Wait a second

We were walking around the other day and ran right into Sydney's Khao San road. You may remember some past pictures on the real deal throughout this past year.  So I needed a pic!  In Thai too!!  

Bad news the Thai massages are not $11 dollars for 2 hours here. Shhhhhhoooooooot. 1 hour is over $90.00. I wonder if I show my ajarn card, if they will give me a discount. Could not hurt to try....

If I Could Drive All

KittywampuS

This

Would 

Be 

My 

Plate

Now that is way to start a productive day

5:45 AM wake up call!  I was on english muffin and peanut butter duty, then we laced up our sneaks and walked down to the beach.  People of all shapes and sizes running, walking, personal training, dog walking, baby walking..it was not even 630 AM and the beach was bumpin'.  I ran along the Bondi to Bronte coastal walk path.  It is some hills, stairs, flat path, street path or beach path...depending on the ways you choose...but never a dull moment. The rocks, waves and rising sun is a good way to start the day. Surfers are out getting that sunrise ride in. AMAZING.

Dad, we are ready for you..there is even a park dedicated to you along the path. I'll show you in a few weeks :)

People watching is pretty fantastic.  I am sure every other person has been in US weekly / People or know someone who has been. Brad and his buddy did soft sand running ( I am working up to that) so I met Brad back at home where he told me the news.
 "I saw a celebrity"
"What! Who??"
"Well...we think it was the guy from x-man... wolverine"    
"Hugh.....hugh..."
(we google it)
"Hugh Jackman!!!"

Shoot...I better get to soft sand running or I will miss all the fun.

Here are some shots from last night

9/27/2011

I was just sipping a skinny vanilla latte, taking pictures, waiting for my date  

 I have been craving cool weather and a bonfire. This was our view from Opera Bar while we toasted to Sydney.

NOW ZOOM IN

 YES. Those are people walking the bridge...on the very tip top!!  This death trap will cost a small amount of $200. I am taking donations. Please send to 123 Blair Street .

People pic to prove I am here and not actually stealing these images off google! I kid I joke...I would never do that...or would I...

48 Hours, but who is counting??

Luke, I am alive. I have not even seen a shark...you know they sell shark repellent here though don't you? I will get you some if you can sneak on the airplane with dad next month.

Alright soo all is good down under I would say I am adjusting quite well to life here. Like I said in my last post there are some details I should share with you before going full throttle into my life as a Bondi girl.

1. When I was at the airport about to leave BKK they told me TO mUCH luggage.  Maybe I was tired from not going to bed the night before or I was just being sensitive. There I was, poor little Rachy, sprawled out in the middle of the airport for all to see the water works show.    Making piles..keep.... toss...go try to put on in the bathroom and just deal with it.  At first the check in people were not kind, understanding or helpful.  Long story short, the tears and the 10 times I went to go re-weigh my 2 bags and the pile growing in the middle of the airport and the cleaning crews starting to gather around and swoop in on my belongings...got to the girls. I got half my pile back, packed in 2 separate boxes and then was informed, "You might not get to send them on with you once in China, but good luck. We will send them from here but it is out if our hands once you get there." 

2. From BKK to China I was coming up with a game plan. Get a snack and stake out in a dark corner with my money strapped to me and my pink blanket as a pillow. I met a man, his name will remain anonymous, because I forgot it. He was a real treat, not only did he make sure I always had a glass of red wine but he kept offering his apt to me to spend the night. I kept telling him all about Brad and how I would be just fine in the airport. After lots of convincing he said ok but he was determined to help me with my luggage issue and talked to the international travel desk when we landed.  Thank goodness for him. He was fluent in the native language and without him I would have been locked out of the airport. NO I DID NOT GO HOME WITH HIM. However, because he did talk to the travel peeps I found out that I got a free hotel room!  The airlines paid for transportation there, the room and transportation to the airport in the morning!  Thanks buddy!

3. 6AM and 4 hours of sleep in a hotel/hotel room that could have been the setting for The Shinning Two I was back to making piles in front of the check in. No tears...just a lot of sweating.  This time around they sent the 2 boxes, said carry on as much as you want, but I had to get my checked bag, and only one this time down 8 Kilos. No more then 20 Kilos. Needless to say I did it. I carried on 1 backpack, 1 giant carry on, plus 2 more bags....I called myself the bag lady..not the most pleasant 24 hours, but it could have be worse.

