7 More Days!

I cannot believe that in 7 more days I leave for Bangkok.

I am so excited, I can hardly contain myself and I'm all packed and ready to go.  In fact, I've been so excited I packed a month in advance.  Crazy, I know but I think putting aside clothes and other essentials you want to bring with you on your vacation ahead of time is a time saver.  We've all been procrastinators, but throwing together your suitcase at the last minute is never a good idea because you're bound to leave something (important) behind!  The only thing left to pack is my toiletries, and I do that the day I leave.  Easy. 

So what am I looking forward to most on this trip?  Read on.  

1) Riding the sky trains all over Bangkok - I have absolutely no tours planned in the "City of Angels" (interestingly, Bangkok means "city of angels").  The metropolis and all its attractions are accessible by rail, so why not take advantage of them?  They're modern, fast, and cheap.  Who doesn't love convenience!  Speaking of convenience, you can take a train directly from the airport into the city center. Sweeeet!

2) Street food - Asia is famous for its hawker food, and I'll let you in on a little secret: the best food is served by street vendors and at basic mom-and-pop restaurants.  Just step outside and you'll find millions of people behind their little kiosks selling all kinds of foods, from grilled meat skewers and beef ball noodle soup to stir-fried egg noodles and banana leaf-wrapped rice.  The trick is to go to the ones with the longest lines.  And of course there is also adventurous eating to be had for those daring palettes ... roasted bats, fried spiders, and crunchy ants among others.  Hey, it's high in protein.  Hmm ... maybe not for me.  But all in all, street hawkers are a true foodie paradise and an experience one shouldn't miss!  I have my sights set on Penang and Jalan Alor.  

Some people stay clear of street food for fear of getting sick, but the food is generally fresh as vendors shop for their ingredients at the markets on the day they sell their food.  This is also a huge part of a local's day-to-day lifestyle.  When in Asia, do as the Asians do and let us immerse ourselves.  I don't fear food poisoning; I only worry that I can't decide what to eat!


3) Getting lost at Chatuchak Market - I want to experience a local Thai market and this happens to be one of the world's largest.  They sell everything under the sun.  There is a way to navigate through the chaos, but for once I'm not going to bother figuring it out.  I'll just let spontaneity lead the way.  And when I get thirsty, I'll have a Thai iced tea from one of these vendors.  SO cool!! 

4) Lumphini Park - With all the eating I'll be doing, I have to somehow get my work-out in.  Yeah, yeah, I'll pretty much be walking all over Thailand sweating bullets in 100-degree weather, but I've read so many good things about this green oasis in the middle of the city that I cannot not go to it.  You think I'm crazy for wanting to work out on vacation?  Well, there will be plenty of other Bangkokians that will partake in physical activity if not run alongside me.  I read that after sunset many people will do aerobics here set to loud music.  Sounds like fun times to me!  PLUS, there will be more eating here.  Work out hard and you will be rewarded.  That's my philosophy.

5) Celebrating Eid-al-Fitr with relatives in Indonesia - It's been 10 years since we've visited our relatives in Sumatra, but like everything in life, things happen for a reason.  It's an opportune time that we visit this year as Eid falls on August 19th, which coincides with the time that we'll be in Sumatra.  My mother has told me about her childhood memories, the prep-work involved and the cooking and eating during such a festive time.  The assortment of colorful wardrobe donned by females of all ages.  The ritual of visiting one family member's house after another.  The exchanging of gifts.  Such joy and laughter.  It is also a time for forgiveness.  I have always wondered what this celebration would be like, and now I get to experience it first-hand.  

6) Borobudur - enough said. 




7) Train travel from Yogyakarta to Banyuwangi - I've never traveled via rail in Indonesia, and I'll be doing it from central Java to the very eastern tip of the island with the intention of reaching Bali.  Talk about doing something off the beaten path!  

8) Snorkeling Menjangan Island - I have not read a single bad review on this place.  Should be magical.  



9) Traditional Balinese dancing in Ubud - There is something enchanting about the way these beautiful, colorfully-clad women move to the sound of gamelan music.  And just watch their eyes.  Their musicality is exquisite.  

10) Cycling through the greenest green rice paddies and visiting with locals in Bali that culminates with a traditional Balinese feast at a traditional Balinese home - Umm ... yes please!  This is one of two organized tours I've booked this entire trip (the other is for Borobudur), and probably the most exciting thing I am looking forward to during our visit to Bali.



Let's hope the next 7 days go by fast!  Stay tuned for stories and photos to come from my travels!