2012: A Year in Review

2012 is almost to an end.  Normally around this time I will sit and review new albums released in 2012.  As my pay at school is dismal, I've had to sacrifice my love of new music for my love of travel.  So instead of writing my yearly music top 50, I've decided to reflect on what I've done this past year.

The result of my 2012 actually began in 2011.  In September of 2011, I made the decision and committed myself to following a dream I've had for many years: to teach English as a foreign language in Southeast Asia.

January:
I decided to start my journey off by visiting a friend from Leicester, England who moved to the Western Australia suburbs about 3 years prior.  Within 36 hours, I went from freezing cold snow to hot and sunny 100 degree heat in Oz.  Many things took me to Oz.  My friend Rach being one of them.  A yearn for a dip and a surf in the ocean another.  My trip to Oz coincided with Australia Day (sort of Oz's 4th of July).  A tradition across Oz is the Haviana Thong Challenge (not "thong" as in underpants but flip flops rather!).  One chooses a beach, is given a giant inflatable thong and set out into the ocean to hold hands with friends and strangers alike to try to break the World Record of People Holding Hands on Giant Inflatable Thongs in the Ocean.  We ended up at Cottesloe Beach and helped demolish the world record (see the video here).  I am now a record holder in the Guinness Book of World Records.  How's that tip my awesomeness scale?  I spent my 31st birthday surfing all morning on Safety Beach and Golden Bay.  Afterwards we feasted on lamb pizza (I don't even like lamb, but that shit was amazing!) then headed to the bush for some fresh water swimming, cliff jumping and playing with wild kangaroos at Serpentine Falls.  Later on, we hit up the outdoor cinema to watch The Descendants.  All in all, I'd say #31 was an Ozzy-filled success!  The next day, we took a ferry to Rottenest Island for some cycling and snorkeling.  The snorkeling came as a big refreshing relief from cycling (I was told the island was flat...uh, NOT) as I was seriously out of shape and it was about 100 degrees.  The rest of my Ozzy adventure was filled with drinking lots, swimming in the ocean, wandering around Fremantle and tasting the local delicacies including octopus, kangaroo and crocodile (the 'roo and croc were delicious!)

 

February:
After my Ozzy adventure, it was time to get down to business.  I set off for Chiang Mai, Thailand to learn how to be a teacher in merely 4 weeks.  I made new friends, learned real grammar and how to teach anyone in the range from kindergarten kids to adults, from one-on-one to groups to classroom settings.  It was intensive, but it gave me the basic skills to teach and gave me a certificate to let me work pretty much anywhere in the world!  During my course, I was able to discover Chiang Mai.  I quickly fell in love wandering my way through the markets with locals selling their homemade fare, chowing down on delicious street food, and learning about this beautiful Buddhist culture.  When graduation day came, I decided as much as I liked Chiang Mai, the rate of pay here is pretty low compared to the rest of Thailand...and I came here to live in a tiki hut on the beach.

Clockwise from top left: Browsing through the Night Bazaar; Monks crossing the street;
A dog - wearing sunglasses - on the back of a motorbike; Entrance to China Town;
Prayer bells at Wat Pan Tao; A Buddha statue

March:
A Dutch girl on my course has a Thai boyfriend that lives in Trang in the south of Thailand.  During the high season, he runs a dive shop on the small, not-so-touristy island of Koh Ngai.  They invited me to come for a visit.  Of course I took them up on it!  They lived literally 15 feet from the ocean and set up a tent for me and my friend's friend (who was visiting from Holland) in the back.  Talk about island living.  Swimming in the Andaman, snorkeling, relaxing in a hammock, enjoying beer and freshly caught fish, acoustic beach concerts every night...the only thing missing was some waves and a surf board.  I had applied at a few schools in Krabi and was patiently waiting to hear back from them.  After two weeks, I still hadn't heard a word and getting worried, I decided to head back to Chiang Mai.  With the exception of a few, most of the people on my course were staying to work in CM, so I figured that although I wouldn't have the beach, I would have friends.

Clockwise from top left: Koh Ngai paradise - view from the dive shop; Snorkeling at Koh Rok; Me with Pi Tu and Pi Ton;
A tuk tuk taxi in Trang; Hibiscus in Krabi town.

April:
Within 24 hours of arriving back in Chiang Mai, I had a job...what a relief!!  April pretty much came and went with nothing interesting to note.  Except perhaps, Songkran.  Songkran is the Thai New Year and Chiang Mai is the place to be.  This festival begins as a procession to sprinkle water on the Buddha statues and what ensues is a five-day, city-wide all-out WATER FIGHT!!  It is THE craziest party I have ever enjoyed!!  Everyone participates, no one is safe.  If you step out of your home, prepare to be drenched.  I even got into a water fight with a police man.  It was awesome :)

May - June:
I began my new job in May.  It was definitely an adjustment.  I pretty much spent the next few months getting a feel for my new job and wondering if I made the right decision (I was leaning towards "no").

Clockwise from top left: A few of my year 3 students - Film, Focus, Keam-ii, and Siri; Me at 4th of July party;
4th of July fireworks; A typical sight - street food; Students studying hard - or not!; Lights at a market

July:
The second week of July is when shit changed.  I was hit crossing the street by a motorbike carrying 3 girls who looked all of 15 years old.  Torn ligament in my left ankle, covered in bruises, a few abrasions.  I'm told my ankle will never be the same.  I was casted up for 6 weeks and thrown on a pair of crutches.  The crazy thing about this, I had seen it happening.  For months before this accident, I had visions of me in a cast and on crutches...


Frogger: Game Over for me! My fucked ankle in a cast - complete with cast graffiti!

August - September:I didn't do shit.  I couldn't.  Besides my 3-month visa run to Myanmar (I may be one of the few people that has walked across the border to Myanmar and back to Thailand on crutches) I literally stayed in my room if I wasn't teaching.  The boredom and depression was only enhancing my "I think I made the wrong decision in coming here" feeling.  In September after my cast came off, I started massage therapy.  I was seeing a masseur called Sin Chai.  He was about 70, blind, and worked for the hospital for over 40 years and he specializes in chronic pain treatment.  My friend was coming in October and I wasn't going to let my ankle hinder me.  Sin Chai helped me more than I could possibly imagine.

