Q: Wanna know how to get there?

Kelly just left to visit family friends, and so begins my alone time for recovery and reflection from the past week or so. It was amazing, scary, relaxing, stressful, beautiful, ugly, and draining. If I had to do it all over again, I wouldn't change a thing (except maybe pack lighter). It would be too overwhelming for you if I wrote a huge entry about it all, so maybe I can break it up day by day and you can read a small segment each time. I will also post my 800+ photos and videos (or maybe just a sample of them) on my photo blog/youtube, so check that out if you're a slow reader ;).



12/22: Kelly and I spent that cold, rainy day shopping for last minute necessities and cramming as much as possible into our suitcases before heading off to the airport. The wait seemed unbearable, and after a long delay we decided to pass time recording our first video log in the restroom. Ironically, that one-minute clip almost made us miss our flight!
We gained a few hours flying to Bangkok, so as we landed it was still the 22nd, but we were exhausted. Luckily, the airport was fairly easy to navigate and exit, though the taxi service was overwhelming. That was our first glimpse of how crazy Thailand can be and how desperate its people sometimes are. Hundreds of people swarming around neon cars, bartering over mere cents, and bringing out the most hectic and dishonest sides of humanity. We eventually crawled into our own brightly colored cab and watched the driver subtly unplug the meter (we had agreed upon a price before getting in like the guidebooks told us to). We soon found out that the driver had no idea where Asha Guest House was, though we got a great tour of all the popular alleys in Bangkok. Eventually we arrived (an hour and a half later) to our oasis. It was exotic, if nothing else. A gold fish pond and fountain, gold satin blankets, Buddhas on the wall. However, the hard bed and the howling of strays were anything but peaceful and relaxing. Good thing we only stayed there two nights.



12/23: I had many firsts this day: tuk tuk rides, bartering for jewelry, Thai temples, sky train, foreign movie theater (and standing ovation for HM the King beforehand), and more. It was probably one of my least favorite days, though still memorable. I was bitter at people's dishonesty and the fact that everyone really was a salesperson (we had been warned). However, there were also bright spots. One Thai woman practiced her English on us while trying to plan out our entire outline based on her recommendations. Of course, she was marketing to us too, but in a genuine attempt to be helpful.



12/24: This day really redeemed Bangkok for me. We were crushed when we discovered our flight to Phuket wasn't until that evening, and both dreaded spending another day in Bangkok. Luckily, we stumbled upon a park one stop away from the hostel. Palm trees, swings, paddle boats, young couples, and virtually no tourists. We could have stayed there all day, but we eventually had to check out of our hostel. On the way there, we unfortunately witnessed a man get hit by a car. It reminded us just how overpopulated and dangerous Bangkok is.



12/25: It was by far the most unconventional Christmas ever. We spent it on a beach, watching hundreds of crabs and children play in the sand, diving into waves, climbing over rocky shores, and sipping drinks from recycled glass bottles. After sufficient charring, we had pedicures and a nice lunch. We spent the afternoon touring Phuket Town, known for it's European architecture, and then ventured up the steep Rang Hill to watch the sunset. By the end of the day we were sore and burned and tired, but exchanging stockings in our cozy beds at The Backpacker hostel put the cherry on top of our tropical Christmas together.



12/26: This might have been my favorite day of the trip. We spent the day on a boat, eating fantastic food, meeting tons of natives, and exploring lagoons and caves in canoes. A little rain did not dampen our spirits...what could dampen my spirits after coming face to face with a wild monkey, spying on mud skippers, and discovering glow-in-the-dark plankton after sunset? It was perfect.



12/27: We solemnly left our Phuket oasis to return north, this time to Chiang Mai. I would say it was a mix of Bangkok's city life and Phuket's exotic scenery. Not quite the jungle, but more green than polluted Bangkok. Besides the long, torturous walk to find our abandoned, oh-so-comfortable hostel (and the creepy woman who ran it), the city was beautiful - centered around a moat and crowded with school children and monks. We went to the much anticipated Night Bazaar, spending a ton on jewelry, spices, material, clothes, and more. It was insane but exciting.



12/28: We got up early to grab a yummy breakfast and venture to Maesa Elephant Camp in the mountains. We rode a big 20-year-old male elephant and were guided by his 17-year-old partner (who was so proud to show us a few tricks along the way). We watched a mom and her baby, posed for pictures with the friendliest of the herd, and watched a show - including harmonicas, painting, darts, soccer, and heavy lifting. They were not only agile and intelligent, but also humorous and goofy. I love elephants, and I loved seeing the smiles and bows of their proud trainers.
That night, we rode a bus to Chiang Rai in the very north of Thailand. We stayed with some missionaries who are friends of Kelly's parents. They were hosting a youth Christmas sleepover, so it felt like I'd traveled back in time to my youth group days or intruded upon game night in the Quads at Roberts. Either way, it was bittersweet to interact with young Americans and Thais for a night of games and relaxing.



12/29: This was a hectic, messy day. The missionaries were about as disorganized as my own family, which was actually kind of nice. Though we wasted much of the day and didn't get to see all we wanted, we still got to sit back and relax and NOT be in charge of the routine, which was a nice break from the previous days. We went to the Golden Triangle, and overlook of where Laos, Burma, and Thailand meet. We also learned a lot about the King and visited his Mother's beloved garden in the mountains. We ended the day with a dinner outing and one last visit to Rai's own mini bazaar - surprisingly more crowded and expensive that Mai's.



12/30: On this final day, we finally saw the other side of Thailand. We went to church with an Aka tribe. Males on one side, females on the other. We sat through a service even the missionaries struggled to understand (the female pastor spoke to her congregation in Aka, not Thai). After the long, but fascinating service (complete with powerful and youthful hymns), we toured the village, sampled homemade rice snacks from one man, and watched the children play on a huge, bamboo swing. Kelly gave it a try, and was successful. It was great to see a Christian community that retained its cultural values and traditions. I have been so frustrated witnessing mini American churches in Namibia and now here in Osaka. I wanted to see proof that when the gospel is spread, it can be spread in a pure form and not contaminated with the deliverers' own culture. I saw that in Chiang Rai.
After a much needed nap, Kelly and I took an overnight flight home to Osaka. The frigid cold was not the warm greeting we wanted, but Kelly and I did notice that it felt more like home and more familiar than before we left. Maybe being somewhere even more foreign and exotic than Japan was just what we needed to regain some confidence in and loyalty to our temporary home.



12/31: Kelly and I weren't finished yet. We went out on the town and accidentally explored my neighborhood for a shrine. Finally we found what we'd been looking for: Sumiyoshi Shrine was packed with thousands of families and young groups and couples. It was like an American carnival - haunted houses, games, food, and shops. So after sufficient snacking and screaming, we gathered around the sardine packed shrine for whatever would happen next (as far as we knew, the Japanese simply visit the shrine to pray before midnight, so we'd already been surprised). I tuned in to my cell phone tv to find a countdown, and sure enough, in step with Tokyo, the crowd around us counted down (I couldn't think quick enough in Japanese to join them). Kelly and I found anonymity even among the thousands, shared our resolutions and celebrations in English. A few girls wished us "Happy New Year!" ( a much appreciated gesture). It was fantastic getting away from this mundane culture, but then returning with new appreciation to end this crazy year and begin a new year together in our new home. Time flies.




A: A Tuk Tuk!