Peace, Love, Roam

This blog is about my journey roaming around the world and experiencing new cultures and countries.

[peaceloveroam]

Taj Mahal

I actually went to the Taj Mahal by myself because everyone else ended up going before I even got to India.  It stays so hidden until you enter the North gate.  I kept trying to look for it and couldn't see anything.  I felt like such an idiot because the tour guide kept asking me where it was.  When you walk in through the gate you see the pools that lead straight to the taj mahal.  It was just so spectacular.  There are always a crew of people cleaning it, so when I was there it was the front right pillar.  They clean it with clay in order to keep the marble as white as possible.  The marble is from a nearby town that is covered in marble.  They transported it to Agra for the taj mahal.  It is also supposedly one of the strongest marbles because it does not have porous features to it.  At first glance it looks like there are cutout designs in the building, but then when you get closer you see that it is actually semi-precious stones carved into the marble.  This one blew my mind. They carved it out so neatly that it looked like the stone was actually suppose to be there.  Inside the taj mahal there were the two tombs of the emperor and his wife, which he built the taj mahal for.  It is the only part of the whole taj mahal that is not in symmetry.  The center room is darker and cooler than outside, which is a nice break in the heat.  In the outside rooms there are some carved out honey-comb like designs that allow light to come into the building.  The builders built the taj mahal with so much thought.  The pillars are facing outward, so that if they fall they will not hit the main building.  The writing at the top is bigger than on the sides, so that when someone looks at it the writing will look like one size.  There are a few optical illusions throughout the building too, which make it even more spectacular.  To the left of the main building there is a mosque.  It is still open today, but only for the descendants of the family members that built the taj mahal.  On the right side there is a building that resembles the mosque, but there is no real known purpose for it.  It was built to provide symmetry to the rest of the grounds.  The taj is such a relaxing place to just sit down and admire.  I could have spent the whole day there just looking at it under the trees.  I thought that it wouldn't be as good because of all the people and it being hyped up, but it really is just as amazing as everyone says it is.   

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Goa, India

After the wedding, the group of people I went with flew down to the beach town of Goa.  I kind of went rogue on this part because my idea of a good time and everyone else's are very different.  The first night we went to a very nice French restaurant on the beach.  The food was out of this world.  I only had the risotto, but it was the best risotto I ever had.  Everyone said the same thing about their meals too.  After that I went home to go to sleep and everyone else went out to a club and stayed up all night, literally all night.  They said that it was a great and crazy time, but I honestly don't think they remembered any of it.  The next day I went scuba diving on Grand Island and actually got certified! There was a shipwreck that I was able to see and even swim in for a little.  Even though the water was extremely murky, it was such a great experience.  I was so happy that I was able to relax and have this time to myself and finish my certification! It was just a perfect day to me.  After I got back, I rounded up the troops to go to the beach.  Here we ate more amazing food and hung out for a little.  My main thing was getting to the beach and it was perfect.  The weather was so warm, as was the water.  It was a nice touristy spot, so I did not feel like I had to stay completely covered up.  Once we were done with the beach we headed over to a Greek restaurant that has one of the best sunset views.  It is on top of a cliff overlooking a beach.  It really was spectacular.  This was the last night everyone was together so we watched the sunset and drank and ate more food.  It was the perfect ending to the beach trip. I would recommend going to Goa, but do not expect anything other that beaches and markets.  It is still not built up, which I found appealing.

[peaceloveroam]

