From the heart.

So today I happen to be looking through some old pictures. Ok, not that old – as this is still a fairly new computer. So, let’s say pictures from about the last year….starting with Korea.

And I must say. I am one lucky broad. And I don’t mean I’m lucky because of all the traveling I’ve done. I mean lucky in the people that I’ve met and bonded with. Going through my pictures, I saw so many people who I genuinely enjoy talking to and catching up with. And what made it even better was that I am still in touch with most of them. They just didn’t appear in my life, only to disappear once again. They haven’t become the “Facebook says it’s your birthday, so I’m sending you a message” type “friends” either. While they might not be someone I talk to EVERY day, they are people I catch up with on a regular basis, and enjoy looking forward to when we do.

I wish I had the words to explain how much these people mean to me, and to my experiences. Not only the people I’ve met traveling, but ALL the people that have made me a better person. Those that have stayed in touch no matter what part of the world I’m in, those that have visited me in far away lands, and those who send me random messages just to let me know I am still a part of their lives.

I never thought I’d meet as many as amazing people as I have, and if I don’t meet any one else that belongs in this group of treasured people; I still have more of them than any one person could hope for.

So thank you to all of those who have touched me, and continue to keep me smiling. Whether we talk every day, whether you read this or not, I hope that you have people in your lives that make you feel as lucky as you make me feel. 

- Apes

HAPPY 25th BIRTHDAY TO ME!

So I had a birthday.

About a year or so ago I realized I had a big birthday coming up. So, I decided what better place to go then BALI!!! (It’s in Indonesia).        

I’ve heard great things about it – from the activities (diving, etc) to the parties. So, I sent an email out inviting any of my back home crew, and then made the plan.

….and it happened. AND I had some of my girls join me from the states (and abroad)! Megan Beazley was the first to say she was coming (I didn’t doubt for a minute she’d say no). Then a few months before the trip, my 4^th grade BF, Becca Holcomb, emailed and told me she was coming. THEN, my cousin, Jessie, said she wanted to visit me on her holiday. Turns out it was the same time as my birthday, so she planned to join the fun. While I was in Myanmar, I became friends with another foreigner teacher (Natasha), and she decided to join me in the islands for my birthday….and then the last one, another teacher (from my year in Korea) saw that I was going to be there, so she came out as well!

So, Sunday April 13^th came….and a reunion happened. Cuz Jessie and I met in the airport, and then we made our way to the hotel to meet Beaz, who had arrived earlier in the AM. We exchanged travel stories, had dinner, and then headed right to bed, as we were all so exhausted. But that doesn’t mean the whole trip was like that…

Day 1 (Monday) - we got up, snagged some free hotel breakfast, then went off to book SURFING LESSONS! Yup, that’s right. This trio was going all “Blue Crush” on this holiday. We booked the lessons, and then had poolside drinks while we waited for them to start. We met some Canadian surfers at our pool (they were sponsored by Billabong) and they tried to give us surfing tips, which of course we didn’t pay attention to. Silly us. Then it was lesson time! We met our instructor, grabbed our longboards and rash guards, and headed to the beach. We already felt super surfer-ish. We spent some time on the sand practicing our stand up poses, and then it was TIME TO HIT THE WAVES! We all took turns getting up on waves, and we were able to stand up for a little. It was awesome. The waves were rough, and it was exhausting, BUT it was a great feeling being able to stand on the waves. I got on one wave and FELT like I was surfing. I actually felt the wave under me, and thought “Oh, so THIS is what surfing is like!” After a few hours, our time crushing waves was up.

Then it was off to BBQ dinner for $5!! We made it to the Sky Garden, paid our $5 (50,000rupiah) and chowed down. We had a few of the free beers before they were gone, and then had salad, pasta, pizza, BBQ chicken, seafood kebabs, and etc. We are our fill, made friends, and then we headed over to the free cocktails at 9pm. We hopped out with our new friends to start a night of dancing and fun. Once we had our dancing shoes nice and warmed up (and plenty of cocktails in our tummys), we headed off to new dancing locations. Beaz headed home, so it was just the cousins left. We made some friends on the street, and bar hopped with them. Then, since it was about 2am, it was time to head home….the girls we going on a trip in the AM…

Day 2 (Tuesday) – Beaz and Jessie got up, and headed off on their downhill biking adventure. I on the other hand, slept in, grabbed some breakfast, and relaxed by the pool. By the time they got home (around 5pm), I was relaxed, packed (we were checking out on Wed), and ready to hear about their adventure. They shared their stories, and then we had dinner and called it an early night. Beaz and I woke up around 11pm, to awake for our newest arrival – BECCA! But when we woke, we had a message saying her connecting flight was delayed and she wouldn’t arrive until noon on Wednesday. So we had to figure out arrangements for her since we were leaving for the Gili Islands at 7am.