October:
I was still crutched up when my friend came.  We headed to Pai (read about our adventure here), then set off for Siem Reap, Cambodia.  The moment I set foot in Cambodia, I fell in love.  I will write a full blog on my trip there soon, I could not do it justice in a Year-in-Review blog.  Just know that Cambodia reinforced why I came here.  I'm more likely now never to move back to the US.  I need (not want, need) to spend more time in Cambodia, learning about those beautiful people and their culture.  After we left Cambodia, we headed to Phuket (the most overrated island in the world) and Krabi.  This is where I discovered the beach isn't nearly as enjoyable when your on a crutch.

Clockwise from top left: Ta Phrom, Angkor, Cambodia; Fields of Pai, Thailand; Longtail boats on Koh Phi Phi, Thailand;
The majestic Angkor Wat!; Enjoying a coconut shake on Kata Beach, Phuket

November:
Back to school for the second semester....And for the reason that brought me to Chiang Mai in the first place: the festival of Loi Krathong.  Read my blog about Loi Krathong here.

December:
I can't believe how quickly this year has gone by.  It's just flown.  It hasn't felt like December...it's not the cold December that I'm used to.  With temperatures in the 80's, it feels more like May/June than winter.  I've become to enjoy teaching much more than in the beginning.  Maybe because I know the students now and know their personalities.  I've relaxed a lot in the classroom and try to have fun teaching them.  My trip in October helped me realize that there is nothing for me back home except misery and the workings of planning my next escape.  So instead of wasting a year back home, planning and figuring out what I'm going to do, I've made the decision to head to Korea next year.  My school contract ends in February, my apartment contract ends in April.  I will teach summer school here in Chiang Mai, then set off for a new adventure!  I can't wait to see what the New Year brings and what is in store for me in my future travels!  The World is my front door, and I plan on seeing all that I can while I have the time.

Happy New Year and Best Wishes for 2013!!

Countries I've step foot in this year:
China, Australia, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Cambodia

The Evolution of Christmas

My internet Christmas card to you all :)

Today is Christmas day and as I sit here at work, I am reflecting on how Christmas has immensely evolved for me over the past years.

When I was a child, I loved Christmas!  What kid doesn’t?  On Christmas Eve, my sister and I would make sure we had fresh batteries in our flashlights and get up at least 3 times in the middle of the night to see how good we were in Santa’s eyes…quietly poking and shaking our presents trying to guess what was inside.  In the morning, we would gather around as a family and open our gifts, then head to my Grandparent’s farm for Christmas dinner.  There were more White Christmases than not in those days and the spirit of Christmas could be found everywhere…Children were content with getting a hula hoop, or a cartoon on VHS, a cassette tape, or a drawing set.  Those were the days!

 

Over time, I feel like the spirit of Christmas has become completely lost.  Maybe that just comes with age, but when a 12 year old asks Santa for an iPhone or iPad or new computer for him/herself, it makes me sad as it seems more superficial.  It’s a real treat now days when it snows on Christmas.  Extended families seem not to gather as much for Christmas dinner (maybe this is just my family?)  It seems now that my cousins are married with children they spend time with the other half of their family.  This year, no one in my immediate family is spending Christmas together – I’m in Thailand and alone, my sister has gone to California to spend the holidays with her friend, my brother-in-law is on a tour in Afghanistan, and my mom has gone to Arkansas with her beau. 

 

I can honestly say this is the strangest Christmas I’ve ever had (and I’ve had some strange Christmases).  First of all, I’m at work.  (I don’t mind working on Christmas…if you can’t already tell, I haven’t really been in the holiday spirit for a while now).  Second of all, it’s 81 degrees – obviously not a White Christmas.  Third, I’m surrounded by inner-city palm trees.  Fourth, I have no family or many friends so to speak of to celebrate with.  Fifth…no NFL games to watch after overstuffing myself on turkey and pie!!  Yesterday at my school, we celebrated Christmas activities…the children were dressed in red or green, a few of us foreign teachers were dressed as Santa, we had a Christmas production, even the English phrase board in the corridor said “Today is the Christmas day” (I wanted to correct that SO badly…first of all it’s not THE Christmas day, secondly it’s Christmas EVE!).  Today – the REAL Christmas day – was just another day at Wachirawit Primary School.  Yesterday actually felt a bit like Christmas and today nothing, which has made me pretty sad.

 

Chiang Mai Red Cross

Anyways, since I’m not celebrating this year, my landlord suggested we give blood.  I haven’t given blood in a while – because I keep getting tattoos – so I was all for it.  What better gift to give on Christmas than the Gift of Life!  This morning, I ditched out on school and headed over to the Red Cross, queued up and let the red stuff flow!  It’s a nice thought knowing I was able to do something out of the ordinary and hope my blood can help save a life.

 

Let the red stuff flow!

 

I hope one day the spirit of Christmas will creep its way back into my life.  It’s a lovely feeling, almost magical, but as for now it’s lost to me such as these things are.  I hope you and yours are enjoying a wonderful holiday season and all the Best Wishes for a Healthy and Happy 2013!

 

Happy Trails!

 

Soundtrack for this blog – Colorado Christmas by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band.  This was always my favourite Christmas song as a child and now it fits my life to a T.

 

Technology obsessions...a boring title for a thrilling topic

Technology. 

When did we become a society SO freaking obsessed with technology?!  iPhones, Androids, iPads, iWhatevers, Facebook, Twitter, email.  Every other person on the street is on their phone.  Connections with people overseas can now be instantaneous.  The majority of people are (usually) updating their Facebook statuses once a day and letting people on Twitter know their every move (I just bought a Coke at 7-11 #ForRealz). 

I'm not saying I don't fall victim of this.  Let me tell you my routine for turning on my computer: Login to Facebook.  Nothing interesting there.  Login to Twitter.  Read all the tweets that have posted since my last login.  Make a RT or two if I find something funny.  #TweetSomething.  Login into my Yahoo email.  Most likely I don't have an email as I tend to only get emails now (because of Facebook) maybe every 2 or 3 days - and that's usually from my mom or Grams.  Get off the Internet.  Let 5-10 minutes pass.  Turn the Internet back on.  Repeat.  It's pathetic, and something I'm recently trying to slow down.  Facebook and Twitter are obsessions for many people, me included.  I can't count how many times I login a day to find that NOTHING has changed, and about 75% of the time, nothing is interesting.  When did we become a society obsessed with announcing to the world our every move?