Indian Wedding

I just recently returned from India, where I attended my friend's sister's wedding.  Of course I have heard stories about Indian weddings, but my goodness, I can't even fully explain all the greatness of it.  And the one I attended was a shorter one! Day 1: The night I flew in from India there was a party for everyone to meet.  Most of us were traveling from America and only knew a few people.  It was a nice little cocktail party with an open bar and endless food.  It was a great way to start the events slowly for all of us who were not accustomed to everything.  Morning of Day 2: The henna event was probably one of my favorites, because when us Americans think of Indian weddings, we think of henna.  It took the bride about two hours to get her henna done, and it was spectacular! Everyone else is also allowed to get it done, even the men.  I waited until after I ate a little because I figured I wouldn't be able to eat with the henna all over my hands, and boy was I right.  It took the lady about ten minutes to complete my henna and I had the front and back of my hands covered.  It was so amazing! I never realized that real henna first turns a bright orange after the original layer peels off.  You then have to treat it with lemon and sugar and not wash your hands until the next day in order for it to get the dark brown color.  The darker the brown, the more your mother-in -law loves you, or at least that's what the legend says.  After more food and drinks this party was over and everyone got to go back for a little relaxation before the real party began.  Evening of Day 2: This event was just incredible and I got to wear traditional clothes.  It is essentially the cocktail party and reception but it lasts all night and it is before the wedding.  There were waiters carrying around different bottles of whiskey, and a waiter that had traditional chai that he would pour into a clay cup.  The hors d'oeuvre were out of this world.  I am a gluten-free (not by choice) vegetarian and I went completely off my diet for this event, and I am sure glad I did.  The naan and roti cooked in the traditional way were delicious.  I mostly had lamb for the meat, which was quite fatty, but also so tasty.  There was another open bar in addition to drinks being passed out like the hors d'oeuvres.  The main part of this night are the dances that people preform.  In India the people involved will practice for weeks.  I was part of one, but obviously couldn't practice with people because of my location.  I actually thought my friend was kidding when he told me that we had to do a dance, so I didn't learn it until the day before I left when he sent me a snapchat of other Americans practicing the dance.  All the dances were so amazing!! I loved hearing the traditional music and watching the traditional dances.  After these dances are done, there are Indian drummers that come in.  Apparently they come to all Indian weddings. They have huge drums and curved drum sticks and they just get right up in your face and play music. You can sit on the drums and stand on them, but you have to pay them more to do all those things.  It was insane to say the least! I took the first bus back to the hotel because the actual ceremony was early the next morning, but other people in my group stayed out until around 4! These parties are no joke.  Day 3: The ceremony was back at the same location as the night before.  Typically it is for close family and friends only, but all of the Americans were invited so that we could see a traditional ceremony.  It starts with a parade in the streets with the groom on a horse and someone holding an umbrella over him. The drummers were back and also a band, not an American type of band though. We all just walked on the street to the entrance while everyone was cheering and dancing.  Once we got to the location of the ceremony there were two other bands, both military ones that played more calming music for the rest of the day.  The bride came in under rows of flowers.  First her and the groom took pictures with the family and they put flowers on each other.  Next was the actual ceremony.  I could not understand exactly what was happening unfortunately, but it was still such a great experience to watch.  There was a fire and the bride, groom, and both families kept pouring something into the fire.  Then they walked around the fire and we all threw flowers at them.  It was a lot nicer than I am able to describe, and I would definitely advise seeing one in person if you get the chance.  Once the ceremony as over, it probably took about 45 minutes, the rest of the afternoon was a nice brunch.  There was still an open bar and tons of food passed around.  Everything was so delicious, and this was definitely the most relaxed day.  I believe that it needs to be this chill because 90% of the people are hungover.  Honestly, this wedding experience as so amazing that I wish we had weddings like this here in America.  The Indian's know how to throw the best parties and weddings, hands down.

[peaceloveroam]

Utah and Yellowstone

I never would have thought I would go to Utah. In my head it was land of Mormons (which isn't a bad thing) and nothing was there to do. Boy was I wrong! It is immaculate there. The mountains are breathtaking and extend as far as you can see. Some of them still have snow on them in the middle of the summer. It does definitely still her chilly too, but it's worth it. I wish I was actually in Utah longer so I could experience some of the hikes. Instead, I headed up to Yellowstone. I have always wanted to go and I am so glad I did! It extends into multiple different states and the scenery changes throughout the park. The geysers are gorgeous, as are the hot springs and mud pits. I could have watched them for hours. And there are so many of them! On one section it is completely covered! Old faithful was pretty astounding too and the time prediction is almost to the t. I definitely recommend seeing it. Some of the other ones are better because of the scenery, but old faithful is still good. The rest of the trip I mostly hiked and hung out with my friends. The hikes are really good and there are a lot of them at all different levels. Bison were roaming all over the park! We were so excited after seeing the first one, but by the end of the trip we were so used to it. We also got to see black bears (and Cubs!), a grizzly cub, wolves, and elk. It was so fun to see all the wild animals in their natural habitat and knowing no one was trying to hunt them. The wolves were the most wild because we had to see them through binoculars. It was a whole family with babies and they were so adorable! I loved watching them. Camping in Yellowstone was an adventure. It gets freezing at night! Thank goodness we had so many people in the tent with us so we could gain some body heat. It also rained most afternoons. We would keep it low keep at those times so we wouldn't get even more cold. Overall, I wouldn't have changed a thing about it. I had the best time with my friends and I wish I could have extended the trip.