Day 3 (Wednesday) – the 3 of us got up, checked out, and headed to the GILI ISLANDS! We met my girl, Natashia (from teaching in Myanmar) and hopped on the boat. We stayed on the boat for a few hours, dropping off and collectine people from the other islands. We also made friends with a group of English guys, which we would continue to see for the next few days.

Once at the island, we got settled in the hostel, and then went to the beach. It was GORGEOUS! The water was crystal clear blue, and wasn’t full of trash like Kuta Beach. We relaxed on the beach, then headed to the market for dinner. BBQ it was. It was delicious, and then it was time to go back and get ready for our first night out on the island. Tonight’s party was at the Irish Pub. PERFECT! So, after having some drinks at the hostel, we headed to the pub, where the first people we ran into were the English guys from the boat. Turns out they were all on a trip that their friend (one of the guys with them) was paying for…he had won a million Euros in the EU lottery! So, he treated his best friends to a trip to SE Asia. Whelp, since it was almost my birthday, they helped countdown, and then it was the first birthday shot – A JAGER BOMB! Then we drank and danced the night away, and didn’t get home until who knows what time.

Day 4 (Thursday) – MY ACTUAL BIRTHDAY. My first present? BECCA FINALLY ARRIVING! She hopped off her boat around 12:30pm, and then we showed her the island. Well, we showed her the room and then we all proceeded to nap (except Jessie, who was doing her VERY first SCUBA DIVE). Once Jessie was back, it was time to see the beach, and then grab dinner at the market once again. And then? TIME FOR THE BIRTHDAY PARTY! We suited up with glow sticks, party hats, beads, beers, and energy shots. Then it was time for the first bar: Jiggy-Jig. We met some Danish girls who sang happy birthday to me, and then my next gift came…BEAZ IN A DRINKING CONTEST! She had to down the following: a Joss Shot (an energy powder chased with a vodka shot), A Jager Bomb, a Smirnoff Ice, and a Dr. Pepper Shot. She had to do it faster than the previous female winner – a Canadian got 25 seconds. Beaz did it in 24.17seconds. WOOOO!!!! Then, we continued over to the Reggae Bar to meet my friend Allison. We saw her for a few minutes, then the reggae bar sang happy birthday to me onstage, and then we hopped over to the Irish Bar where we ran into the English boys once again, and made new friends with people out for the night. We birthday partied into the night, until the bars started to close.

Day 5 (Friday) – GOODBYE to Beaz and Jessie. They hopped on the boat out at 12:30, and it was just me and Becca left. We had lunch, and then I headed out to do some scuba diving of my own. On my diving trip, I was REALLY hoping to see some sea turtles, but it didn’t happen. BUT, I DID see an Eagle Ray. I thought it was cool, but apparently it was AMAZINGLY cool, as my instructor was SUPER excited, and hadn’t seen one before. Afterwards, Becca and I had dinner, and made it an early night. We were exhausted from the nights before, and we were leaving the next morning.

Day 6 (Saturday) – BYE GILI T! Becca and I headed off on the 1230pm boat, and then arrived in Ubud at around 4pm. We headed to dinner, and then went and saw a fire show. We booked our adventure for the next day, and our way back to Kuta so we could catch our flight out.

Day 7 (Sunday) – 230am…ugh, what an early wakeup! BUT it was for good reason. A hike on an active volcano (last eruption in 2000), to see the sunrise at the top. So we got up, and headed out to Mt. Batur. We met the rest of our group for the mornings hike, grabbed our flashlights, and off we went. It was pitch black, and we had to use our flashlights all the way up to the top. At the halfway point there was a fire going, and refreshments, so we stopped for a short break. Then, it was time to finish up! We made it to the top while it was just getting light, and watched the sunrise come up over the OTHER volcano while sitting on a volcano. We had breakfast at the top, and fed the monkeys that were lingering around. Then, after about an hour or so, it was time to head down. On the way down (which was MUCH easier), we picked tomatoes to eat along our path.