Not only do we follow this technology obsession while we're at home, we also do it while "relaxing" on vacation.  The moment we step off a plane, train or bus, we update our status.  When we have a nice or interesting meal, we update our status.  When we go swimming...climb a mountain...find a waterfall...ride to the top of a ski lift...when we whatever...we update our status.  Again, I'm not saying I don't do this.  You all know full well that I do.  And I'm pretty disappointed in myself for it.  Whatever happened to actually relaxing on vacation and getting away from it all?! 

On my recent trip around Thailand and Cambodia (both that are still - if only slightly - considered third world countries), I was able to update everyone and post a few photos via my Android at the very least when I got back to my hotel in the evenings.  That's just crazy!  Ten years ago, you couldn't do this (mainly because the likes of Facebook and Twitter didn't exist).  It really seems that a person just cannot get away anymore and just disappear for a while.

Don't you just not want to exist for a bit?  I know I do.

I was having this conversation earlier today with my co-worker.  He's a German pushing 60 and has spent the better part of his life travelling through Asia.  He said the experience of travelling without technology 10, 20, 30 years ago made the experiences completely different.  I can only imagine.  It was more authentic to him.  It doesn't really seem like anything anymore.  Yeah, I live in Thailand, but I don't really feel like I'm as far away as I would like to be because everything is so instant. 

What's the rush, I ask?  I remember a time when it took a good minute to dial a phone number on a rotary phone - especially if there were a lot of 9's in the phone number...am I right? :-)  Now, you don't even have to dial, what with voice activation and the likes.  Writing actual letters has become much more personal than sending emails because you have to make more of an effort and take more time.  Why don't we help out the Post Service and send more letters and postcards?  Send 'em to me!!  I love getting mail ;-) 

I'm not insisting that technology is a horrible thing, it's not.  I can Skype my friends and family and see their beautiful faces.  I was able to "meet" my friend's new gorgeous baby a few weeks ago.  It's really amazing.

However, all I ask is that next time you're on vacation, BE on vacation.  Put your phone away after you let someone know you have arrived safely.  Just let it go.  Chill the hell out.  This is my challenge to you!  Next time I'm off somewhere, don't be surprised if you don't hear from me.  Girl needs a social networking break! 

Now, get off the Internet and go HUG someone.

Happy Technology-Free Trails :-)

Slightly non-related soundtrack for this blog...the lovely Ben Gibbard: Teardrop Windows.  It's kind of related.  Listen to it!

Risk-taking travellers beware!

Risks.  All travellers take them.  They can range from something small like eating crispy fried crickets at local markets to something big like jumping off waterfalls.  My imagination is literally running wild with all the risks people take while travelling.  Just kidding.  I would be listing them here if it was.  My imagination is a little preoccupied at the moment with music blaring from my iTunes library.

Let me tell you about the risk I took today that I've been putting off for a good six months: I got a haircut.  In my opinion, getting a haircut in a non-English speaking country is a big risk.  When I'm not living in a humid country, have access to decent hair supplies - blow dryer, straightners - and don't have to wear a helmet whilst driving a motorbike, I'm obsessive about my hair - it's the ONE luxury I afford myself at home.

It's been near a year since I've had a haircut.  I've been avoiding getting one out of nerves.  And for good reason: I just got a hackjob haircut I could have done myself. 

My landlord's sister-in-law has a hair shop in my building.  She doesn't speak a word of English, but my landlord said she could translate what I wanted...which was a relatively basic haircut - four inches off the bottom with about two inch layers.  I even showed her a picture.  Easy peazy, lemon squeezy.  Unfortunately, my landlord had to leave right after telling her sis-in-law what I wanted.  So what ensued for my haircut was eight inches off the bottom (when did four become eight?!) and a blunt, one-swipe of the scissors across the bottom for a flat, uneven end to the back of my head.  It took a whole 10 minutes.  When girlfriend showed me the back and asked if it was ok, I'm sure she could tell by the look on my face that it was NOT ok, but I said 'yes' none-the-less.  Trying to explain I wanted layers and having her hack more of my already too-short hair would probably result in a mullet.  (I've already experienced the mullet whilst living in England...and they spoke the language!)  I suppose you can't expect much from a $4 foreign haircut.


Ok, you can't really tell how uneven it is in the back, but it's pretty shit, right?
Don't get my started on my roots...I'm not letting the Thai's or anyone for that matter fix 'em.

So, the way I see it, I have three options:

1. Try to have another Thai fix it.  Problem: They will probably speak broken English and it will end up even shorter and maybe worse than it already is.
2. Have my British colleague at work who used to cut hair fix it.  Problem: He's always drunk and has admitted to me that he has to have a beer before cutting hair.  I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not.
3. Let it grow out and get it fixed when I (hopefully) go to the UK in April from my once regular hair dresser that fixed the mullet from the previous bad hair dresser.

Anyways, I'm trying to find the positives here.  My hair grows fast (fortunate for dire times like these!), the three inches of horrible, dry dead hair at the bottom is loooong gone, and I wear my shit in a pony tail everyday anyways...at least it's still (barely) long enough for that.

My tip to avoid getting a hackjob haircut: just don't get your haircut while travelling!  (That's easy for people who are merely on a 1-6 month journey...not so for individuals like me).  Otherwise, I got nuthin'.

My soundtrack for this blog:

Cold December - Pic of the Week

I've been struggling with Pic of the Week this week.  I'm not reminiscing.  I'm not nostalgic.  There's nothing happening in Chiang Mai or any kind of event that urges me to pull out the camera, besides everyday nothingness.  So I turned to December. 

Being from Colorado, where there are 4 distinguishable seasons, it's difficult to believe it is actually December here in Thailand.  By now, Colorado should be covered in a blanket of snow (I use the term "should" lightly...chalk that one up to global warming) with freezing temperatures.  I'd be walking around in jeans, hoodies, coats, boots, gloves, scarves and sporting my favourite beanie hat.  Instead I've got on shorts, t-shirts and I would be wearing flip flops if they didn't fuck with my already fucked up ankle (I curse the girl that hit me with her motorbike every time I put shoes on).  I've got a nice pair of palm trees outside my window with some coconuts that I wonder how much longer it will be till they're ripe enough to steal.  All week it's reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit. 

December?  Does it even exist anymore?

