Pictures and catch up

I finally found a computer that will allow me to upload pictures. of course i cant get onto to facebook book but its a step!

Nara - i have so many pictures of deer and a video of Brett get the deer to bow:

The famous 10,000 gates. AWESOME!

Temple in Bangkok and in Chiang Mai (thought you would enjoy a Monk at the ATM as well):

After the temple in Chiang Mai- here is Bobby the tiger. He liked to me scratched on his stomach.

After playing with Tigers we took a Thai cooking class.... sooooo much food and so so so yummy!

Then we had an awesome night out on the town. Which ended with a Tuk Tuk race home! So funny! Tuk Tuks are fun and crazy!

We headed to Chiang Rai! We started off by heading to the hill tribes where we got to meet 4 or 5 different tribes. This was very interesting. One of the tribes even did a performance for us. There were mud houses and we even got to see a multi tribe school house where the kids sang there numbers in english to us.

We then headed to the night market and dinner. I ate a cockroach head. wasnt that bad either. kinda tasted like sunflower seeds with some spice. if you cant really see it in the picture dont worry i got a video of me eating it and my reaction.

That night we went out 80's style! Just the way I like it! I got pink eye lashes and a pink scrunchy. AWESOME!

The next day we left for Laos. We started in a boat on the Mekong river. This not only was exactly what we all needed after a crazy 80's party, but was the most incredible view ever! You know just cruising on a boat with the roof open and mountain and rainforest on either side of you with a Laos beer in hand. Doesnt get much better!!!!

We stayed the night in the tiniest town i have ever seen! There was only one bar so of course thats where we headed. We sat outside and the little boys from the town would come and bug us from time to time. They wanted to practice their english and we practiced our Loasatian. Sabaidee

Oh and how can i forget that i did my first plank ever:

I learned a lot about Laos which i would consider on of the most beautiful countries. It is also one of the poorest a lot because it is the most bombed country in the world. This is due to the AMERICANS in the Vietnam war. its really shocking to see the country still struggling and still have unexploded bombs in farmlands, school yards, etc. Eye opening.

The next day we got back on our relaxing boat and headed to Luang Prabang. we stopped at the Pak Ou temple which is in a cave with the only access being by boat. Oh and the Mekong river is a "tea chocolate" kind of color all year round and always has been.

After getting into Luang Prabang we went for a bike ride and we stopped and had a sip of snake whisky. Thats right. there are snakes and geckos and scorpions. it was so gross! Apparently they drink it for health. Its suppose to be good for you joints. ewwwwwww. never again!

We went to bed early that night bc we woke up at 5am to feed the monks. Monks only eat twice a day and their morning meal comes from what people donate to them at 5am. I couldnt believe how many Monks there were and how young most of them were. very neat experience.

This day was so packed full! After feeding the Monks we went to ride and feed elephants. My elephants name was Dandi and she was so much fun. our guide made me a banana leaf hat too :)

Then we head for the waterfall! It had rained so much that we werent able to swim. you can see the flooding in the picture. but the waterfall was so powerful too.

Then we headed for dinner. This dinner was by far the most amazing meal i have had on this trip. Laos chicken laap is yummmmmmy! the restaurant had the best atmosphere too. i was in charge of collect half the bill and the other girl in this picture was in charge of the other half. it came out to over 1,000,000 kip so we had to take a picture. the guy in the back ground is our crazy tour manager. hes awesome. oh and i am totally a millionaire! of course in Kip but thats still cool. (i will be in Vietnam as well, but their currency is the Dong...... the jokes have already started "We can get Dong out of the ATM" hahahaha)

We then left on a bus for Vang Vieng. I feel asleep right away and woke up to everyone having to get off the bus bc of a landslide. we all had to walk across the landslide area and then the bus would drive over it just in case. This was so scarey! The view was breath taking yet again but i was terrified of this road. no guardrail or any kind of protection. i could hardly look outside. I can skydive, play with tigers, canyon swing, eat weird things, but a bus ride on a dangerous road is what scares me!

Dont worry we made it safely and i thanked the driver for my life :)
The next day in Vang Vieng I took a bike ride to this cave that was awesome and then went tubing down the Mekong. I bought a water proof camera for this and i cant wait to see the pictures from that!

The next day we went to Cambodia where we visited on of the genocide camps and killing grounds. This wasnt so much fun but i did learn a lot. To think that all of it happened only 35ish years ago.
That night we went to a "friendly" restaurant. These restaurants get kids off the streets and teaching them how to cook and serve. at the end of the meal our tour manager order some tranchilas. I ate a leg and then held a live one!

the next day we heading to the floating markets which was a site to see. people just living on boat houses. Moms having there children hold snakes and follow tourists boats and if you want a picture you have to pay. everything's $1. They had a stop where you could feed crocodiles. Never knew a place like that existed!

Our last day in Cambodia we went to 3 different incredible temples. The first being one of the 7 wonders of the world, Angkor Wat. Then we headed to the budda faces temple and lastly to the Tomb Raider Temple. I had to get a Cambodian Plank in there as well!

