PHOtastic

You know your in Vietnam when you see this outside your window!

Motorbike overload!

Travelers favorite shirt

 

California Fitness! hahah thought this was great!

they come out like horses on a track

Right here is a safe addition to any motorbike or motorcycle...

I would never put a baby on this! so unsafe.

here is maybe the reason I was sick after my first day in Hanoi

After an all nighter, no sleep- + a funny drunk cab ride.... I made it 3 hours early to my 6:45 AM flight to Hanoi.

Its crazy how many Vietnamese people really do embrace the Vietnamese pyramid hat. I find it quite comical because they really are funny looking hats but they do work wonders. I don't know what it is about my Vietnamese hat but every time I take it out in public, people assume its a "community hat". 

They pick it up, put it on and sometimes walk away with it on. 

Ya sure.... I mean it was only a dollar.. As long as you bring it back. Promise you'll bring it back.

So what do I have to say about Hanoi... 

I love it. 

WOW surprise surprise right? I mean I like it even more than Ho Chi Minh.

All though they do have a lot of similarities, its just less crazy. 

Pyramid Hats 

Crazy motorbike drivers with 4 or 5 people cruisin'

Never ending honk wars 

Miniature bar stool like table chairs

Cheapest beer

Coolest backpacker hostel

Amazing food: Baguettes, salads, noodles for days, butterscotch ice cream cones (at the mini marts)

Funny looking outfits, onezies and a very active culture. 

Vietnam has personality. It should definitely not be missed if your doing a trip to South East Asia. 

Today I didn't do much just got some sleep, took it easy, went on a walk and celebrated the 5:50 Happy hour special... Ah shit I bought one, I get one free... if you say so! 

I am in a dorm with 10 other beds (girls only) 

Met this guy who I swear has been with me since 5AM. 

Matt from Kansas hehe. I saw him when I was still buzzed at the airport. He was at the "plug in" area chargin up. He had a guitar and looked like he was from the states. 

I asked him if he would watch my shit while I went to the bathroom. I saw him again at visa checkout and then when I walked in my hostel guess who was there... Yep, Matt. After checking in guess who whose stuff was on the bed under mine.... Matt's, kinda trippy. We were like soooo are you staking me?

I went on a walk by myself to go explore this little "old town". The streets all look very similar so its very easy to get lost, which can be the fun of it (sometimes). 

So yes, I got lost.. Found a gym called California Fitness and Yoga, thought that was comical. 

Now tomorrow I got to go get my visa, hence the reason I came here... and then I gotta find something to do with my day. I think Wed I will go on the Ha Long Bay Tour. I'm excited for sure!!! It's expensive but when your already broke everything is expensive. Even this dollar beer I bought. 

I am glad my blog is back up, its a great stress release and reflection of life, love and the pursuit of my travels :) (See what I did there) ... since traveling is my happiness**

Over and Out

#followthefarang

Back To Blog

Some people call it falling off the horse others may call it rock bottom, but I like to call it a slap in the face. What am I talking about? well I guess you could say life.... but thats a little too general

I'll go with: My goals/purpose/what the fuck am I doing?

Today, I pretty much realized every GREAT thing I've accomplished but for some reason didn't feel that rewarding sense of accomplishment, moreso "instant gratification". The problem isn't that I give up, I just simple lose motivation to do the tasks I set for myself from previous goals.

I start and go and then I go away... I don't run, I simple change my focus because I feel like it ? Anyways, the purpose of me posting this is because I'm excited. I started this blog because I felt my stories and experience were worth something. In the mist of living up to that expectation I simply lost faith in everything that I came to do. I lost my confidence that I can do anything and be my best. My attitude shifted and I honestly think it was because what I was doing wasn't challenging enough.

I stopped pushing myself because I didn't think I was capable of doing it all. Today I move forward, I know I can do what I love, challenge myself, fall down, get up and push on. Not everyday is going to be SUPER AMAZING... but I know if I pick up the pieces of what I've started and stop making up excuses, I will succeed. I will achieve my goals and I will make a difference.

I Challenge anyone and everyone who reads this (if any) to flip the switch, become your own coach and tell yourself: TODAY IS THE START OF SOMETHING GREAT, I am bigger than my fears and I will not settle for easy.

Cheers all.... I have re-named this blog and created another blog which I will be proud of! Thanks for everyones love and support.

Light The Flame

LOVE this video

When I find something useful or exciting the first thing I want to do is share it.... this is one of those things

Goal-Setting Theory:

Goals tend to motivate people in four ways

1. Provide a consistent direction 

2. Improve the chances for success

3. Serve as self-motivators and energizers

4. Bridge the gap between the dream and the reality

I believe in this theory very strongly. Do it people, WRITE IT DOWN.

