-plane-train-taxi-skytrain-underground train-tuk tuk-song tao-ferry boat-local bus-vip double decker bus...in five days we've managed to zip around, tuk around and wait around for at least 10 different modes of transportation :)
where were we going?
let's see, we spent a couple nights in Bangkok recovering from the flights...treated ourselves to a foot massage (incidentally, when you order the hour-long foot massage, you also get neck, shoulders, arms, back and head....all this for about $6.50) Kris took us around her old neighborhood to see her apartment and the school she used to teach at. We then headed back to touristy, slightly crazy Khao San Road where we munched on street food - fresh pad thai, spring rolls, and banana crepes...yummmmmmmmmmm (oh, and we decided to experiment and bought something that looked like cake...but was kind of like green jam of some sort between layers of de-crusted white bread...not as bad as it could have been...but didn't make it into the "yummmmm" group of foods :) )
After seeing all the happy tanned travellers at our guesthouse...we decided one of the first items on the agenda was to get a good base tan...and what better way to start out a trip than a relaxing weekend at the beach?
Good thing there's a bunch of those around here ;) We headed down via bus and ferry to Koh Samet...found a room on the beach and settled in to soak up a little sunshine. We also enjoyed dinners on the beach, and bars where you get drinks to share in little beach buckets. :) Local whiskey - Sangsam, red bull, and coke...cheap, delicious, and potent :)
We decided to head straight up north after the weekend, and caught the overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai last night. It was suprisingly comfortable up on the top bunk, we slept from the moment we boarded until about 8 this morning, and rolled into town around noon. Seems like there are a lot of trekking options and places we might want to explore from here in the next few weeks before having to head back to Bangkok for the Ultimate Frisbee tournament Kristi and James are playing in.
We've already got some good ideas and advice from new friends and Am and Tawan (which means Sun!), who are tour guides in training at our guesthouse. Hopefully I'll have some interesting tales to tell...
until then, i hope everyone is well. ...time to go find something to munch on here at the Chiang Mai night market :)

much love to all
sun