Visiting my Lola in Tarlac, Philippines

During holy week, the cities become quiet and still while the families reunite in the provinces. I visited my grandma for 5 days in Tarlac on the old chicken farm.

I spent a lot of time painting as there was no internet, but she enjoyed watching me paint.

And boy oh boy does she have stories to tell. Often I'd hear the same one 3 or 4 times each day. They ranged from her childhood, how she was rushed to get married because of the war, how her 10 children were able to go to college because of her "house of eggs" poultry farm, to her travels to Europe. While taking a break from her endless storytelling, I found a container of old pictures, including these gems :)

My mom was adorable!!

Postcards from Abroad - April Update

I'm nearing the last leg of my journey with Australia and New Zealand on the horizon. Big, epic adventures are on the itinerary from trekking thru & helicoptering over glaciers, road tripping from the North to South Islands of NZ in a campervan, wine tasting by bicycle, cuddling with a koala, and visiting Hobbiton. I've been waiting for this part of my backpacking tour and on the 8th, I'll be on my way. Make sure to order a Postcard from Abroad if you want a snippet of the travels!

Here are photos of last month's postcards:

Bicycling through Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia

 My rented ride. Biked about 40-50 km. I was very sweaty in the 90+ degree heat.

I sat down to paint this tree (because how could you not?!?) and by the end, I had quite an audience and some fellow painters with me.

 Showing her how to use the watercolors.

 The crowd gathered to watch sunset at one of the wats was more interesting than the actual sunset, IMO.

I was continually astounded by how open and well-preserved the temples were. I felt like a kid wandering through corridors, windows, and doors, not sure where exactly they would lead me, or climbing up steep stone steps for a stunning view. My favorites were the trees perhaps as old as the temples themselves essentially crushing the wat walls to grow. 

Besides Angkor Wat, Siem Reap is a lovely city. The people are really kind, and the tuktuk drivers are very creative with their solicitations. Best of all, the food is delicious and cheap. I can't wait to go back!

The slow boat into Luang Prabang, Laos part 2

There are four ways to travel from Huayxai to Luang Prabang: fly (expensive), bus (windy and bumpy), fast boat (dangerous [the boat operators wear helmets!]), and slow boat (2 days/1 night boat ride down the Mekong River). To let our weary, sore legs rest, we opted for the slow boat. Plus, I had read in my research that it's just sitting around, watching scenery, sipping on Lao beer, and meeting other backpackers. It was a good time.

Sima & I waiting for the slow boat to depart. It eventually did 2 hours after its expected departure. Classic slow boat. Our boat even had engine problems and we were stuck for an hour.

We stopped overnight in Pak Beng, a town that seems to thrive and survive off the fact it's a stopping point for slow boaters. Seeing rural huts and poverty along the river, then arriving in a town with hotels and fancy restaurants was quite a culture clash.

We arrived in Luang Prabang, a UNESCO world heritage site, and it is the loveliest city I've ever visited. 

Night market! I love 'em!

 More foraging for fruit with Sima's guidance & Sasha's height + bamboo.

Last night in Luang Prabang. Free shots, delicious food, and great company. And if you find yourself there looking for a drink, go to Utopia. It's the coolest bar/lounge ever. Claudia and I woke up early Saturday morning and did yoga on their deck (with a view of the river!), then returned in the evening for a drink. Sigh, I left Luang Prabang much sooner than I would have liked. 

After Luang Prabang, I hopped on a bus to Vientiane. It was the wildest ride of my life. I felt like I was on a roller coaster 4 of the 6 hours. A couple people actually got sick and one person puked on himself. EW! If you're planning on taking the bus from Luang Prabang to Vientiane stop in Vang Vieng, and take the mini bus. You'll want the comfort.

On to Cambodia!