Nope... we're just at the end of the hot season (ha! like all the other seasons aren't hot?) and the beginning of the rainy season. The beginning of torrential rains, ominous dark clouds, flash floods, and, if you can believe it, worse traffic. But, the onset of the rainy season also means lots of fresh fruits (mangoes, mangosteens, guava, rambutans, starfruit, and even durian). So while I now carry flip flops, a plastic bag, and an umbrella with me at all times, I'm well nutriated...
Since I last wrote (in any details besides about strange WHO jokes and straws), I have, as usual, been traveling quite a bit. (On a side note, plus one for Thailand.) After my family left, I had about a week before my next visitor, a friend from grad school came to visit. We headed down to Phuket (my first time there) for some rest and relaxation. I, being the experienced traveler that I am, packed the night before we left and forgot my camera. So here are a few of the pictures I have (stolen from Facebook) to document:
Since I last wrote (in any details besides about strange WHO jokes and straws), I have, as usual, been traveling quite a bit. (On a side note, plus one for Thailand.) After my family left, I had about a week before my next visitor, a friend from grad school came to visit. We headed down to Phuket (my first time there) for some rest and relaxation. I, being the experienced traveler that I am, packed the night before we left and forgot my camera. So here are a few of the pictures I have (stolen from Facebook) to document:
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| Our abode on the beach... see anything out of place? |
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| Strange looking tree! |
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| Nam Tok Bang Pae |
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| Our kayak... right before I jumped into the piranha infested waters! |
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| Our guide grabbed this GIANT jellyfish! |
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| Koh Dta pbu (Nail Island, aka James Bond Island) |
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| Somehow we ended up on a Russian-language tour... |
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| Ok, so it's Charlie's Angels pose but... |
And then I was a lazy bum for most of March... and I delighted in it! Although on Saint Patrick's Day, I did go out with my Thai teacher, Khun Noi, to get Mexican food. Only in Thailand!
With a looming U.S. government shutdown in early April, no one was sure if we would all be able to celebrate Songkran, or Thai New Year. While I am technically not an employee of the federal government, I thought it would be a bit nasty to take off traveling during Thai New Year if my Thai colleagues could not. Luckily, Congress did manage to actually fulfill their job and keep the government running. I headed to Burma, again. It truly is one of my favorite places in Southeast Asia and, if it weren't for the government, I think I could live there. I traveled with some great companions (good traveling companions really do make traveling much better!) and we headed to Yangon, Bagan, and Inle Lake. Here are some of my favorite pictures (I remembered my camera this time and took well over 600 pictures in my 5 1/2 days there):
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| Serena and me on the ferry in Yangon, spent mainly entertaining all the kids with funny faces and noises |
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| I feel so Thai - posing with things in parks ;) |
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| Me and the Little Mermaid |
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| Burmese Thingyan (New Year) a mix of Songkran and Mardi Gras |
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| Not sure why Bangkok Hospital advertises in Yangon? |
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| We hiked all around the city and made it across a massive traffic circle without getting hit by any of the many vehicles! |
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| Why do my feet always get so dirty!?!?!?! (Melissa, Serena, me) |
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| In the Shwedagon |
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| A good place to store your drink? |
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| Some girls I made friends with hiking back down from the Shwedagon... they would laugh hysterically until the camera was ready to take a picture, then straightfaced, then laugh again ;) |
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| Our first meal... which started hesitatingly then just kept coming and coming and coming! So delicious! |
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| On to Bagan |
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| My one shot of kids preparing the douse someone else with water... most times were spent avoiding children by any means necessary! |
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| Dhammayangyi Temple |
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| Beautiful Inle Lake |
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| Shwe Inn Tain Monastery |
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| Kid taking my 'picture' |
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| A kid paddling with his foot. I still don't understand how this works? |
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| Thong Tho Monastery Complex |
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| "Are U Tired of Rice?" |
I then rested up before heading to the U.S. for the first time in almost a year, for my dear friend Jess's wedding in Asheville, NC, to see my family (especially my sister), and celebrate my great Aunt Peggy's 90th birthday (a special day we share). Here are the highlights:
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| Jess's bachelorette we just happened to find a pig statue! |
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| Katie S, Tiffany, and Georgia, with the hair all done up! |
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| Of course, we had flip flops to match our multicolored sashes... compliments of Ms. Vance |
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| Ryan and me, team purple |
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| Chris and Tiffany, team light blue |
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| Me (purple), Katie S (dark blue), Tiffany (light blue), Georgia (teal), Amanda (green), Karie (ivory), and the lovely Ms. Vance preparing to be Mrs. Sutton :) |
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| Me and trlanichad :) |
And, so now I rest up until June 4th, when I head back to the U.S. again, for a meeting in DC. I probably won't write between now and then, but I might... so check back soon!