How do you expect to have meaning in your life without direction and clarity?

Your important, your worth it, the future is in your hands all you have to do is handle it 

Do Something Epic

Never have I ever felt so proud to be apart of something bigger than myself....

Today my homie Kyle finished this video/documentary for his Business Fraternity Fundraiser back home in Ohio. The video sums up our experience during our Halloween visit to Baan Unrak orphanage.

If you feel the love you can Donate Here

 Kyle thank you for taking me along for the ride, it was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I'm so blessed to have such an amazing friend that shares the same passion to inspire others.

Oh and i'm also proud of his ability to quickly create this inspiration video while also learning how to use Imovie in two days ... He deserves the credit for putting our footage together in a timely fashion! I'm a perfectionist and take forever so deadlines and me don't do well... We are now working on another video that we hope will inspire others to make a difference. 

Living out of a suitcase

M.I.A.

This is me inside of Brooke's new traveling backpack

Where have I been?!?... Living out of my suitcase

Chasing Waterfalls

Bridge over the River Kwai

September-22-2012 (3 days, 2 nights)

Destination: Kanchanaburi, North of Bangkok

Transportation: Public Bus 127 (30THB) -->Bus station Noi--> Private Bus (leaves every 30 minutes, 150THB)

Hostel: Jolly Frog

Accommodation :  Waterfront room 150THB per night (75THB each= $2.50 USD)

comfy king bed, fan, bathroom not attached to room (squatter) 

Tips for travelers-

Bring: Toilet paper, towel, bug spray, sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, pack light, a book, shoes you can get wet (girls jelly shoes) 

Budget: total spent less than 3,000 THB (we got 2 massages, ate nice meals and did the major attractions)

Iris Love

Feels like yesterday Jane and Katie were here! 

But really... it was like 3 weeks ago :( 

We met at Koh Phangan and ever since then its been love at first sight.

They came to Bangkok for the weekend and me and Brooke were of course excited to host...

I mean they were techniqually our first guests! I had an itinerary all set up, well kinda. AKA do everything in Bangkok that we haven't yet done... & take them to all the cool places we love: Here is our stay.....read on

Update

Its been a while since I have blogged, I apologize to all my die-heart followers... (crickets)

DONT WORRY, I am here to tell you that I have good things coming! 

I am currently uploading photos and although I haven't filled you in on the adventures, I haven't forgotten them.

Me and Brooke were at the waterfalls last weekend and it was unreal, can't wait to tell you that one.

This week I've been crazy busy with school and trying to get all of my graduation stuff on track. 

BORING... so ya I will have some new post in the near future; 

PS. Thanks for all the feedback family, friends, strangers...it's always nice to hear that people are actually reading my blog and this isn't just a lost cause. 

Keeps me interested when I keep other interested!

Pressures on

Today it hit me. Like a bag of bricks, it's my last year of college. I'm a senior, in a foreign country where I feel like a freshman all over again. The pressure is external but it's causing me to feel like its "now or never" ... Right when I though "Thai time" was so amazing, western ideology tries to sneak its way in.

I just wanna like push a button and turn off the time in America. Can you image? People would probably go crazy because they wouldn't be going crazy trying to keep up with the time.

Counter productive.

So the reason for my vent is because of my situation:

#1 priority: GETTING MY DEGREE

I'm a senior who has changed major from undeclared to pre-studio art to communications to communications with a minor in journalism to now: a communication studies major with a ton of extra art credits.

33 units left to graduate.

Life as we know it

It's been 1 month & 13 days since I moved to Thailand.

Seems like longer but feels like yesterday I arrived. I can't begin to think I would only have 2&1/2 months left here....there's just no way.

I'm going to take a second to share with you my first experience thus far, since I haven't been "the best" on updates. I missed a lot of really memorial moments but at the same time....I can't spend my life behind a screen..

Paradox of progress: blogging takes a lot of time.

So my initial expectations and my actual experience are two separate realities.

Although I didn't know what quite to expect coming to Bangkok, my ideas remained constant. The #1 question: "Why'd you come to Thailand?" ...Everyone and their moms asked that one.

Helllooo, because I wanted to go somewhere I had never been, somewhere I could experience culture shock, cheap living and a new perspective.

I have experienced all of those but what is more interesting is the unexpected, untold, spontaneous, unreal, life-changing, inspiring and unforgettable moments.

The ones that make you wanna " LALA" as Ashlee Simpson would say....

Coming here I had so many different ideas, stereotypes, judgements, negative and positive reviews about Thailand... It took me until now to realize that all of the talk (Internet, movies, news, friends, books) is just that; talk. They are all going to tell you something different (as I am), but it takes the act of actually traveling to FULLY understand what Thailand or any other culture for that matter, has to offer.

