Mad Monkey, Buddha, and Bugs! Oh My!

I'm pretty sure I've seen almost all of Phuket island in the past couple of days. We have been nonstop tramping around this town. The Big Buddha was for sure on our list of things to do. I would maybe say The Big Buddha was the Hollywood sign of Thailand. From anywhere in Phuket city you have a view of this enormous statue. So we set off up the mountain to go and check it out. Upon arriving Whitney and I were given skirts and scarves to cover our shoulders and knees to show respect. Walking up to this landmark we were in awe of how large it was, standing at around 150 ft. tall.

After the obvious tourist photo shoot we set off inside to find monks chanting prayers, and a line beginning to form on the right side where there were young monks, in training maybe? The crowd was lining up to give their offerings of rice to the boy monks. Since everything monks receive is given to them there is no exception with food. Whit and I hopped in and went down the line scooping out a spoonful of rice for each.

Ascending the stairs was killer, but the view that came afterwards was stunning. With a year predicted until Big Buddha is completed, there is still construction happening on site. Our wolf pack decided we needed to be encased in this landmark forever. Therefor we donated by purchasing a small block of marble that will become part of the statue in the future.

Now there is one thing I forgot to mention about on our scoot up the mountain. With Whitney charging on in front of the pack she decides she needs to make a pit stop. Where else other than a slightly grimy monkey show? Following her in, by the time Mike and I make it inside she is already off her hog and nose deep trying to figure out if she can get a photo with these foreign creatures.

After some wagering she's allowed and I'm tossed the camera to capture these UNFORGETTABLE moments. The first was a larger monkey nice and proper even crossing his legs to sit next to her. Now over to the little baby monkey everything changed. This rampant thing was hopping about everywhere..head..shoulder... swinging off arms, I couldn't even keep the camera in one spot. And then a big truck drives by and ....BAM..CHOMP..

Getting to Thailand: $750

Having photo taken with cute monkey: 100 baht

Doctors bill: 1500 baht

Getting to hold Whitney's hand while she receives a rabies and tetanus shot? PRICELESS

Let this be a lesson to everyone when the monkey guy says don't grab the monkey. Don't grab the monkey. Lesson learned. Here comes the tour of hospitals in Thailand!

Moving on, we've seen so many beaches and viewpoints I can barely keep their names straight. Each is more gorgeous than the next.

Kata Noi

Now I'd like to mention to Sami and Nina, you hookers, they do have 'Hunger Games' here. Mainly to Nina since you teased me that I wouldn't be able to see it :)

Markets in a lot of places have the same things. Cheap clothes and souvenirs from their country and of course the local food. One things you can find here and not back home...bugs. I feel as though this is a rite of passage if you visit Southeast Asia. Whitney and I decided to jump in bellies first with Mike eating for moral support. We dined on grasshopper, cricket and mealworms. The worms were probably the most tasty.

Just a couple days left in Phuket and we are off to more surrounding islands off the east and west coast of Thailand. The promise of more entries to come depending on the wi-fi maybe a couple at a time!

Time to start my day

KT

Our beautiful start

Where to begin? Well, after a day and a half of not having anything I brought with me, my backpack finally showed up at our hotel/apt/hostel room. The wait wasn't that bad it was just the not being able to communicate part because by the time it arrived I still wasn't sure if it was even ever going to be found. The show must go on though. I've had two days in wonderful Phuket now, and it's different but pretty amazing.

Yesterday started off with a short walk around the street that Mike has been staying at for the past few months. Street vendors with food and goodies at every corner and found my favorite coconuts I loved drinking when I was visiting Australia. There they were about $3.50 for one and here 15 baht- which compares to around $.50. What a steal!

After we decided we needed another hog, or motorbike that is. Whitney got her own, while I definitely opted out of having a personal one. Let's just say these streets are not the easiest of navigating, one, and two, I'm not the best of drivers. Now there is a certain way of driving here, there is a right and a left lane. But even sometimes that isn't for sure, if you see someone coming straight at you don't panic. But at the same time the Thai aren't the best drivers either so maybe you should...

