when other people make the travel plans

20 & 21 Feb 2016
This weekend some teachers I work with invited me for a two day one night getaway. A private van picked us up Saturday morning at my apartment complex and took us about 2 hours outside of Bangkok. The van dropped us off near a river where we boarded a small boat and sailed to an AirBnB guesthouse. The house was quaint and charming with tons of space. It had a gigantic porch and gorgeous view of the river. When the tide came in the water levels rose up under the house so if you looked in between the floor slats you could see the moving water. The bathroom had a huge window that looked out over the landscape so my view while showering was breathtaking. There were no shops, restaurants or tourist attractions around, so we hunkered down and made our own food and drink for the weekend. We had a spread that included some of the best food I've eaten in Bangkok-- dips and chips, breads, fruits, assorted cheese and crackers, salad, pasta, sausages and chocolates. It was an absolutely beautiful way to spend the weekend.

Bangkok's take on Wednesday Wine Night

17 Feb 2016
Who doesn't love to have a little libation on hump day? The holiday Inn on soi 22 has made the middle of the work week so much more enjoyable by offering free flow prosecco from 5-8pm. Yes you read that correctly. I can sit at the 28th floor rooftop bar and look out over the whole city of Bangkok whilst sipping on bubbly for three hours without even spending a baht! Guess you know where to find me on Wednesdays.

Shit I'm a bad traveler

9 Feb 2016: departure day
My friends and I decided to hit up Ao Nang beach in the morning. We took "the white bus" aka songthaew to get there. Of course, we only ride in Thai style, so there were 12 adults plus a baby and enough luggage to feed the entire thai army, squeezed in the equivalent of a pickup bed (and we're not talking F150 super dutys, we're talking Ranger style). After a half hour of bouncing along (speed bumps are a suggestion, not a way of life) we reached Ao Nang. I got a solid 2 hours of sun and sand before I had to make the return journey on the "white bus". I gave myself an hour to get back, which was more than generous, and I was mentally preparing myself for the excursion when my transport arrived. Fast forward one hour later and I'm at a bus terminal paying more than my agreed upon ride price to a Thai driver who is cursing at me. I think there was a miscommunication but who can be sure? Now I have to figure out how to get back to my hostel and get to the airport. Never fear, a moto is here! But does he know hogwarts hostel? Of course not. What a ridiculously western name. Not only did the moto man look at me like I had 5 heads (I thought thai people believed in magic?) when I told him the name, but when he and his band of drivers attempted to repeat the name Dumbledore rolled over in his grave. When thais speak they very rarely pronounce the endings of words, especially when the endings are difficult sound combinations like "ts". So "hogwarts" became "hogwar". Try enunciating "hogwarts" to a Thai man sometime and the ridiculousness you feel will only partially reflect my own-- I was the one who chose to stay there for JK Rowling's sake! Moral of the story: thai hostels have thai names for a reason. Stay in them. This was not the only realization I came to. I also realized that phones are just as good, if not better than magic wands, so I used mine and put the Hogwarts Virgin in touch with the Hogwarts proprietor and they made sweet, sweet thai talk, which resulted in a sweet sweet ride back to my hostel. Win for Gryffindor! At this point I'd missed my airport bus so I convinced my moto man, Hogwarts' newest non virgin, to wait while I grabbed my bag and then moto me to the airport. PS Mr. MotoMan, did I mention that this weekend I purchased a travelers backpack the size of an 8 year old child? Ooops. Fast forward 30 minutes later. My 8 year old and I have made it safely to the airport exactly 40 minutes before my flight. We're ready to check in at terminal 2. Wait, my 8 year old is too big? I have to travel alone? He has to be checked at terminal 1? WHATT?? run to terminal 1. Scan him. Try to check him. No dice. I didn't register a checked bag when I booked my flight. Well no of course not, I didn't have this manchild three weeks ago. Ok. New plan. Have to get the man child on the plane. Run back to terminal 2. Get through security. Arrive at my gate 10 mins before boarding time to find my flight has been delayed. Smoothies it is for me and the manchild!

Because how could I not stay at hogwarts hostel

While in krabi we stayed at Hogwarts Hostel. There may not have been bertie bots every flavor beans, or butter beer, or wands, or magic, or the great hall, BUT there were photo caricatures. What more could you want?!

Hong Islands & Donut Cakes

8 Feb 2016
We did a boat excursion to the Hong Islands. We took a longtail boat about an hour from Krabi to get to the first island. The water was incredibly choppy so we got soaked. On the island we did some awesome snorkeling- I got to see schools of beautifully colored fish right up close. Then the boat took us to a lagoon (we searched but didn't see any mermaids!) that you can only go to during the afternoon hours because at the other times of day it's too shallow for boats. Our last stop was for lunch on an island that was secluded behind giant rock formations that were jutting out of the water (at one time they were mountains). The islands and beaches were beautiful.
After a full day, we got dinner and drinks in Krabi town with girls from our hostel. My friend Emily surprised me with a dunkin donuts cake for my birthday! The band at the bar noticed we were celebrating so they sang happy birthday to me while the whole bar joined in. It was quite a night to remember!

Krabi Town

5th & 6 Feb 2016
Four day weekend! Woo! To celebrate, I'm traveling to Krabi town  (south thailand) with Todd and Emily (friends I met during my course) and Tash (travel buddy4L). Krabi town is a small town surrounded by beach towns and beautiful islands. We arrived Friday night and had dinner and drinks in Krabi town. Saturday we took a longtail boat to Railay Beach, where we explored caves and eventually settled on the beach to watch the sunset. Fun fact: the beach has a shrine to the goddess of love which has been decorated by hundreds and hundreds of wooden penises- what better way to show love, right? (Normally the latest boats leave the island at 5 pm but we bargained with the boat company so that we could stay until 7pm). We were soooo proud of ourselves! Then it rained and we couldn't see the sunset behind the clouds. On top of that, the boat had no lights, which meant we were boating back in the dark. Dont worry though, there was a "looker" who flailed his arms wildly if he saw another boat so that they wouldnt accidentally turn us into fish food. Some things you just shouldn't bargain over; boating to Railay is one of those things. We made it back safely and decided to celebrate with dinner and drinks at a local bar. We met some great friends while playing flip cup and king's cup. Fun fact: the bar is allowed to stay open past 2am because it pays the Thai mafia to do so. The bar owner assured us it was NBD if we saw the mafia members on our walk home #isthisreallife?

 In case you weren't sure how to use the toilet....

Tuesday dinners

2 Feb 2016
Bangkok has begun to feel like home (as much like home as a place with no snow, questionable indoor plumbing and an official language that isn't english, can feel) thanks to the help of two friends, Julianne and Jenna. Both girls live in Bangkok, so we've created a Tuesday dinner club. Each week we rotate whose apartment we cook at. (I'm partial to Julianne's place because she has a maid so no after dinner dishes for us!) Anyway, it's become a really fun weeknight activity to look forward to. We've cooked some awesome western dishes (and that's why I need a hotplate Mr. landlord!) and have even found a Thai wine that isn't too bad.