Shop, eat, get massage and pedicure, repeat….

It seems as though my first two weeks have consisted of eating a lot of new food, having every type of massage imaginable, and shopping… a lot! Everything here is SO cheap, and there is something to buy everywhere you go. Everyone is always selling SOMETHING! Being a shopaholic, this is not conducive to my financial situation! This weekend I went to Bangkok to go to the largest market in Thailand- Chatuchak! Chatuchak is like a maze; a busy, shoulder to shoulder, hot, noisy maze! I shopped for 6 hours and I don’t think I even covered half of it! Chatuchak has everything you’ve ever wanted and more!! Especially clothes =) ! I managed to spend $250.00 dollars … HOWEVER, I pretty much got half of a new winter wardrobe, all of my souvenirs, and some Christmas gifts!! Not bad. And I am going for round two in a couple of weeks when I go back to Bangkok for my “cultural tour”. I would have bought more on this trip, but I couldn’t possibly carry any more!

Overall my first visit to Bangkok was neat. I rode on a tuk tuk for the first time, which was a tad scary, and probably not a wise decision seeing as it was raining out and I ended up quite wet! Then on Friday night I went out on Khao San Road which was good for me as it was filled with other tourists, and I met some guys from Ireland who were fun to hang around with. Annnnnd then I stayed in a 7-dollar-a-night hotel which was… very BASIC to say the least. My room consisted of a hard twin bed, dirty old sheets, hard pillow (with drool stain), and a closet-sized washroom with toilet, sink, and shower head (no soap or toilet paper). However, I did have AC and a TV, so I guess it wasn’t too bad! So now it is Sunday night, and I am completely exhausted… maybe I’ll go for my fifth massage… or third pedicure…

Earlier in the week I volunteered at the Father Ray Foundation, as I mentioned last Sunday, and it was an absolutely amazing experience. The kids are absolutely adorable…. every single one of them is so so so precious! They were all so vibrant, energetic, loving, and appreciative. All of the activities that I planned went over really well, and despite the language barrier, I was able to teach all of my activities (mostly through miming, but it worked)! I can’t wait to go back again this Wednesday!

I feel like I don’t have much to say about this past week, but it has been an exciting week, nonetheless! I mean, I ate a scorpion, and almost got run over by a motor bike… and not everyone can say that!

Anyways, I am off to an island (FINALLY) next weekend, so I will write again after that!

Peace and Love

Denise