Alright, so that is what happened before Brad gave me the royal treatment. Real meals, beach walks, an empty dresser/closet to fill, new running shoes wrapped with a bow(welcome to Bondi present), a neighborhood show around....he is fantastic.  The transition has been pretty smooth...Thank you Brad!!  I promise I will be a good housemate and running partner, that is if I can keep up with you!

After a day hanging out and inquiring about jobs I met Brad downtown for an after work beer.  This city so so cool. I am in love with it!  The bus took me though all these great little neighborhoods filled with all sorts of goodies!

 I got starbucks and wondered around by the Opera House and the Sydney Harbor Bridge while wating for Brad to finish up at work.  Pictures to come tomorrow, well maybe even your evening since I am now 13 hours ahead of the kids stateside.  We each had a Beez Neez, a honey wheat beer, then bused it back to our hood.  It is about a 45 Min bus ride...there is so much to see and look at it seems much shorter!  Game plan tomorrow apply, apply, apply to jobs and make my way back downtown to meet Brad at one of his favorite lunch places.

I heart Australia!!

2 flights, 1 scary hotel room, 1 creep/guardian angel, 2 luggage "episodes" ....

AND I HAVE ARRIVED IN BONDI.  Sydney, Australia welcomed me last night with a very attractive boy and flowers which made me forget about the 24 hours of riff raff to get me here.

I wanted to do a quick post to let you know all know I am safe and sound, my suitcases are unpacked, I have 2 possible jobs lined up, and Brad has not kicked me out of the house yet. There are a few good stories that I have to tell but tonight is turkey taco night, meet some new friends and hangout with the new housemates! I will do a better update tomorrow morning....but I will tide you over with some pictures of my 1st day in this heart snatching city.

 123 Blair Street My new HOMe!!

 

 Bondi!!!!!!

PS It was about 71 degrees today and I was cold!  In a long sleeve, sneaks and jeans...and I am from Minnesota!  Thailand what have you done to me??

PPS People walk around this place with no shoes, wet suits and surf boards. 

"I think I'm gonna like it here"

--Annie

๒๕๕๓

๒๕๕๓

(sawng  haa  haa  sam)

2553

I arrived in Thailand 11 months and 3 days ago according to the Buddhist Calender year 2553. 

 It was quite the year

I explored 10 countries

Wandered around and experienced the culture of 35 new cities

I went on scuba excursions in the Southern Thailand Islands

Motor biking in the Northern Mountains of Pai and Chang Mai

I rode elephants strapped into a highchair and bareback

There were times where I was absolutely positive I just stepped into a picture perfect postcard

There were times I thought hell would be a better place to be

I had love affairs with koala yummys, toasties, and strawberry pockys

Come to me for a tasty Sang Som and Soda

Assumption University Dorm>ABAC> King David> Rice Patty Jail> RPJ> no matter what I call it I will never forget the breathtaking sunsets, watching storms roll in, balcony sessions with the girls, nail nights, skype dates, water heater cooking, giant double beds, the cleaning ladies and front desk girls,shaving cream pranks, CNN/BBC/ Star Movies, sleepovers, making a perfect hangover den, tram drivers, pancake breakfasts, kicking boxing with X, group movie nights on mini computer screens

I sat on the stairs of the Taj

Danced under the Petronas Towers 

Had photo shoots at Angkor Wat

Had communion in Calcutta 

Flew a kite over the Ganges

Stood where Gandhi was assassinated  

Got ran off the road by more then one cow

One morning last semester I called Erin in tears telling her I thought I was dying. I had been up all night with a fever and horrible twisting, pitching, ache in my stomach. A fever. I put my desk chair in the shower because I could not stand. THE TROLLS. I hope they never come back and I would never wish them upon anyone else.

I have squatted over so many fricking holes it is not funny.

I peed more then once on my feet

Learned the hard way to ALWAYs carry toilet paper

Had to crack and use, what I call..the ass hose

I have missed 

family weddings

friends weddings

babies being born

I was not there when my nearest and dearest needed someone. 

