I have been thinking a lot about what we were doing around this time in 2008. About now we were in Thailand in an area called Sukhothai...
I picked a guest house kind of out in the middle of nowhere, but is didn't matter much as we spent our time riding bikes through the palace ruins.
It was like we had the whole place to ourselves!
What was I thinking with that fanny pack? I mailed it home after I saw how it ruined these pictures haha...
Oh, and the green curry was soooooo delicious! It took us quite awhile to catch a bus out though... it was like there was no schedule... a sleepy little town with no need for set times (much to the irritation of us organized backpackers... we were sitting at the side of the road waiting for that bus for what felt like eternity).
May all the buses you need today be prompt!
Today is the start of Chinese New Year! Back when we were living in Beijing, Emma and I rang in the year of the rat with style! It was a little bit scary as there were fireworks going off everywhere... and not all of them were pointed for the sky!
I was especially nervous... Emma and I were about to embark on our journey around South East Asia and I didn't want to risk being injured!
I don't think hiding behind the Diet Coke bottle made me safer from all the fireworks (but it was worth a try!)...
Just a small sample of what was in store for the night.
The next day we went to the temple fair. It was really crowded but so cool to see! There were food and merchandise booths, red lanterns everywhere, and some interesting entertainment options (remember the singing?).
So much fun! I am going to learn how to make jiaozi and then next year we can celebrate here with sparklers, mahjong, and red decorations!
Hi Emma!
Well things have gotten colder on this side of the world, but still no sign of snow. Do you remember what we were doing about this time when we lived in Beijing? We went to Harbin to the Ice-Lantern Festival!
The train ride up to Harbin was soooo cold! Once we got there it was even colder... eyelashes froze, mobiles and cameras died, we had to wear layer upon layer of clothing whenever we ventured from the comfort of the hotel...
There was a really pretty cathedral there as well...St. Sofia's.
You wore that scary balaclava the whole time... well some of the time...
Other highlights included Stalin Park, the Russian Ice Bar, and Siberian Tiger Park!
That was such a fun trip! I'm sure you are having just as much fun wherever you are now... though I bet you are enjoying the weather much more! Miss you!
Yours with love-Anna
Dear E,
I am so sorry that I missed your call on Christmas Eve! I hope Nepal is great!
Do you remember when we spent Christmas together in 2007?
When you were in Oz in November you got us those matching outfits...
Even though we we were both miles away from our families we managed to make it a special event.
Can't wait til next Christmas when you are here having Christmas! Miss you!
Yours with love-A
Dear E,
Wow! India sounds crazy... like a crazy good time! I hope you remembered your earplugs... haha!
Seeing how you just left Phuket, Thailand, I was just thinking about when we were there last...
Remember how we happened to be there during an election so there were all kinds of rules... like...
Then we met those crazy Aussies who were in town for a destination wedding...
And we wound up lighting off the paper lantern things at the beach...
Then we went for a late night swim... at least you did... until the security guard came. He was blowing a whistle and yelling... something about how swimming at night wasn't allowed (let me just tell you I was panicked while waiting for you on the shore... I imagined you being thrown in jail like Bridget Jones and me having to figure out how to bail you out...).
That was an epic night!
Take care (after all, I'm not there to bail you out this time!).
Yours with love-A
