Nam Song River

Zip lines, slides and rope swings.

Christmas Adventures

The weekend before Christmas we went on a Santa (and Santa's helpers) club crawl. Being that we had the best costumes, we got to carry the flag between locations.


Christmas Eve (day) was spent on the beaches of Koh Samet... with beach styled decorations and Santa hats.


Christmas Day was spent teaching (Buddhist school), but I was showered with gifts and cards from all of my students.


I went to Outback Steakhouse for Christmas dinner with the Baylor crew, sang Christmas songs at the table, and did a Sic 'Em Bears. The Sic 'Em created a Baylor alumni frenzy as other Baylor grads, who happened to be eating at the same restaurant, came out of the woodworks. It was magical.


After eating dinner, I rushed home to open presents on Skype with my family... and although I didn't have a tree as tall as my family's, it was a perfect mini tree for a mini apartment.

Vang Vieng, Laos

I just got back from spending the new year in Vang Vieng, Laos. It was an outdoorsy 5-day trip filled with floating the river, cave exploration, river parties and baguettes galore (Hallelujah for French colonies).



The Nam Song River put tubing in San Marcos, Texas to shame. For the first half of the river, there are bars (aka wooden decks) every 50-100 meters serving buckets, specials, and even free french fries. For New Years the bars were packed with tourists enjoying the pumping dance beats and gorgeous weather. While we were floating downstream, each bar's staff would throw you ropes to pull you into their bar. Each bar had something unique to offer. Let me show you.

Water slides



Rope swings



Free Buckets



Dance Parties


I looked a random traveler during my initial shock and said, "It's like Spring Break 2010."
She replied, judging the music choices, "Who are we kidding? It's Spring Break 2004."
She was right. And it was amazing.

Christmas in Bangkok

Here are some clips I've captured around Bangkok during the Christmas season.

I think Christmas could only be better in New York City, maybe.

Merry Christmas!

Pattaya

What I thought was a Russian paradise and a very "seedy" area turned out to be a great location for a long weekend.

Day 1: Traveling, finding a (wicked awesome) burger joint, watching international jetski races on the beach... it was awesome.


Day 2: 20 baht ferry ride to Koh Larn (small island off Pattaya), water games, fruit smoothies


Day 3: Nong Nooch Gardens, just outside of Pattaya

Baby Tigers, Anyone?

For English camp, we went to Safari World, a zoo in Bangkok. Here I got to feed and play with baby tigers of varying sizes. Safe to say, this was the best day of my life. I can't fake a smile like that.

MJ-Tastic

I think Thais went just as overboard as Americans for the King of Pop. Over a thousand people gathered, incorporating Thai pop stars, DJs, radio stations, to dance to MJ's Thriller. My boyfriend won tickets through a Bangkok radio station to "Thrill the World" and to opening night of "This Is It." Hanging out with pop stars and free movie tickets? Count me in.


Photographers around the dancing Thai pop stars.




Jordan and me at the premiere for "This Is It."