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Bangkok

I really only spent one full day in Bangkok right near khoa San road. It was fantastic! This is a great spot for young adults. There is so much for us to do there and it is super close to a lot of tourist attractions. I went to see the emerald Buddha, which wasn't as great as I thought it would be. It was very small, extremely crowded, and it felt like I was in a rush the whole time. It even cost a lot more than most other temples. Personally, I would not suggest it unless you are board and was to be pressed against a bunch of people you don't know. I also went to see the reclining Buddha. Now this was a sight to see. I would absolutely tell everyone to go. It is cheap to get in, you get a free water, and it isn't crowded. All positives. They have so many different sections too so after seeing the reclining Buddha you can check out the rest of the temples, Buddhas and pagodas. After that I spent most of my time on and around khoa San road. One could literally spend days there and still not fully see everything. There are so many shops, bars and restaurants. People are always walking around and going out there is definitely a good time. The bars do close relatively early (around 2), but there are still drunk people partying on until late. I actually woke up for breakfast one day and there were still people roaming the streets drinking. They definitely weren't going to have a good day. Bangkok is a must see if you're going to Thailand. I didn't think I would like it too much so I didn't want many days there, but now that I have been there I can say that it definitely deserves at least a week of your time. There is just so much to do in and around Bangkok that you shouldn't skip over it.

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Erawan falls

Erawan national park is about three hours from Bangkok. I was able to take a tour their for a day and hit the main attractions in the park and the surrounding area. Kanchaniburi is a smaller town that has a major role in WWII. They have bridges built by the prisoners of war which are both actually still in use. I got to ride on the train on the wooden track and walk on both the bridges. Unless you're super into WWII history, it isn't worth going to. I am not into history at all and I did get bored. It is interesting for part of it, but not for the amount of time you have to spend there. Erawan waterfall is a seven tier waterfall that you can hike and swim in. The pools actually have the dish that will eat your dead skin. The fish are pretty big here, so be warned. It is pretty creepy and even though the water is extremely clear, they will sneak attack you. The waterfall and pools are both a sight to see. The colors are absolutely gorgeous and it is in the middle of the jungle which makes it even better. The water is pretty cold, but it is refreshing in the humid weather. The top tier was my favorite. The water was white and blue and you could climb on the waterfall and get a little massage. There is also a little cave in that one. The whole day trip was worth it just to see the falls. I would suggest somehow finding a way to get to see the waterfalls if you're visiting Thailand. It was the best national park that I went to during my whole trip.

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Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya was one of Thailand's capitals before the Burmese destroyed it in a war. The town is still quite functional today, but the temples and palace are in complete ruins. A few of the temples are still being used as places to worship, but most are too far gone. It is amazing to walk through the ruins and think about what occurred there hundreds of years ago before the destruction happened. People would visit these places frequently, meeting friends, worshiping, living their daily lives around such amazing architecture, but now it's gone. Most of the Buddhas don't have their heads anymore for various reasons. This makes the temples look like they are in even worse condition than they really are. Ayutthaya is definitely a top place to visit, and a world unesco heritage site. Don't do it alone though, especially if coming from Bangkok. It will end up costing a plethora of more money if doing it alone because the temples are so spread out.