Or at least a drinking buddy or a Starbucks date

I lost weight

Gained weight

cried to my mom over skype in Cambodia and hid from cameras

I went to the gym, ran, walked, biked, kick boxed, swam, did push ups and bicycle crunches

Ate veggies, fruit, tuna and cut back on the beer

I fit back into my jeans right in time for Bondi

I met amazing people and built life lasting friendships

I started a journal it is full and I need to buy a new one ASAP

I disliked the food

but now I order my papaya salad extra spicy, Thai spicy

I'm not grossed out by fish heads served for dinner 

but I still have to plug my nose walking though the raw meat/dead animal market stalls

I would not brush my teeth with the water..I have not washed one apple all week, the lady dunked it for me a few times in sink water, it's clean

Street food will always be the way to go, it is cheaper, tastes better..more bang for your baht 

Wished I would have put more of an effort in learning Thai

Hello. goodbye. turn left. turn right. excuse me. sorry. how are you? No sugar. thank you,.what the !@#$%, how much? To expensive! Check please. water? 

I have been down shady Bangkok alleys

lady bars

jazz clubs

A Thai Beatles cover band concert

Swanky rooftop bars

seen and walked markets for my markets

Took a 27 hour bus ride LAOS > VIETNAM

I can't even count how many bus rides, tuk tuk adventures, or train times I have had

We hitch hiked in LAOS, MALAYSIA, and every so often in THAILAND

I can side saddle a motor bike dipping though BKK traffic

Christmas I skyped my family on their Christmas Eve and COULD NOT stop the tears no matter how hard I tried so I went and drank mimosas and ended up in a plastic ball pit

I had a real turkey on thanksgiving with my ABAC family

Was a Chicago Bears player for Halloween 

Spent the day in The Delhi Airport with Danielle watching her eat chocolate donuts on Easter

Stranded with lack of warm clothes, an abundance of cheap wine, creppy cats, better company, snow flurries and Celine Dion's greatest hits on repeat on St. Patrick's Day in Northern Vietnam

Rachel Schrader came to play for 3 weeks and her timing was impeccable. If it was not for her I would not be able to say HONG KONG is my favorite city. I would not have worn a fur coat in an ice box taking shots of flavored vodka or ever met a girl who could do a really good naughty, boy, alligator voice.  I would have not slept in a room with hundreds of Classic Coke cans or hiked up to a giant Buddha.

We polished off wine bottles with sunsets 

had hard conversations

Honest advice 

and

 what if conversations

THANK YOU RACHEL

I am addicted to Thai Massages

I always run out of Baht on my phone

I miss the family plan

I was blessed with a wonderful teaching experience

good classes

a bad bunch here and there

funny groups

thoughtful and even some sassy kids

I will always wonder why this week when during finals someone kept passing gas...LOUD on PLAsTIC chairs...no student in the room looked up or even around...or cracked a smile or snickered! But heaven forbid the teacher (that's me) in the SAME class sneezed 4 times in a row they all looked up and laughed like I was an actor at Second City.

Bless the girls that wear the platform shoes and mini skirts to class 

Watch over the Male Ajahns so they stay out of trouble

May Hello Kitty always decorate sides of coach buses, insides of cabs, pimp out blackberry phones and accessorize the girls  

I will not miss the Thai shuffle

I will miss the Thai smile

Friday morning skypes turned to daily dates

A g chat here and there turned into long emails

flights were booked a house rented in Bali

meet me there?

You are coming to Bangkok! 

2 beers and 2 shots of espresso 

You sure you want a roommate....so your sayin you want a live in girlfriend? 

Can I bring my rubber duck hair clip that I named Lloyd? 

See ya September 25th. Summer in Sydney with someone I am in like with

I won't say if it is typing problem or spelling issue 

babe became babu

I have been a tour guide in a Vietnam museum

Been lost in the rain and shine

Lost 3 pairs of shoes

proud to say I never got bed bugs or lice when I was on the road

Got hustled in pool and had the night of my life with complete strangers and all I have is a fancy bracelet to remember the evening we found on a cheesy club floor.   