In my opinion, Thailand is an amazing place that unconsciously swims in its rich culture; from the people to the food it is one-of-a-kind.

Thammasat university (my exchange school) is only a little chunk of my experience here.

Orientation: everyone abroad wants to make friends. We put ourselves out there... me and my best friend who really isn't even going to the school :P (love you B)...but looking back, we coulda tried harder. So now were trying to reach out to other international students and include ourselves.

Everyone thinks me, Kyle, Brooke and Kevin are dating, or have known each other for years but the truth is we just happened to be at the same place at the same time and we clicked. like a seatbelt.

We first met on our trip to Kho Samet (which has its our post).

We have done SO much in the past month and 10 days it really blows my mind.

1st night we had an authentic Thai dinner made by our landlords parents

We have been to 2 islands

Meditation temple

Fish spa

Thai massage

Ate almost everything and anything

Fried bugs, Thai food, Indian, Mexican, you name it

Became English teachers:FTC

Rode in a tuk tuk and a scooter cab

Rented scooters

Been lost in Thailand

Boat rides

I spun fire!

Rainbows for days

Kickboxing on the rooftop

Spent too much money on shopping

Realized they don't sell alcohol between 2-5

Full moon party

Pet elephants

Drank out of buckets

Zoo

3 rooftop bars:pub crawl

Night market

Siam market

Central mall

Meet people & made friends from:

Irvine, SB, SD; California

North Dakota, USA

Ohio, USA

Devon, England

Barcelona, spain

Caen, France

Dublin, Ireland

Morocco

Sydney, Australia

London, UK

Singapore, Thailand

Bangkok, Thailand ;)

Kudelstaart, Holland

We Still forget: that it rains almost everyday, taxi cab drivers decided if they want you or don't, bugs bite, u need to bring toilet paper, we are farangs, you can't be high maintenance, laundry doesn't do itself,

Hangovers dont get better with age, tone is everything in Thai language and they look at you like you live on mars.

PS There wine taste like grape juice with a splash of lint.

Heres some photos from Khao San Road

Goodbye Greek life, Hello Thai life

Typical Thai Meal

Home

Wanna see our place?

My new bed sheets!

Challenge accepted

I just registered for the half marathon in Siem Reap, Cambodia:

Dec. 2. 6:30am. Angkor Wat temple

BRING. IT. ON.

Can't wait.

I also just got my iPhone unlocked so now I can update my life from my phone again :) damn it feels good.

Another great day but got a bring presentation in the am- Wish me luck.

Ethos

The week flew by and today has been the start off a great weekend. Yesterday I decided I will be staying in Thailand for my second semester. 

It is what I need, what I want and what will happen. I can't explain to you how happy I am! 

Today I went to lunch with Plum, she is my thai "buddy" that I got paired up with through the international exchange program. She's awesome! 

I brought Brooke, Kyle and Kevin to tag along so we could all get to know eachother. What an amazing lunch....ETHOS I LOVE YOU. 

Ethos is in a hidden alley behind KhoSan road. Such great atmosphere, food and prices. 

We Survived

This was our weekend at Koh Phangan Island. I will do my best to share our crazy experience.

Tuesday Showers

Lesson of the day, when in Bangkok- CHECK THE WEATHER. 

Destination Procrastination

Talk about procrastinating!

Wow... I have been putting off blogging for awhile now. My apologies. 

First I wanted to get caught up with the first few days I missed out on and then I just wanted to get todays stuff down... Now I am just going to update today and then work on the days I have missed. That way I can have everything organized and it won't be such a burden to do new post. 

Currently, Tuesday, August 28th 2012 @ 2:30PM I am sitting waiting for my laundry to be done while Brooke is skyping Zack ;) I am sick...as I have been since I went to bed Sunday night at like 2am. I felt it coming. Thank God for the Z pack I packed. 

I am getting better so thats the good news...As of yesterday: Being sick in a foreign country, no mama no papa... Nothing... Just a lot of medicine that is mostly in Thai. Luckily I found Tylenol at a pharmacy in KhaoSan and some chewable Halls at 7-11. 

Halls in Thailand taste like candy! A cross between Mentos and Hi-chews. 

Moving on, today is not a very eventful day BUT it is an eventful week because we are leaving for the islands tomorrow night at 7PM! 

Me, Brooke, Kyle & Kevin (our only 2 friends who I talked about previously)...

We are so excited and can't wait for the 10 hour bus ride to the islands ;) SLEEP SLEEP SLEEP. Then FULL MOON PARTY PARTY PARTY. 

Well I am going to go update the rest of my post so that I am up to date. I will try to stay on top of it so this isn't just a project=FAIL. 

