Off to Thailand!

Devon didn't really have a plan after Australia, but she trusted the Universe and we ended up flying FIRST CLASS to Kuala Lumpur. For $7 extra!!

You should have SEEN that leg room, it was sick!

Well, leg room isn't really an issue for me but the big cushy seats were NICE. We only stayed in KL for two days, then we were on the train to Thailand!

 

There was so much to see and do there, I don't know where to start! We spent a few days in Bangkok, where Devon broke her ATM card. Don't worry though, we made some great friends because of it!

Tell them about the sparkles!!

Ah yes, and Devon got some tinsel put in her hair. Then we headed north to the mountains, for the town of Chiang Mai and the Trek of Doom.

Oh come on, it wasn't that bad! Whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger!

Yeah yeah. So while we were in the north, we visited a silk factory. They didn't have yarn, though. :(

Silk worms, fattening up on leaves

Unraveling the silk cocoons on a spinning wheel to make thread

Weaving the silk fabric on a loom

And an umbrella factory, where they make and handpaint decorative umbrellas. So pretty!

We also went to "Monk Chat" at Wat Chedi Luang, one of the many Buddhist temples in Chiang Mai. You can chat to the monks in English so they can practice. We met 2 very cool monks. I had a very interesting conversation about Buddhism and how it compares and contrasts other world religions. Devon taught them how to say "What's up". Equally meritous, for sure. We still exchange emails with Sone, the monk on the left! He is very sweet.

I'll let Devon tell you about the trek.

Ah, the trek. 3 days in the mountains and jungles. Sweltering heat during the day, freezing cold at night. 16 km over steep hills, nothing but your wits to guide you…

(And two Thai trekking guides)

Eating off the land…

(Eating food the guides cooked for us, and a lunch they wrapped in banana leaves, which are more effective than Ziplocs at preventing leaks.)

Facing wild animals…

(Trained elephants that we got to ride)

Sleeping on the bare ground…

(In a sleeping bag in a bamboo hut)

Peeing outdoors…

(She did this even though there WERE toilets available)

Navigating the rapids in a lashed together bamboo raft…

(The water was about 2 feet deep)

Some more shots from Thailand…

Our favorite juice bar in CM… fresh juice and smoothies for $1!!

Chiang Mai is such a small town you can ride a bike everywhere!

Then, pray tell, what ARE you supposed to dry with the drying machine?