Bangkokadoodle day 2

Wat pho, massive Buddha.

Here I am at the end of day 2 in Bangkok, laying in a single bed with the love of my life passed out cold next to me. We started watching a movie that we rented on the iPad but since they make movies about 5 days long nowadays, I knew there was no way Vee was going to make it til the end. Even though the movie is over now and that she told me to wake her up when it was over I still haven't, I'm extremely warm and kind of uncomfortable but for some reason I can't think of wanting to be anywhere or do anything else. The warmth of her body heat and feeling her heart beat is literally the only thing that I need in this moment. The simple things like knowing I have her in my life and that I'll be spending the coming months seeing the world with her is enough to keep me going for as long as my mind can possibly imagine. 

Fresh pomegranate juice, so yum.

Today was what has apparently become the norm for us, we are in a foreign country where people don't really understand us and were just trying to get through our days the best way we know how. We felt determined this morning though, maybe a bit more than usual. We spoke to three girls from the Netherlands over breakfast, learnt a bit about them and from there headed to our first activity of the day. We took the sketchiest boat ride to a temple called Wat Pho where we saw an impressively massive Buddha. Although temples aren't the most exciting thing for an ADD case like myself, this particular one was pretty cool and also I have an interest in Buddhism that I'm planning on pursuing. 

Tuk Tuk dude waiting for us Ha!

We got to see so much more than usual today all thanks to speaking to the right people. First it was the girls from the Netherlands who recommended the temple, second was the kind old Thai man outside the temple who told a Tuk Tuk driver to give us the local price and cart us around for 2 hours for only 50 Baht each, third was a tourist policeman who told us the best way to go to Chiangmai (next stop in Thailand), then fourth there was Neil a Canadian from Niagra Falls that has helped us find our way more than a few times. At one point on the 2 hour sightseeing tour with our Tuk Tuk driver, we noticed he was wanting to bring us to all these random places and when we finally tried to tell him we wanted to go somewhere else, he let us in on a dirty little secret. Basically every time the Tuk Tuk drivers bring people to certain businesses he gets a free gasoline card from Esso, so to help this dude out a bit we went into two places and pretended to be interested in their products just to get him his free gas. So random but so funny, especially when these Thai people give you this humongous smile it makes it super hard to say no. 

Vegan ice cream to die for.

Once the driver was done carting us around, he dropped us off at the Siam Center where we were starting to turn from hungry to hangry way too fast. We spent the next 2-3 hours looking for vegan worthy food, once again searching high and low for a restaurant I found on Happycow.com. Vee got to a point slightly passed hangry, which was a new experience for me but thankfully shortly after her semi meltdown we found this place. Every time we do this it always takes everything out of us to find these places but once we do, they always end up being so amazing and we made a family decision that this one was the best one yet for sure (thank goodness or else Vee was going to chop my head off). We each had mouthwatering veggie burgers and topped it off with vegan chocolate banana ice cream.

If you want to know what happened after dinner go back to the top to paragraph #1, good night my friends.

A bientot,

Janelle Brine

Man who walks through door sideways is going to Bangkok!

I guess elephants poop vegans.

After long waiting period, 2 pm finally rolled around and we headed up to our room. This hostel is called Loftel 22 and it's pretty nice, very clean and organized but the only thing is that the walls are more paper thin than usual. We could hear the guy next door singing to his music, it was a bit annoying since he was a terrible singer HA! And also lucky us the other guy in our dorm snores yay!!! This same guy was passed out on a seat from his previous drunken night when we first got to the hostel, and at 7 am in the morning he woke up kind of startled and continued drinking his warm beer from the night before... Gross. 

Bonita cafe and social club, best vegan restaurant yet.

Anyway after we checked into our room we changed, freshened up and went out on one of our famous searches for vegan restaurants that seems to always leave us lost. Every time we try to find a restaurant, it never ends up being where the map tells us to go. We've noticed that when you try to ask a local or anyone around here for directions, they either don't know, don't want to bother helping you or they say something like "go right then straight!" While pointing and doing these massive hand gestures and we follow the directions only to get more lost. We always end up walking for extended amounts of time and we even give up on what were looking for sometimes, but we finally found it and I'm so glad we did because they had amazing vegan food that left us so satisfied and happy.  Club sandwich & teriyaki burger......don't mind if we do!

Khoa San 

After stuffing our faces with good food, we walked back to the hostel, had a much needed nap then out we went again. We decided to catch a cab and go to a popular and busy street called Khoa San where's there's an endless amount of pop up shops, hawkers and restaurants. We had a really good time walking up and down this street there was definitely lots to see, including guys stopping us to make a popping sound with their mouths which was supposed to resemble the sound of a Ping pong show. By ping pong show I don't mean the sport, I mean a show with girls that shoot things out of their vaginas at targets, like a needle shot at a balloon to pop it (I know, I know....). We thought about going just because we thought it would be super funny and entertaining but we were too tired and it was expensive to get in, so maybe next time! 

