Thoughts, Observations and Random Items, in no particular order

A recent picture so you know a bot is not writing these posts :) Picture: Skybridge - Petronas Towers, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 


I usually do a solid inventory for most places I go but this is just a thought list. It is in no particular order and includes a little bit of everything. Let's call this a - What's up with me externally, right now - post.


Miles traveled on leg 2 since leaving Massachusetts in November – approximately 14,000 miles. 

Number of selfies - too many to count, sometimes I get lucky though and have someone take my picture (see above)

I can’t find moisturizer without whitener in it. At first I thought some of these were toothpaste but as it turns out they are face and body creams. They either have a whitener in it or an absurdly high SPF. This makes me sad.

My main pair of shoes now have two holes in the left shoe.


Today was a good day because I had both clean clothes and a hot shower. Win!

I super glued my flip flops yesterday.

I’m taking part in hostel secret Santa.

I’ve had several food items that were clearly not vegetarian. I’ve perfected the “eat around.” It’s travel, what can ya do. Sometimes you eat a little meat by accident. You’ve got to be flexible.

I’ve met wonderful people in the last two weeks specifically. Countries represented, US, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, South Korea, Columbia, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, England, Scotland, France, Thailand, Italy, Norway, Switzerland and South Africa.

I’m usually one of the eldest in any given hostel at any given time.

I bought four pairs of poofy traveler pants even though I swore I never would. They are just too comfortable!

The henna on my hand may never come off.

Skype still weirds me out but I am so happy to have it.

I like to write at tables. It’s nearly impossible for me to use the computer productively from a chair or couch.

I am either losing weight or my clothes are all stretched out, hard to tell which. I estimate that my current bag of clothes will have to be completely changed out within three months. They are getting destroyed faster than I expected.

I feel like I live in Chiang Mai. I‘ve gotten so used to it.

I regularly have to give tuk tuk and red taxi drivers directions to where I am staying.

The more I am in the North of Thailand, the less appealing things I hear about the islands.

I have had one scooter crash and am thankfully alright.

I’ve gotten less bug bites than I expected so far. There has been a night cold snap.

I woke up with a stiff neck and immediately thought, malaria, even though I haven’t been in a malaria zone yet.

I want/need a yoga class in the worst way. My body is rebelling.

I seem to be putting of Laos for no apparent reason.

I am more connected this trip than I have ever been before. I love it and I hate it.

I took a Thai cooking class. (Post to follow.)

My supplies are steadily running out and I am looking forward to trying out products here. Except moisturizer, see above.

The saturation of western brands and products has been surprising to me. I know globalization is serious and expanding all of the time but it is still surprising to see in places you aren’t expecting it.

Starbucks is almost as ubiquitous as McDonalds now and that’s saying a lot.

I saw a Dunkin Donuts in the Kuala Lumpur budget airline terminal and was confused. Some places on the 
west coast of the states don’t even have Dunkin Donuts.

Sex tourism in Thailand is a lot more out in the open than I was expecting.

Lady-boy cabaret shows really are a sight to see. The costumes are exquisite.

I didn’t go to Tiger Kingdom, one of the most famous things to do in Thailand besides partying and scuba diving. It just wasn’t for me.

Out of all of the places I have traveled in the world (see list here), Thailand is the place where I have run into the most other Americans. I found this unusual.

I had no idea I was going to eat as much street food as I am. I thought it would be too sketchy. The vendors are amazing and there are usually a lot of vegetarian options. Street food is always the cheapest option. I can eat a whole meal in the street in Chiang Mai for under a dollar US.

A significant amount of people that I have spoken to, have had items stolen in Bangkok.

Craziest fellow traveler story -  A frog jumped on someone’s face from a squat toilet. If you don’t know what a squat toilet is, please head over to Google, immediately.



Sawrah

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