pictures!

Hey guys .. i'm uploading some pics of the kids at the orphanages. I'm trying to clear some space cause i'm running out!! wooo

http://www.flickr.com/photos/isabellaamodei/

ChangMai

Ahh la la .. here we are in changmai, thailand.

The day we were leaving Bangkok (2 days ago) we packed our bags in the morning and took an early mini-bus to Ayattuya, the ancient city. The 2nd capital of thailand. The ride seems pretty long even though it was only 1.5 hours. It was an organized trip so we didn't get to see that much. We stopped at the royal palace, at the ancient village, the buddha.. nothing else that seemed other than a pile of bricks. However, I must say, it was interesting to see the remains (or structures) of a city that stood tall so long ago. So we stayed till 3h and headed back to Bangkok in order to take a "direct" bus to Changmai. I put the quotes because we had to wait around for almost 3 hours. The bus ride to changmai was SO long and uncomfy. There was these people that sat around us that talked FOREVER and they were SO loud. Arg. The bus would ride for a while... so they would fall asleep.. then, when there was peace, the bus would stop for the restroom and they would all wake up again. BAH!

so, we got here at 7ham and got Pickup by people from Asia's hope (the organization that paula is staying with) and they brought us 15 minutes outside of changmai to the guesthouse. Nice complexe. Seems very much out of place here. It looks like a gated Carrefour Angrignon Complexe Area. Our place is a condo.

At 9am, after long awaited showers, we went over to the Farm where they have the widows working on bags. They just bought the place to hopefully be able to grow their own produce to feed all the children from the orphanages. Till the place is renovated for the Widows to live there, they simply work on handbags during the day. You should see the work they do. They are good.
We had to wait around a lot for the driver to finish stuff but it was interesting to see the place anyways.

Afterwards, we jumped in the back of the pickup truck (we had to sit in the back for the 1.5hour drive) and went on to see the orphanages. We saw 3 that day and i must say that these kids melt your heart. When they see the truck coming, they run towards it and scream out "hi" "hi" and wait for a hug. Some didn't even wait for us to get out of the car, they jumped in the car for the hug. The cutest thing ever. We went on to visit the places to see how they work and what they do for the kids. As we were walking around, one or two kids would always find their way to our hands and hold it until we left.

At the 2nd and 3rd orphanage, I pulled out my camera to take pictures. Some kids went crazy for it. They would ask me to take a piture of them , then want to see it. 'hahaha you're eyes are closed, again again" they would say to eachother in Thai.
They would pose and smile and dance .. all for the camera.. SO CUTE. I almost stole one... or two. We are going back tomorrow I think.

Today, we went downtown Changmai to visit the city. It's so hot here. I started feeling really sick at one point too. Either from the heat or the fact that im probably not getting all my nutrience in Asia. Anyways , it was a bad day for me. The city is pretty cute though.. very clean. We are waiting around now for the people to come get us from the guesthouse. Then, we are going to the night bazaar, the biggest night market. Woo.

I don't think I have must else to say. I feel like I'm rambling.
I'll see you guys soon!

Bangkok... cough.

Thalia has always been a great story teller.. so elaborate. :P

Ok.First thing, I never though I could feel pain in my lungs like this. We've been walking around in Bangkok for the past 2 days and I must say that .. mya.. this city is pretty damn ugly. Nothing much to do. We've missed the biggest market in the world cause it's on the weekends and it's coming close to holidays so lots of places open and close at personal will... So, all we've seen is the outside of lots of temples and "WAT" buddhas. Those were nice.. However, there's so much that you can see. "Here's buddha standing, here he is laying down, here is the lucky one, the happy one, the gloden one[...]" ok ok I get it.. u love him. Anyways.
Everything It was still a must-see though, I think.. cause now I know that I wouldnt mind not really coming back here again.

For those who heared that Bangkok might be smoggy.. well, you are correct, sir (ma'am). It's unbelievably polluted here. We started feeling it in the first 10 minutes. The city smells, all you get is CO2 in your lungs at all times and it's really crowded. Not as much as Vietnam but , for some reason, it shows more here. The buildings all looks really old and dirty too. You know how, in a seinfeld episode, Kramer gets the idea to make his apartement a smoking room ? After a while his skin and face become looking old and dirty , as if he's 100? Well, it's kinda what all the buildings look like here. Like all the accumulation of smoke killed everything. They are trying to make it better though. I saw a couple of Rent-a-bike stands to try to convince people to use them rather than vehicles. Let's hope, for their sakes, that it catches on.

So we didn't do much. We caught up with our friend Jeremy (which we met in signapore) and his friends. He started school here. We went out to "dinner" with them yesterday to this outside foodcourt where there's a all you can eat. But not that kind we know of. Basically, they put a cooker/grill (looks like a fondu pot) on your table and give you a plate. Then u hunt for food. There's all these uncooked meats and fish and veggies on a Buffet-style table and you get what u want.. then cook it yourself at your seat. It's all good exept for the fact that NOTHING HAS NAMES. So, basically, you have no idea what u are eating. Some things you can reconize. "ok. that's salmon, that's squid, that's ... mm.. a weird color.. what is that? Doesn't matter looks good, take it anyways" I was put incharge of seafoods. Ok.. let's go hunt. I got a bunch of stuff. Then, with thalia's meats and Paula's veggies we were ready to go.

Turns out that we were eating JellyFish at one point (!!) The only reason we knew is cause i asked! We didn't ask about the meats. Too bad. We could have been eating dog and we didn't even know it. Did you know you can eat JellyFish? I didn't and my mom doesn't seem to think so either. Oh well.. 2 days later.. im still alive. It's pretty good too. It's squishy, yet, not.

Fun Experience. We are still hunting for dog though. Paula wants to try it. I went on home after cause i was tired, BUT was told the next day that the girls found Insects to eat. Thalia ate 3 grasshoppers and a silkworm (i think)! GROSSNESS! Noone ate the Cockroach though. Wimps :P

Things I've noticed here: TukTuks (motorcycle-taxis) are mean. They are nice for their own benefit. :( we got caught twice but now I know why.
"We want to go to the temple"
"ok, i bring you there and the jewl factory"
"no thanks. Just the temple"
"and the factory, is very nice, must-see, ok"
"no.. dont take me there"
"yes.. it's good.. it's on the way.. no problem"
"no thanks ARG why do u want to take me there!?"

Turns out these places give the tuktuks gas coupons if they bring people there. ASSES. Make us waste time for nothing. It happened to us with the factory and the bus station. He brought us there (yes.. u buy bus ticket there ok?) and we found out we couldnt buy tickets there, just plane tickets :S

Also, Lots of things are pink here :) Taxis too! Loves it

so, Tomorrow we are going to Ayattuya for the day. An ancient city outside of Bangkok. Then.. we are heading straight for Changmai (12 hours) Staying there for 4 days :) Ok i wrote enough thanks! See ya!

p.s There's a guy walking his elephant on a leash outside the café... gotta love Asia.

Bngkok!!!

Well hello, we are here in Bangkok...euk...i don't like! I miss the beach life...I don't have to much to say...i know isa...i suck, oh well...Actually, we are leaving tomorrow to Chiang Mai...yeah no more pollution!!!Let me ask Canu if she wants to say something....she's says NO!!! Anways ciao ciao for now.