Khoa San

KS again.

Vee had some mango sticky rice and I have some orange juice then we hopped in a cab to head back, our driver was so funny that it really ended the night on an even better note, along with the fact that my back was actually behaving for once. When we got back to our room we attempted to watch a movie but can't stay awake long enough so to bed we go.

A bientot,

Janelle Brine

Tuk tuckered out

Sad to leave this restaurant behind, we went to the jungle kitchen every day.

Another typical day in Ao Nang for us today, not much excitement. We had until 4:30pm to do as we please, then we were off to Bangkok. The evening came around a lot faster than expected and all of a sudden the minibus was out side the door waiting for us to get on. This minibus drove us to the same waiting station that we were brought to when we first arrived to Krabi, once here we had to wait 1 hour to be able to get onto the big bus. That hour just about felt like a lifetime, just like everything else these days with this old and dumb back injury that resurfaced about a week ago. 

BBQ flavoured banana chips??

When I was deep into snowboarding I was doing some tricks in the park and one time I was going too fast, slipped and hit my tailbone straight onto a rail. After this incident I wasn't able to play sports for a while and nothing or no one seemed to be able to help me with this pain, a few months past by and it just healed itself. I didn't have anymore back pain for a long time until a few years ago I was at my crossfit gym in Aurora, ON and we were doing the fit test which one of the exercises was max effort consecutive pull-ups. I was one pull-up away from a personal record, which basically meant that there was no fricken way I was letting go of that bar until I got one more. I was clearly very determined but this was one time that I wish I would have just gave up, I went for that last rep and on my way up my hands slipped right off like there was oil on the bar. 

It may not have been as bad if I would've been on a lower bar but of course I was on the high bar and I had used a 20" box to get up to this bar, so when I slipped I fell about 4 feet onto the box I used to get up. The lower right side of my back hit the corner of the box, followed by my body slamming the ground and leaving me unable to move for a good 20 minutes. When I finally got up with the help of my fellow crossfitters I tried to walk and this previously simple task wasn't so simple anymore...to say the least I was pissed. I was mainly mad that I didn't get that last rep and also because I knew that the crossfit open workouts (annual competition) were only 2 short weeks away and here I was walking bent to one side to try to relieve the pain that I felt when I stood up straight.

Just a itty bitty spider under the sink...

This pain stayed with me for a good week or so, prevented me from doing something as simple as sitting or laying down. Thankfully the following week I got better and was able to compete, maybe not at my full potential but it was better than nothing in my eyes. All to say that since this happened I back hasn't quite been the same, although it didn't stop me from doing anything after that one week of pain. But now for some reason since about a week ago it's only gotten worse and it feels like it originally did when I first fell, it doesn't make much sense to me that it would just come randomly come back like this. It has definitely slowed down our travels and it really sucks because we've wanted to do some fun stuff like kayaking and we can't because I have a hard time just walking up straight. I'm left unsure as to what to do about this now but I can only hope that it will go away soon so I can get back to being myself (I don't think Vee enjoys not being bugged every second of the day..;)).

View from the Tuk Tuk as the sun was rising in BKK.

Once on the big bus we were on there for about 2.5 hours then as usual the bus stops on the side of the road and the driver tells everyone to get off without telling us what's going on. From previous experience we knew that more often than not the bus fills up rather quick and sometimes some passengers are either left without a seat or force to make one up. Even by letting Vee deal with the bags and me going ahead to secure us some seats, we weren't quite fast enough, pretty much all the seats were taken, I ended up next to a snoring old man and Vee had to go to the lower cabin and sit in a non existent seat. To make matters even more enjoyable Vee had no head rest, she was in a middle seat which left her unable to move, the driver was smoking in his cabin and it was creeping through the cracks right to her and the was a noisy baby in the vicinity that wouldn't let her fall asleep. This bus ride was only 9 hours long though so it's not like it was long or anything... After 6 hours of uncomfortable on and off sleep, some passengers got off in Hua Hin so we were able to snag some seats together for the last 3 hours.

Riding in the Tuk Tuk, which did not help my back at all since these dudes drive like maniacs.

Vee and I made a family decision that that was by far the worst bus ride yet, only to arrive in Bangkok at 5:30 am and grab a Tuk Tuk (bike/car) that didn't know where he was going which took us another 45 minutes to get to our hostel. When we finally got there we were so tired and irritated at this point and although it felt good to put down our heavy bags, we couldn't check in until 2pm. Well this is where we're at now still waiting to check in.

