Decapitated heads, arms outstretched in pain and, oddly enough, characters from horror movies are visible throughout Wat Rong Khun, better known as the White Temple. True faith is suffering and pain, says the temple's creator Chalermchai Kositpipat of the modern Buddhist temple. Sammi and I took the … [Read more...] about Photo Friday: Chiang Rai, Thailand
Thailand
The Art of Doing Nothing in Pai
Our time in Thailand had already been a whirlwind, as we flew straight from Darwin, Australia to Chiang Mai in the midst of Songkran, the New Years celebration known for massive water fights in the street and all around chaos. We wanted a few days to relax before spending a week volunteering at the … [Read more...] about The Art of Doing Nothing in Pai
On Penance and the Power of Voice
Four years ago, on my first trip to Thailand, I was naïvely excited about getting up close with an elephant. I visited a camp, rode an elephant and was entertained by the shows and paintings. Saying I didn't know any better would be a cop out. I was so captivated by the creatures that I wasn't … [Read more...] about On Penance and the Power of Voice
Packing for 3 Months in Asia
This trip has been two years in the making, so of course I've gone over what to pack about a million times in my head during that time. I knew I wanted to get as close to going carry on only as possible, although it's hard to manage when you're flying long-haul carriers and regional budget carriers, … [Read more...] about Packing for 3 Months in Asia
Photo Friday: Scenes from Rural Thailand
I was finally comfortable in Chiang Mai when it was time to leave for the mountains. I packed up my sleeping mat, took some medicine for my swollen lip, and piled into Bill's pickup truck for the bumpy drive into the no-name villages of Thailand's north. Although I had spent plenty of time in … [Read more...] about Photo Friday: Scenes from Rural Thailand