Photo of the Week is to remind me that winter isn't something made up in my mind.  My friends' facebook statuses from back home are not fake.  It really is snowing there.  Hahaha...suckers!! :)

Photo of the Week
Snow melt blankets Bear Lake
Rocky Mountain National Park
May 2011

This photograph wasn't taken in December.  It was actually taken in May.  I'm sure there would be a shit ton more snow if it was taken in December...It comes to you from Bear Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park.  When I look at it, it makes me cold.  And it makes me appreciate my new found love of tropical living :)  (It drops to 70 degrees here and I need a hoodie...sheesh, what will happen when I move somewhere where winter does truly exist?!)

If you're somewhere and it's snowing, I hope you're sitting next to a crackling fire and sipping on a nice cup of hot chocolate.  As for me, I'm off to hunt down a coconut shake!

Happy Trails!

Check out Matt Costa's Cold December...it's a lovely tune :)

Why Chiang Mai, Thailand?

I am often asked why I go to a certain country to live and I never really know how to answer the question without sounding like an idiot.  Let me introduce you to my thought process on choosing a place to live - it's really quite simple.  I see a photograph I like, it tends to be in National Geographic Traveller or something of the sort, and I say to myself "That's where I want to go".  I'm never content with just looking at a photo because that's all a photo is - a photograph.  There's much and more to seeing a place than just seeing it.  You experience it.  You live it.  You embrace it.



Gathering at MaeJo University for Loi Krathong

This is what brought me to Chiang Mai, Thailand.  A few years ago, I can't quite recall when, I saw a photograph of thousands of paper lanterns in the sky.  I thought it was so beautiful that I had to see it for myself!  I had never really given Thailand any thought before that and definitely had never heard of this Chiang Mai place.  All I knew of Thailand was that Bangkok sounded like a place I didn't want to go to (I still haven't been) and Phuket was where Jack got his mysterious tattoo on LOST.  I started reading more about Chiang Mai and decided it sounded like a nice fit for me, a smaller-than-Bangkok city near the mountains full of monks and locals who sell their handmade fare.  Boom.  Sold.  Especially after seeing more of those lantern photos. 



Monks chanting and praying



I've been in Chiang Mai since February and have finally experienced the lanterns!  Holy shit, it's one of the most beautiful experiences of my life!  It's the festival of Loi Krathong, which I still don't fully understand.  Loi Krathong is more of a "making peace for polluting the water" holiday and on the actual Loi Krathong day, thousands of "krathongs" are made from banana leaves and bread, filled with flowers and candles and set in the river to ask for forgiveness.  It is also a chance to pray and wash away your sins (depending on who you ask - I've had many different answers for what Loi Krathong is all about).  So, I still haven't worked out how the lanterns fit in to all of this.  None-the-less, coming to Thailand and living in Chiang Mai has been worth it for this one experience.



Parker lighting our ground lamp





Ground lamps lit and ready!

Lighting our lantern

At MaeJo University, they do the "big release" of the lanterns.  People come together and gather around.  An announcement is made to sit down at one of the ground lamps and silence is observed.  At nightfall the ceremony begins.  Monks begin to chant and pray and a sort of peace blankets everyone around.  This continues for about an hour, then we are invited to light the ground lamps.  More praying, more chanting.  The air is alight with the soft glow of firelight.  After another prayer, everyone is asked to open their lanterns and light them.  This is done by holding a fuel cell over the ground lamp and once on fire, hot air fills the lantern.  At once, everyone makes wishes and releases their lanterns in the sky!  All the people are extremely happy and cheerful, clapping and waving goodbye to their lanterns.  This process goes off in several waves as everyone has more than just one lantern to light, continuing this spectacle of peace and happiness over and over, again and again. 




Waiting for the lanterns to fill with hot air!

Make a wish and RELEASE!!
A similar picture to this is what brought me to Chiang Mai!

It is truly a beautiful, peaceful, and wonderful experience and I am extremely happy that it brought me to Chiang Mai.

If you're ever interested in experiencing Loi Krathong, the festival is held on the full moon of the 12th lunar month of the Thai calendar - typically that falls in November.  Chiang Mai (and I've also heard Mae Hong Son) is the place to be as this festival is more of a Lanna celebration (northern Thailand).  At MaeJo University, they hold the big lantern release - once for the locals, which is a free celebration, and once for tourists - which is not free (I've heard it costs upwards of $80 admission fee...not sure if that is correct as it sounds absurdly expensive!!).  I attended the local celebration, which I'm sure is less crowded than the one for the tourists.  Lanterns are 100 Baht (about $3) and free food and water are available on the grounds.  I encourage you to attend the Loi Krathong celebrations in Chiang Mai at least once in your life...I'm so happy I did - and they're not even over yet as the full moon is on Wednesday!  Yippee for meeee :)

Time for Round 2 :)

So if ever in the future you want to know why I am travelling to a country - Ask not Why, but What picture did I see?


Happy Lovely Trails!


UPDATE -
I was able to verify the price of the "big release" of lanterns for the tourists night: a hefty 3,000 baht ($100)!!!  Utterly ridiculous.  I'm definitely glad I knew about the locals/free night.

I also found out that the lantern release is relatively new to Loi Krathong, only having it done for less than 10 years.  My Thai boss does not agree with this new tradition which makes me wonder if all the Thai's feel the same way.  I've come to learn that ancient traditions and holidays have lost their luster for the sake money.  The pure fact that there are two "big release" nights - one free for the locals and one absurdly expensive night for the tourists proves my feelings.  I spent the actual Loi Krathong night (on Wednesday) at Tha Pae Gate for the parade and ended up leaving early.  It was overrun with pushy tourists and a bit dull after the beauty of Saturday night's shenanegans.  I'm so thankful I was able to spend last Saturday night in the company of friendly Thai's and not surrounded by the hoards of tourists that take over Chiang Mai in November.



A beautiful sight!

One more month...Pic of the Week

Today is the 21st of November, 2012.  Accroding to the Mayans, we've got ONE month left to live.  So naturally, this has me thinking of dead things - something that's not entirely out of the ordinary for me - I have a morbid obsession with dead things.  Not in a weird way.  One of my favourite jobs was working at a cemetery in Denver.  My co-workers were great...they wouldn't talk back, we never got into arguements and they did everything I would say.  For example, I would tell them to play dead, and they would!!  Because they were already there! Ha!  Just kidding.  I had living co-workers as well who were not so bad either.  During my lunch breaks on occasion, I would stroll through the grounds and read the headstones.  It's really amazing what you can find in a cemetery.

This week's Pic of the Week comes from the University Road Cemetery in Leicester, England. 