A bientot,

Janelle Brine

Million thoughts an hour

Today was just another chill day, we hung out with Brian and Rian all day until they had to leave to catch their plane back to California. They live in long beach California and after they talked to us about it for a little bit it made us want to live there, so who knows maybe once the tiny house is built, we'll haul it over there and live in Cali for a year or so. I went all over Cali with my family when I was younger and loved it, I was only about 10 years old but it was a 3 week trip that really stuck in my head. I love Canada, I love Kelowna and it'll always be my home base but it will never stop me from seeing the world and temporarily living in new places. One of the reasons I've wanted to build us a tiny house is because it's mobile and we can bring it with us wherever we go, this way we will have our home with us at all times and we also won't have to pay rent. 

People might think were crazy for wanting one of these things but I can't wait to be able to say that I own my own home along with saying that I have no mortgage or debt, to me that's freedom and nothing is better than that. Freedom is something that most if not all people thrive for but at the same time they but themselves in situations where freedom is far from the surface. I don't quite understand it sometimes, to me its all about not feeling stuck, the less things I have the less stuck I am. I've also noticed that the people who say they find comfort in materialistic things are the ones who always seem bored. Were going to live our lives debt free and with full of adventure and freedom, you won't see us buy something we can't afford or get ourselves stuck in endless payments for something we most likely don't need, like a fancy car and an oversized home. 

Other than that we walked down to the beach in the scorching sun, I was so hot to the point where I took my shirt off to finish the walk down. And then with our luck, once we got to the beach the sun hid behind the clouds and stayed there for the rest of our time there. What a bummer! Although there was barely any sun the water was fantastic and we were with good company. After the beach we walked back up to the hostel and Vee went to grab us some food for a late lunch. Following lunch we went to the common room and chilled there for a while until the boys left for the airport, it was super awesome to meet them and it's too bad that their trip was only 2 weeks long. I believe that they started in Bangkok and moved around for a week then spent their second week here in Krabi. 

Tomorrow is our last day here, we're taking an over night bus to bangkok and were super excited to continue on with our adventures. Anyway bedtime now peace out.

A bientot,

Janelle Brine

 

"That's a French ass name"

Ao nang beach sunset.

Today was unexpectedly interesting, which was very much needed because we were definitely getting bored here, we booked for 6 days with no refund available so were here until Friday no matter what. At breakie today we were speaking with the owner of the restaurant and we asked her what she recommends we should do. She told us to go to this one beach that's a bit less busy than the others. She was saying how she goes there sometimes but that she has to go to the end of the beach where no one is if she wants to wear anything else but a shirt and shorts, because in the Thai culture it's frowned upon to wear a bikini(apparently it makes her a bitch if she wears one). We thought that it was interesting to hear how different it is here than home of course.

After breakfast we went back to the hostel to sit outside and plan our next few days. Then a Frenchmen that was sitting next to us started talking to us and not too long after that he asked if he could sit with us. He ended up being quite interesting actually, he told us his whole life story within about 30 minutes. He's 70 years old and has been traveling since he retired when he was 55 which right there is fucking wicked, so from that moment on we were all ears with this guy. He was telling us how he's been all over the world with his French wife and how he has a second wife in Africa and also how his two wives are super close and love each other along with him.  He also went on to telling us how his family back in France all think he's crazy for doing what he's doing. Like any typical family they think he should be home to be there to take care of his grandchildren when the parents want a break or want to go away somewhere. He said they tell him that he's selfish for traveling at his age but he made a good point saying that he raised his kids without the help of anyone and so now it's his kids turn to take care of their own children. It's not that he doesn't want to see his grandchildren but he just doesn't want to stay in France doing nothing until he dies, which I totally get and agree with. 

Brian with the monkeys on the beach.

After speaking with this man for a while he left and we went to grab some lunch. Once back to the hostel we laid in the hangout room and met Brian and Ryan from the states. They're some pretty wicked dudes and we spent the rest of the night with them, we went down to the beach to watch the sunset and it was absolutely beautifully breathtaking. We grabbed some food on the way back from the beach then came back to home base to chill. Brian was telling us about how he almost died a few ago but that a Canadian guy from Saskatchewan saved his life. Apparently he drank a few super strong mushroom shakes and because mushrooms heighten your senses, when he went into the water his body collapsed and this Sask dude just somehow knew exactly what to do and whacked him on the back a few times until Brian woke up. Those types of stories are always interesting to hear but I'm glad it didn't happen to me, kind of like the two dudes we met in Koh Phangan that crashed their jet skis together and had to pay 55000 Baht for the damage. 

Anyweee were just hanging out in the chill room and about to go to bed soon so goodnight friends!

