Bye Asia

Im off to Roma, but first stops in Bangkok and Tokoyo.

Shanghai Pillow

Thanks B for taking in two girls from the Jungle. Your place was the perfect home in the middle of a foreign journey. Namaste

Oon My Elephant

She was so easy to love and we both cried when we said goodbye.

WTF

As many things in China, we hypothesis on what is happening or why it is happening. This is one of those things that makes you go, huh? Does anyone have a good theory on what the dog with the tray is meant to convey?

Chinese Muslims

We went to a great noodle spot last night in Shanghai. Thanks b for knowing the best places to eat anywhere on earth. On this trip, I have been taking picture of the locals because that is the best part. This is the first time the locals thought we were the photo-worthy. I guess they don't get a lot of foreigners in here. I mean at least Angeline and Suewen could fake being Asian since they are Asian but I am a dead giveaway that we are not from here. The noodles were super yummy and the family were so kind. Since they took photos of us, I returned the favor.

Shanghai Life

Chinese Laundry

Your Son and My Daughter

This was unreal, a Saturday in people's park in Shanghai, parents of unwed children meet to negotiate, swaggle, haggle and get their kids married off. We had heard about this happening and laughed it off, then we accidently walked right in the middle of it yesterday. There were signs that I could not read noting height weight and God knows what else. No suitors or fair ladies present only the parents to do the talking. I mean, it is genius...I just wonder if the kids know what their parents are up to. This would take Arabia by storm and India I would imagine. Gotta give it to the Chinese for just getting down to business and taking the romance out of it. Match.com has nothing on this operation.

China makes me laugh

The Spanish Crew in Shanghai

I love the Marc Jacobs feel, so Shanghai, so Chic

A Pillow on the way to Shanghai overnight

Thai Airways give you a real blanket, like one I would have on my bed. It made me very happy.

China Regulating

Down by the River

Then to Vang Vieng for another night

Back in LuangPrabang for a night

Elephant Camp Accommodations

This was by far the most I have ever needed a mosquito net. Normally I want to know what creatures surround me but in this case I did not. I spent 3 days camping (willingly) Lao style on the Mekong (its brown) to play with the elephants. For those of you that know me well, you would have been beyond impressed with my tolerance for bugs, i impressed myself.

Tight Security

Lao Monk

Isn't he beautiful?

In Route

Breakfast in Vang Vien Lao, dinner in Vientiane. Flight to Shanghi via Bankok. Good morning China.

Water Fighting

Elephant Time

I'm going off the grid for a few days to play with elephants in a village. I'll be back with photos and stories as soon as the internet connection is better.

Water fest Lao Style

Pictures can hardly capture the excitement in the streets. No camera is sacred from the water either. This is a you tube video that can begin to explain this madness, I can't remember when I have had more fun. Click on this link to see it

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kMHMXGzQvs&feature=related

Resting My head: Luang Prabang Lao

I love Lao

We are in the north in Laung Probang. Guess what? It's new year here. Yesterday i left the guest house we are staying in with my wallet in a plastic bag and packing a water gun. Watch out kids, its time to get wet.

Unrest in Bangkok

I guess all this is going on, we must have just missed it on the way to the airport. Or maybe we drove right thru it, I was sound asleep in the cab.

Thai soldiers, anti-government protesters clash

Happy Birthday Rumzi

Garbage Fashion

I have been impressed overall with the fashion in Thailand, very stylish. This was my favorite raincoat, a garbage bag gently draped over the mannequin outside of a 7-11 in Koh Tao. For the price and practicality, how can you say no?

Chillin on the Beach

This is what people do in Thailand, at least on the islands....a whole lotta lounging

Life Size Gecko

Check out the Gecko in our bathroom. She's big. I knew she was around there somewhere, because every night I would hear a big gecko noise. She finally showed herself in all her glory. Geckos are my allies in killing bugs, but wow, when they are that big you really have to give them their space.

Bangkok to Lao

For more adventure. Im sleep-blogging, we just got off an overnight bus from the islands to Bangkok. I feel like I only scratched the surface of Thailand, ill have to come back for more.

Crazy Thai Trees

Look closely, the tilt up to a 90 degree angle.

Mosquitos

More often than not, I am sad when something dies, like people or animals even pretty insects. But when a mosquito dies, I find joy....I'm not bad at killing them either: you have to watch them for a minute and anticipate their next move. But they always seem to win, there are just more of them than me. This is my favorite travel companion, a mosquito killer. It just plugs into the wall and releases some sort of poison. The best part is watching them fly towards the ground. Sometimes I kill them on their way down just for sport and practice.

A Snake Encounter

I was sitting with my laptop having a perftectly senic moment. Music, coffee, ocean, enough activity to keep me entertained. I figured I should stretch and take it all in, after all I had just come from yoga and my stretching was in top shape. I was practically in a backbend over a thai pillow-back rest thing (im sure there is a name for it). As I opened my eyes, a snake above me was streching him/herself. There was a meter or 2 between us so I didn't scream and he/she was thin and green. She saw me and hid. After some research, this is my best guess of what I saw...looks like one of the few that are not poisonous. Then a baby gecko ran across my table and that is when the scream came out. My threshold for creepy crawlies has increased greatly in Asia, when a centipede hung out on my yoga mat while I was in upward dog, I just let it be...Im so zen...im not exactly looking to test that theory though.





Trimeresurus hageni resides in the flatland rainforests. It can usually be found after rainfall at night. The snakes are active in trees and bushes as well as on the ground. Hagen’s bamboo viper is generally calm snake which does not bite as quickly as most of the other Trimeresurus species. This species differs from the other green Trimeresuru species due to the relatively clear markings and especially due to the fact that the animals look very slender.

Breakfast after Yoga this morning