Thailand and more pictures!

From The last South Korea

I know, I haven't written in a while; I'm not on the computer long enough to write and download/post pictures (it takes a few hours!). South Korea was nice. I am happy to have met Kyoung Min and get to sight see with her. By this point I began to feel lonely and sort of out of it, so I am really, really thankful for her company. She also helped me find an outdoor sporting good store where I bought a new backpack. I was happy and feeling official again. I know that sounds dumb, but I was feeling sort of out of it and a little homeless with my small back pack and a half torn shopping paper bag (this lady even pointed to my bag at a hostel and said/asked-is that trash? I can toss it out for you). I laughed and thought, I do look pretty sad, don't I? I thought, when you're traveling and have nothing else, your backpack and belongings become real important and although I enjoyed those three weeks of carrying only a small backpack (and later a paper bag), it didn't leave me much room to buy anything I needed (like a sweater, or extra pants) or souvenier shop. Interestingly, I think buying a new backpack also helped to boost my animo (can't fully describe it in English, it boosted my energy?).

From The last South Korea

I saw many interesting sights in Korea including the set of the movie Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter and Spring. This was the main reason I wanted to visit South Korea, and the bigger reason for why I decided to begin this trip in Asia. I read in an interview with the film creator/director that he first begins with finding the location then writing the story around it. Visiting the lake and imagining the four seasons in this lake, I can see the inspiration!

Here are pictures from South Korea (including the lake where the movie was filmed and a prison-now-turned-into museum):

The last South Korea

Now I am in Thailand. I spent the first few days in Bangkok- it is crazy! It reminded me of Mexico, DF just with more motorcycles and tuk-tuks (small three wheeled motorcycles). I accidentally erased all the pictures from those first two and a half days, so I'll have to go back. Then I went to another city called Ayutthaya which used to be the capital of Thailand. Many beautiful old temples are here and it is safe and small enough to get around on your own with a bicycle. This is where I met a 41 yr. old woman from Germany. I was about to sit at this outdoor restaurant when we spotted each other and I smiled because she had a similar guidebook to the one I had. She asked me if I wanted to join her, sure! She was also traveling on her own and it was so nice to have someone to chat with- we both expressed that sentiment aloud. We agreed to sightsee for the rest of the day together and later that evening while we were having dinner we spotted another man sitting by himself and we asked if he wanted to join us, sure! He is a 43 yr. old man from Britain. So now it is the three of us. I was so amused at how we all met and connected and where we found ourselves in this particular place in time: the woman defied her job's vacation time limit and was spending some much needed vacation on her own, the man is visiting the place where he was originally going to spend with his partner for Christmas and New Year's but now is emotionally recovering from their break up (it was a very long relationship) and me, I was beginning to feel out of it and lonely from taking a long break from a completely different reality. It has been nice to travel with others and a good experience and lesson on group dynamics and my own behavior (with extended new company I remember that I actually do enjoy my solitude and independence). It's a learning lesson on compromises. I decided to take a break today and spend it catching up on emails and posting pictures. The three of us are now in Chiang Mai just in time for the Loy Krathrong festival.

From Ayutthaya and Loy Krathong Festival, Thailand

Loy Krathrong Festival is celebrated on the full moon in November each year. People release hot air lanterns to the sky and place mini lanterns in the river. It was incredible to see hundreds of lanterns go up in the sky and also moving to see the emotions on family's faces as they prayed on their lantern just before they released it. It was amazing to see all those lanterns (they looked like bright stars) and to imagine all those thoughts and prayers floating up to the full moon and reflected on the river.

Food- I wish I had more stomachs to keep eating all the delicious food! I can't get enough of Thai spicy salds, Pad Thai, fried bananas, and pinneaple juice shakes! Luckily I haven't gotten sick yet so I have a pretty good appetite and stomach to handle and try all sorts of delicious foods. So much to do and eat! I am really enjoying my time here!

Album of Thailand pictures (including festival)-

Ayutthaya and Loy Krathong Festival, Thailand