Bangkok (or Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahinthara Ayuthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom Udomratchaniwet Mahasathan Amon Piman Awatan Sathit Sakkathattiya Witsanukam Prasit)

I've arrived in hot, steamy, hectic Bangkok, Thailand. With a couple days to get over jetlag, I was resting and being bedazzled in the city with the longest name in the world (which means "The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (unlike Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn"- whew!).

Leaving the airport I decided to take an adventure with the train. I took off to downtown where I was immediately thrown into a bustling, vibrant city full of scurrying people, motorcycles, and tuk-tuks. I passed by countless street vendors with delicious fried, grilled, baked goods, fruit, and teas! Mmmmm. The waterways were alive with zooming boat taxis. And as always, westernization is spotted everywhere. 7-Elevens are literally found on every corner. Starbucks, KFC, and Subway have found there way as well.

Having no clue what any of the text says is slightly disorienting. At least in Europe and South America you can guess on the word or at least know the letters used.

After enough walking downtown, I took a tuk tuk, where we almost got squished in between two buses,
to my hotel (or in the vicinity, i like to walk out of the way as much as i can sometimes). After a nap, shower, and bite to eat, I set out with a mission of a massage. Massages are a dime a dozen in thailand with shops everywhere on the street! I got an hour foot massage and an hour back massage for $10! Love it! I also did one of those treatments where the fish clean your feet: it tickled. All in all a rejuvenating day.

The next day I visited the grand place and the emerald Buddha. Talk about decadence. Golden, shiny, colorful. Quite the scene. Very busy as well!

Strange encounter with one foreign lady. She came up to me and said you so beautiful, pointed to her son and had a camera in her hand. She asked me something i didn't understand. I asked if she wanted her picture taken. She said no. I said no sorry and walked away. Did she want me to pose in the photo with him or was she trying to set me up with her son? Who knows?

Apparently it is the kings bday tmrw. Which means EVERYWHERE around town has large golden portraits of him saying "Long live the King". I was very perplexed by everything, then my taxi driver finally explained it to me. Apparently it is a huge deal, since he is considered the father of thailand, it is also "Father's Day". This year His Majesty turns 84, the completion of the seventh 12-year cycle. For Thais, the 84th anniversary is considered an important milestone of life, deserving of special celebrations.They will have ceremonies for him and 200,000 people will come out to wish him Happy Birthday.

Bangkok is quite interesting. But a little too hectic for me. I think I'm ready for the beach now!

P.s. excuse all the grammar errors, capitalization mistakes, etc. these blogs are all being posted from my iPhone!

A Tale of Two Tokyo Airports

I'm in Asia! 14 hours of flying down and only 7 more to go. It's great to be international again. And as always, full of surprises. 

Upon landing in Tokyo I proceed through the security line to get to my connecting flight. I wasn't yet checked in, so I didn't have a boarding pass to give them. Bur luckily I found an itinerary on my phone. Then they proceed in telling me my departure is actually at the other airport in Tokyo!

Now you would think they would have said something on my ticket like "whoa there! You're arrival and departure flights are in two different airports, an hour apart." To the same point, you would think with my previous flight mishaps I would check my ticket thoroughly. :) 

Either way, I had to enter the country and get to the other airport. Luckily I wasn't crunched on time. I think one of my favorite things about traveling abroad is the deer in headlights effect you feel. It can be very unnerving yet releasing in a weird way. 

I figured out some transportation via an "airport limousine bus". Pulling out of the airport there were fireworks! Hi Japan! Funny though on the bus they didn't allow phones because I quote "other passengers might get annoyed".

We drove by the bright lights of Tokyo and I arrived at the other airport in plenty of time. In fact I just enjoyed a cup of tea and a lovely cone of green tea ice cream. What a short travel experience in Japan! 

On to Thailand now! 

If You Can't Stand the Heat

A week of sun and warmth sounded splendid. I flew south to Arizona to visit my dad for the week. After a rather cold summer, I was looking forward to a little change in scenery. I didn't expect to be baked by it!

I heard the temperatures had been in the 100's this past summer, but was hoping for a cool for my visit. In the mornings it starts out cool enough in the 60's. however in just a few hours the sun in grilling it up to 90! I went on a few hikes in the area to the superstition mountains. This area, outside Mesa, is beautiful filled with Cacti, red rocks, and even a few trees. They were all stunning hikes in the desert. It just so happened after each of my hikes I would get heat exhaustion. Turns out I can't stand the heat! After a year in Alaska, my body is acclimated to the cold and as such, does not like hot.

The thing I like about the cold is that you can always wear more. With the heat, there are only so many layers you can get down to.

Enough about my raid. It was great fun and I still LOVE the beauty of the desert. I'm sure when I return for Christmas (with cooler temps) my body will love it more too!

On to the North and a visit to Montana!