Sunday, May 30, 2010

Bangkok and Nong Khai

I arrived in Bangkok on Saturday afternoon after two long and grueling days of travel. My flight leaving the States was delayed several hours, causing me to miss my connecting flight in Tokyo, so I enjoyed an unexpected overnight stay in Tokyo courtesy of Delta Airlines. As I ended up only being able to spend one day in Bangkok, I stuck to my hotel that was conveniently located only 5 minutes from the airport and did not have the chance to venture into the city On the plus side, it was a very easy and relaxing way to acclimate myself to the 11 hour time difference.

I did have the opportunity to get a traditional Thai massage which was offered by my hotel. It was quite different from your typical Western massage, as it incorporates different elements of yoga into the massage. The masseuse literally uses her entire body (including her feet!) to stretch, twist, and push your body into ways I did not know were possible. Although it was a bit strange and painful at times, the Thai massage is known to have many medicinal benefits, and its history dates back approx 2500 years, so I think I can trust it!

This evening, Claire and I arrived in Nong Khai, a small town in northeast Thailand very close to Laos. We are staying at the Mut Mee Guesthouse, which is located right on the Mekong River. It is very relaxing and quaint, although a bit more primitive than we expected. The grounds are beautiful, full of gardens and greenery, and the staff is extremely kind and helpful. There is an outdoor restaurant and garden patio at the guesthouse, as well as a floating restaurant/bar on the river. Pictures will be added soon!


Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Welcome to my Blog!

Hi everyone! Welcome to my first ever blog site! I will do my best to keep you updated on my travels this summer in Thailand. I leave in two days (May 27) and arrive in Bangkok on the 28th, and I am so excited!

I will spend 2 months in Thailand. For six weeks of that, I will be volunteering through a program called OpenmindProjects, which offers many different types of volunteer opportunities in several countries throughout Southeast Asia. My sister Claire and I will be teaching English to elementary school students in a town called Krabi in South Thailand.

As I'm sure most of you know, the situation in Bangkok has been very unstable for the past two months, but I have been monitoring it closely, and the situation has improved significantly over the past week. Bangkokpost.com is a very helpful site for updates. I am confident that the situation will continue to improve, and I have been told by the volunteer coordinators that Krabi is perfectly safe.

Now onto packing... Stay tuned!