The journey continues..

home sweet not sweet home

kldavis1 — Tue, 10 Jun 2014 05:02:00 GMT

home. bitter sweet. its home though. and i knew it was going to go somewhat in this order. but wasn't quite prepared for this. i'm not sure anything could have prepared me for this. its weird. im lost. my mom cried. its all happening and seeming to pour down all at once. here i am monday, june 9th, sitting on my bed at 3:03 pm drinking a beer thinking i need to write down some thoughts. its been one month and 4 days since i landed in america. after 26 months away, it was strange. i felt a strange concoction of excited, nervous, and what the fuck all in the same breathe as the flight landed that friday morning in philadelphia international airport. i surprised my family. my dad at his office. tears. my mom at happy hour. more tears. all the tears followed by the beers.

that lasted about two weeks. i owwwed and ahhhed at the varieties of chips, candies, and funky green smoothies in the grocery store. i could find shoes in double digits. and everything else that i couldn't buy in asia for that matter. it was fascinating. the first few times i went to the grocery store i got all excited and insisted on walking down every single aisle. didnt. want. to. miss. any. thing. new.

ten pounds. one job later. im home. fat. and lost. i had a restaurant job. quit. i was eating well and felt good before i got home. cant say no to wings and cheesesteaks when ur touring a friend from out of town around. i used my old school gps to find my way to the mall. i got a bazillion job offers for taiwan, china, and thailand flooding my inbox as scroll through the internet late at night. the 12 hour time change makes job hunting in america interesting. my 8am sunday skype session ending in a job offer is exciting, for me. and only me. i heard congrats once. i told about a dozen people. its like ive gotten a job as a trash man and no one knows how to react. cool? awesome? i'm um happy for um you? not like korea where u work as a teacher and are very valuable to the people in that country. a teacher isnt the best job. esp in asia. i get it. i was never looking for the best job. nor do i feel the need to prove that its the fucking best super awesomest job to anyone. i learned the hard way. korea shit on me. over. and. over. again. that first year was hellish. i cant describe. but that'll do for now. hellish. glad i made it out alive. grew a pair. grew the fuck up. got a new job. and an entire NEW and EXCITING experience in korea, where i had already lived for an entire year. 365 days. i walked out. i cried. i slept. i didnt give a hoot. that job sucked. they treated me like the trash man. but everyone was excited for me when i was going to korea. now no one knows what to say. i get it.

dont ask. dont listen. its probably better that way anyway. i dont know why im bitter. bitter because no one understands how happy i am to live elsewhere. im not running from anything. im not avoiding anything. im not giving up on america. not yet. i havent given it a chance because im not ready. i dont know what its like to live in america. i have not the slightest clue, but that's okay. many many many foreigners i have met have travelled the us extensively more than i have. thats awesome. i envy them. please share your stories. id love to know what it's like. i like to listen to other peoples stories. thats why i travel. im not a good storyteller and nor do i like to have diahrrea of the mouth stories about how fucking incredible bali beaches are and monkey forests and scuba diving in the top spots in the world, how diverse and culturally rich korea is, how incredible it is to experience living abroad, in such a manic place like korea. thats fine. im okay with that. i dont do it for anyone else. i am happy to do it for myself.

i just had to get these thoughts out. i dont know who to tell sometimes. after my recent job offer. im happy. scared. excited. and more positive feelings than not. im extatic to move to a new country. itll be fascinating. a whole new experience. im excited. i love traveling. i love to do whatever i want. if i want to pack my bags again for a few years. press pause. hop on a plane and go. i will. so im going to. july 23rd here i go. taiwan attempt numero dos. lezgo.

love always

im off again

kldavis1 — Mon, 3 Mar 2014 13:14:00 GMT

thanks to world nomads providing me with the superest travellers insurance i signed up again. just less than 24 hours i will begin my journey to bali, indonesia. who knows what im in for. not a clue. will find out when i get there i suppose! matt is picking me up from the airport, talk about a blast from the past. matt lewis and i originally met in 2009 in cairns, australia while on a boat hunting crocodiles. randomlycrossed paths a year later in mexico and went parasailing for the day. like 4 years later while both living in asia for many years together are finally going to reunite in bali for a few weeks! bring on the beach, bliss, and fresh fruit!

cheers big ears.

catch ya on the flip

xx will try to keep in touch as much as possible before i get the daily where are u emails from mama dukes! xxoo

Vietnam

kldavis1 — Sun, 6 Mar 2011 21:11:00 GMT

well well i know i should not let so much time go inbetween posts, but we have been quite busy. since i last wrote, we went to Koh Tao (another island in Thailand), Bangkok and we are now more than half way up Vietnam before going to Singapore next week.