After the hike, we headed to a coffee tasting. Yes, a COFFEE TASTING. We tried about 8 or so different coffees made in Bali, and then we tried the famous Bali coffee: the coffee made from the poop of a catlike animal. Sounds gross, yeah? WELL IT ISNT! It’s very rare, and very expensive. But we saw the animals, and saw how it was made. The animals eat the cocoa beans, then when it poops it out it looks like white peanut brittle. Then, they clean, roast, and crunch the poop beans up, and make coffee out if it. So there ya go!

After the coffee, we didn’t have too much time, so we headed back and got ready for our trip back to Kuta. Once in Kuta, we grabbed a room at Kedin’s again and then headed to our favorite BBQ place. Ok, well MY fav BBQ place – I was just happy Becca got to try it out!

Day 8 (Monday) – we got up early, and headed to the airport…time to head back to Myanmar. Not Becca though, that lucky girl still had about 2 months of SE Asia.

After a day of travel, I arrived back in Mandalay (Myanmar) in time to get ready for work and start a new week of class.

I couldn’t have asked for a better group of girls to celebrate my birthday with me, and can’t tell them enough how much it meant to me to have them take the time and money to travel to the other side of the world for a week of bday celebrations.

Mingalabar,

Apes J

It's been a few weeks here...

So I've been in Myanmar for a few weeks and I've done a LOT!

I've been to Mandalay Hill and watched the sunset with the other teachers.

Niko (from Vietnam) came to visit, but it was my first weekend, so I didn't know too much for us to do. My has that changed!

I met some other foreigners in town, and have of course made friends!

I've found the (little) nightlife here in Mandalay...which became useful when...

Chris (from Prague) came to visit and I took him to meet the other teachers for a night out in Mandalay. Then he and I rented motorbikes and explored the tiny country villages during the weekend. We ended up at a monastery, and had an audience with the head Monk. Then we found a tiny village on the water and had some drinks and snacks on the water. That night we met up some of the foreigners for a BBQ Party and met other travelers coming through Mandalay. The following day, I had arranged to rent a boat for the afternoon, and of course, invited everyone we had met throughout the weekend. There were about 18 of us, and we loaded up on the boat around 3pm, and set sail. We turned on the music, opened the beers, poured on the sunscreen, and focused our cameras. And off we went! After about an hour or so, we docked at Mingun, and explored some ruins and temples (and I got some postcards, so some people will be getting mail soon!). Then we took a dip in the water while we waited for everyone to gather back at the boat. Once we re-grouped, it was time to head back to the mainland. Back at the dock (after the sun had set), we headed to a rooftop restaurant for a gorgeous view of the river and of Mandalay City. Chris ended up staying a few more days, and I believe he enjoyed his time MUCH more than Niko did when he visited.

The following weekend we went on a school trip to the surrounding areas:
- Inn wa (city of gems): we went to Me Nu Okkyaung Monastery and Bagayan Monastery.
- Mingun: we saw the Mingun Bell (2nd largest bell in the WORLD!)
- Sagaing: we went to the Kaung Mu Taw Pagoda
- Amarapura: we went to U Bein's Bridge (longest teak bridge in the world)

Those are the biggest attractions in Mandalay, and we got to hit them all in one day, in an air-conditioned van (which was nice in the 100+ Farenheit heat).

So while I haven't posted in a while...it doesn't mean I've been sitting around. I've been out and about. I'll try to post up some pix here soon so you can see what I've been seeing!

Mangalabar,
Apes :)

Things I've missed

When I was home I felt like I hadn't been in Asia for SUCH A LONG TIME.
But, since I've been back, I feel like I never left....but I have realized the things I missed (well, the Burmese things I've missed).

- Tea Leaf Salad (La Peto)
- The language (I love being able to spit out random phrases - it comes back so easily)
- Longyis (the traditional skirts won by men and women)
- The friendliness (the people haven't been corrupted by tourism JUST YET)
- The motorbikes (ahh, I love riding them)
- Hippie Style (backpackers in full hippie attire)

But while I do miss MANY more things about Myanmar, there are things I DON'T miss (the dust, the no wifi, etc)....but there are even more things to notice now.

In 2 years, things have started to change:

- There are ATMs all over.
- The overnight buses are (apparently) SUPER nice (as in, personal video players at each oversized, padded seat)
- The largest currency bill is no longer 5,000mmk, they have added a 10,000mmk bill!!!
- The prices of EVERYTHING have gone up
- THERE ARE TOUR BUSES! As in, buses full of foreigners are constantly checking into the hotel, and tons are being driven around and through Mandalay.
- I have friends actually passing through the area and crashing on my spare bed!

