Vietnam

Vietnam is very incredible. It is very different than any place we have been. Granted, they all differ very much, but Vietnam has something unique.
It is still very obvious that this is a war torn country. There is a lot of poverty. There are a lot of injured people; and millions of children. Seriously, more kids than any where else.
Every time I see some one who is of the 'American War' (or the Vietnam war as it is known in the U.S.) generation, I can't help but wonder what they saw. What they have gone through. Not only was the war between Vietnam and America entirely devestating, but there have been countless wars and battles here.
It is something quite different to see dozens of grave yards, all over the land, scattered. It makes me wonder, what is better though, having HUGE plots of land as a grave yard (like in the U.S.) or small plots where the deceased are probably near their families (or should it be the other way around)?

Traveling by bike has been really awesome. It is great to have the freedom to stop where we want, when we want, and to go as fast or slow as we feel like.
We are in the Mekong Delta region...near a city called Vinh Long, where I am writing from. We left Ho Chi Minh 2 days ago (thank Buddha!!!!!! :) That city is so crazy and intense...not our cup of tea. There are literally millions of motorbikes covering the roads.) and headed straight for the villages of the Mekong, avoiding the tourist spots. Last night and tonight we are in a village called An Binh, in a great, cozy bungalow of a wonderful and hospitable guest house. It is so quiet and peaceful. At night you can hear crickets (which always make me think of staying at my Mom's house), frogs, dogs barking in the distance, and boats quietly roaring down the Mekong (it's sorta eirie, they sound almost like helocoptars). We are going to head North tomorrow for the beaches of the central coast. Then we have to be back to Ho Chi Minh to return the bike and get our packs on the 6th. After that the plan is to train it to Hoi An, and further to Hanoi, where we will hopefully do some rock climbing in Halong Bay.
Then, just around the corner, is going back to the states. It is strange to know that very soon, I will be with all of the familiar things and people that made me, me. I am so excited to see family and friends and to share stories. But I am also going to miss the life of traveling, living fully in the moment, and living so simply. I will miss that the most, be surrounded by such simple ways of being. It's just not like that in the U.S.

Got to Phuket 2 days ago to visit Lindsey and Skyler. When we first pulled in via boat, we were not to excited to be in this specific place...a big city, touristy, and nothing like Ton Sai.
As soon as we made it to Skyler's place, and had some beer, we chilled out and our attitudes changed. :) We all camped on the beach the first night. There were tons of plankton in the water creating phosphorescence making the water glow when you distracted it. That was pretty cool. I haven't seen anything like it.
Yesterday was spent swimming and laying around; renting a motorbike for a little freedom to get our selves around; and finding a huge all you can eat buffet for about 3 bucks and 50 cents.

Today we were awoken with some not so great news, that Lindsey and Sky had a motorbike accident when he was taking her to work. Lindsey got the worst of it, but even so, she is a trooper and it's really not that bad. Could be much worse. Her face is pretty scratched up, and she chipped a tooth. Now they are at a dentist getting her tooth fixed.

Don't know what this day holds quite yet, but it's a great day to be alive! Like every day!

We have to catch a train tomorrow to get to Bangkok for our flight on the 22nd. Then we are off to the last of our Asia travel destinations - Vietnam.

Thailand

I have not been keeping up on my blog for a couple of reasons.
A: The internet is very spendy here, and
B: I have been too much fun to sit at a computer for a while and update.

Selfish, maybe...please forgive me. :)

Thailand is simply sublime. We were in Bangkok for 3 nights...2 catching up with Lindsey (though I was not that much fun, being sick), and one catching up with Joe.
I didn't do anything crazy in Bangkok, except for going to about 30 different 7/11's.

We have been in Ton Sai, Railey since we left the train from Bangkok. It is amazing here. Huge rock formations of all colors jetting out of the sea...kayaking every day and/or hiking, and always going to the beach...rock climbing and then jumping off into the clear turquoise water, that is as warm as your favorite bath.
ahhhhhhh.
The days are exhausting, but so much fun.

Tomorrow we are taking a boat to Phuket to see Lindsey and Skyler. We'll camp on the beach, all of us tomorrow, and TJ and I for 2 more nights. Then we have a travel night on train to Bangkok for our flight on the 22nd.

It feels like we just got here.
Thailand is wonderful in so many ways. It is a great change from the chaos of India. Though poverty is still an issue here, and the people rely heavily on tourism, the people are much different in their attitudes. Maybe that has to do with the idea of fatalism in India...here people try to improve their conditions. The people are so nice, the food I just can't get enough of, and what we have seen and done has been incredible.

I know I will come back to Thailand, and next time for a much longer time.

Goa is wonderful. It is so amazing to be on the beach relaxing after a tiring 2 and 1/2 day train experience, and month.
We got here on New Years Eve and had a nice evening drinking and eating on the beach, listening to the ocean and the fireworks explode, and watching fire dancers. The last 3 days have just been lazy beach bum days. The first place we stayed at for 2 nights was a pretty dingey place, over a resterant that blasts techno til 2am and with a balcony looking over the street. OHHHH.
Last night and tonight we are at this amazing place on a quieter area, off the main drag, with a balcony that looks over the ocean and has the best view of the sunset. It feels sorta wrong to be here soaking in the rays in India, when we spent a month in dirty cities, and desserts, and in the mountains.
India has been a very eye-opening experience for me. There is so much poverty. There are so many people who just want your money. There are nasty men who stare way too hard. There are some of the hardest working people I have ever seen. There are so many beggars. Children begging, with babies in their arms. There is open sewage, no trash cans (except in Darjeeling), dogs and rats dead and alive.
It is strange to see people with so much money here. It seems so out of place in India. Why don't they help their country?
I wish there was something I could do to help the situation here. Really, what will the pack of biscuts or 4 ruppes do for that person?

I am really looking forward to Thailand! We leave tomorrow for Mumbai and the day after for Bangkok and Lindsey!!!!!