I will highlight the important stuff. and hope to post another round of pictures this week.

I left off before the Thai wedding party that night, and boy was it crazy. Koh Phangan is just a nutty island and we defintely had a blast, but we were ready to leave and meet some normal people again. and by normal I mean people that have not been in lsd for the past 10+ years of their lives. I am not one to judge and say who is 'normal' and who is not, but there is a strange thing going on on that island. The night of the wedding party (14/2) was very crazy, lots of music and partying, we went to bed at about 3pm and the music was still blaring ( we were right by the front of the property and near the dj station) until about 4am. Then it started up again at 8am, so I was up. Went down to the beach to Skype and there was still a handful, maybe 8 or 10, people still partying. We had some brekky, packed our things and left at 12 that day, still music going and people partying. Possibly the longest party I have ever attended.

Arrived in Koh Tao via Ferry on the 15th and got settled into our place had some dinner and went out that night to a bar/club on the beach called Lotus Bar. Good times, met a bunch of very nice people and there was a fire show as well. Lots of fire shows on the beach in Thailand, good entertainment. The following day we spent at the beach and exploring Koh Tao. A very very small island and very narrow streets. We walked to the top of this mountain (40 minute walk) and saw the most gorgeous view. There was a resort up there that we pretended like just belonged there and some steps down to the water and there was a bunch of Asians snorkeling. Funny sight in itself, they're mostly afraid of water, let alone fish. Saw some islands in the distance and just an amazing view. Met some Candians that were also there exploring, atleast we weren't the only ones. Had an amazing lunch on the way back and we were exhausted. Went out again that night because that is pretty much the only thing to do in Koh Tao. Our friend Chris we were traveling in Koh Phangan and again in Koh Tao went scuba diving that day so we had dinner with some people he met on the boat that day, very nice English boys. Good laughs good company, went out again to see more fire shows and drink buckets on the beach. 17/2 Thursday, we left Koh Tao via Ferry and took an over night bus to Bangkok. Oh what an adventure that was. We knew we were in for a treat for an overnight bus to begin with, but wow.

The bus was filling up quickly and we are not one to push our way through, I was more worried about leaving my bag in a pile next to the bus making sure it would make it on there, then getting a proper seat, now I learned my lesson for next time. The seats were full and we were pushed into the 'vip' section in the front bottom level of the bus. There were four proper seats and a u-shaped couch type thing w a table in the middle, for cards or whatever. And a very large TV, which happened to be behind my head (my headrest, fun). Then as the bus departed, they put on G.I. Joe, the worst movie ever, and since some wanted to watch I had to lean down so people could see. Sarah and I were squished into a corner at this point with a Chilean man next to her and a couple with a pregnant lady on my other side. I wish I had some photo documentation, but then again I had recalling that experience. Arriving to Bangkok at 4am the next morning, thankfully we had a hostel booked. They let us check in at 6am so that was nice so we went right to sleep for a few hours to refuel for our day of shopping in Bangkok. Waking up was frightening, by far the dirtiest grosset hostel thus far, but we won't go into detail. Let's just say it's a good thing I don't mind an extremely hard bed, and the bathroom door didn't open all the way because the bathroom sink was in the way and the shower consisted of a shower head on the wall just above the toilet, next to the wall full of soot and poo (not literally) coming down the wall.

Had a good day in Bangkok shopping and exploring around, avoiding our room none the less. Just to stop by and drop off some goodies. The only good memorable thing I got was a beautiful leather bag for $30 hand-made, that I wore a few days later and it completely ruined my white shirt from the supposed fake dyed leather strap it was made out of. I have since sent that home hoping mum can doctor it up for me (hi mum!).