[peaceloveroam]

Bamboo tattoo

In ancient Thailand monks would give warriors tattoos to help give them powers during battle. They would use sharpened bamboo and natural inks in order to give the tattoo. Today, you can still get a traditional bamboo tattoo from a monk on a temple, but you can't choose what you get or where you want it. I have also heard that they use the same ink aka super unsanitary. You can still get tradition tattoos are parlors and not have them be blessed, but you still have a Thai tattoo. Or you can get a bamboo style of whatever you want. That is what I decided to do since I had something in mind anyways. Today, they use metal rods instead of the bamboo and essentially stab you with it hundreds and thousands of times until the tattoo is done. If that doesn't sound painful then you're crazy. I heard that it doesn't hurt and that it was the worst pain ever. Let me tell you, I literally thought I was going to crawl out of my skin because the pain was unbearable. My first tattoo I got on my ribs before I left and I didn't feel it at all. This one I got on the fleshy part of my wrist and I was literally screaming. It is painful. They do have numbing cream you can use, but mine was small so I didn't use it. One things about the tattoos is that they are never as perfect as when a machine does it. It is still a great thing to try if you're into tattoos and its small (no traditional tattoo is small). You do start going numb after a while though which helps. You can also go in water right after. The place I went to said not to, but all the other places said you could and I have friends that went diving the day after. You just have to be careful.

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Scuba diving

Scuba diving in Thailand is just a perfect idea no matter what. The tour I did took me to Ko Tao which is north of samui and Pha Ngan. This is suppose to be one of the best island to scuba dive at. The reef here is gorgeous and huge! You can see the part of it that is getting bleached unfortunately. The rest though, is a great sight to see. The fish are abundant and swim right by you. I am horrible with marine names. But you will see a plethora of different fish and corals. It was so amazing. I am definitely getting certified after my experience here. It was actually better than when I went on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia! I unfortunately didn't see any sharks :( one of the places I dove has reef sharks. But we ran out of oxygen before we got there. I saw them in Australia and they are beautiful and almost harmless. You can also see whale sharks if you're lucky. I wasn't lucky unfortunately, but I also went off season for them and right after a storm so we couldn't go far off the reef. Even though i didn't see any sharks, or turtles, I would still recommend it. Diving is so much better than snorkeling, so bite the bullet and spend the money to go.

[peaceloveroam]

Full moon party

The full moon party on Koh Pha Ngan is known throughout the world as the biggest party. Let me tell you, it was wild! I did not drink too much for multiple different reasons, and k am so glad that I didn't. I got to see all the ridiculous things that people were doing. I saw some kid fall on the fire limbo multiple times (he definitely had a few burns the next day), someone broke his wrist, I saw multiple people fall on their face, and lots of people getting sick. I had a blast the whole time too. The music was completely different all down the beach, so you just walked until you found the dj you liked. The was fire limbo (literally a limbo stick with fire on it) that people went under and over, not always successfully. There was fire jump rope, which the staff working it would make sure to mess you up. There was a water slide and I don't know how people managed not to spill their whole drink going down. There were multiple stages and bleachers that were piled with people dancing. A drone would fly over us and take videos and pictures. In the town there was food and shops open. You could walk anywhere with your alcohol. There was body painting that would flow under the black light. They even had an area on the beach where you could sleep. Absolutely ridiculous stuff! I almost tried the fire limbo, but my half soberness kicked in and warned me not to. I definitely would have felt those burns. I mostly danced all night hopping from one dj to another. I advice not to expect to stay with a group of people because the beach is so crowded that you will definitely lose them and it is nearly impossible to find people again. Everyone I went with stayed in pairs of two since that was doable. No shocking ran into the twice each but other than that I had zero clue where anyone was. I ended up coming back on the 3am boat, but I easily could have partied all night. Everyone else I was with that had a hostel on the island stayed out partying until late morning. It is absolutely crazy and fun! If you're in the area it is a must to go! Even if you only go for a few hours and catch the first boat back (which is at 1 depending on the company you use). But please go just to see how amazing it is to pretend to be in college again.

