One Last Blog: Reflecting on Our Experience

Jayda:

I have always followed my own path and did things a little different. But when I starting telling people about our plans to take this trip most of them thought I was really crazy. Although I knew all along that it would be an unforgettable journey that would last a lifetime and indeed it was that and so much more! On our trip we saw places that most people will never get to experience but it was more than being a tourist to me. We really got to see the world around us and experience it first hand. I learned so much about other cultures and how they were different and realized how we have more in common than one would think. I learned more on this trip than I could have ever learned from a class or a book. It was some serious hands on learning taking place. We ate things we had never heard of and did some things we never imagined. We really dove in there and experienced the world. We made friends all over the planet that we still remain in touch with through email and facebook. We saw it all from the richest of the rich in Paris to the poorest of the poor in the slums in Mumbai. We learned that traveling like this is step towards understanding each other and creating peace around the world. We indulged in Italy and starved ourselves from the horrible food in Hong Kong. We went through many cities but to many places that are unheard of by most. And it was these little quaint places that meant more to me. It was in those places that we could truly grasp the culture and wrap ourselves in it. We learned about how the United States is falling behind in some aspects and saw ways for improvement. And then we saw how far ahead we were of some other cultures. We were exposed to many different languages and learned how to communicate with just about any individual. But most importantly of all we learned more about ourselves and each other on this trip than you could ever imagine. For many days and nights it was just the two of us out there exploring this planet, all alone. For me that was the best aspect of our journey and the one that we will walk away with that will play the biggest roles in our lives from here on out.

Hong Kong

Jayda:

Hong Kong was an amazing city. It reminded me a lot of Dubai in the way that they are very modern and materialistic and claim to have the best of everything. They claim to have the number one airport in the world. It is very nice. It is built all on man made land. They also have the longest bridge in the world that carries both cars and trains as well as one of the world's largest malls. The Harbour Mall is massive. Chris and I think it may have had more shops than the Dubai mall. The museums were also very fun. They were very nice and even had English speaking guides on certain days. We learned much at the history museum and had a wonderful guide. Other than just sight seeing in the city we spent time checking out all the marketplaces as well as the famous Temple Street night market. You could find about anything you want around Hong Kong in the many street markets. We also ventured to Disney Land Hong Kong style! This was tons of fun. There was definitely many Asian twists on this Disney land but we still had a blast! Other than that we just slept in and caught up on much needed rest and I lived off cheese sandwiches, because the Hong Kong food was disgusting.

a few more pictures from Thailand

last of Thailand

Jayda:
Chris is uploading pictures and too exhausted to write so I will write our last Thai blog.

I cannot believe that we have been here almost a month as I stare at the vicious rash on my leg. Tomorrow is our last day in Thailand. It has been an adventure to say the least but yet we have had an amazing time! We have wrecked a scooter, been so sick we couldn't get out of bed and had over a thousand dollars stolen from us. Still, this has been one of our favorite places and we hope to return one day. Their culture is far from what we think of as normal. There is no real laws or rules. It is all corrupt and you have to really know what you are doing at times or you will be ripped off for sure. The food is delicious yet horrible for me. The beaches are phenomenal! I have never seen anything like it in my life. The water is so blue and crystal clear. I really dreaded leaving the islands. Unfortunately we had to return to Bangkok today to get ready to fly out. There is much shopping here but also an abundance of tourists and crowded streets. I have learned many important lessons while here. The Thai people are completely different, not good or bad just different, from us in more ways than not. Although we have met many kind and generous people this says little for the population as a whole. They just think very differently. And as I said before, I have gained even more appreciation for my own country. These people do not have a justice system or the freedoms we receive as Americans. Tomorrow we head for Hong Kong. I am sad because I have become so comfortable and accustomed to the ways here yet I am ready for a new adventure. Soon we will be back home. I will be ecstatic to see my pets and family and friends yet I have no clue what life has in store for us. It will be back to the depressing world of our awful economy and dreadful job searching. Hopefully potential employers will realize that we have learned more on this trip than many people learn in a lifetime. I have gained new insight to myself and the world around me. I feel that our traveling has only begun(sorry mom) and
that there is much in our future.