The next morning (saturday 19/2) we had some more shopping in Bangkok and went to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam at 4pm. I love flying so I was really looking forward to a clean quick flight, rather than a gross bus cramped and crowded. Arrving to HCMC or Saigon was super overwhelming and there are 9 million people and 6 million motorbikes. We got a taxi to our hotel from the airport and could not believe the crazy drivers/traffic that we were experiencing. Just indescribable. On Sunday we met Sarah's friend, Damian and he showed us around Saigon for a few hours waiting for Carly to arrive from Australia (Sarah's friend from Uni). We were exhausted trying to battle traffic that day we went back to meet Carly at the hotel and rest until meeting Damian and his friend, Nick for dinner.

On Monday, 21/2 we went to the Cu Chi Tunnels with our group in a car with a driver, and surprise they added a personal tour guide for us, whom guilted us into tipping him later in the day. We stopped at a warehouse building on the way called Handicapped Handicrafts and watched handicapped young adults make the most amazing artwork our of mother of pearl and egg shells. So meticulous and tedious work, just amazing stuff they were making. Unfortunately, I am carrying my life on my back so was unable to purchase a large vase to bring home (sorry mum). The Cu Chi tunnels was an incredible place. Lots of history on the war and the tour guide we were given was in the war fighting for the American side, just a man full of personal stories. Will post pictures. We were able to go into the tunnels that are 270 km and maybe 3 feet high? We had to crouch down to get through, very hot and sticky, but good to experience it.

On Tuesday, 22/2 we took a day trip to the Mekong Delta, a river city with floating markets, a rice factory where they made just about anything with rice, rice paper, etc. The next day Wednesday, 23/2 we went to Mui Ne, a beach town just a few hours north, nice to get away from the crazy city life. A very very quiet quaint beach town with nothing really around. We got off the bus in a random spot walked across the road, and found a room for us 3 (Carly, Sarah and, I) for $4 each a night. Not a bad deal so we stayed and it was a nice homestay with very welcoming people. We booked a trip to see the sand dunes the next day.

24/2, Thursday we woke up had a delicious lunch and had a $4 pedicure at the spa down the road. We went on our sand dune trip that afternoon,first stop at a fishing village, and then a place called Fairy creek with crazy red rock cliffs/sand/red watery river through the middle. My description doesn't do this place justice, I will just have to show you in some pictures. Then we went on to 3 different sand dunes, and went sand boarding (yay, check that off my list of things to do in life). Red, yellow, and white sand dunes. Have never seen anything like it, felt like we were in the desert at one point. Very windy and painful on our legs, but all in all a beautiful magical place with incredible scenery. Stayed at the last dune spot to watch the sunset and headed back to town. We realized when we got back we had orange faces outlining from our sunglasses as it stuck to the sunscreen, pretty funny.

Friday, 25/2 we went to the beach (the world championship for windsurfing competition had begun this day we found out, ironic) and hung out. I rented a bike in the morning and drove around town for a bit. All the town was just on one street parallel to the beach. Had a massage for $9 full body massage and met the girls for lunch at our favorite lunch spot. Met a lovely girl at lunch and we met for dinner that night at this very popular and very cheap seafood place on the water, amazing stuff. Grilled fish with lemon grass and chili, my newest favorite dish. Then went to a birthday party that night, at a bar that just opened a few days earlier some frenchies bought the place and had a big party that night, dont think everything was sorted out since the power kept failing, but a good night meeting people from all over, even upped my American count that night, but turned out to be annoying Americans, go figure :) So far, met 7 Americans in a month. Few and far between.

