I love ruins! It's funny...I've never much been into fossils - the concept of millions of years is just too unfathomable. But hundreds of years ago...when civilization throbbed to a completely different beat, and then left it's bricks to quietly watch us buzzing through time...I get that. And it's quietly thrilling. Alot of the temples in Ayuttaya were built in the 1300s. And around the 1670s, Ayuttaya was the biggest city in the world, with a population of over ...

Where to start? Haha! Well let's say that Chiang Mai eventually grew on me... I decided this today, the day before we leave the city. We have spent just over a week here, and there has been very little flow to this part of the trip. Actually, it's been a bit of a messy ride in Thailand in general. I really don't know why. Anyway, our Chiang Mai adventure started with nearly missing our flight here (we neglected to factor in Bangkok traffic)...(oh and on the way i...

Marketed as an island escape just a short busride from Bangkok, our journey to Koh Samet actually took six hours instead of the promised two. First there was the confusing rearrangement of passengers in and out of buses and minivans at a busy highway onramp, followed by a two hour wait on the 'ferry' (old beat up wooden tugboat) while a goofy toothless first mate danced around and blamed a missing captain (who, as it turned out, was there all along). Then the ver...

Bangkok - Part 2 Our hotel room in Bangkok is a bit of a splashout compared to most others on this trip. We have key cards and a tv and hot water, a doorman! and a huge buffet breakfast (during which I have had bacon every morning!) (A model vegetarian I am not.)... and, the key bonus; a pool. The pool became a priority again when Abbey started complaining about the heat in Malaysia...and when we were having trouble finding Abbey-things to do. Of course, it's st...

Bangkok - Part 1 We're in Thailand! Hooray! I'm brushing my teeth in Bangkok! We've been in Bangkok for just over a week now and it has been both exciting and frustrating. Bangkok is of course HUGE. Ten million people. There is so much to see and do, we have felt pulled in several different directions every day, mostly by our three different interests. I want to see lots of things. And Mike wants to move slowly and breathe it in. And Abbey wants to play. Althou...