Beauty In The Breakdown

Place: Sukhotahi
Where: Northish East of Thailand
Why: Why not?
What: The first capitol of Thailand now turned into ruins.
How: 4 hour bus ride to Sukhothai, then bike riding from wat to wat.

If you don't like pictures, this is SO not the post for you. Just one of those things you can't explain, and the pictures don't even do it justice. But here we go anyway, if you'd prefer cricket eating, groin searching, massage mayhem, or fish sucking. Look elsewhere.


There are many Wats in the area. I wish I knew more about them, but of course. I don't.

If you take a picture with Buddha, your head has to be below his head. Don't ask me why we are stooping a bit, his head is OBVIOUSLY higher. I think we were just paranoid because this is the place of the most known Mormon Thailand story ever. Ya know, the missionaries who sat on the Buddha and are forever banned from Sukhothai. Yeah, that story.

We were just trying to show how massive these things are. They are huge!! We barely come up to the knee (if this thing had a knee...) and not even all the way!



I just really like this picture.


And this picture, the people are so cute there. Always fruit to sell!





The Monks actually came up to all of us girls and asked if they could take a picture with us. So one by one they got their picture ha. It was really funny. The only thing is you can't touch them! I'm glad we were informed of this little fact before we got to Thailand.. I thought I would be the one taking pictures of people....little did I know being a "white girl" would make ya cool.






This one is just a replica of the statue that was here, but now calls Bangkok home. Word on the street, this is the most famous one in Sukhothai because it gave the idea for the feminine look of many Buddhas.

And that is Sukhothai. It was a sweaty, hot day (what day isn't a sweaty hot day these days though...) but it was a great place to see. Not too touristy because it's pretty much in the middle of nowhere, and so so beautiful.

Hope all the pictures were even slightly entertaining. We were chased by a little cow if that spices things up a bit....no? Well, it was worth a shot.

My Life Would SUCK Without You

Next two words for ya...

Fish. Spa.

Let me explain.

Noah, one of the kids from BYU lives with a family here. One of the brothers is a Japanese teacher. Noah speaks Japanese from his mission. Noah met college students from his host brothers class. Then on Friday we hung out with them. You follow?

Anyway.

They really wanted to go to a fish spa. Before coming to Thailand I would have looked at them like they were crazy. Fish spa? No such thing. Well I would have been very wrong.

There is such a thing as sticking your feet in a tank of skin sucking fish. Weird? Yep. Awesome? Even more yep.

So always being in the mood for an adventure, it was not hard to sell me.

I feel like pictures can explain this way better than I can.

First, meet Gum, Meile, and Pe pe. Easily the nicest people ever. They were a great introduction into Thai college life.

Next meet the hundreds of fish that sucked my skin off. (I'm gonna lick your skin off....I wish you wouldn't. Name that movie).

Weird though right??

You just stick your feet in and attempt to leave them it. It seriously tickles so bad. Noah was a little wimpy to begin with but you sort of get used to it. It's just one of those feelings you can't explain I guess.

And sometimes it hurts... obviously.

Then you can stand up so the water goes all the way to your knees. So they proceeded to move their sucking up your leg...


And there you have it. My first fish spa experience. It tickled and hurt and felt good and weird all at the same time. It was really fun just to hang out with everyone though. Like i've said before, Thai people are so incredibly nice. It's fun to have some friends here! Friends that will take me to places where things will eat my skin... wonder what is next on the agenda.... things in hair eating monkeys?

Pop Lock And Drop It

Okay, so my bug eating was a little more self inflicted. I could still not help quoting this video though.

I, yes me, I ate crickets. 3 to be exact.

Pop Lock and Drop It became the theme of the eating.

Pop the cricket in your mouth. Feel the pop of the body...gross

Lock your lips

And drop... aka attempt to swallow

That about sums up the entire experience...

Honestly, they sort of tasted like super salty sun flower seeds or something. The only problem was the pop that occurred when you fist bit them. Oh another problem, it was hard to swallow their legs. They kind of just lingered in your mouth and throat after...no good. Final problem, the after taste. Seriously, no amount of cotton candy was gettin that taste out!

But hello, why pass up such a cultural experience as that?!

And for your pleasure, the video should be making its blog debut soon. Proof.

This whole bug eating thing occurred at the Doi Suthep festival/holiday/worship thing. Thousands of people gathered to hike up to the top of the mountain with the gold temple on top from my previous post.

Many people walk up while meditating and those wearing all white are allowed to enter the temple and worship from midnight to 5am. For me that would become nap time, but it's a pretty special thing as far as I understand.

It was another one of those awesome cultural experiences, the things that would only happen in Thailand. I guess I can picture everyone in Provo gathering together to walk to the Y in silence and meditation...okay maybe not. But sadly, maybe yeah. Good ol Provo....

On the bright side though, luckily they only asked me to eat crickets. Opposed to these things...

Maybe next week.

Since we are on the topic of bugs real quick... I woke up to this near my head. Yes, that is a spider, not a small child or something. I like to think it stayed there all night opposed to coming any closer to me, wishful thinking I know...

Whatever Happened To Predictability, Milk Man, The Paper Boy, Evening TV?

I feel like I left all predictability in Utah.

Everything I knew, was accustomed to, expected, was all left behind.

That's a part of the adventure here. The only predictability here is to expect the unexpected.