Photo of the Week:
Headstone in the ferns
University Road Cemetery, Leicester, England 2010



It's a really cool cemetery to wonder through if you ever find yourself in Leicester, and if that's your thing.  Many of the tombstones are lost in a sea of ivy and vines, some covered in daisies, many have been pushed over for fear that someone walks by and it falls on them.  At least if one ever did topple over on someone, they wouldn't have to take them far to bury them!

There are headstones with angels, birds, headless cherubs...there's even a headstone with an an achor and chain for a man who was lost at sea.  There is an angel for a bride, a tragic story of a woman killed on her wedding day.  Unfortunately, some wankers defaced the angel to have a KISS face.

If you're ever bored, I suggest talking a walk through a cemetery and read some of the stories on the headstones.  You never know who you might stumble upon (literally)! 

Also, for the next month, I suggest familiarizing yourself with the educational program The Walking Dead - it will teach you how to kill a zombie, properly.  One can never be too prepared for the Mayan Apocolypse, I always say!  Good luck to you and yours, and if you turn into a zombie, don't bite me.



Detail of a cartoon-like angel on a headstone
University Road Cemetery, Leicester, England 2010



Sacrifices

I'm sitting here on this Monday afternoon revelling in another Broncos win - their fifth straight - this week against the San Diego Chargers.  I went to the Broncos/Chargers game last year - it happened to be the game where Kyle Orton was benched and Tebow took over for the season.  Not a Tebow fan, I wasn't happy to see him take over for the rest of the season, but I was happy when Coach John Fox got rid of the 'bone and picked up Peyton Fucking Manning!!  PFM PFM PFM!!!

All this in mind, every time the Broncos play this year it pains my heart that I'm not there, at home, cheering on my boys.  I want to go to Sports Authority Field and watch Peyton Manning throw a game-winning touchdown pass, Von Miller sack an evil quarterback (mainly Tom DoucheBag Brady), Eric Decker catch a classic 80 yard pass, Champ Bailey make an interception...I fucking LOVE my Broncos.  Always have.  Always will.  In my veins, my blood runs orange and blue.

This brings me to sacrifice.  I get much praise from friends and family for doing what I do - pick up and move to a country I've never been to before and make a life out of nothing.  It's not easy, but it's about the only thing I feel I'm good at.  I love doing it and I love travelling, but it's definitely not without its sacrifices. 

You might think sacrificing the Denver Broncos is petty sacrifice (if so, you're probably not insane about football like me...I did say my blood runs orange and blue), but small sacrifices add up and can wear on a passionate soul. 

You should be aware by now that I'm also crazy insane about music.  When I'm home, or anywhere near a normal city that hosts concerts, I average on maybe 2 gigs a month - it's not really a lot, not for me anyways.  It's been 1 year and 75 days since my last gig.  I'm like a sober drug addict.  And it's horrible.  I hear about my favourite bands playing in Denver at my favourite venues and it sucks knowing I can't be there.  A few bands I would love to see will play the Southeast Asian circuit and stop in Singapore, so I get really excited thinking that I can just pop on down to Singapore for a weekend...then I see the ticket prices.  A show that would be $20 back home is $100 in Singapore.  WTF Singapore!!!  Do you not realize that's 1/8th of my paycheck?! Fuuuuuuuuck ooooooooffffff!!! 

In addition to the Broncos and concerts, I've missed out on many of my friends's weddings, babies, family functions, having a relationship of my own...all in the name of travel.

My Broncos situation isn't near as dire as it was in England, there are a few bars in town that air repeats of NFL games the next day.  However, watching NFL in Thailand isn't great.  Football is a true American sport and there is the atmosphere that goes with watching the games.  I don't feel like I can cheer, scream, taunt the opposition (because there are not that many football fans in Thailand, so you're lucky to find the opposition in the same bar), scream more, swear, throw things at the tv...if I even clap, it feels awkward and out of place.  It's just not fun.  If the game is still on in Denver when I go to work in the morning, I'll follow the Broncos Gameday live Twitter feed...Broncos score a touchdown and I scream and cheer in my office - my fellow foreign teachers (who hail from Germany, Holland and England) look at me like I'm a freak.  Uh, dudes, you're the freaks 'cause you like soccer.  Boom.  I said it.

Anyways, all I'm saying is don't be too envious of my journey, because I'm just as envious of yours.  I've made a lot of sacrifices to be here, sometimes it's easy, but most of the time it's hard.  Especially knowing one of your best friend's is walking down the aisle and you can't be there.  Or your family is getting together for that yearly BBQ and you're missing out on it again.  Please don't think I'm not grateful for my journey, I wouldn't be here if that was the case.  Like I said, I love travelling, I just miss out on a lot that I would like to be a part of. 

One more thing: GO BRONCOS!!!

Happy Trails.

A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere - Pic of the Week

Pic of the week comes to you on the anniversary of my first Death Cab for Cutie concert, straight from Rock City in Nottingham, England - 15 November, 2008.

If you know me at all, you know I'm crazy for music.  I love music more than anything in the world.  Well wait, lets be real...it's in a tie with my love for travel.  I really mean that in a literal sense.  I love music (and travel) more than ANYTHING. 

Death Cab for Cutie slowly became my all-time favourite band.  Lead singer Benjamin Gibbard just knows how to write a song.  He's a lyric genius.  His writing is clever and inventive and when his lyrics come together in a melody, it all just makes sense. 

I was living in Leicester, England in 2008 - a town that is not host to many concerts.  If you want to see a show, you've got to journey to either Birmingham or Nottingham.  So when Death Cab announced a show at Rock City in Nottingham, I called up my friend to see if she wanted to go.  She didn't really know their music, but I gauranteed her they were brilliant.  I told her to make absolutely sure she could go, which she assured me she available.  Three days before the show, she text me to say she forgot it was her friend's birthday and therefore couldn't make it :-/  In a rush of panic, I posted on Facebook that I had an extra ticket if anyone wanted to come (I had never been to a show solo and didn't want to start now).  A friend living in Yorkshire said she would love to go, didn't have to work, and we should make a weekend out of it in Notts - book a hotel and lets have a girly weekend!  Hotel booked (on my credit card), tickets in hand, and my friend called me (day of) to say plans changed and she did indeed have to work that night.  Greeeat.  Now I've paid for two tickets and a hotel room.  I really didn't want to go to the show alone and desperately tried to find someone to go with, without any luck.  I almost backed out on going until I realized it's Death Cab for Cutie.  My favourite band.  Fuck it - I don't care if I'm alone - I'm going!