My ankles are scared from skeeter bites
My hair is really thin
Thailand you sure have done a number on my body


No matter where we were Erin was always getting attacked by ants
Danielle could find french fries at the drop of a Baht 
Emma is the best at describing food, talking about cheese and should be a professional sandwich maker
Eleanor can relate anything that happens to you or anyone you know in life to a book or movie and will loan you money so she can watch you get a tattoo
Brian is pretty much 1/2 of my soul and Zach holds a very, very small piece of my pinkie toe
Mike I promise to keep the powerkick alive
Bridget sorry I ate all your m&m's and I can't believe you have 12 siblings thanks for sharing your nail polish and thread.  
Ellen and Barry you are cool cats, laid back, chill peeps
Annie I miss you and can't wait to see you in America...I have never seen a white girl pop it like you do
Ted and Heather the party planners
Anna, just a down ass chick
Ben keep tweeting and being the gentleman
Stacey and Anna Thailand is was it is because the things you showed me, taught me...mostly thanks for showing us how to sneak into hotel pools and introducing us to RCA
Matt and Al I really don't think I have words..I guess I will miss watching weird youtube clips or walk in on you perusing adult websites.
Oh man there are so many others...Brian Smith, Danimal, Rich, Will we miss you, Spencer sorry I stole all your sunglasses, Joey, Teresa, Em, SOmyyyyyy, Chelsea, Benji, Griffin....


You were all wonderful and added a little something something to my year.


In the words of Danielle
"woke up still drunk...with a tattoo. it was inevitable"

The Tattoo is Thai numbers 
The year we got here
A year to remember


๒๕๕๓

To All the Fruit Ladies

I WILL MISS YOU 

 I have been spoiled. These ladies are everywhere slicing and dicing fresh fruit for you at all hours. Anywhere from 15 Baht to 40 Baht I could get some of best fruit, hands down, I have ever had in my life. 

Sunday Countdown

I have already shared with you the countdown link but there is one more little countdown we have going on.  As most of you know by now my favorite day of the week is Sunday so it seemed like the perfect day to involve in a weekly project. Whenever I talked to Brad it was not very fun to discuss how we would see each other in 3 months or sometime next fall.

So we came up with a plan, no counting by months or days (quite yet) but countdown how many Sundays until we would be in the same city, country, continent, you know..hemisphere!! 

WaY more fun. 

 I think we started at 15 Sundays. THAT IS A LOT of SUNDAYS!  To spice it up I started delivering Sunday pictures to his inbox. This idea happened around Sunday seven....

 

 Kata Beach, Phuket 

Drawing in the sand and practicing handstands when Rachel was visiting on a misty afternoon down south.

I have to be honest. This is not the original 6 picture. That one involved beans and corn and I thought I needed a little something different. My friend Som has one of the best teddy bear collections I have EVER seen. Girls love their bears here they are a real hit with all age groups for any occasion.  I asked her to take a picture of her favorite 6 and these are the lucky winners.  

 Basketball Court 

Ladies, ladies sorry to bother you but could you please stop shooting around and take a picture with me. Oh and by chance, got an extra jersey laying around? Am I asking to much if you have the number 5?

 Lucky Lane 4

Working on my stroke while really incorporating a popular Thai picture pose.

 

 Because saluting your friend in the corner of the room after a few hours of cards and cocktails you can show that 5-2 does in fact equal 3 on a Saturday night

Elephant Conservation Trip

Just happened to stumble in-between two elephants!

 Bonus points for one having TWO tusks!  

Show me how many weeks Brad!!

 It was time you got involved with some of my action shots!

I am really trying to cherish our last few skype dates, they will be missed.

จุ๊บ จุ๊บ

*I am wearing tube dress in case it looks other wise. G-rated skype dates only*

Thank You Mother Nature

THIS GUY

You could call him our night and shinning armor

 Our second morning on the beach Danielle and I were about to wade in for our morning swim when she spotted something in the water. Big, colorful, and very deadly looking. What could it be? Trash? A sea creature? Right when we ruled out any kind of trash this man paddles up in his Kayak. A real island man if you ask me. Tats, a tan, looked like most of, if not all of his possible belongings in a one man Kayak.  Only the good lord knows where he paddled from, but he arrived right on time.  We pointed and made faces and girlish pleas to find out what it was. He looked at us, laughed, told us he had no idea.  He then walks up the beach finds a spear/rake contraption. Wades into the water...and goes at the thing. Poor guy. Turns out it was some type of Jelly Fish. For all we know it could have been deadly, but we really did not want to see him speared and raked up on to the sand like he was. 

