Thailand: Getting There...

The only way I'm going to be able to give our Thailand trip the least bit of justice is by blogging about it bit by bit. So, here I go... :)

Nate and I wanted to do a big trip to celebrate him graduating and before we entered the working world again.  We really wanted to go somewhere where we could see some amazing sights and also get in some serious r&r. So, after much thought and advice from friends, we decided on Thailand.  

Getting to and from Thailand is always an adventure in and of itself.  We left on May 13th and with the time change, we arrived in Thailand on May 15th.  And although we didn't travel a full two days, we did have 25 hours of flying time and 10 hours of layovers. Needless to say, once we got there we were exhausted! But I'm getting ahead of myself.  

We left for Thailand right after Nate's graduation.  Nate's parents were already here and so Nate's saint of a mother stayed behind to stay with our girls while we went on our dream vacation. I was feeling really guilty for leaving them for so long and being so far away, and took comfort only in the fact that they were with Grandma.  Thank you, Pat!

This is what we looked like getting on the flight...

Sending love to our girls...

We flew to Chicago and then to San Francisco.  Then we had a 3-hour layover.  By this point it was 1am and we downed a 5-hour energy drink to help us stay awake as long as possible as we tried to get our bodies used to Thailand time.

So this is what we looked like about a quarter of the way through our travels... Notice my tired watery eyes.  Nate still looks great though.

And this how we looked at the very end.  SO tired! And again, Nate still looks great. I look like I've been crying watching chick flicks.

So, we finally made it to Chiang Mai for the first part of our trip! We checked into our hotel, which turned out to be nice enough for the one night we were staying there and it was dirt cheap!

It took everything in us not to go to bed right then and there at 3pm, but we had to fight it to stay awake.  Since we were so sore from all that sitting so we decided to get one of those famous Thai massages you always hear about.  We asked our front desk guy and he said there was a place just a few paces down the road from our hotel.  So, we walked down the random street our hotel was located on and there was this hole-in-the-wall massage place. Three europeans walked in ahead of us and so they didn't have enough masseuses on staff.  So instead of making us wait, they actually called in some women to do our massages! I was a little weary because the place where they massage you was on this mat on the floor next to two other people.  So, it was me, Nate, and this other man getting our massages while another guy got a foot massage right next to us.  However, in traditional Thai massages, you remain fully clothed since they are so big on modesty. Anyway, I can honestly say that the massage I got was the best massage I have ever received.  It was so incredible and was just what we needed.  And after both of us got our massages for a full hour, we left with a bill of only $17 USD, including tip!  What?!?! It was awesome and we felt sooo much better afterward.

Then we got dinner at probably one of our favorite places that whole trip.  Again, it was this outdoor, hole-in-the-wall place right next door to our hotel with gecko's on the ceiling and beams. It was one of those heart-swelling moments where you think, "ahhhh, Thailand" with a content grin on your face.

I don't even remember what this was called but it was so good!

Nate got some delicious curry.

 Our first dinner pic in Thailand.

After dinner, we got back to our hotel room and went to sleep at 9:30.  The next day is when our 2-day, personally guided tour of Chiang Mai began (aka, the real fun).

Next post: Chiang Mai: Day 1

some probably unknown facts about me

Here are some things about me that you may not know.

