Treking

Kelly and I wanted to do something adventurous on our last day off before work started up again. So, we signed up with a trecking company to do a five our hike in the mountains. So we woke up early on Tuesday and jumped on the bike. We parked and waited for our ride to come pick us up. Kelly was concerned that it was going too be chessy and easy and we would be stuck with retired people. We really didn't know what to expect, who would be in our group, how many people, easy hike or not, where we would go....but regardless we were excited for the change.

I were dropped off at the meeting point and waited for another 10 minutes or so. There were a good number of people there but we didn't know which of them were with our treck group. We finally got into that back of this truck and headed north on a hour drive.

Our group: the two German brothers, the two French men, the two girls from Holland, the two girls from the US who were "together", our two thai guides, and Kelly and I. It was great to hear their stories and where they are all from and where they are going.

On the ride up there...

Hill Tribe People





First stop, so far so good....



We soon learned that it wasn't a pansy hike through the woods...there were times we were on a climb up for a long time. The back of your leggs were just on fire! Man...talk about working up a good sweat. We hiked through bamboo forests, shrebbery, stickers (not fun), through creeks, over fallen trees, rocks, roots.....at times it didn't even look like a trail. Single file we hiked and hiked.....







Lunch time finally came and we were at the base of a waterfall. After lunch, Kelly, the two french men and I all got in the freezing water. We jumped from the rocks several times and cooled off. After lunch we headed UP another long stretch towards the bat cave.
Half way there, sweaty and tired

Kelly had to use the outhouse....I for one would hold it for hours than go in there...

The French men and our guide, fanning themselves



The cave was alright not too impressed with it. It was dark, damp, and all you could hear were the hundreds of bats over our heads. We made our way out of the cave and were all getting our backpacks on and ready to head out. I was standing on a rock and turned to say something to Kelly who was washing up behind me. The next thing I knew I was falling......I think I only toppled a meter down but it was over all these rocks and mud. I finally catch myself from falling further. There was this gasp from everyone and then "ARE YOU ALRIGHT?" I got up quickly and said yes I was fine. I went back up to the spring and washed the mud and blood off of me. I realized I was bleeding from my elbow and shin. I took my shirt and wet it down and then tied it pretty tight around my leg to keep in clean for the rest of the hike. We had about an hour left to our hike and then another hour truck ride.


When all was done, we far past BO, tired, and hurting, but felt bonded after our 20 kl hike!

The next two days were rough. My body was so sore from the hike, I literally waddled about at work.

FOUR DAYS LATER:


Infected....

Went to the Dr. and got meds

doing much better, still hurts...but getting better PTL

A Day in the Office

Every day brings it's surprises, mishaps, annoiances, joys, laughs.....you just never know what will happen! The guards came into my office to show me what they had found.




And of course there will be those days when my co-worker Lael decdies to pop in for a visit. We harrass each other all the time but this time Lael managed to get it on camera, it goes something like this....

why are you holding my camera and taking my picture?

Okay fine! *smile*

You are annoying me! Stop!

Okay really? you can stop now.....

Alright that is it.....!

GIVE IT HERE, LAEL!!!!

Wind in Our Hair

Today after a meeting of mine, I went to visit my roommate, Kelly, at her office. I got the little tour and meet those she works with. She had to do an errand and so we set out to get the job done.
It was crazy crusing through the back roads of Thailand on the bike, wind in our hair, sun on our skin, and taking in the sites of this country we live in!

A day well spent

Khon Pepsi

So this weekend us girls went out to look at pottery. We went to the outlet area were a specific type was sold. The grounds to this place were amazing. It was houses all made like traditional northern thailand. Teck wooden houses on stilts. We were looking around and then decided we should head home when the owner, Khon (mrs) Pepsi (her name) of this buisness recognized on of the ladies that was with us. She insisted that we come visit with her and she offered us a dessert she had made earlier that day. It was sticky rice, coconut milk, banana, and red bean, cooked wrapped in a banana leaf. It was really good, minus the beans. But Khon Pepsi was such a sweet lady!






After Kelly and I got home we went out to eat with Brookie. Way of transportation, Thai style....we all piled onto Kelly's bike!!!

Sunday Night Walking Street

Every Sunday in the city of Chiang Mai there is a street that comes alive at night with the hussle and bussle of night life. This weekend the girls and I decided to go out and see what we could find. It was extremely packed with people...actually probably the most I have seen by far. We lost Kelly once, the poor thing had to stand on a stool to see if she could find us. It was a fun night, full of laughs, good road side food, and fresh orange juice.

There are alot of street preformers at the night market.....these guys caught our eye so we stopped to listen/watch. They soon began to sing "My Girl" and us girls joined in. We caused a back up in the traffic and soon people began to stop and listen. It was fun! The guys actually weren't all that bad.






That is the Sunday Night Walking Street! The hundreds of people, the buying, the selling, the crowd, the preforms, the food, the drinks, the live bands, and oh my gosh the walking!

Volleyball: live it, breath it, play it

This semester I had the privelage of helping coach the JV girls. I used to play all the time growing up but haven't had much of the opportunity since I have left school. I was alittle nervous about it and glad I wasn't out there by myself coaching. I really enjoyed it and wish that the season wasn't so short. These girls were alot of fun and usually found ways of making me laugh. Because we had a odd number of girls I usually did most of the drills. Let me tell you....it was a good work out for me to be out there 4 days a week. I didn't realize how much I missed playing until I got out there. The girls placed 3rd in the tournament this year. They were disappointed of course with not winning but they have improved so much within those short months. I will miss helping these girls with skills, form, and playing! But not to fear....I have them in soccer as well. However, I will miss playing volleyball!

Fragments of time through our season