A Monkey and Her Backpack: a year in review (Part 1)

It's hard to believe I left the United States 1 year ago. And 13 months ago I left my home for the great unknown. I've met so many new people, experienced so much, and continue to be in awe of this adventure I call my life. I wanted to do a review of my travels so far as much of my blog as holes in it. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did experiencing it.

On August 15th 2014, I left Rochester, NY with the boxes containing all that remained of my belongings, my Burning Man bag, and my backpack that would be traveling with me for the foreseeable future.  It was terrifying, thrilling, and daring.  I was literally leaving everything I knew behind to discover answers to questions I didn’t even realize I wanted to ask.  

bonfire at my going away party

I stopped for a night in Ohio with my good friend Grafton and we danced the night away. In Wisconsin, I spent my few remaining days with my parents, nephews, and one of my brothers, not knowing when next we'd see each other. I also made it in time for my high school friend's wedding, fulfilling a promise I'd made one year ago.

friends for more than a decade!!

From there, I traveled to Reno for Burning Man. How could I miss the chance to go Home one last time (until I come back for a visit of course!)? This burn was filled with as many hellos as it was with goodbyes. I expanded my family, fell in love, and learned to release from my Martha-Monkey tendencies and be present in the moment.

night the Man burned

 

this is why they call me Dome Monkey

Next stop was San Francisco and staying with two fantastic friends, Poppy and Maurice.  I couldn't have spent my decompression days and getting ready for Thailand with two better people.  Playing music under a bridge, sake tastings, beaches and kayaking with porpoises, seeing the Golden Gate bridge at night, quarter machines, and good beer.  Thank you for giving me crash space and such loving company.  I love you two!!!  Lovelovelovelovelove!!!!

Golden Gate bridge

the Trio!!!

brief detour to OR

my last sunset in the US

I flew into Bangkok on September 16th with no clear idea of where I was headed.  I spent a few days just taking it all in.  I ate food so spicy I cried, but so tasty I couldn't stop until I'd finished it.  I ate bugs, drank my first bucket (and then maybe a few more), and experienced a pingpong show.  ::shakes head with a smile::  Those were some talents I didn't even know existed.

our very first bucket (gone in about 10 seconds)

I couldn't bringing a tent and sleeping bag with me all the way to Thailand and not go camping.  Therefore, Khao Yai National Park and I had a date together.  It involved a lot of walking and the occasional waterfall when I wandered far enough.  My first time in an open jungle and I certainly had a few different moments when I wondered just what the hell I'd been thinking camping where there were free roaming elephants, boars, crocodiles, monkeys, and the occasional tiger.  And here I though my biggest fear was going to be leeches.  ::chuckle::

taking in the scenery

my first wild elephant!!  I saw him on a night safari

Continuing up the Northeastern portion of Thailand (also called Isaan), I made it to Phimai, a small little town boasting an ancient Angkor temple Prasat Hin and Sai Ngam, Thailand's oldest and largest banyan tree.  I was fascinated by how so many of the doorways lined up at Prasat Hin and this was my first experience with the ancient temples I'd only read about in books.  Sai Ngam was a quiet place (I had it all to myself as I wandered) except for the evil geese who chased me up a path.  ::grin::  My inner monkey wanted to swing among the natural walkways on the top level but I could sense the peace and sacredness of this place.

Sai Ngam

Sai Ngam, outer view

Phimai Historical Park

Next stop was Surin although I was given a bit of a surprise when the hotel listed in my backpacker's guide had closed.  ::chuckle::  I still managed to find a decent crash space.  Note to the wise, they will often charge an extra 50b to have a tv in your room.  Who honestly needs it when there's things like Prasat Hin Phanom Rung to see?  Another Angkor temple, but this one rivaled Phimai in size alone.  The walkway up the temple was perhaps the best part; it represented the bridge from the mortal realm up to the spiritual realm.

walkway to the heavens

  

During this time, I was searching on helpx.com for a volunteer opportunity to stay in Isaan; however, I wasn't having much luck.  I liked Northeastern Thailand as it wasn't a particularly popular backpacker's area and oftentimes I was the only farang around.  I had women call up their daughters for the sole reason being so I could talk to them in English.  My first train ride ended in my entire car waving and taking pictures of me as I exited the train.  I liked being off the beaten track but it didn't seem like it was meant to be.

I recieved an invitation from a friend of a friend to visit her down south if I ended up that way.  I had made tentative plans with some friends I'd made in Bangkok to meet up in Southern Thailand so I decided to head down a little early and meet this mutual friend.  Who knew it'd have such a lasting impact?

Wat Pho, housing the Reclining Buddha

Wat Pra Kaew, housing the Emerald Buddha

First I had to head back down through Bangkok and stopped at Wat Pho, a collection of Buddhist temples housing the largest reclining Buddha and also the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand.  It also contains Wat Pra Kaew, the Emerald Buddha.  There was a Buddhist ceremony going on while I was there and I sat for some time just letting the chanting wash over me.  It felt inappropriate to take a picture with the monks and so I just took a photo to remind me of that moment.

From there, I took first overnight train down to Surat Thani and a ferry to the island of Koh Phangan.  Check out my time there on "A year in review Part 2."

**PLEASE NOTE ALL PHOTOS ARE PROPERTY OF KIRA ZEBROSKI**

OR CREDITED TO OWNER

Bangkok

I feel like I'm always going to be a little (okay, a LOT) behind with my posts.  Playing constant catch up.  So much has happened since my last post.  I managed to survive the jungle!  There were definitely a couple of times where I thought "Kira, should you really be doing this?" and learned there is sometimes a difference between an adventure and just plain stupidity.  I hope I chose right!  ::grin::

So Bangkok...It's a huge city and I know I only saw a small section of it.  The tourist parts are a constant barrage of "Tuk tuk? Taxi?  You buy suit!  Where you go?  I tell your fortune!" and so on.  Once you get outside of those, it's mostly just a lot of Thai people staring at you when you go past.  ::chuckles::  The trick I've learned is to smile.  95% of the time, they smile back.  And if you say hello in Thai?  Oh man, that gets a full out grin.  They're probably just laughing at my garbled attempt to mainstream.

