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Wow, life happens and I forget to blog! I’ve been meaning to update everyone on my last trip. Spring break 2016 was spent in Thailand and Indonesia. It was a busy two weeks, but we made the best of it! Here’s a quick run down …..

Thailand!!

First stop Bangkok: We took many different types of transportation: sky train, boat taxi, regular taxi (with Mr.Green; my favorite man in Thailand), and a Tuk Tuk! While in Bangkok we saw many temples including: Wat Arun, Wat Pho (where we saw the famous reclining Buddha), and Wat Traimit (tried to see the Golden Buddha, but it was closed ).  We went to the floating markets, which was an experience! Quite busy and the turns on the water are very sharp. We also visited the Grand Palace with probably every other tourist in Bangkok. Way too crowded! One experience I won’t forgot is getting my feet chewed on by very small fish…..I’ve never squirmed/squealed so much in my life!

Next Stop Chiang Mai: This by far was my favorite place in Thailand! Much more laid back than Bangkok. First day we were there we walked through Old Town, ate curry, shopped, and got a foot massage. Later that night we went to a Thai cooking class. Hands down one of the best experiences from the trip. We had a tour of a local market where produce is bought and then we were driven to Nancy’s house (she was our chef) to begin cooking. I made Coconut Chicken soup, Pad Thai, Green Curry, and Coconut Sticky Rice and washed it all down with a large Chang beer. Day 2: We woke early to head to Chai Lai Orchid to trek, raft, and ride elephants. After two hours or trekking we stopped at a local village where we were fed a homemade meal, relaxed, and even learned to weave from a local woman. Our rafting experience was well…an experience. We were soaking and got stuck on rocks quite a bit! But, the final destination made it well worth it….the elephants! I can’t begin to explain the feeling of being on top of one. It was magical! I of course rode “Grandma” and she was fabulous…a little slow, but it allowed me to take it all in! To end the day I got my first Thai Massage and possibly my last.

Last stop Phuket: We weren’t here long. We got in later in the day and we were able to catch the sunset on the beach, eat a nice seafood dinner, and experience Batang Road. Our final day in Phuket we took a boat to Phi Phi Island and spent the day on the beach!

Off t0 Indonesia!! 

First stop Ubud, Bali: We stayed in a lovely resort in the country side of Ubud. That first night we were quite tired and enjoyed some Bintang Radlers and a Balinese Massage (not as intense as a Thai massage). The next day we visited a coffee farm and tasted different coffees and teas that are made there. We then made it to the famous Monkey Forest. I will be very honest…this was a terrifying experience. They are not cute and not nice! Yes, I allowed them to jump on my shoulders and I’m surprised they didn’t fall off from my intense shaking! But, I’m alive and well and made it through. We finally ate a late Balinese lunch overlooking Mt. Batur. Unfortunately, the next day I came down with one of the worse cases of strep throat I’ve ever had and wasn’t able to hike Mt.Batur with everyone else! Before we headed to Gili T we stopped at the rice terraces and WOW! were they beautiful!

Second and last stop Gili Trawangan (Gili T): The next 5 days of our trip were spent here. It was a perfect way to end a busy vacation! This island is pretty much magical. We stayed in the middle of island and took bikes everywhere (no cars are on the island). You can bike around the entire island in about an hour. Most nights were spent at Sama-Sama Reggae bar and most days were spent laying by our pool or on the beach. I went scuba diving for the first time. It was a lot tougher than I thought it would be, but once in the water it was an amazing experience. I saw a shark, sea turtles, and many vibrant colored fish. I also went paddle boarding probably on the roughest day in the water. I literally couldn’t even stand up, but the views were spectacular! I left Gili T sunburned with a smile on my face…I’d say it was a successful end to a wonderful Spring Break!

What’s Next……summer vacation! But, before I head home I’ll have to say goodbye to some wonderful ladies who are on to new adventures and take a pit stop in Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. See y’all in July!