• I love candy.  So much that I actually have a candy cupboard.  Nate thinks this is a problem.  I just think it's a good idea to be prepared. You never know when those sweet tooth cravings will come, right? 
• I recently discovered that I am an ambivert.  I actually didn't know there was such thing as an "ambivert" until just yesterday. What is an ambivert?  Well, let me tell you.  It's a mix between an extrovert and an introvert.  I like to be social and be around people, but sometimes I just want to be left the heck alone.  And if there is too much going on, then I just like to hide in my house and "be productive" aka read a book.
• I wear workout clothes on days I want to get things done around the house.  Somehow just putting those clothes on gives me that extra boost of energy that I need to be productive.  
• I love celebrity gossip.  I am on People website almost every day. And when I say "almost every day" I mean, several times a day.
• I love a good bath.  And I usually will take one just because I am feeling cold. I have a feeling I will be taking multiple baths a week once the weather here in WA gets to it's usual self.
• I talk to myself.  All the time.
• I am a big Pitch Perfect fan.  Yes, I know it's not always super appropriate.  But I think it's hilarious and it puts me in a good mood.  And sometimes Nate will catch me watching my favorite scenes and I quickly turn it off because he gives me that, "Go do something better with your time" look. 
• Speaking of Pitch Perfect, I follow my favorite character's on Instagram.  I wouldn't call this a problem, or an obsession... more of an interest?
• I actually cried when Mitt Romney lost the presidential election.  I held it all in until the next day when Nate came home from school.  One look for him and I just lost it and cried for a good 15 minutes.  I sort of felt like I had lost a family member.  Now, whenever I see a car with an Obama 2012 sticker, I want nothing more than to rear end them for their lack of judgement and/or priorities.  I have become one of those older people who are still upset about elections from years ago. Just give me a cane and a nice porch chair and I'll officially be in the club as I yell at neighbors and shake my head disapprovingly at hooligans.
• I secretly want to write a book.  I have no idea why or what it would even be about, but I just want to sit there in front of a big window, sipping my herbal tea or apple cider as it storms outside and type away.  Don't judge.
• When I was 12, I begged... BEGGED my dad to let me get braces. And I cried until he said ok.  Real classy, Kel.
• On my first date with Nate, I informed him with certainty that I was planning to marry someone else.  He was polite and just said, "Oh, really?  Cool." or something to that effect, and just kept on dating me.  I'm glad that my statement didn't send him running like it would for any other sane boy. 
• Nate told me the other day that when I sneeze, I remind him of a dog.  At first I was slightly offended and taken aback, but he says it's because of my tongue.  Every time I sneeze, I stick my tongue out and hang my mouth wide open and scrunch my face up like I just ate a jalapeno.  I quickly retorted with an, "I do not!".  It turns out he was right.  Open mouth, tongue sticking out, jalapeno face every. single. time.  Maybe I should take a lesson on how to sneeze pretty.  
• I love Root Beer.  Barqs is best as it has more bite.  But you probably already knew that.  Oh, and apparently there is a Root Beer store nearby.  I asked Nate to take me there for my birthday. 
• As a teenager, I was a terror.  A yelling, name-calling, door-slamming terror.  To the point where my brother, who had just gotten home from his mission, wanted me to be kicked out of the house.  I shiver to think of what I have coming for me. Karma. And I apologize to Nate in advance for how I acted years ago.
• I listen to boy bands or broadway musicals whenever I want to belt out to music.  Our window's are usually open (because Seattle homes don't typically have air conditioning), so I'm sure our neighbors think we are crazy.
• I still have work dreams about this restaurant I worked at pre-married life.  Even though it has been over 7 years since I've worked there.  
• I read books out loud to Nate for fun.  Some of our friends think it's sweet, and some of them laugh at us. 
• When I was in 7th grade, some punk kid said some comment to me about my girly assets in math class and to this very day, I am super self-conscious about it.  Thanks a lot, dude.  
• I get a little angry when I am cold.  Not at anybody or anything.  Just angry that I'm so cold.  Because when I get cold, it feels like my bones are cold and that's just uncomfortable, right? And now I live in Washington.  I hope the friends I'm making will understand.
• I have a really hard time making the same meal twice within a one month period.  And almost every time we have someone over for dinner, I make something I have never tried before.  I have no idea why, but this makes cooking a bit of a challenge.  
• I love, love warm fuzzy socks.  I have about 9 pair, 3 different styles.  I think most people grow out of this sort of thing, but my collection just grows. 

Ok, I think that's it for now.  If you still would like to be my friend after reading all these, then thanks.  You're pretty cool.  If not, well, that's ok too and I don't really blame you. :)