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Ko Samui

Ko Samui is one of the major islands on the gulf of Thailand. Depending on where you stay the vibe changes. I was in southern Lamai and the feel was very relaxed. I had a beach front view of all windows; what a site to see. The beaches definitely aren't as nice as the west coast, but they are still enjoyable. The reef is extremely shallow, in some parts it is actually on shore during low tide. All along lamai beach are hotels and restaurants, so if you need anything, just take a stroll. During my time on lamai I most did excursions. There is so much to do on samui that you don't even have to see the beach or leave the water if you don't want to. I would suggest doing a mix of both because the island has a lot to offer. I went to the Ang Thong national park which is a stretch of islands near samui. With the tour I went kayaking through the caves, snorkeling (it was complete shit). And went to the lagoon. Overall the day was really awesome and we got to see so much. The rest of my time there I went to the full moon party, scuba diving, saw view points and waterfalls, and soaked up the sun. The view point in lamai is definitely worth seeing. It cost money to go to. But it's gorgeous. The waterfalls are definitely not worth the time or money. I'll talk more about the full moon party and scuba diving in separate blogs. There are a lot of other island near samui that are just as nice but with different feels to them. I took day trips to them and they are all great depending on why you want to go to the gulf of Thailand.

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Ko Phi Phi

Phi Phi is probably one of the most well known places in Thailand, so it was definitely a must see. I went during rainy season, which starts on the west coast and moves east. Let's just say weather conditions weren't perfect, but they could definitely be worse. It rained every night and morning but during the day it was gorgeous out! I mostly just tanned at long beach since the resort was so nice and the beach was practically empty. The water is gorgeous shades of blue even during the storms. The center of town is adorable too. There are no cars. So the only way to get around is either by walking or taxi boat. The taxi boat drivers are assholes to say the least, so I would recommend trekking as much as you can. The main thing to do in town is eat, drink, and her tattoos. Literally every other shop is a tattoo parlor. A lot of people are promoting different sorts of activities, so be prepared to get harassed while walking around. Near the center of town there is a really nice view point. It is not that easy to get to, so bring plenty of water and stamina. There are three view points you can see within one section and also a beach. I hit all three of them and the beach. The beach was nice, but definitely not worth the hike. You can easily take a long boat there instead, or if you're so inclined you can even stay there at the resort. It is called relax beach. It is really pretty from the top of the mountain. The actual beach is super tiny though. Back to the view points: if you only have time for one, go to the third one. It is the highest and hardest to get to, but worth it. They even have food there so you can go around sunset and grab dinner. Most people don't make it all the way to the third view point, so it usually isn't crowded. When I went I was all by myself and it was beautiful! I grabbed some snacks and just relaxes after the climb up from the beach. You can either go to Phi Phi and have a relaxed time or you can party hard all day and night. Either experience is a good one, just try to remember it.

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Maya bay sleep aboard

Maya bay is famous all around the world for being in the movie the beach. During the day thousands of people squeeze into the small slot of beach to experience it's beauty. Luckily I didn't get to experience this tourist attraction. I decided to do a sleep aboard at the beach, which one one company does with very limited spots each night. I was one of 9 people that were allowed on the island after every other tour boat had to leave. Now that was spectacular. It rained all day but stopped for the few hours we got to spend at maya bay. The water was crystal blue even with the sky filled with dark clouds. The sand was so smooth, but it did have some rocks and coral. Since it is in a bag a lot of trash gets swept to the area. Luckily there is a cleaning crew that comes multiple times a day to keep the beach up to par. After the few hours lounging on the empty beach, we started to have a party at the old camp grounds. We had food, alcohol, and games, a recipe for disaster. Half way through the games the power got cut from the upcoming storm. So here we were, stranded on an island as a storm is coming in tsunami season and slight drunk with no lights. Talk about one interesting time. All of a sudden the heavens opened and rain started covering everyone. It looked like we all decided to jump in the ocean with lit clothes on and belongings. Finally our little boat came and we got to travel to our main boat and attempt to get dry and continue the party. Unfortunately I always get seasick, so the drinking stopped early for me. We all started singing oldies and then jumped in the water, might as well since we were already wet, to see the bioluminescent plankton. This is something I have ways wanted to experience in the water and it was amazing! Any movement causes the plankton to glow for a few seconds. It was such a great sight to see. After that I ran back to the top of the boat to try to not get seasick. Unfortunately Mother Nature was not onto side. There were storms all night with heavy rain and winds. The water was so rough and made the boat rock back and forth more than normal. Finally the night ended to everyone's relief. We got to stop again at maya bay and walk to beach before the tourist started to come. It was such a nice and relaxing way to start the day. After that we went to monkey bay which is exactly what it sounds like: a whole bunch of monkeys in a bay. They are very used to humans and will run up to people and take their food. They were so absolutely adorable! I heard they could get aggressive though, so I was a little stand offish during it. After this adventure we went back to solid grounds, but not without having great memories and making new friends.

