Birthday in Bangkok!

A few weekends ago went to Bangkok for my 20th birthday! We were to spend all of Saturday then half of Sunday in Bangkok. We may have been a little too ambitious in scheduling our time. We had so much to do and see and not nearly enough time. 

We left Phichit at 3AM Saturday morning. We drove straight to the Floating Market and slept on the way there. The Floating Market was an amazing experience but everything about it was very expensive.  We had to pay quite a bit of money for the boat ride and since it is one of Thailand's major tourist attractions, all of the food and souvenirs also cost more. 

However, I did see some coconut ice cream in a coconut that I could not resist. I may or may not have also bought mango sticky rice. Mango sticky rice is insanely delicious. 

We only spent an hour at the Floating Market but it was quite fun. Luckily we had been in Thailand for a month and a half so we were able to resist all the overpriced souvenirs because anything we would have bought there, we knew we could have found a lot cheaper anywhere else.

Our next stop was the Grand Palace. The Grand Palace was really cool, but just like everything else in Bangkok, it was hot, crowded and expensive. We got there towards closing time so we didn't have very much time to spend there. The Grand Palace had some of the prettiest bulidings that I have ever seen. Everything was so detailed and elaborate. It really was quite amazing to see.

Later that day, we took a boat tour around Bangkok which was really fun. The first stop on the boat tour was Wat Arun, which was unfortunately closed for construction. I was disappointed that it was closed because that was one of things that I really wanted to see. For the rest of the tour, we just went around through side rivers. 

 

    

That night we took a dinner cruise along the river. This was the highlight of the trip for me. There was a buffet with the most amazing food and nice jazz music that made me really happy. It was quite a romantic dinner setting, so too bad I was there with 6 other girls. After we ate, Asian Elvis got up on stage and performed several songs. Quite a few people got up and started dancing. After Asian Elvis left, there were some singers who sang English songs the rest of the night. Our small group of girls were the only people dancing for most of the night. If I didn't know us, I would have thought were were under the influence...

But then the music stopped and the singer brought me to the stage and had everyone on the top of the boat sing Happy Birthday to me! They brought out a cake and I I got to blow out the candles. I was so surprised and the cake was so beautiful and delicious! It was such an amazing and unforgettable night. I was sad to be away from home on my 20th birthday, but is was the best birthday I could have asked for! 

But that wasn't even the end of #BirthdayinBangkok!! After the cruise, we took a Tuk Tuk to Asiatique. Asiatique is a pier along the river with a giant Ferris wheel and lots of cool shops. We rode the Ferris wheel which I loved because you could see so much of the city lit up at an amazing view. This was our last stop of #BirthdayinBangkok. The day was pretty incredible and I will never forget my 20th birthday.

 

The next day was Sunday, and it was technically still my birthday in America. We went to church at an international English speaking ward. Church in English is such a treat. Talking to other English speakers is also quite the treat. 

After church, we had some time to kill before our van took us home to Phichit. Terminal 21, which is just down the street from the church, is one of the many giant malls in Bangkok. Terminal 21 was really cool because every level has a different theme. All of the themes were different countries. The lowest floor was the Carribean, then going up there was Rome, Paris, Tokyo, London, Istanbul, two levels of San Franciso and the top level had a Hollywood theme where the cinema was. There were so many little shops and so much delicious food to eat. It was a good place to spend all of the time we had. 

 

We fit a lot into our two days in Bankok. It was quite tiring but it was worth it. I'll always remember my 20th birthday in Bangkok.

XOXO,

Susy

Chaing Mai

Hi,

This last weekend was spent in Chiang Mai and it was amazing. We left early Friday morning at 1:30 AM and arrived in Chaing Mai around 8 o'clock. We checked into our hostel but left shortly after to attend the cooking class that was first on our schedule. A tuk tuk picked us up and drove us to the market where they would show us what foods we were going to use. Then we took the tuk tuk over to the cooking teacher's house. (A tuk tuk is how people get around in Thailand and its baiscally a mix between a taxi and a bus.) The first of the seven courses was soup. We had 3 or 4 soup dishes to choose from and I made a Hot and Creamy soup.

 I made mine too spicy so it was hard to eat but it was really delicious. The second course was a noodle dish. I made Pad Thai and I was so proud of myself. I also made a Massaman Curry (first a curry paste then the actual curry dish), Cashew Chicken, Thai Spring Rolls and the best thing I have ever eaten, Mango Coconut Sticky Rice. It was the greatest thing I have had in a while.

Massaman Curry

Heaven

The class was over by 3PM and I vowed I would never eat again. So we went back to our hostel and while some of my group went to get massages, I took the best nap of my life. 

When I woke up from my nap, we went straight to the Night Bizzarre in Downtown Chaing Mai. This was one of the many night markets. I bought some stuff but not a ton because we were going to another market the next night. I tried to barter but it's harder than I thought. 

That night we somehow got hungry again around 9PM and went to an Italian restaurant. It was heavenly eating something that wasn't rice. Living in small town like Phichit, you come to appreciate the things you took for granted, like diversity. The next night we had Mexican food which was also the best thing ever.

Saturday was eventful. Our first stop of the day was Panda Tours where we would ride elephants (didn't even see a panda). Our tour guide was very energetic but I was just glad he spoke English. When we got to the elephant sanctuary, we changed into some blue jumpsuits that were beyond fabulous.

This is a baby elephant and when you feed him a banana, he kisses your cheek!

We got to feed the elephants first and learn how to control them. We practiced getting up on them and it was so funny. To get up on a bareback elephant, you grasp its ear and the skin flab near its front leg and you hop on its foot and it lifts you to its shoulders. It was really scary and cool. We rode the elephants for an hour or so through the jungle and in a river. At the end of the ride, we got to bathe in the river.