Pictures from Thailand

Made completely of Condoms.. for Aids awareness

View from Train ride

Chris driving the boat

Koh Tao

Crazy cat

Ko Phangan

Our group

Brett on the swing

Us at Sunset

Fire dancers

Brett, Martin and Chris

More fire dancers

Beautiful sunsets

Cambodia and first half of Thailand

Jayda:

Cambodia

Cambodia was eventful but worth it in the end. Our first night the taxi driver was crazy and wouldn't take us to our hotel. Chris and I both thought he was going to rob us. After a long night of arguing we got to our hotel and prayed we would never see that guy again. So after this I was extremely skeptical of anyone. After talking to a few people that we met I decided to give Cambodia another chance. I wish I could tell you that they are nice honest people but that would be a lie. Everyone is out to make as much money as they can so they will tell you anything. This is very much the same in Thailand. I'm sure that deep down these people have a heart but they are such a different culture. They think much different than American businessmen. We stayed in Siem Reap in Cambodia. This town is known for their many temples, including Angkor Wat. Angkor Wat is known as one of the seven man made wonders of the world and it is amazing! All the temples were so intricate in their design. It was crazy to think of how much time the people must have put into these temples. We toured approximately 12 temples in the area. The rest of our time we spent shopping and hanging out with some Canadians we met. Also while in Siem Reap we ate at some amazing restaurants. I read in our guide book about some places that donated money to various things such as helping street children. So we tried to eat at as many of those places as we could. My favorite was called The Singing Tree Cafe and they had healthy food and the most amazing fresh orange juice. And also if you do not know about the history of Cambodia and the genocide they experienced in the 1970s you must read the book "First They Killed My Father." Chris and I both read it in a day or two. I never knew this went on in Cambodia. This is also the reason it is very rare to see any elderly people there. They were killed of in the Khmer Regime. About 2 million people died out of a population of only 7 million! Also many were later injured or died because of land mines. This country made me appreciate America more than ever before.

Thailand

We have been in Thailand for 7 days now. We met some friends in Bangkok and then took a long but beautiful train ride south. From there we got an overnight ferry that was like a slave ship. You get on and people are just lined up all over the floor asleep. Chris and Brett stayed up all night chatting with the captain and driving our boat. We first landed on the island of Koh Toa. It was very nice but very touristy. We had a rough time being ripped off and decided to move on. We are now on the island of Ko Phang Nan. This is beyond the most beautiful beach I have ever seen! Even though we paid for a hotel online and they wouldn't give us a room or refund, most of the people are more honest and friendly. The hotel we found has some of the friendliest staff and best food. I am soaking up the sun and enjoying the spectacular view of the ocean as I write this blog. I am not looking forward to leaving this paradise but there's much more we want to see.



Chris:
I will make this one short. Mainly because I am sitting on the beach on an absolutely fabulous day, making it very difficult to write.

We spent 1 night in Bangkok where we met Kris Webber, Somers' Gardner and her boyfriend Tony. It was nice to see them all but they all flew out the night we got there. So we got a train to Cambodia the next morning.
Cambodia was amazing. The temples at Angkor Wat are the most amazing thing I have seen thus far on our trip. There are very emmaculate temples with not a square inch not covered with some type of decoration. We saw a total of about 12 temples in an eight hour period. Jayda and I both read a book about the genocide that took place there in the 70's and was a great insight into their culture and also a great history lesson.

Back to Bangkok we went to meet Dallas Way, Brett Dowdy. And their friend Mary. We have been together ever since. We have been to 2 islands thus far and have really enjoyed the beaches here. They are absolutely the most amazing beaches I have ever seen. We are having so much fun with friends so it makes it hard to blog and we are also moving around a great deal.

Pictures of India, Thailand and Cambodia

Ashish and Swati our Indian couchsurfers

Meeting Kris Webber in Bangkok

Kris Webber leaving

Train ride to Cambodia

Getting gas in the cab in Cambodia (very strange the hose running out of the trunk is where they filled it up)

Frog on restaurant wall

Martin and Kristen our new friends from from Canada we met crossing the border from Thailand to Cambodia

Gas station (the bottles are filled with gas)

Fish massage

Nibbling away our dead skin

Tuk Tuk ride on way to temples

Statue in Angkor Wat temple

Outside Angkor Wat

Back of temple

Example of just about every wall in temple, very elaborate

Bridge to Angkor Wat with temple in background

All the steps in all the temples were very small, look at Jayda's feet

Our Tuk Tuk driver (the best one in Cambodia, he was the Rock n Roll Tuk Tuk)

Tree taking over a temple

Gate to a temple

Huge tree taking over temple

These giant faces were everywhere

Elephants at Angkor Thom, last picture before a second battery went dead

My new hat (paid $1)

This is a pretty poor sampling of pictures from Cambodia. The temples were amazing and we have some great pictures but the computer here would not upload a lot of them. However, these give you some idea of the beauty and size of the temples here. Cambodia is an amazing place and we have really enjoyed our time here.