Pai-Land...

N 19 deg 18.526
E 98 deg 27.712

The flight to Chaing Mai from Bangkok is about one hour long. But the process of getting on the plane makes you wonder if it’d be easier and faster to just drive there. Thai Airlines threw a wrench in our plans when they changed the airport we were departing from. There is an old domestic airport and the new International airport. Originally we were to depart from the new airport. Kris gets and email informing him it’s changed to the old airport. We show up at the old airport and when we try to check in, they inform us that they changed it back to the new airport but failed to notify us of that. We had to make a mad dash to the new airport in a taxi.

We actually made it somehow, but it was a very close call. Once we got on the plane and settled in it was time to leave. I love short flights. Upon arrival we get to a van we had waiting for us. At that point we found out that it would be another 3 hours by van to the village of Pai, where we would be staying. I don’t think we were ready for that.

The upshot was that once we left the city there was some nice scenery to look at.

This shot was taken between two trees at 40 MPH at just the right second.

This is the highest elevation we got. About 4,660ft. It was nice to finally feel cool air.

I also learned quickly that you don’t want to drive very fast on these roads. One thing about northern Thailand is that here when you hit road kill, it might be you that dies from it.

"What are you looking at?"

I also saw this sign everywhere. I can’t read Thai, but I’m fairly sure it means one of two things. Either, “When trees fall, they start fires and cause the deer to run into you,” or, “This is where Bambi was filmed.”

"When trees fall, they start fires and cause the deer to run into you." OR "This is where Bambi was filmed."

We arrived at our resort more tired than we anticipated. All we wanted to do was soak in the natural hot spring pools they have dotted around the premises. After checking in, that’s exactly what we did. And massages followed. For less than $10 UDS you get an hour massage. There was no wait either. In fact, we were the only ones at the entire resort. It’s nice to be able to afford luxury.
The grounds are well kept and beautiful.







We strolled around the small village we were in and noticed that almost every person had an elephant in their front yard hoping some tourist would pay for a ride. These elephants didn’t look like they were up to it. Some looked like they’d need to be carried themselves. One had a stumpy leg. When changing his positions he looked like he was crossing his legs and leaning on a pole. What a bad time to be without my camera. Luckily, my brother Kris had his camera and snapped one off. I don't have a copy of it yet, sorry. But I'll post it when I can.

After a relaxing day at our own private hot springs resort we called it a night knowing that we could wake up whenever we felt like it as we had no urgency to be anywhere the next morning. The only thing missing on this trip was my wife. Other than that omission, this is the way to vacate.

Seperate Vacations...

N 13 deg 44.761
E 100 deg 33.388

Time has come for our big Asian summer vacation. In this trip, I will go to Thailand and Cambodia with my brother, his girlfriend, my parents and their home teachers (now that’s magnifying a calling). Then Anna will join us for Vietnam and then the Philippines where Anna and I will be sealed for time and eternity.

Anna and I would rather be on the whole trip together, however, it wasn’t to be. I get almost double the vacation time she gets. She just couldn’t get off long enough to be with us for the first leg of the tour in Thailand. Also, our plan would only give her about one week (maybe less) to be with her family. She wanted more. While I’m in Cambodia, she will be home with her family.

I woke up early in the morning to catch my flight to Manila for a layover on my way to Bangkok. I kiss Anna goodbye and enter the airport and I’m off. When I arrive in Manila things already look bleak. As I wait for my baggage I wonder about the benefit I’m actually getting being “elite” status. One by one I see bags that are not mine going around in a circle. Elite baggage handling my asphalt.

When the conveyer belt stopped and my bag had still not shown itself, I knew what that meant. What I didn’t know is how they could lose a bag on a single direct flight with no layovers or stops in the middle. And I didn’t have much time to argue with them about it. I had just enough time to change terminals, check in, and get on my next flight to Bangkok. After doing my obligatory cursing and finger pointing, I filled out my paper work and left them with my “stink eye.”