Going to a concert solo isn't a bad thing.  I feared people would be staring at me, wondering why this loser was alone at a show.  That's not the case.  We're all coming together to enjoy the same thing.  We all have something in common.  A deep love for Death Cab. 


Pic of the Week:
Death Cab for Cutie
Rock City, Nottingham, England
15 November, 2008

I fucking love concerts.  In my mind, there is no better feeling than the pounding of the music, bursting your ears and beating your soul.  I can feel it coursing through my veins and I drink it up!  My world evaporates and all I can focus on is the music.  I swear, the music venue could be hit by a plane and I wouldn't know.

The biggest sacrifice I have made in moving to Southeast Asia is going to shows.  Sacrifice one love for another.  Every once in a while, I hear of a show I'd love to see playing in Singapore.  I get this crazy notion (well, it's not so crazy) to just fly to Singapore to see a show.  Yeah, not after I see the ticket price!!  A show that would cost maybe $20 in the States is $100 in Singapore.  WTF!!!  Until I meet a rich man with the same love for music, my shows have been put on the back burner.  (Death Cab was one of those Singapore shows I had to back out on.  Damn shame).  If any of you know any handsome, available, rich men that love music, feel free to send them my way.

I've only had the fortunate experience of seeing Death Cab for Cutie twice and both times, they were "spiritual" experiences for me.  (Anyone who loves music the way I do understands what I mean when I say spiritual).  Benjamin Gibbard is one of two people that I need to meet at some point in my life.  Just to thank him personally for the music he helps create.  If anyone knows Benny G, I'd appreciate it if you hook a sista up ;)

Happy melodic Trails!

The political one.

I meant to get this blog out last week, but as I was really busy with school, it had to wait.  I'm not a person that likes to argue politically and, up until this election, really didn't voice any opinions about politics other than who I was voting for.  Mainly because I operate on a motto that I don't talk about politics or religion - you never know who you are going to offend.

Saying that, I need to speak up after reading a select few status updates on Facebook of some Republican friends of mine.  I can't believe how obstinate (some) Republicans have become.  With news coming in of President Obama's re-election, some people where saying how our country is "doomed" and we're all "screwed".  Really?  Doomed?  That seems a little excessive.  Other Republican friends that work for the government said they were probably going to lose their jobs.  Why?  Why are we doomed and why are you going to lose your job because our President was re-elected?  Drama queens.  

I first started my big travel expeditions in 2004, two months before the Bush v. Kerry election.  Not really knowing where I was headed, I ended up in Scotland.  Having been in the UK for about a week, I found it very clear that Bush was not a popular guy.  Upon my arrival in Edinburgh, I was asked by an Australian family if I wanted to join them for a drink in our hostel.  Travelling alone, I kindly agreed.  When I sat down with them, the first thing they asked me was who was I voting for in the election.  I told them I wasn't voting as I hadn't applied for my absentee ballot in time, but given the chance it would have been Kerry.  The Aussie family then said it was okay for me to still have a drink with them....I'm not sure what they would have done had I said I was voting for Bush. 

During the Bush Administration, most of my time was spent living abroad and Americans became less and less popular.  I would meet random people in pubs and, after hearing my accent, they would start bitching me out claiming how they fought in MY war.  Uh, it's not MY war, fool.  I didn't start the shit.  I know these people were drunken idiots, but case-in-point, this did happen on several occasions.

Then came the 2008 election.  When Barack Obama won, you could almost hear a sigh of relief flowing over the United Kingdom.  All of the sudden, it seemed like the international population decided Americans aren't so bad as to elect this guy into office.  This guy that inspires hope for a new generation and promises to change our country in a positive way.  Over the last four years, I have personally felt an increase in popularity with the way the world views Americans. 

Now to the election last week.  I could feel a new found fear from my friends across the globe as the news was reporting how tight the race was becoming.  My friends scattered around Europe, Asia, and Australia were hoping that the US population would be sensible and re-elect Obama, and not send our progress backwards.  Some of what I was reading about the presidential debates talked of foreign affairs.  I didn't read much into it, I just know it was a main topic of discussion.  When I think of "foreign affairs", I think of the relationship foreign countries have with the US.  Living abroad for the better part of the last 8 years, I can tell you this much: President Barack Obama is fucking loved by the world.  I'm smart enough to realize that there is more to foreign affairs than just being loved, but I think that's a pretty good start.

Just as a side note, last Tuesday I held presidential elections in my classes.  A total of (or round about) 100 students cast their vote in the election.  I think there was a grand total of 5 votes for Mitt Romney.  Every time I read a ballot that had Obama's name on it, the classes cheered and applauded!  A 95% popular vote at Wachirawit School!  Numbers don't lie...my students love Obama!

In Thailand, I didn't "feel" as much of the election as I did in 2008 while I was in England.  Thai's seem more disengaged from anything that's not right in their face.  From what I've seen, they don't tend to think about consequences because a consequence happens in the future - and the future doesn't exist.  However, I read the reactions from my international friends to the elections and not ONE negative thing was said.  Only by the disappointed Reps back home who think we're "doomed". 

Well, I had to put up Bush, Dick, and Colin for 8 years (Colin for only 4), you can put up with BaROCK for another 4 :)

Congratulations, Mr. President, you're well loved all over the world!  I'm proud to have voted for you.

I'm back on the Thai food train...

Two weeks ago I moved into a new apartment and it's absolutely lovely.  It's in a nice, quiet Thai neighbourhood - well far away from the noisy tourist night bazaar I was living by.  My landlord and his wife are pretty freakin amazing - he's Korean/American and she's Thai and in the last two weeks, I have come to regard them as friends. 

Food is always a main topic in Thailand as the food in Thailand is one of the country's main attractions.  Thai food for me recently has been really off-putting.  My school offers the teachers free lunch everyday and believe me when I say I wouldn't feed it to my imaginary dog.  Imagine soggy rice or overcooked noodles that are stuck together in giant blobs, soggy overcooked veggies in some kind of "sauce" that looks suspiciously like granule gravy, meat floating in a giant vat of soup/water that's boiling on top of a propane tank (I use the word "meat" loosely - it's mostly bone and fat, you're lucky if you get a tiny bite of something edible off the bone).  The food is vile and most of the time, I will force a few spoonfuls of rice down my gullet and head across the street to 7-11 between classes for a quick bag of Lays and a Snickers bar to tie me over until the end of the school day when I can find a farang (foreign) eatery and sink my teeth into a juicy cheeseburger.

