding the proper ingredients -- that will be a challenge. We made seven dishes (4 individually and 3 as a group) and they were all so delicious! Thai food is so yummy!!!
We headed east to Chiang Khong where we spent a day before crossing the border into Laos. We spent the last two days peacefully slow-boating down the Mekong to Luang Prabang and we are, again, without plans.
We never have hostels booked and honestly only have a very rough idea of where we want to go. We change pur minds frequently and fly by the seat of our pants. I haven't even read about Luang Prabang yet... We will have to do some exploring today.
Just yesterday we decided that we are cutting Vietnam out. I am a bit sad about this, but it is just too expensive. We would want to travel cross country and that would include either back-tracking or flying, both of which are expensive. So it is getting the axe. A some point you do need to make decisions based on money alone. I know this will probably be the only time we are ever in South East Asia, but that is just the way things go sometimes.
I think we are being hit with a bit of exhaustion right now. We are tired of always being on the go and always figuring out a new city, a new mode of transportation, and a new culture. It is exciting, but it gets tiring. Sometimes you just want to know and be known, on those days we go on dates. We sit in a cafe and journal, read or talk all day long and it is so refreshing. I think we just need to get our South East Asian groove on.
So, to leave this a bit more positively, we are very excited to explore Laos. We have been told that the north is particularly lovely and we have plans on heading there in the near future.
Much love.
Coming to South East Asia feels like starting over again. We were expecting this, but the excitement of figuring out an entirely new place has lost its luster and seems tedious at times. It probably doesn't help that we haven't been feeling the best. We spent our first two days in Bangkok in our room trying to sleep. Then, we both had lingering colds. Then, I lost my voice and I still have a wicked cough. Thankfully the cough is as far as my unwellness goes; I feel fine aside from that.
Bangkok. That was a bit of a blur. The main thing I remember from the few days we spent there (I think it was three nights) was the yummy pad thai we ate for every meal. I kid you not, we had Pad Thai for every.single.meal. And let me tell you, it was delicious. It was cheap, it was twenty feet from our hostel and it was yummy.
We headed north from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. We were relieved to get out of Bangkok. We have learned that we aren't particularly fond of big big cities. We much prefer towns that at least have the feel of being much smaller than they are. Chiang Mai was less aggressiventhan Bangkok and for that we were thankful.
We didn't spend much time in the city. We ended up doing a three day trek the day after we arrived. I have no idea where we went, but we did have a view of the tallest mountain in Thailand while we walked. erik liked the trek more than I did. I would categorize it as a glorified walk as it certainly wasn't hiking. In my opinion, hiking requires sweating and being short of breath. You need breaks when you hike and I, for one, hate hiking every single step of the way. Yes, I hate the act of hiking, but I love love love everything else about it. We "hiked" for seven hours, in the sun, and nobody broke a sweat. That isn't hiking.
On our trek we also rode elephants and did some bamboo rafting. The rafting was surprisingly the highlight. It was peaceful and relaxing and lovely. I was disappointed with the elephant riding. It seemed... I just didn't really like it. We were told we were going elephant riding, but we didn't know who we were going with or how they treated their animals and I didn't like that. I also didn't like that all we did was climb up to a platform, walk in a circle on the elephants, and then climb back onto the platform and they left. I didn't even have a chance to take a picture! I know pictures aren't everything, but when am I ever going to ride an elephant again? Never, that's when. I think I had the romantic idea of interacting with the elephants a bit more/at all.
We were supposed to do cooking classes the day after the trek, but I woke up sounding like I smoked 40 packs of cigarettes every day of my life. I felt as terrible to so we rescheduled for the following day. Trekking was Erik's highlight, but our cooking class was definitely mine. I learned hoe very easy Thai food is to make. The only difficult part is finding the proper ingredients -- that will be a challenge. We made seven dishes (4 individually and 3 as a group) and they were all so delicious! Thai food is so yummy!!!
We headed east to Chiang Khong where we spent a day before crossing the border into Laos. We spent the last two days peacefully slow-boating down the Mekong to Luang Prabang and we are, again, without plans.
We never have hostels booked and honestly only have a very rough idea of where we want to go. We change pur minds frequently and fly by the seat of our pants. I haven't even read about Luang Prabang yet... We will have to do some exploring today.
Just yesterday we decided that we are cutting Vietnam out. I am a bit sad about this, but it is just too expensive. We would want to travel cross country and that would include either back-tracking or flying, both of which are expensive. So it is getting the axe. A some point you do need to make decisions based on money alone. I know this will probably be the only time we are ever in South East Asia, but that is just the way things go sometimes.
I think we are being hit with a bit of exhaustion right now. We are tired of always being on the go and always figuring out a new city, a new mode of transportation, and a new culture. It is exciting, but it gets tiring. Sometimes you just want to know and be known, on those days we go on dates. We sit in a cafe and journal, read or talk all day long and it is so refreshing. I think we just need to get our South East Asian groove on.
So, to leave this a bit more positively, we are very excited to explore Laos. We have been told that the north is particularly lovely and we have plans on heading there in the near future.
Much love.
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