I have been getting good feedback from friends and family and it makes me smile to know that you are all interested in my travels and I hope you find some of this either comical, entertaining. 

Koh Samet

Kho Samet:

The amazing little forgotten treasure island. 

My first spontaneous trip was to this island. Had no idea who, what or where I was going. Ended up being one of the best trips of my life. We stayed at the smile inn, cheap as hell. Me and Brooke shared a twin bed, boys got the queen...  

Zen Time

Never thought in a million years that me and Brooke would be able to sit still for a whole 3 1/2 hours.... Mission accomplished.
Today we stuck to our word and went to the temple to learn how to meditate. We were suppose to go yesterday but after we met up for lunch and a beer.... it turned into two beers and then ya we decided we best just enjoy the rest of the day with a buzz instead of buddha. but I must say....
WHAT AN EXPERIENCE.
our expectations: "Ok so lets go get lunch then go to this thing for like 15, 30 minutes tops cause lets face it we both get bored easily and we can't sit still for anything.."
what happened: we got there and there were 4 other people in our class. (2 of which were a man who spoke no english and his translator aka daughter...) Our teacher Manit came in wearing jeans and a polo.
I was expecting some monk or something cra cra... He was so down to earth and normal.
So it was me, Brooke, these two girls who were backpacking and this guy who spoke no english and his daughter. The guy who spoke no english supposedly said he was just looking for a place to meditate and that he had seen the illusion of buddha a few times during meditation. He was startin to freak me out not gonna lie. So later on he got dismissed cause Manit said he could use some more "one on one" teaching ;)
Good call.
We continued our lesson where we learned the ins and outs of meditation. He said, "Welcome to the beginners class, this class will last between 3-4 hours.." I didn't even need to look at Brooke cause I already knew what she was thinking... Do we run or do we just pretend like we have self control. We stuck it out. and I am so glad we did.
The experience we had was one that cannot be described via blog/words. Its personal and self-relfecting. Manit requested that we keep the experience to ourself and that we share with others the knowledge of meditation but the true gain is within your own insight.
The type of meditation we were taught is called Insight Meditation. This type of meditation is practiced to help you have a better understanding of yourself through concentration, awareness, patiences, control, discipline and mindfulness. This meditation goes against what we have been programed to learn since birth....Since we were children we have been taught to copy, copy others thoughts, ideas and actions...What we aren't taught is to look inside ourselves for knowledge and direction. This is what I learned today...
Key reminders that stuck with me:

• YOU ARE THE BOSS OF YOURSELF.
• EVERY FEELING YOU FEEL IS BASED ON A CHOICE THAT YOU MADE.
• YOU CANNOT CONTROL OTHERS, YOU CAN ONLY TRY TO INFLUENCE THEM BUT IT IS THEIR DECISION IN THE END. 
• NOTHING IS PERMEANT

Meditation & Mary Poppins

So yesterday I meant to update but I got caught up....its hard these days when you have so much going on and so much responsibility! .....but really,  me and brooke watched a movie and I had no energy to write after that. Bachelorette= Hilarious. Go watch it, now! (after you read this wonderful story)

Yesterday was classic. Tuesday, my first day of school. well if you think about it I have had like 21 of those "first" days but whose keeping track. 

You know when your in a class with all of your friends and then there is that one "new" kid or the "FOREIGN exchange student"..Hello I'm Chrissy Bowman. YEP that was me. the american girl with the strong accent. ? what? Never saw that coming. So in Thailand its like ok to be late. it's not like a blind date where if you are waiting for 5 min your like wtf and then 15 your like never again... its like 15 and your sold. First impression=Teacher is hilarious. Interpersonal relations in thailand.....common what could be better? (sticky rice and mango ;) 

So we had our first group assignment and I got in a group with these 3 girls and 1 guy.... I was trying to be friendly and ask what everyones names were..."Oh I'm Chae, I'm Kuie, I'm Maye, I'm Aunta" this is when I realized yep... I am the foreigner. When I got out of class Brooke met me at school and we decided to explore. Greatest idea ever... we ended up finding barred treasure behind the school..aka The hidden temple. Meditation temple for international students! after passing some messed up little kitties and some monks we made it to the international meditation room. Unlike anything I have ever seen/experienced. Took off our shoes, filled out some paperwork and next thing you know we are following this sweet lady upstairs to the room where people meditate. You thought twilight had a lot of vampires....we peaked in and people were meditating standing up. I can't even describe to you what it looked like. So of course me and Brooke wanted to fully experience it. We went in and sat down on the floor mats, cross legged and all. I had NO IDEA what I was doing or what to do. I just pretended to do something that I saw in a movie or in hot yoga. After a long 3 minutes I looked at Brooke and she said, "I think we should come back when we know what we are doing..." I said "Good Idea".