While the traditional Myanmar is still around, you can DEF see the different in the country now that the borders have been open a few years. I hope it doesn't change too much more, as the country was so amazing before the western world has started to get it's hands on it.

Here's to hoping that Myanmar keeps it's traditions alive...

Mingalabar,
Apes :)

Myanmar I've Returned....

Yes, that's right. After 2 years, I AM BACK! I ventured across the oceans once again to set up shop for 2 months in the land of Gold...Myanmar. But this time...I am NOT Yangon, I am in a more northern area, Mandalay.

Mandalay MAY sound a little familiar to ya, and if you can't figure out why...I know why! There's a man with baby blue eyes you might of heard of, named Frank Sinatra. He sang "On the Road to Mandalay"....

By the old Moulmein Pagoda

Looking eastward to the sea

There's a Burma broad a settin'

And I know she thinks for me

For the wind is in the palm trees

And the temple bells they say

Come you back, you British soldier

Come you back to Mandalay

Come you back to Mandalay

Come you back to Mandalay

Where the old flotilla lay

Can't you hear their paddles chonkin'

From Rangoon to Mandalay

On the road to Mandalay

Where the flyin' fishes play

And the dawn comes up like thunder

Out of China 'cross the bay

Ship me somewhere east of Suez

Where the best is like the worst

Where there ain't no Ten Commandments

And a cat can raise a thirst

'Cause those crazy bells are callin'

And it's there that I would be

By the old Moulmein Pagoda

Looking lazy at the sea

Looking lazy at the sea

Come you back to Mandalay

Where the old flotilla lay

Can't you hear their paddles chonkin'

From Rangoon to Mandalay

On the road to Mandalay

Where the flyin' fishes play

And the dawn comes up like thunder

So there ya go. I've solved your mystery for ya. But, you probably weren't reading my post for song lyrics from an old man. So FINE, here's what life is like...

I'm living in a swanky hotel, Swan Hotel, across from the Mandalay Palace. Yes, if I cross the street, I am walking on the moat (I've walked the whole moat and it took my 3 hours). I have a 2 bedroom room on the 1st floor. I have an ensuite bathroom, including a shower WITH A SHOWER CURTAIN!! I have a mini fridge (I made the staff take out all the mini bar stuff), a TV (with Aljazeera on loop, and movie channel), and a couch in front of a window looking out onto the Hotel POOL. YES, a SWIMMING POOL!!! Don't get too excited though, it doesn't have any chlorine in it, so I'm a little skeptical of hopping in. Every morning we get a buffet breakfast. It includes the staples: fresh fruit, juice, coffee, tea, a pastry/danish table, made to order eggs (fried, hard boiled, omelets). Then daily it changes to a different soup, a different meat (sometimes chicken wings!), a different vegetable, and something Burmese. Yeah....so much for the whole "melting my American fat away". Anyways, we get maid service (including 2 bottles of water a day) AND we have a gym. So...it's pretty decent. I live close enough to the lobby that the internet reaches to my room most days.

Once the school van picks us up at 8:15am, we ride the 10 min to school and are greeted by the air conditioned teachers lounge with coffee, tea, and snacks. When it's lunch time, we all get in line for either the "Burmese" option or the "European" option. I usually get a mix: the European main dish, raw veggie salad, then the Burmese soup/vegetable.

After school, we hop back on our van at 3:15pm and are back in our rooms by 3:30pm. Then we have ALL afternoon/evening to do whatever we want. Sometimes a workout in the gym is involved, other days a nap, and a few times there have been a few long walks. But, we always end up at 1 of 3 spots:

1. The shop around the corner that serves ANYTHING asian: Chinese, Burmese, Thai food. That means: rice dishes, noodle dishes, and meat dishes. And shakes/juices.
2. The tea shop: A VERY Burmese place...it's a "shop" (aka, a roof and tables and chairs) that the men (and a FEW Burmese women) go to get tea and snacks. We go here quite often as we have made friends with the server (Tenzen) and they have our FAVORITE dish, La Peto (Tea Leaf Salad). Plus, the salad is only 600mk ($.60).
3. Street Noodle Shop: A cart in between spot 1 and 2 that has little plastic tables and chairs. The woman cook Shan Noodles in a variety of ways, and it's about 500mk ($.50) a day.