The next morning we took a bus to Nha Trang, another beach town/more cityish a few hours north. We were exhausted, got into our hostel, went for dinner, checked out the night markets, got lost and went to bed early for a Saturday in a party town (10pm). Sunday morning (27/2) I went for a walk to the beach to go exploring and check out our new surroundings, got a little burnt saw some crazy stuff along the way. In the arvo I went to the mud bath and had a nice peaceful day exploring the city. Mud bath, another first, was interesting. You first get there and take a mineral shower, then soak in cold muddy water for 20 minutes, then shower again. Then go through this car wash like stream of jets, and then sit in this piping hot water for 20 minutes (it was already hot out I couldn't take the heat). Then they have a 'waterfall' very tiny and i probably wouldnt even consider it a proper waterfall, and a heated pool. Just a nice day of water in various forms for $5. Had a nice motorbike ride back to town, the cheapest way I later found out. Went out that night for cheap/free drinks for ladies around town, met 2 more Americans, but very nice this time along with bunch of other people, but had a fairly calm night to get ready for our 'booze cruise' the following day.

Side note: I feel like I just keep writing about drinking, but we have been staying in a hotel volunterring at a special school and having all of our meals with nuns this week, so I don't feel so bad.

Okay monday the 28th of February, the legendary booze cruise. We have heard from all kinds of people in our travels thus far about this infamous booze cruise. Let's just say our boat was filled with 70% vietnamese or asians of some sort, and about 10 westeners. Not the booziest cruise I imagined, but definitely a good time. We went to four different islands, an aquarium (worst aquarium ever, after we left we would have rather donated to get the massive fish out of their tanks, then do another touristy trap attraction), snorkeling, and a delicious lunch. Then at the end we had 'happy hour' in the water and there was a floating bar with free alcohol (couldn't even begin to tell you what was in this lethal concoction, let's just say I didn't care because I was not about to recreate it myself). Met two nice girls from San Francisco on the boat and by this time my dorm room was filled with a new group of English people on a volunteer teaching trip together. So the girls came over and we had some drinks before going out that night. Had delicious sushi we discovered at the night markets and then went out to a place called 'Why Not Bar.' A good night overall, saw my roommates as well and had some street food at 2am on the way home, yum!

Tuesday March 1st, we had our last few hours just killing time in Nha Trang before catching another overnight bus, to Hoi An, a town known for it's custom tailor shops. We of course were dreading the overnight bus horror again, especially Carly since it would be her first, and she knew what happened with us before. It turned out to be the nicest bus ever, although i'm sure nicer buses exist, we felt like kings. It was a sleeper bus, and we stopped 2 hours into the trip for the bathroom (since the one on board was broken) and some pho (first pho experience, vietnamese noodle dish they eat for mostly breakfast). Got back on the bus and realized there was a longer sleeping bed across from me I noticed and got to stretch out finally and had the best sleep ever. Next thing I knew I was getting woken up by the driver saying 'Last stop, Hoi An.' What a relief, we made it in one piece. Arrived in front of a hotel, that was crazy looking and the guy told us we could have a room for $5 each a night. After having a look and hardly caring at that point, we knew it was cheap and we wouldn't be in town long, they had a restaurant and a pool, good enough. We got settled in and went to a tailor shop that had been recommended to us. Dangerous. Had some really really nice stuff made, a custom made bathing suit and dresses we got to design ourselves, the pattern, the fabric, then they measure you and bam we went back at night for our first fitting. The shop owners sister also had a shoe shop where I got a nice pair of leather sandals custom made (only $18!) and the girls got heels. Just a very fun experience all in all. We left the next day, but went back for a few fittings and they kept fixing it till it was perfect.

Thursday 3/3 we came to Da Nang to meet the nuns at the convent and get settled into our new town for the week. Carly had organized for us to volunteer at a special school for the week working with disabled children with a range of handicaps. Cerebal Palsy, hearing impairment, mental disorders, and autism. The nuns gave us a tour of the orphanage and then took us to the new school where we have been working at. The new school only opened in October and is beautiful. We later heard from another American volunteer that this is the nicest facilities you are likely to find anywhere in Vietnam and it was funded/donated from people all over, mostly Germans, Australians, and Americans.

We got settled into our hotel and went back to meet the nuns for dinner that night, about 12 of them and us 3. Very lovely people, only 2 speak English, but they are the sweetest nuns ever. I cannot say I have ever had dinner at the table with 12 nuns, but my the food was amazing as was the company. We went back on Friday for breakfast and a tour of the new school and to begin our first day of volunteering. We played with the children and helped them do their exercises. They are all full of life and so happy most of the time, no matter what their disability. Had lunch, went home for a siesta (the entire school takes 2 hours off from 12-2 to sleep) and came back in the afternoon for some more play time. Then went back for dinner.