Coming here not knowing the Thai language is kind of difficult and I keep finding myself to want to speak Spanish to everyone, And when I do it obviously gets us nowhere. As of now I've settled with thank you always the best word.. Cawp kuhn ka!

The past two days we have been touring Phuket via motorbikes and have visited some beautiful lookouts as well as dined on the beach. While Mike was finishing one of his last days at school Whitney and I decided to try out a massage on the beach. We picked a one hour oil/thai massage. At about ten dollars it was amazing! At certain points it did feel as though she was going to break me in half bc the traditional Thai massage is concentrated on pressure points and stretching. I'm thinking this is going to have to become a regular errand of at least each week! After the massage we were able to hold an octopus some locals found and were grilling up to bar-b-que. He was still alive and suctioned to me.

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Mike has been being our tour guide while we are staying in Phuket, and we are so lucky to have him. Below is Kata Beach this spot was beautiful! I asked Mike later where exactly the Sunami had hit. I was informed that here at Kata beach were where most of the actual sunami videos had taken place. Its pretty awesome to see a community thrive after having something so terrible happen. I'm interested in meeting someone I can talk to down the road about the event and how they feel about it.

These are Spirit Houses. They are outside almost every establishment and home, and the people provide offferings to them to make them happy. If they are not pleased they are said to cause problems.

There is still a lot to come, I can't believe it is only our second day. We have booked all of our tickets now and it seems on this tour we will be visiting 6 countries, aren't we lucky ducks?!

Until next time!

By the way did I mention Whitney's bag weighed 33lbs? I just found out why... She has a whole manicure kit in her bag. I can only imagine what else she brought, silly girl :)

In Transit

Wow, what a hectic last couple of days it's been! Getting everything in order is stressful, but I do want to thank all of you who have helped me along the way to make the process go a little smoother.

It's definitely bittersweet leaving everything back home. With leaving my family and my sister who literally JUST became engaged, to leaving my most amazing puppy, Nixon, in the loving hands of my little sister Alyssa and I'm sure my mom at times- all the way over to leaving my comfort zone of Orlando, where I have been living for the past.... 7 years? And don't forget leaving some of my best friends, two of whom have also just became engaged! Seriously ladies, let's slow it down here, no weddings until I return :)

Orlando has for sure became another one of my "homes." I've met so many truly incredible people throughout the last years. Some I met right off the bat and others just a couple of months ago, but I do have some incredible memories that I am leaving with. Thanks everyone for a crazy, unforgetful chunk of my life.

Now I'm not sure if everyone is in the loop with my possible itinerary for the course of the upcoming months, so here it is. I'm on my first flight to LA right now to meet up with one of my travel partners, Whitney. I met Whitney when I visited the UCF campus for orientation. She proceeded to get up in front of all the freshman and sing ' I'm a little teapot' for some sort of game, and from right then I knew I needed to be her friend.

From LA we are flying to Phuket, Thailand. Here we are being greeted by our other companion, Mike Connor. I met Mike back in 2006 when we we're both working at Orlando Watersports Complex, and he was trying to help me pass my college algebra class. Well he went on to become a math teacher, but for the last year has been in Thailand teaching English.

We aren't completely certain on all of our plans only some are completely nailed down. For sure countries include, Thailand obviously, Laos and Indonesia (Bali in particular.) Now with any good backpacking trip I'm sure plans will be all jumbled up and there will bumps along the way, but that's the fun of it, after it's over of course!

The journey is just about to begin, I for one am pumped. But don't let me fool you, nervous at the same time. But hey, to me that's what life is about - taking chances, pushing yourself and seeing what you are really capable of. Not everyone gets to experience this and I am humbled at the fact that I am able to. Love and miss everyone. Thanks for joining me in writing my story.

Ps. Bag didn't make it. I knew the Delta woman in Orlando was a hooker. Trying to solve situation tomorrow. Thank goodness for travel insurance.