[peaceloveroam]

Railay

All of those pictures that are famous of Thailand with the limestone karst rising from the ocean live in railay. Traveling by long boat to this town was breathtaking. It was nothing I could even dream about; clear blue-green waters with cliffs all around. Arriving at the famous beach was just as spectacular. I thought the pictures that I have seen were edited to the extreme, but they weren't. The scenery is fantastic all around. No matter where you look it is a picture perfect landscape. Getting around the main flat part of the town is super easy. But trying to get to a view point or see the jungle is a bit tricky. The mosquitoes swarm and attack at any moment they have and even bug spray won't keep them all away. Climbing to the view point was simplified rock climbing. Actual rock climbing, which railay is famous for, was insane. If you thought the views from the ground were breathtaking, then wait until you are halfway up a karst. The only downside to railay was the jellyfish. At railay beach they invade the water and their stings are extremely painful. Luckily they aren't poisonous. But you will feel the sting for the rest of the day. Some of the smaller beaches have fewer jellies, so it is possible to have a sting free beach day here. Overall, this town was absolutely amazing. I would definitely recommend it to people. But compared to the rest of Thailand it is expensive. A few days here is probably all someone needs since there isn't too much to do. But it is a must see place to visit.

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Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is one of the major Thailand cities in the north, but it isn't too big in retrospect. The old city and the surrounding areas are enclosed in a moat while the city itself is much larger than that. Most of the tourist attractions (temples, museums, etc.) are within the moat and the night scene is right outside the moat on the east side. In all actuality, someone could cover all of Chiang Mai in one day. It is extremely small and most of the attractions are within walking distance. I spend four days there and found myself trying to find things to do after the first day. There are many excursions to do, which does help. I did a day trip all throughout the north. It entailed the top attractions of the north and even a trip to Laos. It was expensive for Thailand travels, but overall it was definitely worth it. It was nice to have a day away from Chiang Mai to see the north and the country side that is associated with it. I would have to say the view out the window was gorgeous, even in the rain. The north does have so much to offer, but don't give yourself too much time there or you'll surely run out of things to do.

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WFFT

Unfortunately my time at WFFT came to an end. Looking back this was probably one of the best volunteer opportunities that I have had. It is so surreal walking next to animals that are so giant, yet gentle. There were many times that an elephant put their trunk in a bucket I was holding and I almost fell forward from the weight of it. I was able to learn so much about elephants and how horrible people treat them. Riding on them may seem like a great experience at first, but the elephants get treated horribly and it deforms their backs. In order to be trained to do this they must go through a break. This is when a baby elephant is taken away from its mother and essentially tortured. Once it hits a certain point, it will no longer consider its mother to be family and the mahout can be in control. This stage is terrible for an elephant to go through and our society has acted as if it is acceptable. With education, elephants in Thailand will be able to actually live in the wild without being tortured for personal gain.

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Wild vs captive elephants

The other day we went to one of the many national parks in Thailand to go on a safari. The safari here is much different than the typical safari people think about in Africa. The main animals people see are elephants, birds, deer and boar. We only saw elephants, and some birds of course, which is actually very rare. We saw multiple different herds and ones of all ages. It was so fantastic to see them in the wild and natural habitat. I say wild, but they are definitely used to humans being around even though no one has physical contact with them. I think it was most amazing to see how elephants are actually suppose to look. At WFFT all of the elephants except one baby were abused badly and now their ears and backs are malformed. It is so sad to see what our species does to other innocent animals just to make a few extra dollars. In the wild their ears aren't torn to shreds and their backs are a nice gradual curve. In order to break elephants to make the mahout the trainer, people torture the elephant as a baby. This includes their ears being ripped up. While the elephants work, minus a begging elephant, their backs become malformed. So every time you think about rising an elephant, remember that you are contributing to the harsh conditions that these elephants must endure just for you to get a picture. If people were informed better and genuinely cared about animals then this wouldn't be an issue.