Done

Done blogging.
Be well!

Pack your Bags

So....

I'm off on another adventure today...in a completely different environment, region of the earth than the previous 6 weeks of travel which focused on Asia...and this time, i'm bringing my best friends on earth--my entire family!

We are going to the Galapagos Islands, off the coast of Ecuador in South America... My family has never been, but I had the fortunate opportunity to go 5 years ago with a dear cousin of mine...it was one of the most memorable places in the world for me...for my pictures from that fantastic voyage, click HERE.

I had learned about the Galapagos as a kid during science class at school...you know, the entire Charles Darwin, 'theory of evolution', 'origin of the species' discussion...and I was captivated...for around 14 years after that...I began to save up money, which culminated in my 2002 Birthday trip where I was swimming besides the giant turtles as a celebration to my birthday.

We will be staying on a boat for the entire length of the trip, and will be going to different islands everyday, hiking, swimming, relaxing, and enjoying nature... i'm sure it has changed in the 5 years since I went (and likely not for the better... more tourism, not as environmentally friendly, etc...)...

Since i'll be on a boat for that time, I will likley not have the opportunity to update the blog at all..since there is no internet.... i'll be sure to take tons of pictures, video, and take in as much as possible..

I'm happy to be going to my most favorite place on earth with my most favorite people..
Be well!

Reflection...

I am now home in the States for a bit, before I leave once again on another adventure in another continent...

It's a time for reflection..there are a lot of changes in my life right now.. a bit overwhelming at times.. coming home and coming back to the 'real world' is hard... i'd like to be lost in a cocoon once more..so much that I have seen in these past 5 weeks.. so much to write and think about...including saving my computer to save all the recent pictures I had taken before losing my camera...

Moving across country... having to unpack...repack my bedroom in my parents house due to remodeling...job starting in a few months...getting back into the swing of things in a place where I once lived...but have been 5 years removed... lots of changes...

Which led me to finding the above picture.. a diary (diroy) I wrote in during the first grade...if you read it.. it's quite prophetic...

Still jetlagged...and hating unpacking and getting my new room organized.. so much stuff to figure out..

--Krupali

Recap....

Thailand has been a great respite from my vacation elsewhere...sort of like 'back to normal civlization' for me, anyways.

The massages wonderful, the food incredible, the shopping fantastic... I just was overwhelmed with the amount of goodies they have here..

Tried and fell in love with mango sticky rice, ate millions of mangosteens, got massages everyday, and just sorta bummed and relaxed with some sight seeing in between...not much else...

Hanging out with friends...and trying to get my computer to work... it better work, it has all my pictures...

Still kinda sad about losing my camera...
Oh well...

Back to relaxing...

Thailand...

Yesterday I saw several temples, palaces, and things around Thailand...I love this country...

There is so much to do, see, eat, watch....

One thing is for sure, this place LOVES TO EAT!
You should see their malls, incredible. I am still going to the malls 3 days later... still amazed at everything I see.

I am going to miss Thailand when I leave...but I'm coming back...for sure...

Thailand--Awesome.

Yellow T-Shirts

Thailand is FULL of people wearing yellow t-shirts in honor of their king.

It's pretty funny and crazy. I mean, they really like their leader? Damn. I wish we did.

I wonder what color of t-shirt we'd choose in honor of George W?

Ohh... I'd like to say...but then i'd really be in trouble.

Okay, enough political talk.

Let's get back to traveling :)

The Bad, The Good, The Weird.

The Bad: Lost my camera.. left it in a rickshaw on my way back from visiting the Grand Palace and being denied entry secondary to wearing a sleeveless top (who the hell wouldn't in 98 degree weather at 9am in the morning?), even though I had a shawl to cover myself.

The Good: Tried to get my mind off of losing my camera, by going shopping in the Bangkok malls for 14 hours straight and watched the new Harry Potter movie (just finished book 5, and bought #6 in the mall!).

The Weird: You have to stand up to 'Hail to the King of Thailand' for like 2 minutes during their national anthem right before the movie. Makes me want to require saying the pledge of allegiance at every single event in the states.