Saturday 5/3 we had a free day, since the nuns go to the countryside (and unfortuantely we were unable to join them on their motorbikes) and volunteer with the children who are less fortunate and cannot afford to come to the new school. We had to make a trip back to Hoi An and pick up the rest of our clothes, and did a bit of shopping (which I didn't need to), but had a good time, good food (since we can't find much of that around where we're staying now) and booked our trip up to Hanoi for later this week. Sent a package home with some goodies, only 3 months till it arrives, haha.

Then made our way back to Da Nang to get some rest and get ready for our day today (Sunday 6/3). We met Sister Catherine at the convent in the city and she showed us that babies in the orphanage before attending an English Catholic mass. Was good to go to church again, but was surpringsly pretty similar to one you'd see at home was most surprised it was in English. Then she took us to a place on the corner to get some amazing vietnamese food for lunch ($2) and then took a nice walk along the river. We made our way back to the hotel to hang out for the day and will be meeting the nuns at the new school for dinner in about an hour. They are so lovely, I never thought I would find myself in Central Vietnam having all my meals with nuns this week, but this is a wonderful place. We have 3 more days of volunteering and leaving Wedneday. Carly is leaving us to go back to Australia on Wednesday, and Sarah and I are going back to Hoi An, we just can't get enough of that place. No, but we have to go back there to catch a 20 hour bus ride to Hanoi on Thursday. Hanoi is where we will take a 3 day boat cruise on Halong Bay before flying to Singapore on the 16th to stay with Maggie! Very excited to see her yet again. We will spend a few days in Singapore and leaving on the 19th to fly to Vientianne, Laos to spend the next 5 weeks traveling through Laos and Cambodia.

Then we will go back to Ao Nang, Thailand to get our scuba certification :) Cannot wait. Lots to look foward to. I guess I may just share that I have decided to come home following a visit from a friend in Thailand. Many reasons, but mostly due to finances and will be nice to be home for the summer again before planning to go to South Korea in August to start teaching public school. There have been many plans up in the air, but between Taiwan and S. Korea I have decided on Korea due to the benefits that they offer and the most positive things I have heard. All plans are still up in the air, but my ticket is officially booked home (thanks Mum!) for may 16th :)

Lots to look forward to and am still having the best time of my life. Could not think of a better time in my life to have taken this adventure of a lifetime. Few more new countries to explore so should be a crazy busy few months ahead before heading home again. Still in Vietnam and completely blocked from facebook for the past few weeks, so figured I should somehow let the world know I am still alive and loving life.