A bientot,

Janelle Brine

YOLO muhhfuckahsss

I was reading a random blog today while we were laying around bored and it affirmed a few things for me. The blog is called "Goats on the road" and it's this couple from Canada that went traveling in 2008 and haven't returned home yet accept in 2009. In 2009 they went back to Canada to save money to go traveling some more and since they've left again in 2009 they've visited 45 countries and counting. While they're traveling they make money through their blog and YouTube Chanel along with teaching English. They've identified what they're doing as what has turned from traveling to what they consider a lifestyle. I think that what they're doing is so different but also exactly what a lot of people wish they could do with their own lives. Only difference between them here is the fact that this couple just quit their jobs, sold all their stuff and just went for it instead of staying in the wishing state of mind. This wishing state of mind is holding back so many people in the world, I'd say probably 98% of people I personally know is stuck here and most likely always will. 

I always kind of knew I wanted more out of life than what most people seemed to thrive for. I was the person who wanted to be a professional athlete while everyone else wanted to be doctors and fireman, I was the person who had no desire of of going to school 2 seconds after finishing school, I'm the person who chooses to have less things so I can work part time and have more time to myself. I've previously had people ask me why I always "try" to be different, news flash peeps, I'm not actually going out of my way to be different I just am who I am and it just so happens that my way is a bit alternative.

The cookie cutter way to me is so boring and lifeless, it's the biggest fun sponge ever and this is why I stay far away from it, my life goal is to not get sucked into what's considered "normal" way of life. The way I see it is that there's a reason why more people are bored and unhappy, and it's because they follow the pack and never try to leave it to experience new and exciting things. Life is about so much more than what society wants you to know, it wants to brain wash you into complete denial so that you never truly discover yourself or anything outside of the box. 

Get out there and see the world, I used to make fun of the "YOLO" saying that all the teenagers are using nowadays but honestly  it's the damn truth you really do only live once and you should live as such. You don't have time to waste, leave the shenanigans behind and go find yourself. I can guarantee that you don't even know half the things about yourself and you won't until you've gone beyond your comfort zone and you've faced your fears. Money will always be there as well as materialistic things, you'll always be able to buy more shit, but you can't buy unforgettable moment and experiences, they're called priceless for a reason. What's the point of having all that crap that you have? Why not sell it and take that dream trip you've been wishing for, for the last 5 years. As. Heresy as it may be, life is ACTUALLY too short and now your time so take it into your own hands and do EXACTLY what you want to do and do it for yourself and no one else. 

OK, so with all that said, we literally did absolutely nothing today so I'll leave it at that for now! 

A bientot,

Janelle Brine

Railay bea(tches)

Me and my honey.

First thing this morning at about 5am we got woken up by some loud singing that sounded like it was in our room. It was probably to oddest thing I've ever been woken up by because it was in another language and so loud, random and EARLY! It's so weird here how people don't seem to care about anyone else other than themselves. They smoke everywhere, anywhere and anytime no matter who's around, kids or adults, doesn't matter. We've almost gotten hit by cars and bikes more times than I think I have in my whole life. Rude!

 Anyway...

We went to Railay beach today, it's not an island but you do have to take a long tail boat to get there because the rocks don't permit any other access to the beaches. It was a lot of fun to take these boats today and to be able to see the massive rocks up close mixed with the beautiful color of the water made it even better. 

Pano of my view on the long tail.

Before heading to where we took the boat over to Railay we ate some fruit for breakie then rented bicycles to be able to make it to town a bit faster. With our sweet looking bikes we rode all the way down to the water, locked them up and hopped into a boat. The ride was a bit rough at times but so worth seeing all the beauty around us. Once we got to our destination we got off and went to grab a bite before laying our bodies down on the sand to sunbathe. 

Cutie.

The sun was in and out of the clouds today so we didn't catch as many Rays as usual but that was ok. The water on the other hand was gorgeous, so warm and clear. After a few swims and a bit of laying around we figured we had seen everything we needed to see so we took the long tail boat back to Ao Nang Beach where we came from. These boats come and go all day every day, and for a small price they drive you to any island or beach in Krabi which is pretty awesome. When we got back we took our bikes, rode towards the hostel and stopped at the jungle restaurant on the way. This place is the cutest thing ever and our new favourite place to eat because the food is cheapish and super delicious. We each got a strawberry banana smoothie during this stop and then we came back for dinner to eat some curry and fried morning glory. I can see us eating here a lot within the next week. 

Jungle restaurant.

Stylish bikes.

Look at that water.

Line of boats.

Other than that not much else happened today and the next few days will most likely look similar to today, nice, chill and lovin' life ova hurrrr:)

A bientot,

Janelle Brine