We are usually at our spots for over an hour, then it's INTERNET time! We all huddle to the lobby and pop in our headphones and do our nightly internet business.

And there ya go....a day in the life of Apes in Myanmar. Although, if you have snapchat (apesadventures) then you probably see this on a daily basis.

Mingalabar,
Apes :)

My adventures to Myanmar

So I've left many countries to go to many other countries. I've been patted down at airports, missed flights, and even been told I don't have enough room in my passport to stamp my exit visa.

And this trip was no exception.

I get to the airport in DC (Dulles) and check in with Etihad Airlines, with no problem. Well, I did have to weigh my carry on bag (which was weird) but still, no problem. I get settled in my seat, and then I hear it...SCREAMING babies. Not crying babies, but SCREAMING. And there was a group of them. And they didn't stop screaming ALL flight. Yes, a 12 hour flight and there were screaming babies. FOR ALL 12 HOURS. But alas, I watched my in flight movie, and tried to sleep. Mostly, I just had my eyes closed and listened to the music.

Landing and getting to the next gate was uneventful. I even got a blanket, water, and juice in the waiting area. Then....9am rolled around. My flight was leaving at 945am. No sign for boarding to begin, no notices that the flight has been delayed. But, there was a lone Etihad worker with a growing group of people asking about the flight. Then, at about 10am we were told that the flight was delayed until 1pm. Hmm...about 3 hours AFTER it was supposed to depart. Well, I had ANOTHER flight in Thailand (booked separately through Air Asia) that I needed to get...as there is only one flight from BKK to Mandalay a day. Well, once we FINALLY boarded the plane (at 1:45pm, at a DIFFERENT GATE) I KNEW I wouldn't be making my flight in Thailand.

So we land in BKK and I head straight for the baggage/customer relations desk. They end up booking me (free of charge) on the flight for the FOLLOWING day, and then comp me a room at the Novotel Airport Hotel, AND comped me a dinner at the hotel. THE HOTEL WAS AMAZING. I had 2 beds (which seems to happen to me alot), a BATHTUB, shower, cable, view of the airport (which was actually really cool), and then spent the afternoon at the hotel pool. Yes, it was fancy. For dinner they served a Thai Buffet....but then also had sushi, and cheesecake, and tons of fresh fruit. Yes, I didn't mind my unexpected BKK stop at all.

The next morning I made my flight with no problem, and then when I landed...A NEW ADVENTURE AWAITED! I got off the plane, and there was no "Mislan" or "Horizon School" sign. Which meant, there was no one there to greet me and take me to my hotel or the school. Soo....I had to message a friend who was coming the day after me, and he sent me the number to the main campus in Yangon.....a completely different city then where I was to be working. So we called that campus, and they gave me the cell phone number of my principal and I called him directly. He THEN called a taxi company and they came and got me.

They took me to the school to meet the 2 other teachers...THAT WERE ON MY FLIGHT! They had a sign with their name on it, and they didn't know who the 3rd person was supposed to be, so they left the airport.

So, now I am here in Mandalay, and settled in my Hotel Room for the next 2 months....but it's all about the adventure, right??

Mingalabar,
Apes :)

2014...New Year Thoughts

So it's not 2014. The celebrations have come and gone, and I am nowhere closer to settling back in the states. I've come to realize that I have been to 20 countries in just a few years (counting America).

Here's the list (in order)
America
2007 - Italy (the trip to start it all)
2011 - Thailand, Malaysia
2012 - Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Vietnam
2013 - South Korea, Cambodia, Philippines, Paris, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, The Netherlands, United Kingdom (Scotland, N. Ireland, England), Ireland
2014 - still up in the air!!

I've also realized that if you want to live a positive life, cut out the negative. That means the negative people as well. If someone isn't making you better, then by default they are making you worse. Why would you want THAT?

The best way to realize who is meant to stay in your life long term, then just leave the country for a good amount of time. Those who want to stay in your life will make the time to stay in touch, whether it's weekly, monthly, or even a Skype session here and there. Just knowing that there are people that take the time to catch up with you when the time zones are different, and you're not right there in person means a lot. Sometimes you will grow closer to people you didn't expect, sometimes you will grow apart from people you thought you'd always have around. That's just part of life, and being gone helps to make it more apparent.

Happy New Year,
Apes :)