Humbled...

Aside from all of the touristy stuff, we did in fact help folks out.  We handed out t-shirts, $2 bills, money, and our time.  The people who received the t-shirts were so thankful and people who received the $2 bills considered themselves lucky. I secretly hope they are able to save the $2 bill and are able to find a better life.  It was humbling to see people's homes and lack of electricity, plumbing, and running (safe) water.  I find it hard for people in America to even fathom what these people go through everyday...I know that I can not.  We visited a water village in Cambodia that was nearly heartbreaking.  These people live and die here.  They have little chance to ever leave due to lack of social status, jobs, and money.  Two water wells were donated by Ryan's mom's church, Morningside Lutheran-Sioux City, to two households outside of Siem Reim, Cambodia.  Can you imagine that the majority of the people in their area do not have running water...even from a well?  Running water, people...the stuff that comes out automatically from the faucet just about anywhere you go? That you can (almost always) drink?  Do you know that a well in this area only costs $450?!  Anyone interested in helping raise funds??????

Water Village Home

Water Village Home

Water Village Home

Little Cambodia Dude...Super Cool.

 Even threw up the Peace Sign when his pic was taken later on

Children who received t-shirts and candy-They were happy for the moment

Water Well.

Home of water well recipient-kitchen is to the left; outside of the house

Bike Rider...

Road home

How to lose 5lbs in 2 weeks...

One thing that I haven't commented on is the food that we were privvy to while in T-L-C.   This was a crazy new experience for each of us, as well as a learning experience. Breakfast consisted of rice and vegtables.  Lunch was rice and vegtables.  Dinner was, any guesses, rice and vegtables.  I did eat a little chicken but had to give it up after a couple of days.  I just couldn't handle anymore.  There were just too many new smells & different prep/cooking techniques.  Chris & Ryan would only eat chicken fried rice (at some point Chris' new name was Chix Fried Rice) and by the end, I'm nearly postive my dad was only eating fruit and Chris had completely stopped eating all together.  Everytime I think about this I laugh.  I would like you to keep in mind that it is not that we were ungrateful, it was, I think, we were just not used to having the same thing 3x/day, 7 days/week. :)

EXTRA SPICY chicken dish...lunch on the river 

Dried duck blood anyone??

Crispy Minnows...mmmm delicious

Weren't quite sure what this was but it sure was cute! :)

Cliff loved his minnows...

Fried crickets...

Water Bug-Conclusion was that it was not too good...

Meal prepared by a Christian Ministry in Laos-very kind & they had great sticky rice

FRESH Mango (like straight off the tree fresh)-Tom is obviously in paradise...

Don't wanna lie...but, I had a hard time at this meal...

Finally...Spags!!! 

BeerLao...notice the straw...when in Rome...

My Lao Party People!!

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World's Worst Blogger...

Okay...I'm officially the world's worst blogger now.  Sorry I let everybody down...does anyone still even read this?  I wouldn't.  I had so many ideas about what to write while rolling around Thailand, Laos, & Cambodia. We were going most days until after dinner and by the time I got back to the hotel I was exhausted.  Then, after Ryan left, I was without a computer & the internet was shotty at best.  I'll admit that I used my Nook to access the internet a couple of times...but, that was just to email. So, after all of my terrible excuses...I've decided that I'll post random thoughts & pictures from the trip.

The King's Birthday...December 5th
Thailand's King's Birthday was Sunday, December 5th.  The King's color is yellow, but due to political unrest between the yellow & red shirts, people wore pink to celebrate the King's birthday.  Ya'll know I was wearing pink too...just trying to fit in.  Ryan had pink stitching on his shirt, so he fit right in too.  :)

Before we left Bangkok, via a fabulous overnight bus ride to Chiang Mai (approx. 9 hours...who's counting right?), we visited JJ's Market, which is a relatively large mall.  Upon leaving the mall I had to use the restroom.  So mom & I quickly went & when we came out our guide didn't know that mom had come with me & thought she had went with the van.  Suddenly, he's panicking b/c there is no extra room in his car for me and I'm frantically running through this huge mall (where everything looks exactly the same) trying to find a way out & get to the van before it leaves me. I get outside and make it to the rally point & no one is there.  I mean, no one from our group is there but, there are about a zillion other people walking around, cars & scooters are flying by, & it's night time.  All I can think is "what the hell happens to me now?! what do I do?" I tried to ask a security guard for help but he can't speak English (and you know I left my translation book in the van)...I'm on the verge of tears at this point.  I decide to stand next to one of the many exits from the parking garage, praying that the guide with my mom & the others will drive by & see me (fat chance I keep telling myself).  I'm running through scenarios in my head on how I'm going to get to Chiang Mai by myself when suddenly the "van people" come walking towards me.  Ended up that they got lost trying to get out of the mall & were running late.  Thank God on that one.  Afterwards I talked with Ryan & we now have an emergency plan in place in case one of us gets lost...or leaves the other behind. :)

I won't lie...I'm glad to be home.  At least I know how to get to where I'm going (most of the time) and toilet paper is typically included in the stall. 



30 Baht = $1

Hi Everyone!  Sorry it's taken me so long to get anything up...it's been a lot of flying, driving, & not very good internet.  :)  So far everything's been really great here.  Yesterday (our 1st day here) was fantastic & hot...I hear there's some bad weather coming to the midwest. We visited the Grand Palace & saw several Buddist Temples, including the Emerald Budda.  Talk about insane architecture.  How did these folks manage to build all of these wonderful structures without all of our modern technology??  We were guests at BIT, Bangkok Institute of Theology, where the students provided us a fantastic dinner and Diary Queen ice cream cake!  It was Barb Baker's (mom-in-law) birthday and all of the nearly 120 students sang her happy birthday.  It was pretty amazing.

 

Today we went to the floating river market. What a neat experience to witness. We have had some issues with currencey conversion...you'd think we all forgot how to do the math.  I won't lie though...I'm seriously sleep deprived at this point...

Tomorrow we are visiting elephants!! whoa!



T-Day...2010

Thanksgiving 2010 started off great...dog was walked by 0830, got the cake baked by 0900, and were to my aunt's by 1100.  Amazing...We were on time! We had a great day and were continually reminded how blessed we really are.  It was nice to take it slow and not be reminded every minute of all the stuff that needs to get done.  Flash forward to Friday...oh my! Got up and haven't stopped since! But, we've got the $2 bills that everyone says the Thai/Laos/Cambodia kids love, we've (I mean Baker ;) got the yard raked, & the house cleaned! Tomorrow is packing and debugging the clothes (mosquitoes love me). "They" say this stuff will really work; won't get a bite ever---uh huh...we'll see. But first is...dun dun dun...the Fit Pit!  Oh No!!  www.fitpitkc.com

Fruit Salsa...Delicious!!

 Pretty sure the Indians & Pilgrims would've loved fried pickles...  

Cute little Halee...oh yeah, and only about 1/4 of the food...

As long as she's smiling...I'm happy & thankful!

The Beginning...

As I sit here at work (bored with tons to do) on my last day for nearly three and a half weeks (right before Thanksgiving) I'm conflicted on my feelings for my trip...1) I'm beginning to hyperventilate on the fact that I'll be gone from the homeland/friends/phones/Kooper for this long of time 2) There's soooo much to do in the next several days (including deep cleaning of the house, T-day cooking, & packing) 3) The scary war that may or may not start in the 2 Koreas (we're landing there for approximatley 2 or so hours...not too sure with all of the time changes) 4) Excited to be going to Thailand!!!!