It was probably the coolest thing I will ever do.

Later that day we drove up to the Tiger Kingdom. They have tigers there of all shapes and sizes. You have to choose which size of tiger you want to take pictures with and then you pay accordingly. The baby tigers were the most expensive so we just did the medium sized tiger because it was the cheapest. 

I promise this tiger is alive. The group pic was taken after the one of me. They only allow you to be in the room for 15 minutes and it went by really quickly. Especially with the six of us all wanting good photos. 

The rest of the night was spent at the market and at the Mexican restaurant. Pretty solid day. 

We were leaving the next day but first we went to the LDS church around the corner from our hostel. We wore headsets and the missionaries translated the meeting for us. It was pretty great. 

Our last stop before home was in Chaing Rai at the White Temple. 

There is so much detail it blew my mind. It was so beautiful. The temple had a theme of Heaven vs. Hell so there were a lot of creepy looking statues and morbid sculptures.  

 

I bought this little ornament for 30 baht and you are supposed to write a wish on it and then they hang in on those things in the background. So that was fun.

We drove home and the drive was long and I didn't get a lot of sleep. Not much to tell. 

But this weekend was all around amazing and best weekend in Thailand so far.

XOXO,

Susy

Crystal Temple

Yo, it's your girl.

This weekend we went to the Crystal Temple about 2 hours from where we live. We took a private van and left early Saturday morning. On our way there we stopped at a different temple to walk around and take pictures. I don't know where it was or the name of it but there was a giant gold Buddha inside and lots of worship going on.

    

A doorway.

Yet another set of Buddhas.

After 20 minutes there, we got back in the van and headed to the Crystal Temple. I actually didn't know where we were going so when we got there I was really surprised. To get there, we had to drive up the only hill I've seen in Thailand. Some may consider it a mountain but I'm from Utah. Anyways, at the top of the hill, we got out of the van and I saw the temple and the famous white Buddhas statue. 

It was the most amazing thing I have ever seen. After taking five steps toward the temple, a group of Asians asked to take a photo with us. A first of many that day. We were the only white people I saw that day. I love this photo above because I love that it is such a huge statue on top of a mountain and surrounded by jungle. I love all the green here. 

We went to tour the temple first and instantly started taking a million pictures. It was insanely beautiful. The whole place is covered in glass mosaics. The detail was memorizing. When they built the temple they had people donate their stuff to build it so are pot lids, pottery pieces, jewelry, watch faces and all sorts of stuff in the mosaics. 

This is a pic of my feet. Very cool.

On the stairs. You can't wear shoes anywhere in Thailand.

Photo taken by Katie. Cute lil countryside on the side.

Another photo taken by Katie.

Every corner we turned we had people asking to take pictures with us. The I decided that I wanted to ask people to get in my goPro selfies. 

They were really nice and happy to be in this picture. 

Then, we met a monk named Spite. I guess his parents named him that out of spite. Ha ha just kidding, that's not funny. But that really is his name. Anyways, Spite told us a bunch of cool stories about the temple and its history! It was legit. Then he asked us if we wanted a private tour. It was awesome! We got to go to a bunch of restricted areas where only monks were allowed! It was so cool! This monk seemed to be a little rebellious. He took us to go inside the statue of the five Buddhas while its under construction. Ha ha everyone was staring because we were the only people let in and we already stuck out in that crowd. 

He then took us underneath the statue where the monks meditate. That room was pretty boring but had an amazing view of the jungle. He also took us to the monk library and he showed us a huge Buddha that was made from a solid piece of emerald. It was awesome! 

Spite told us that there are only five monks at this temple because the master monk looked into the other monks mind and saw that they didn't want to take care of the temple.

Another beautiful mosaic in front of the five Buddhas.

Photo of me taken by me.

The Crystal Temple (photo by Katie)

We left the temple and got food at a Thai restaurant where we had a hard time ordering because we could not speak to them. We were supposed to go floating down a river but didn't end up doing it because I guess the river was too high and dangerous. Or so they said. So we went home instead and got smoothies and roti and watched Vampire Diaries till we fell asleep. Basically the perfect day. 

Also I got sunburned on my neck, but that's beside the point.

XOXO, 

Susy

First Weekend!

Well I just wanted to post these pics from last week. We went to explore the small town of Phichit. We found some ruins about 45 minutes away by bike and they were really cool! The bike ride wasn't that fun because I am a tall person on a midget's bike but whenever we go out in public, everyone yells "HELLO!!!" at us because there aren't many white people in this town. Whenever people say hello to us they always laugh really hard when we say hello back because I guess it's really funny or something. We think they laugh because either we are stupid Americans or because their hello is so formal accompanied with a bow and our hello is very casual with a wave. 

We brought a Pad Thai picnic with us to the ruins and it was the best thing I have tasted in this country. It's a dollar for a plate and it is amazing.

I forget what else happened because it was a week ago. Ha ha sorry. 

A temple. There are a million in this country. Brace yourself for pictures to come. This one is in the outskirts of Phichit.

Biking through the Phichit Ruins.

Another temple.

A Buddha. Also very common.

After I took this, a monk tried to get us to leave but we didn't know what he was saying.

Oh! P.S. Speaking of not knowing what people were saying, when we were at the ruins, a Thai man came up to us and was going on and on and we had now idea what he was saying and we tried to show him that we were stupid Americans but he kept talking to us for like 8.5 minutes.

Also, whenever we go in public, we try to talk to people but we only speak English and they only speak Thai so each person just talks really loud and slow in their own language and both people act confused. Its especially frustrating when we are trying to buy something or ask for help.

XOXO,

Susy