The biggest example of this is fruit. First of all, half of it doesn't even look edible, let alone like something sweet is inside. I always expect one color and open it to find another. I expect one texture and get an entirely different one. I expect it to be a rock or a small furry animal and it is a fruit. Go figure?

There are some trends that I am noticing though. And those provide a little comfort. Something expected among all these shockers is always welcome.

If it is a liquid food in a baggy. I won't like it.

If it bites. It will bite me.

Shaving is like reverse pac man. Pac-man tries to eat the dots, I try to avoid the dots (bug bites taking over at least 50% of my legs.)

If it barks. It will chase me on my bike.

If it has rice. It is yummy

If it is yummy. It is spicy.

If it is spicy. I will sweat.

I will sweat. A lot. All day. Everyday. Even sitting.

If it is handmade. It is awesome. And beautiful. And I want it.

If it is any treat from 7-11. It is way better than any treat from sev at home. (even beans in a roll. what?!)

If there is ice cream. I will find it. (Swensen's yummm)

If it is my hair. It will be in a bun. Always. Why you ask?

Exhibit A:

So... I try to find these predictable little things to make it like home. Predictable good, or predictable bad, it is predictable nonetheless. Because even if it is predictable bad, at least it is happening in Thailand. I mean come on, Thailand mosquito's have got to be better than Utah mosquito's....uhh....(keep tellin yourself that hayley...) yeah I know...

Among The Fields Of Gold

Oh just a random picture for ya. Flooded street anyone?

Anyway,

Sunday in Thailand was amazing. Walking into the chapel and hearing the hymns being played was the most comforting thing i've experienced yet. It was the peace i've been wanting this whole time. How many times have you heard it said, "the church is true whatever country or language you are in?" Well let me tell you, it is truly something you have to experience to grasp. It was beautiful, and simple, and beautifully and simply the same. True.

One of the missionaries translated the meeting into these headphone things. I found myself taking them off and enjoying the truth I felt, through the words I could not even understand. The ward members were welcoming and kind, like all the Thai people I have encountered so far. They are simple people. I believe the simplicity in their lives allows them to love even more than we even know how.

Everyone, the Big C workers, my tuk tuk driver, Anna, the fruit vendor. They all are so sweet, ready to help, and willing to be your friend, language barrier and all. It is a simple concept and so natural to them. I love the people here.

After church I was able to go to Doi Suthep. There is a Wat (temple) at the top and it is amazing. It is gold and shiny, and something a picture could never begi

n to capture. All of the pictures of this trip don't capture even half of what I felt while actually living it. But it's the best I can do I guess!

This is their railing. Yep, the railing on the way to the Wat. Amazing right?

Isn't she sweet? Behind her is the continuation of the dragon railing, i'm still amazed at that. And she is there to get money by posing for pictures I assume...

That is the front entrance to Wat Phrathat. Just you wait until the gold part if you think this is intricate!

There are many people that place incense and flowers and many other prayers. It is a beautiful thing to watch!

There it is! There are many other gold sections, but like I said, pictures just don't cut it!

There are many children performers right outside of the Wat. Many dancing and playing instruments. It is a really good insight into the history and culture!

Check out that view! That is looking over Chiang Mai, so my house is somewhere in there. This was one of the most beautiful views I have ever seen. If you stepped a few steps back you could not see the city so it felt like I was sitting among the clouds. A little bit of Heaven I think!

Thailand's a beautiful place huh? I am one lucky girl!

I've Got Wings To Fly.. Oh I'm Alive

Doesn't Celine Dion make you want to run down the street twirling around, reminding yourself that you are not in a dream, but simply living your dreams?? Okay maybe it's not Celine doing that to me, maybe it's the fact that I truly am living a dream. And the best thought? This dream doesn't finish after Thailand. I am just embarking on the beginning, the world will never run out of new spots for me to see. Cheesy enough for ya? But seriously, I'm in Thailand. I have to pinch myself daily so I don't waste one second.

It has officially been one week here. Let's be honest....i've been homesick at parts, happy at parts, scared at parts, ya know, the whole range of emotions. I would be a total liar if I said adjusting has been a total breeze. I would also be a liar if I said I was already adjusted. I have a long way to go, but things are looking up daily. Of course I miss so many things about home, but i've only got 3 and a half months here which leaves me no time to be homesick!

This weekend we met up with the whole group from BYU. I had not seen most of them since we went our separate ways on Monday so this was just the morale boost I needed!


One of my bucket list items was to zip line through the jungle....check.

I seriously didn't think i'd get to check that one off this early in my life so that alone is pretty amazing.

We woke up early in the morning and headed to the northern Thailand jungle. We harnessed up, met our hilarious Thai flight guides, and went on our way. First off, it was a great thing to do this early in the trip. It is hard not to bond with people when you're wearing harnesses... I mean, they're flattering and all but...



There were 20-something zip lines with the longest being 130km. It was seriously so fun, I love that kind of stuff. It was so surreal as I zoomed over the jungle, fulfilling one of my dreams. Every day here I do something new. Endless experiences, people to meet, fruits to try, and adventures to find.

I couldn't help from belting out I'M ALIVE! Okay, the whole belting thing took place in my head, but still. How can you not feel alive when you're surrounded by beauty, zooming through endless green trees, and so incredibly grateful just to be alive?





Oh Celine, I don't even like a lot of your songs....but she sure hit the nail on the head with this one.

"I can touch the sky, I know that i'm alive"