Hello there all,
Let me start by saying I miss you all. I really get that I got so accustomed to having everyone around and I have gone through a mirrad (sp?) of emotions from question why I am going on this trip to relieved and excited. Travel brings up a lot for me in so many ways-exploring is just so amazing, fun and beautiful, yet it can be lonely and I really love companionship-I really get this more and more these days!!!! Yet the great thing is I have had someone to hang out with the past day that I've been here, which has been a blessing.
So to start on the trip Rob took me to the airport, he's such a love!!! If any of you didn't know Air China and China Air are not the same!!! : ) I know this now. We stood in line for about 40 minutes and then had to walk to the next terminal to find no line and a breeze to get through. It felt so great just relaxing and cuddling in the airport with Rob for the time we were there. The stress of getting ready for this trip, packing my apartment, etc really wore me out! But I'm sure it will all be worth it. Rob has been so supportive through this whole thing of me leaving, I couldn't ask for a more loving and more supportive being. I could go on and on about him.
My flight was about 19 hours. The first 16 hours was actually quite nice, I highly recommend Melatonin for sleeping on the plane. I passed out for a bit and then woke up, stretched and as some people said to me later I was doing aerobics in the plane. I just have to move and stretch on a flight that long. I got back to my seat very grateful to have the middle seat free, so only 2 of us in 3 seats. I laid in a curled up position and went right to sleep. I so needed my sleep. I rested most of that trip. Well, I did watch 1 1/2 movies. If you get the chance Beat the Drum is very good-it's taken in Africa and about love and aids. Of course I had to watch Open Season-I love cartoons- but didn't get to finish it, it was cute though.
Once in Taipei I wandered the airport. I found this shop that held these gorgeous liquor bottles with glass dogs, eagles and pigs in them. When I went up to the very stoic man to talk to him about the bottles he shared with me a number of things about how the animals are about the chinese animals-yet is there an eagle as an animal, I don't know. He told me that Pigs-the year of the pig is coming upon us, are very smart and clean. He also told me about how children don't play in Taipei so much but study, very sad to me as playing is what children do best!
The flight then to Bangkok I was wide a wake for and it was great. I didn't even know we were so close to landing and we landed, that was amazing!
Oh, my Ipod and passport got well lotioned. I put a little bottle of lotion in my fanny pack and it popped open and lotioned everything in sight, so it's well moisturized now! I'll remember next time to bag it as well. Funny little things like that are fun though especially when the whole crew of women on the flight watch you clean it up! ; )
I asked some San Diego guys to share a cab and I talked the cab drive from 1150BT to 600BT-it's 35BT to the dollar (BT-Baht). The guys were very impressed-they were new-bees and traveling, so it was nice to show them some of the ropes! We got dropped off in some odd place and we had to wander around from 2:50am to 4am looking for the guesthouse that I'd stayed in before-Yes Anne and Beenie I am at the New Siam Guesthouse! Anne I keep seeing you here, missing you.
We had picked up another guy along the way so we split a room. I didn't sleep well but it was nice to be horizontal. Well Bangkok hasn't changed, it's still crazy, polluted with exhaust from the tuk tuks-little 3 wheeled cars that they drive us farongs (foreingers) around in. My roommate, Ben and I spent the day looking at all kinds of temples and checking out the streets. And take a wild guess the first thing I bought was? or should I say what is the first thing I baht? hehe : ) Yep, a red color of Thai fishing pants. Yes!!! My color. I love it. I'll try to upload photos later.
It was nice to have company through the city yesterday. Oh that's another thing I missed Friday all together, leaving the 25th and showing up here the 27th-so yesterday felt like two days really. I went for some delicious green curry for lunch and then for an amazing massage-I so needed that. Had some pad thai for dinner and went to bed at 10:30pm. Ben wanted to go out dancing and partying but man oh man, I just couldn't. I'd love to dance but not the first real night here after not sleeping much the past 2 weeks.
So try to imagine these tiny little tuk tuks running the road, willing to run over you at any time, or the BMW taxi's, seeing the pollution coming out the back ends of them, people shopping every where. Women dressed in tribal clothing trying to sell tribal wears to anyone and everyone constantly and getting up in your face not taking no for an answer-pushy little things. The smell of glorious curries filling the air and with the next whiff sewage-lovely isn't it! But it's Thailand and it makes it real and makes it Thailand. The weather is wonderful, I love the humidity and warmth of the air. I am considering getting out of the city tomorrow if I can get my fanny pack repaired today I am so not in the mood for the city, though people watching is just so much fun!!!
I am gradually getting my travel legs back on. It's funny a few times already I put my hand to my waist looking for my cell phone on my fanny pack but there isn't one there. I guess that will be an untraining I'll have to get used to. No Cell Phone!
I'll be heading down to my vipassana maybe get in the area in two days, as it's an over night train and start my meditation on the afternoon of the 31st (I am 15 hours ahead of you). I'll be getting out on the 11th so I won't be emailing then. I'm excited to be in meditation, being who I am now compared to 5 1/2 years ago when I was here last meditating. It feels like a world away with who I am now. I've changed so much and I am a completely different person now.
I am guessing I'll be going to Bali around the 20th of February so if anyone feels so inclided to take a trip I'd love to see you there. I'll be there for 2 months.
I'm still slightly jetlagged but over all doing well. Coming this way I tend to have less jetlag.
I'm excited to get to a beach soon and to meditate. I would love to hear from you. Please email me at
gypsysundancer@yahoo.com. I'll be uploading photos soon.. I already have a good number of great photos of these gold trimmed buildings with little winged edges that shine so brightly in the sun light.
Well I'm signing off for now. I send you love and I miss you like crazy. Love, Heather