Love and miss you all. xoxo

Thailand <3

kldavis1 — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 20:25:00 GMT

Well well sorry for the delay, but I knew it would happen during my
Thailand daze. Last I wrote we were in Penang, Malaysia and since then
we have been traveling through beautiful thailand. On the 6th we made
our way to Krabi, only a twelve hour bus ride w nearly two inches of
leg room, needless to say we will be researching the bus situation
before we commit to something like that again, but we finally made it
to Krabi, Thailand. We just passed
through Krabi to get to ao nang the beach part of town, which turned
out to be a fairly decent size town itself. We spent the first day at
the beach exploring ao nang. Oh yes we stayed at a celebrities house,
suwat hannarong. He is an inventor of the energy saving device in
hotel rooms that control the electricity ( where you'd put the key
card for lights). Among other things like bribing paragliding to the
army, helping repair schools after the tsunami and a certified naui
divemaster instructor (the highest u can go) and has certified over
10,000 divers. Legend, basically. We arrived a bit stressed after our
long day on buses to the most welcoming homestay I could have ever
dreamt of. Starving and w no idea how or where town/food was they just
started bringing out plates of dinner and there it was a tbone steaks
dinner w fries and gravy. So amazing. Then Monday 7th went to ao nang
beach, Tuesday 8th took a longboat to Pra nang beach and saw some rock
climbers on the rock cliffs and a monkey:) we had lunch from a boat
there, very neat. Then wenesday we went scuba diving ( sarahs first
time too!) w suwat and his gang of master divers for a long time. Saw
where the beach was filmed on koh phi phi and did 3 dives that day.
Amazing fish, even saw a seahorse, a black tip shark, and an eel. Just
amazing and feel more confident now to go get ceritified woohoo!
Thursday we left for koh phangang which is where I currently am. There
was a half moon party (just have to look it up yourself if you don't
know what I'm talking about). But interesting experience to say the
least. Had a good time and a good chill out day Saturday, then went to
the after party which is on a beach close to our bungalow w good djs
again. Yesterday Sunday the 13th we rented a jeep and went exploring,
thankfully Sarah knew manual and drove the whole time. We went to haad
salad beach and top deck, a viewpoint over looking pArt of the island.
Today(happy valentines day!) we were woken at 8am by fireworks outside
our door for a beautiful Thai wedding. The couple is Swedish but they
requested a Thai style weddingthey decided on just a few days prior,
just helps paint the picture of the interesting people thus far. So
the ceremony was this morning, now a big break in the celebrations to
prepare for the big party tonight at our homestay place, just on the
property not at our house haha just to clear up the confusion. An open
wedding and party so everyone is invited, very lovely people. Tomorrow
at noon (15th) we go to koh Tao for 2 days to check it out maybe do a
bit of snorkeling and rent a motorbike ( i had my first ride todAy and
it was awesome). Then Thursday off to Bangkok to shop and see some
sights I've heard a lot about this place, I think I just have to see
for myself. Then Saturday we leave for Vietnam for 3 and 1/2 weeks. We
are meeting up w sarahs friend Carly from Australia to travel around
for a bit. They are both physiotherapists in a hospital at home so we
will be doing some type of volunteer work at a hospital, and I will
join in I'm sure there will be something for me to help with. So
looking forwardto a new place and some more adventure. We have found
that after a few days becoming so comfortable in a place were ready to
move on again and seek new adventure. Just a short and sweet update
for now since mum keeps bugging me (hi mum!). Finally bought something
today it's nearly two weeks I'm very proud of myself but found two
nice tops at a shop for 300baht or 10bucks and one still had A price
tag, go me. Clothes are getting worn quickly so Sarah and I cannot
wait for Bangkok to Bargin and get some cheap clothes. There will
always be a small place in my heart for Thailand, this place certainly
is amazing. Parties or just to chill either way everyone can find
something they enjoy. Life is good:)
We hope to go back to ao nang in march or April to get certified to
dive w suwat, he is an amazing man I couldn't see us doing it
elsewhere. Okay now time to wash some clothes (I know, but I kind of
enjoy it knowing I'll have clean stuff tomorrow) and get ready for the
wedding party tonight, lots of trance and psytrance dj's so looking
forward to that. Peace and love xo

Photos: start of trip

kldavis1 — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 02:51:00 GMT

hong kong, malaysia, thailand, vietnam

day 2/5

kldavis1 — Fri, 4 Feb 2011 15:09:00 GMT

well here I am sitting in Penang, Malaysia. What a crazy place, I believe Chinese New Year has something to do with it. I met up with Sarah and Maggie (finally) yesterday when I made it to the hotel. What a relief! They said that everything was pretty much closed yesterday, except Indian food, but then more stuff opened up at night. We went exploring last night had a good Indian meal of tandoori chicken, rice, cucumber salad sauce stuff, and some other interesting Indian dish Maggie ordered I can't remember. Then went for a walk around and found a bunch of clubs open and some backpacker bars, hung out w some locals and backpackers last night. Woke up a bit ago and wanted to drink some water, remembering not to!

Off to the beach today, hope I don't get fried. I was reflecting light off my legs last night, good thing our first day will be at the beach. And then to the temple, the largest in South East Asia is about 20 minutes from here by bus, and they say the beach is about an hour by bus. Interested to see these buses, people drive like maniacs, but nothing I haven't seen before. Sorry for probably the most boring post, but I just wanted to say 'I'm here' and off to Krabi on Sunday to find the ghost of Leonardo Dicaprio from the Beach. Place looks unreal, it's on the cover of my 'SE Asia on a Budget.' I will post some pictures. I do not have wifi right now I am using Sarah's computer while they are still resting.

