Last weekend, Justin and I laced up our sneakers and headed to the mountains with a group of expats for our first "hash run." Despite it being a little reminiscent of a college frat party, it was a great way to escape the city for a couple days and spend time with new friends.
"Do you like China or Thailand better?" I get this question from family and friends a lot. It's tough to write an answer fit for a text message. There are pros and cons to both— highs and lows I've felt living in each country. Let's explore some of them here, shall we?
Last weekend, Justin and I, along with a group of fellow teachers from our school, had the honor of visiting Wat Ban Rai, a temple located about an hour outside Korat. As one of the only temples shaped with an elephant's head and a body of a turtle in Thailand, we were truly lucky to experience this one-of-a-kind place in person.
New Year's Eve is that one holiday everyone hypes up. You always want to plan the perfect night in the most perfect setting with your favorite people so you can ring in the new year right. I've had my fair share of awesome New Year's Eve celebrations (and a handful of not-so-good ones too), but I can say, without a doubt, celebrating the new year in Chiang Mai was one of the best ones yet.
As I write this, I lay on bed of patterned pillows and colorful tapestries on the rooftop of our guesthouse. The city of Chiang Mai is all around me— tiled rooftops, golden temples, and lush greenery stretch for miles in front of a mountainous backdrop. Between the cool breeze drifting through the rooftop's wind chimes and the soft jazz playing at a restaurant on the street corner below, I think I could stay here forever.
If you've traveled to any Southeastern Asian country, you're familiar with the border hopping process. For those who have no idea what I'm referring to, border hopping is a way to either "restart" your visa or get a new visa entirely.