I'm fine with eating farang food all of the time here.  Unlike other countries, international food in Thailand is just as delicious as their home fare.  The only problem is farang food costs about 5 times as much as Thai food. 


Sunday Walking Street food served at one of the temples. 
There are about 20 different types of food to choose from, ranging
from 10cent to $1.

 This is where my new landlord comes in.  Discussing the aforementioned at length, him and his wife are trying to introduce me to some new Thai food besides the "khao pad guy" I only know how to order (chicken fried rice!).  In the last few weeks, I have had some mighty tasty dishes and have probably saved myself about 1,000 baht ($30).  One of the best main meals is pork leg with rice - the pork is insanely tender and melt-in-your-mouth delicious.  But what I've really come to discover are Thai desserts!  I've been introduced to these amazing pastries - creamed filled doughy things (new definition I've created) that's a party in my mouth with every bite.  Even more delicious is something called Bayteuy (at least I think that's what it's called, I'm shit with learning Thai) - it's these balls of green jelly things that look like peas in a sweet and salty coconut soup - and it's really delicious!!  I had something similar the other day, a surprise wrapped up in a banana leaf, daringly bought from a street vendor....it was little mini cups of the green jelly thing with a thick sweet/salty coconut cream on top.  It was lovely!  I will start documenting new food adventures to add here and keep you posted on new food finds!

Here are a few from tonight (although they're not "new" food finds - I've had them before).  I headed out to the Sunday Walking Street market, where I love eating.  You can get samples of food for under $1, and being how it's so cheap, you can try a plethora of different things!  This was my tasty dinner this fine evening:



Chicken satay with peanut sauce
and cucumber relish





Chicken dumplings on a bed of
cabbage and soy sauce



Tasty, bite sized treats - front from left: Taro puff, flour sugar cookie, coconut pasty
from back: pineapple pie, coconut pie
Each piece is 2 baht, bite-sized and delicious!



I'll be sure to keep you informed on my new food adventures.  If my landlord's wife has anything to do with it, I'll be gaining those 40 pounds back that I've lost over the last 11 months...

Happy Tasty Trails!

:)

White Frangipanis - Photo of the Week

It's been a crazy busy week this week and Friday has (fortunately) snuck up on me pretty quickly.  Although, I wasn't able to get all my work done for school during the week and will now spend part of my weekend making mid-term exams for my students.  Sigh.  But, it's Friday!  So I'm still going to rejoice!

This week's Photo of the Week comes to you from the Royal Flora gardens in Chiang Mai.  In June, we had a school field trip to the gardens and had the run of the place - during the rainy season, the gardens shut down to guests, with the exception of school trips apparently. 



Photo of the Week: White Frangipanis
For sale at www.artforconservation.org/artists/racephotography

 In between teaching the students about recycling and being green, my fellow teachers and I were able to walk around and enjoy the flowers.  I grabbed this shot fresh after a rainstorm along a row of frangipani trees - my favourite flowers.  They're so beautiful, smell absolutely delicious, and lucky for me they're all over Thailand.

I have edited this photo, softened the edges and gave it a "painted" appearance.

You may or may not know, I sell photography on the side.  I've just re-vamped my website, got rid of the old and added a few of the new with a purely Asian inspired theme.  This photo is currently for sale starting from $35.  Additionally, a portion of the profits is donated to the Surfrider Foundation - an organization dedicated to cleaning and protecting our beaches an oceans.  Check them out for more information, they serve a really great purpose!! http://www.surfrider.org/

Check out the rest of my photography for sale (shameless plug)www.artforconservation.org/artists/racephotography.  I hope you enjoy it, and if you do, help out a great cause....then tell your friends ;)




Wachirawit Primary school trip to Royal Flora, Chiang Mai, Thailand.  June 2012


Keep on keepin' on!
LG

The Wonderful World of Disney

A tiger prowling through Cambodian temples on Disneyland's Jungle Cruise

I grew up in a world of Disney.  I loved Disney as a child and still do as an adult (although I’m more a fan of classic movies – pre-Pixar computer animation and unnecessary 3D).  However, I’ve got a bone to pick with my dear friend Walt.  The Jungle Book was one of my favourites and led me to believe that if I went in a jungle, I would see animals – everywhere.   Tigers prowling through forests of bamboo, playful elephants bathing in the rivers, panthers stalking in the trees and preparing to pounce on its unaware prey, boas curled up in the tree branches, monkeys swinging from bough to bough…you get the idea.  This belief was further fuelled by The Jungle Cruise ride at Disneyland.  What I believed in the aforementioned actually came alive – albeit animatronically – on the Cruise.




Disneyland's Jungle Cruise - elephants playing in the river

Spending two weeks on the outskirts of Thai and Cambodian jungles, I now feel like my entire childhood was falsified.  I didn’t see any tigers.  I didn’t see any panthers or giant snakes trying to eat me.  The only elephants I saw where elephants used by trekking companies for tourists.  I did see some monkeys, I’ll give Walt that much – but they weren’t singing (good thing I was smart enough to know that animals don’t talk or sing or I might be having an identity crisis right now!). 

Mischevious monkeys on the beach

 I don’t really feel like my entire childhood was falsified, that would be extreme.  What Walt Disney did get right, was the scenery.  Walking around the magnificent temple of Ta Prohm, I felt like I was in the Jungle Book, waiting for Mowgli and Baloo to come running out, away from the trawls of King Louie.  

If you’re expectant on finding hordes of creatures prowling through jungles on your adventures, sure you might find a few, but you’re better off going to a zoo.  Or better yet, let your imagination run wild (I’m not a fan of zoos). 

However disappointed I was at not seeing those tigers and panthers in the wild, I'm still living out those real-world Disney dreams (no, not the princess ones...).  Maybe next time I'll take a diving course and journey under the sea in search of Ariel, Sebastian and Flounder, or I'll head to the Middle Eastern deserts to find Aladdin's golden lamp filled with thrice-wish-giving genies.



The temple of Ta Prohm, Angkor, Cambodia

Happy Trails!