Most of the people in our tour ended this night and we all went out. We had to say our farewells. I just arrived in Vietnam today. We pick up more people here. Seems like this country will have better computers, lets see if i get time now :)

PS - Ship it!

LAOS!!!!!!!

I don't have much time because I'm heading to the waterfalls and being in a third world country I can't seem to find a computer to upload my pictures.

I am in Laos now and this place is dirty, poor, breath taking, and awesome all at the same time. You walk down the road next to monks. You drive 30 mintues and ride elephants. I went to a temple in a cave. Out of this world. I really wish I could share pictures but as soon as I can I will.

To the waterfalls I go!

I'm still alive

Sorry its been so long since I've posted.  Its been a crazy past few days.  I was either too exhausted or didnt have access to a computer.  Unfourtunatly the computer I am using at the moment will not let me download pictures onto it. But Ill try and give you a breif summary of what I have been up to! Im on a timer here!

Kyoto day 2:
We headed to a town called Nara about 45 minutes outside of Kyoto.  This town has deer everywhere!  They are so cute and friendly.  You can buy food for them and they will bow for it.  Its so cool!  They has a Temple in this town with a HUGE budda.  We met a German girl that was traveling by herself that didnt like beer or sauage!!!!  Anyways we decided to stay in Nara and see the light show that night.  There were tons of people and candles everywhere. 

Kyoto day 3:
We headed to the Temple with the 10,000 gates.  This was super awesome.  the whole thing takes 2 hours to walk.  We then had to say goodbye to Annica :( and head back to Tokyo to stay in our capsule hostel which turned out to be horrible. We headed back to Tokyo Tower to go inside for an amazing view!

In the morning Brett and |I decided to get up super early to go and see the fish market.  We had to get a cab for 3000 Yen and when we got there it was closed for the day :(  So we just headed back since i had to catch my flight to Bangkok.

Bangkok is a crazy place.  Very dirty, very cheap, and LOTS of fun :)  I met up with the contiki tour that night and went out..... thats a story for another time!
The next day we went to a muslim temple and had a boat tour on the river.  We had a couple of hours of shopping and time for a mani pedi which was 250 baht or about $7 and i had to women working for almost 2 hours on my hands and feet! We then heading for an overnight train to Chiang Mai. This train ride was so fun.  we drank and sang and were so loud the cops had to put us to bed hahaha. 

Chiang Mai is an amazing place!  We started off at another temple where we all got blessed by a Monk.  How freaking cool! We then headed to Tiger kingdom where i got to play with babdy tigers and pet and take pictures with 20 month old tigers which are HUGE!!!!  LOVE IT!  Afterwards we got a thai cooking lesson.  So much fun and sooo yummy!  one word.... FIRE!  We then headed out for the night and took tuk tuks home and made the drivers race. hahaha definitely an epic night.

Today we headed for Chiang Rai.  Im heading to meet the hill tribes so I have to run.  Miss you all!!!!

I Love Kyoto!

On our way to Kyoto we stopped in Hakone.  We took a bullet train, regular train, smaller train that was red, cable car, and a ropeway to get to Owakudani.  Here you can get a view of Mt Fuji, see the crater crater by the last eruption of Mt Hakone, a go in the Hot Springs.  We didnt have time for Hot Springs :( It was a beautiful day, but the visibility of Mt Fuji wasn't the greatest as you can tell.

When we arrived in Kyoto we headed to dinner.  Best dinner by far!!!  Everything was cooked on a stone at your table. I had squid legs which i actually loved and parts of chicken I never though i would eat let alone think were amazing! Brett was so in love with his dinner he insisted on tipping even though you arent suppose to.  The waitress was so confused and surprised.

 After dinner we stopped at the bar next door for a couple drinks and then walked the town a bit with some beverages from the convenient store.  I used my first Japanese toilet finally lol.  I had to take a picture. We also hit up those photo booths again.  Even more fun after a few drinks ;)  Oh and thats my new outfit I bought in Tokyo!

Today We went to three temples.  When we arrived at our first one, Kiyomizu Temple, we were approached by three girls in Yukatas (kinda like Kimonos).  They are studying English at a University and wanted to practice by giving us a tour of the temple.  This was so freaking awesome!  These girls seriously made this experience so much better.  We started off by going down this hole that is Buddas belly and completely black, you cant see a thing.  you walk down this pitch black winding hallway to a rock that is lit up that you touch and make a wish.  We then learned from our awesome tour guides that people use to jump from the ledge shown in my picture and there was actually an 84% survival rate. Also there is not a single nail used in the entire structure.  We headed to the love shrine where they have 2 stones about 15 feet apart that if you can walk from one to the other with your eyes closed you will have a successful love life. I totally made it :)

I got my brother engraved chopsticks for his birthday since i wont be home.  They were about to translate it to Japanese.  How neat!
Kinkaku-ji Temple was our last stop.  so beautiful!!!  Mom and Dad this pictures for you.  :)

We finished out day with some shopping and dinner.  We ate a Ninja Kyoto which was a buffet but you were severed by ninjas.  For dessert I got a black crepe...... I think the ninja that made this has a crush on me hehe!

Love you all!!!!