Up, time for beach! Write soon. Hopefully it will be way more interesting next time...

Hope you are all doing well surviving 'Snowmageddon II' I keep reading about in the newspaper and on the internet. I was reading a Malaysian newspaper on the way here yesterday about the snow storm in the States, strange! Met a very nice Malaysian man on the plane yesterday and shared lots of tips about Penang and such. It was helpful to hear what he had to say to reinforce what I've been reading and reading about. This place is so magical and spiritual especially this time of year at the temples and such. Had a very interesting cab ride from the airport as well, the cabbie told me that his son is studying in Hoboken, New Jersey and was wondering how far I used to live from there. What a small world. He told me that he is Muslim and his son does not drink so he has a hard time socializing being 21 in University in the States, but he does go to the clubs in NYC w friends. What a funny ride that way, I was glad I finally made it to the hotel after that haha, but a very very nice and helpful man gave me all sorts of maps and such..

xoxo

Then I ended up in hong kong

kldavis1 — Wed, 2 Feb 2011 19:18:00 GMT

http://jonova.s3.amazonaws.com/graphs/storms/yasi-us-australia-crop.gif Let's just say I've seen it all by now, but you have to click on that link before reading on. Well an 18 hr flight later w screaming babies sick people and me being the only blonde white girl I'd say I survived, barely. Had a bad stupid fall on Monday the day before I left at home down the stairs so was cramping up and hurting like crazy only to find a large bruise on my left butt cheek. Clumsy clumsy. So my flight was late leaving because they had to hose all the snow off first so that twenty minutes made me miss my next flight. So they put me In a hotel room connected to the hong kong airport it's pretty nice in here for free and three free meals. Only thing I've paid for was the $15us for 24 hours of internet. So I get stuck in hong Kong for a night, but the night of Chinese new year! Wow I have no choice but to make this mishap be the best thing that couldve happened so far. I emailed Sarah right away since I was supposedly meeting themtonight to find out that they won't be there till tomorrow either. Haha I guess the itinerary didn't correct itself w the time chAnge and I thought we were arriving on the same day. So in the end only a minute of panic and hours of relief after settling in. If only I had a jacket for the 13 degree celcius weather out there. Guess we will go find out what hong Kong has in store for me. Cities especially big ones itimidate me, but no choice now. Cleaning up maybe a nap cause my body clock is way off. Speak soon hopefully :)

..

kldavis1 — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 02:56:00 GMT

Not so sure how well this is going to go. I tried keeping a blog for Aus, but it faded quickly after my first adventure away from Uni. I am leaving in a week for South East Asia. I have a small itinerary so far. Here it goes

Feb3- 6: Penang, Malayasia an island in Malaysia- for Chinese New Year with Maggie and Sarah.

Then take a bus to Krabi so we can join the ghost of leonardo dicaprio on his infamous Beach

Feb 6-19 Thailand somewhere.. Bangkok 16-19

Feb 19: arrive in Ho chi minh, vietnam. Stay 2-3 nights then work north, visiting Mekong Delta , Nha Trang , Danang (where we volunteer a few days), fly north to Ha Noi, go to Halong Bay.

Then go to Singapore then Bali. That is the rough outline so far. Who knows where the world will take us...

So I am still trying to figure out how this who journal thing works. Guess we will see. I am off to get one last teeth cleaning and some Hep A shots. Woohoo... Expecting a huge snow storm tomorrow. Lovely. It was 6 degrees Fahrenheit this morning. Lots to do this next week. Packing is nearly done, just have a few last minute things to do. This journal is through the travel insurance I just bought so how handy is that. Not looking forward to this snow, I'm sure there will still be a bunch of snow on the groud when I leave and go to sunny tropical Malaysia. Sarah is in Singapore with Maggie now and told me it is 11pm there and still blazing hot. time for errands and trip preparation. will write more once i figure out how to use this thing.