P.S. Instead of searching for those hidden jungle animals, just look for the Bear Necessities ;)

Hungry Little Fellow - Photo of the Week

Instead of planning ahead by making worksheets for school as I should be doing, I'm going to post Photo of the Week instead.  I'll probably be kicking myself for that later - you know what I always say "Procrastination is like masturbation, you're only fucking yourself!"  I'll never learn.

This week's photo comes to you from Angkor Wat, Siem Reap, Cambodia.



Photo of the Week: Hungry Little Fellow, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

 As we arrived at Angkor Wat and taking our first steps around this extraordinary temple, I saw this little guy sitting alone on the wall, eating some sticky rice.  I saw children like this more often than not around the grounds of Angkor (there are many temples on these grounds, flooded with begging children).  This little guy just seemed so content with his rice and wasn't bothered by the throngs of tourists grabbing quick snapshots of him. 

The children of Angkor are taught early on how to make the best of sympathetic tourists.  It really is like you see in the movies - children running up alongside your tuk tuk, laughing and giggling, trying to keep up as you speed on down the road, hell bent on getting to the next temple.  They come up with their basket of souveneirs - postcards, bracelets, key chains and try to squeeze as much as they can out of you.  If you refuse to buy something for the upteenth time, they have no problem turning on the water works and burst into tears - surely this will get you to buy something, right?  Almost.  Al. Most.  But I have a heart made of stone.  Not really.

They ask you where your from, then proceed to spout out information of that country..."Oh, America?  Capital: Washington DC.  President: Barack Obama.  Population..."  At first, you think it's pretty impressive, until the 10th kiddo tells you the same thing. 

The children that don't sell anything just beg.  There were a pair of 4 year olds that just kept looking at my friend and I with those big, sad eyes saying "Candy.  Candy.  Candy..."  I'm sorry little one, I don't have any candy for you. 

As much as you want to support them and help them, it's difficult to know how much of it is fake.  I've recently heard of "Rent-a-baby" that goes on all over Southeast Asia.  People actually rent babies and sit on the roads to beg.  I could never tell if what I was giving to the children was going to them, or to someone who uses them to get to the tourists. 

If you visit Cambodia, beware of the big, sad, adorable-eyed children begging/selling.  They won't leave you alone, and when one walks off, another one is not so far behind.  I would like to find out more about their situations, and what actually goes on behind the scenes.  I'll keep you updated if I ever do!

Happy Trails!

Travel Etiquette - Part 1 (of probably a million)

For the most part, I believe that about 90% of travellers are assholes.  It may be more than that, but when I meet a traveller that is kind, it has a tendency to over compensate my feelings towards other travellers as I’m pretty stoked to meet someone who is actually kind and respectful.  If that makes any sense at all…

I have a lot to say about travel etiquette.  This travel etiquette blog is dedicated to the douche bag travellers out there.  My advice: Before you act, ask yourself “Is this something a douchy person would do?”  If the answer is “yes”, don’t do it.  Here are a few tips on how not to be a douche bag while travelling.

Tip #1 – You are not the only tourist here, so be aware of the people around you. 
Avoid walking in front of someone taking a picture.  Wait your turn and don’t push others out of the way – your group is NOT going to leave without you so chill the hell out.  I can’ tell you how many times I’ve been the next person in line and someone pushes me out of the way as not to get parted from their group.  It’s rude and tends to induce verbal diarrhoea.

Tip #2 – Respect the place you’re visiting. 
In my mind as I’m writing this, I’m thinking of my visit to Angkor Wat last week – the biggest expanse of a religious locale in the world – someone left an empty Coke can sitting on the wall.  A Coke can.  On Angkor Wat.  Seriously?!  I’m pretty sure if I would have seen the person committing this appalling act, I would have beat him/her with my crutch.  Littering at an ancient temple (littering anywhere, really), is rude and disrespectful and anyone who does it should be slapped.  Hold on to whatever rubbish you have until you find the nearest trash receptacle.  Chances are it won’t take long to find one.  Millions of people flock to ancient landmarks, museums, monuments every day, I’m sure the last thing they want is to find your trash ruining it.

Tip #3 – Respect the people around you. 



D'Bag 1 and D'Bag 2. 
Oh, and their crippled, elderly, pregnant, Monk,
needing a wheelchair bags.  And their rubbish.



Because of my ankle injury, I’m still walking around on a crutch, it’s annoying, frustrating, and a hindrance so I was accepting all the help I could get.  This included using the Priority Boarding when flying (which was awesome!).  Before my last flight from Phuket back to Chiang Mai, I went to sit down in the priority seating at my gate.  The airport was very crowded so there wasn’t much room to sit.  When I got to the priority seating, there was a young girl sitting there with her parents sitting across from her (in regular seats) and their bags taking up the other 3 priority seats.  It was quite obvious that there was nothing about the girl that suggested she need the priority seating.  When I walked by on my crutch, I stopped and looked at the seats, the parents looked me up and down and didn’t tell their daughter to offer me her seat or bother to move their bags taking up the other chairs.  I find it sad that people can be so selfish.  Even if I didn’t need a crutch and these people did the same thing to someone else that needed a priority seat I would still classify them as douche bags.  Be kind to people.  It really doesn’t take much. 

Tip #4 – Remember, you are not only representing yourself, but also your country when you travel. 
People around the world, I have found, generally don’t like Americans too much.  This has been changing in recent years, but I can’t tell you how many times I have met people that tell me "they don’t like Americans, but I’m cool because I don’t act like a 'typical' American".  There are countries I have no desire to go to strictly based on travellers from those countries I have seen across the world.  These include China, Japan, and Australia (I have been to Oz, only to see a dear British friend that lives there, I have no other desire to go back).  Trying not to stereotype, I have found travellers from these nations as pushy, rude, disrespectful and obnoxious.  I urge you not to be like this when you are travelling.  Give America – or wherever you come from – a good name when your exploring the great corners of the world!

I realize this blog is a bit “rant-ish”, but the actions of fellow travellers have a tendency to piss me the hell off, and even more so - they make me sad.  The fact that the majority of the human race doesn’t have enough sense to be respectful of people and places is heart breaking.  

If you, like me, want to avoid most of the douche bag travellers out there, here’s my tip: Travel during the low seasons.  It’s cheaper to get to and from, accommodation is cheaper, places will be less crowded, and you’re sure to get some good shopping deals (if that’s what your into) as merchants don’t sell much in the low season, so will give you the best prices possible.

Don't be a douche!
Happy Trails :)
LG