RIP blue jelly. 

There was not a drop of rain all weekend. Thursday night to Sunday afternoon we had the sun shining down on us 

I applied and reapplied sunscreen, still got crispy

Played in the waves

Read a good book

Made crystal light lemonades sometimes with a few ice cubes and a splash of vodka

Ate fresh fruit and veggies kebabs  

Whole wheat, homemade toast and Jam

 This little guy. He was the best. We ate at a place called NAGA every morning where he would be running around. Sometimes chewing on shoes, trying to bite our toes, or passed out. Yes, that little puppy is passed out at 9AM on an empty beer bottle. Oh those Islands dogs. 

The coconut and aloe ice cream cones were my favorite.  How about that hair? Please focus on the beauty of the cone or how it looks like the two people behind me are making out. 

!!Thanks Samed for a wonderful weekend!!

COUNTDOWN

IT is TIME to SHARE this LINK with the BLOG

http://itsalmo.st/#sydneytime

Beach Time

Headed to the beach this afternoon!  Danielle and I are headed to Koh Samed to spend some quality time with each other and the sun.  Our days will sub bathing and our nights will include fire shows and maybe some wine.  This is a great little island and will take us about 4 hours or a little less to get there! I went last December with a group of about 17 and am so bummed that it has taken me so long to get back, but happy I am spending my last weekend there with D and any other last minute Ajhans that decide to throw a swimsuit in a bag and hop on a bus headed to a weekend of bliss.............

Let the boarding of airplanes begin

The MESA. We lost a leg this morning. 5AM wake up call.  The sun was not even up yet as we stuffed luggage into the trunk and in the front seat as the four of us hog piled in the back seat.  The time has come for Erin to return to America, home sweet home.  She is on her way to Chicago to celebrate with Kia and James, who get married next week!!  She will represent us well...man we wish could all fit in that backpack of hers. Safe travels Erin we already miss you out in RPJ....but I will see you down under in a few months!!!!!!!!!

Shall we go for a drive?

Oh hello friends!  

Do you like my large wooden throne??  

The large cow head behind me??

 When I was sitting in this chair, this was my view. 

 Unreal, right!!!!

This morning we got picked up and headed out of RPJ and even further away from the riff raff of Bangkok. 

Nine of us piled into a van on a misty Sunday morning and headed off to see some sights.

Our 1st stop, a little place called the Dairy Barn.  It was intended to be a bathroom break that ended with ice cream and monkey cups. Strawberry and Honey Raisin frozen yogurt was my pick. 

After the pit stop we stopped at this house. I am still not sure why....I guess to show us we could rent it out for a weekend if we wanted? It was pretty sweet.  I envisioned many things happening here. 1st I thought the Dietsch family AKA Fun Bunch could all fit in for a New Years Party.  I also thought girls weekend with cases of wine, books, and good snacks would also be a good way to fill up the space in this house and pool!

ONE of the dining rooms. It is screaming

 "Play board games around me!!" 

"I want Grandma Mary's spaghetti sauce wiped off me!!"

"Girls, careful don't let your wine or mimosa glasses put rings on me!!!

!!!GAME ROOM!!!

Looks at those porch swings. If they were not so big I would try to bring one home with me. 

Beautiful.

Musical Instruments 

Fancy Drums

The house even came with pets! Birds!! I only took a click of one bird, the other ones looked a tad bit on the evil side.

After day dreaming from my wooden chair, overlooking the pool with a view and running around the house exploring the rooms I was hungry!  We piled back in the van and stopped at a local spot for a Thai lunch.

  

After lunch we headed to the elephant conservation center.  We learned many things about what the conservation center does with elephants and how they get local children as well as some city kids involved with the animals.  Really interesting stuff. Tons of pictures, lots of stories. If we had more time, like a whole weekend, we would have spent the night and gone up into the forest and been able to look for wild elephant families in the middle of the night! How cool would that have been! 

It was finally time to play....

After elephant playtime we took the scenic route home through the national park.  We ran into deer, a monkey, and some stellar views.  

Another great Sunday!

Great company, conversations and activities!

This link will take you to the elephant conservation website where they put up some picture of the group!

http://www.thaielephants.org/the-triple-as-awesome-abac-ajarns-10-september-2011/