I made it to a couple of temples (or Wats).  The amount of detail and sheer scale of things is overwhelming.  One thing to note for anyone going to visit a temple: wear shirts with sleeves and either a knee-length skirt or pants.  Shorts and tank tops/spaghetti straps are considered disrespectful.  I wish I'd realized that before I packed.  ::grimace::  That just means I had an interesting experience when attempting to go to the Grand Palace.  You can actually rent appropriate attire in order to go in.  It's more of a deposit as you get your money back when you return them.  But when you're traveling with a friend and you both realize you have to get clothes and then realize between the two of you, you didn't bring enough money to also actually get into the palace, well...I guess it wasn't meant to be that day.

Photo property of Kira Zebroski

I've definitely made a lot of new friends during my travels thus far.  My first night there I went to Khao San with Leon for a drink and we struck up a conversation with a gal from Costa Rica at the table next to us and then during our people watching stint, we met another couple from Holland.  They'd bought a scorpion and unlike the typical picture-taking session and then tossing of the roasted treat, they actually ate some of it.  I should have realized if we praised them that the "food" would then be offered to us.  ::self-deprecating laugh::  Oh silly Kira.  Wim also offered us a bag of grasshoppers.  I couldn't do a whole one but I'm proud to say I did eat one of the legs.  Let's just say the bristles on its legs leave an interesting feeling in your throat for some time after.  The scorpion was kinda smokey tasting from being roasted and I actually liked that better.  Go figure.  The night ended in a tuk tuk ride to a ::lip popping sound:: show and that's all I'm going to say about that.  ::laughs mysteriously::  The tuk tuk ride was reminiscent of a roller coaster with hairpin turns and waving at fellow hapless tourists.  I survived both the ride there and back again.  ::happy dance and kissing the ground::

Photo property of Kira Zebroski

I highly recommend the hostel I stayed at: Born Free Hostel.  The owner is very knowledgeable, helpful, and just a great guy all around.  He and his girlfriend are both from Switzerland and they just opened up another hostel further up the road so be sure to check them out if you're ever in Bangkok.  I met a lot of cool people there.  A few of us are going to try and met up in Southern Thailand in the next day or so if things work out accordingly.  ::fingers crossed::  And the rooms are air conditioned when you sleep at night.  SCORE!!  

I spent one of my days exploring with a couple of guys from the hostel.  We introduced Mahmoud to new foods beyond his comfort zone (don't worry, Mama K's got your back), I was shown a huge Buddha where I learned people will get small squares of gold foil and put it on statues as an offering, and got horribly lost when we got to the palace where the currently king and queen actually reside.  

Photo property of Kira Zebroski

I was supposed to go on a night bike tour but I was a tired monkey.  I am proud to say I managed to power nap and rallied forth a few hours later.  A group of us went down to Khao San Rd (don't trust people when they say it's just to get food!) and one thing led to another.  Put into the mix: us, buckets, beers, a hookah, more travelers, and an awesome Thai girl's birthday and we greeted the sun that morning.  

Photo property of Kira Zebroski

Well, it's just about time for me to pack up from the hotel and head out to Surin.  I know I still have a lot of catching up to do, but I guess you're all just going to have to wait, breathless with antici..............pation.  ::grin::

First Days

It's official.  I survived my first day in Bangkok!  ::happy dance::  I arrived at about 9:30 am Wednesday after having left San Francisco at 1:40 am on Tuesday.  It's weird losing an entire day while on a plane.  I watched movies and slept during my total of about 15 hours of air time.  Two things I can say about this experience.  One: I'm very glad the two seats next to me on both flights were empty so I could stretch out (as much as you can on a plane) and Two: I'm glad my watch tells me what day it is.  At least one of us knows what's going on.  And the plane to Taipei was huge!!!  It had over 50 rows, 9 across, and an upstairs!!!  ::shakes head::  I was worried the thing wasn't going to get off the ground.

I made it through Immigration with no issues and currently have a 30 day pass to travel around Thailand.  Let's see what I can get done!

I met a fellow traveler Leon from Holland who was hoping to share a cab to Khao San (a popular street for backpackers and near both of our hostels).  A shuttle bus, small bus, and taxi later found us to our destination.  Note to self: Pack less stuff!!!  I was dying from the heat and carrying all my bags wasn't helping matters.   I got to my hostel in one piece but dripping sweat.  ::chuckles::  Even he thought I had too much stuff.  I'm realizing the issue is more that my backpack itself is rather small.

The hostel I'm staying at is fantastic.  There weren't many backpackers there when I first arrived but met a group of them later that night.  The bathroom is entertaining.  It took me a minute to figure out about the little sprayer next to the toilet, but...Hey Hey!!  ::light bulb went off::  And let's just say my first shower resulted in EVERYTHING getting wet.  Oops!

I went exploring with Leon and we tried some vendor food (so much to choose from!) and found a beautiful temple.  I've discovered that isn't actually hard as you find one about every 2 blocks or so.

I promise to talk more about my experiences in Bangkok but I've got a bus and then a train to catch to Pak Chong and then heading to Khao Yai, a national park.  I'm going to camp out for a few days there so I'll try and write more and upload when I get near internet again.

But a brief teaser, I can now cross off eating scorpions and grass hoppers and going on a tuk tuk ride off my list.  ::grin::