My street clothes were not in the bag that was lost. I had no valuables, cash or electronics in there either. But what I did have in there was valuable in another way. We are going to the temple. This is Anna’s first trip. I had all of her new, unused garments in there. I also had her new temple clothes and packet. My temple clothes and packet were in there as well. Also, my new Vietnamese tailor made suit and dress shoes were in there. It may not be worth a bundle in the world’s terms, but this was a pretty important suitcase for me.

My disgruntled mood didn’t improve when I denied the seat that I supposedly had reserved online for my flight to Bangkok. I love window seats toward the front. Nice view, no one getting up and down thereby forcing me to move, and I get to get off the plane first. So, naturally I get an aisle seat in row 75. I get put in what they call “Fiesta Class.” To me, the title of Fiesta Class sound like you get to sit in the back with the piñatas and cattle. They might as well call it what it is, “steerage class.” I was an unhappy hombre.

The silver lining to having my luggage lost is that I was traveling lightly. Although I was in the back of the plane, I didn’t have to wait for luggage so I walked straight through customs and caught the dingy cab to my brother’s place in downtown Bangkok.

I arrive and hang out with my brother and his girlfriend, Jam. Yeah, Jam. I guess that’s a common nickname in Thailand. I should start calling my brother butter so he can match her better.

Shortly after I settle in, my parents and their travel companions, the Kings, arrive. They’ve already been traveling for a month. They started in England. Then on to France and India. They spent a week in Bangkok already and at this point just got back from a week of traveling China.

Since everybody in the group was in pairs, I was the odd man out. It was like being single again. And, in true single fashion, I got the couch. After a hot, sweaty and sleepless night we got ready to head north in Thailand past Chiang Mai.

Through the air plane flight and taxi rides I always ended up in the single seat and to the side. Being the only one that didn’t have a companion I didn’t expect much else. So far, this trip reminds me of our last family great vacation in 2005 to Europe. Ever since that trip I’ve had Anna with me for just about any other vacation. And it’s been nice. So nice, I’ve forgotten how much I prefer it. I am constantly talking about Anna and wishing she were with me. I hope this will be the last time we take separate vacations. I know other married couples take separate vacations all the time. I don’t know how they could prefer it.

For the next couple of days our entourage will relax in a natural hot springs resort in northern Thailand. We’ll get cheap 1 hour massages and elephant rides. I am looking forward to it. I know I’ll have fun. But in the few years that I’ve been with Anna I know that traveling without her won’t be as good as it could be. The events of just the first couple of days have reaffirmed the opinion that I had since I was old enough to know that boys were supposed to like girls: being single sucks.

Bunny Vs. Boonies - Palau Rock Islands

After a work trip to Palau I took half a day to film this video. It's the second in my Bunny Vs. Boonies series. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GIqWZ90A0chttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2GIqWZ90A0c

Office 3 Hour Tour...

So, I'm sure you have noticed that I have slowed down in blogging again. That is because I've been fast an furious making more videos. I've had office activities, personal projects and GeoCaching events to make videos for.

Rather than give you a long winded explanation of how my office boat trip went, I'll just let you see it for yourself. Enjoy!

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GNTA3qDidPs

http://youtube.com/watch?v=GNTA3qDidPs

Furnature Owners...

Today, Anna and I enter the real world of adults. As newly weds, all of our furniture came included with our apartment. But now, we actually OWN some of it! Wow. We are soo grown up.

Well, our first couch is purple, so maybe we are making that transition slowly. I know, purple couch? Yes. But before you freak out, see it. Somehow, it acutally fits in nicely.



And, to go the extra mile, we also have our very own dinner table. We've made sure it was covered in Anna's study stuff to add realism in this shot.



Unfortunately, Anna was recently playing with some new nail polish and remover she got for Christmas while sitting at our table. There will always be that dime sized hole in the varnish now to remind us that beauty is skin deep.

What exciting purchases lay in the future for us? Who knows. Maybe a bed. Or Some adult appliance like a washer and dryer combo. What I do know is that the more we accumulate now, the more we'll have a hard time getting rid of when we move anyway...