Possibilities

Just sitting here drinking a cup of lavender-mint tea (a wonderful tea I picked up in Tofino, and have been drinking daily) and pondering about what direction I'll travel once I get into Thailand.  Thought I'd sketch out a possible itinerary for Asia this winter:

Nov 15:  Leave YVR - Bangkok
Nov 16: Get into Bangkok at midnight, probably sleep in an airport hotel to save jet-lagged-over-tired-stupid brain from having to work too hard after I get through customs.
Nov 17 - 20: stay in Bangkok
Nov 21 - 27: Living Buddhism at Thai Bhikkunis, Songdhammakalyani Monastry
Nov 28 --->   ...probably south to the Cambodia border, and then north up to Chiang Mai
Dec 12 - 18: Journey to Freedom volunteering project in Chiang Mai (ELEPHANTS!)
Dec 19 - 27:  Northern Thailand, Chiang Rai, Don Inthanon, etc.  
Dec 27:  Leave Thailand for India.  


The only dates here that are solid and have to be observed other than airplane dates are the group of dates that have links next to them.  I had to apply in advance for those, so I'm basically free to do whatever, whenever, so long as I am near Bangkok on the 21st, and near Chiang Mai by the 12th of December.  


INDIA: 
Dec 27: Fly into Mumbai
...maybe a couple days in Mumbai, then catch a train/plane/bus/goat to Haryana, and WWOOF for three weeks with a wonderful little organic farm that grows sugarcane and pulses and other things - ...then fly/swim/dig a hole back to Mumbai.
Feb 1: Fly to Vancouver - stay here for a week or two, and then greyhound/fly up to Smithers and start living in my new home.  


Holy busy.  This could kinda work.  I'm still waiting to get my passport back from the visa peeps, but I got an email a few days ago that they've accepted my applications, and that I will get my passport back for when I get back from work (which is fine - perhaps a last minute down to the states trip? ...I know, I'm insane.)  

So.  Pack.  Go to work.  Pack some more.  Maybe go to the States.  Move to Smithers.  Come back down from Smithers to catch a plane out of Vancouver.  Go to Thailand.  Go to India.  Come back to Vancouver.  Go back home to Smithers.  Go back to work.

Plotting an Asian Invasion

I've never had to apply for a visa before, and currently, I've applied for two.  Sometime in November - I haven't worked out the semantics yet - I'll be leaving Canada, visiting a friend in the states for a few days, and then flying my little worn out bum to Bangkok.  The planning is proving to be more stressful than I anticipated.  Mainly, because I don't really like to PLAN trips, and certain circumstances are requiring me to do just that. 

I haven't booked my tickets yet, but I've applied for my visas (I say that with a plural suffix because I'm also going to India) ...and I'm making feeble gestures at learning the thai language.  So far, I can say "Hello" and "Goodbye" ...sa wat-dee ka.  I thought about learning hindi, but since reading about India, I've decided that if my tongue can't twist around the place names, well, I'm sure as hell not going to be able to pronounce the language.  We'll see how that goes. 

This blog post isn't terrible significant, insomuch as I'm currently ill in camp, and using my rest time to try and work out details in my head.  I'm going traveling for TEN WEEKS - the longest trip by an entire six weeks.  I've never travelled longer than a month before, and nevermind that, I've never travelled to a country where I can be singled out for being a white, western female, or where I don't know a single iota of mutual communication.  I sure hope that somebody speaks English over there. 

This next part is really more for me than it is for public consumption, but what follows is a list of places I'd like to go, and possible potential staying times - I'm just trying to figure out when I should book my ticket to leave Thailand (since I have learned that buying a one way ticket to Bangkok won't actually get me past the Thai border - and apparently I need proof of leaving when applying for my visa.  Grr.) 

Thailand: 6 weeks?

• Bangkok
• Amphawa - the way there
• Lopburi - temples and monkeys
• Kanchanaburi - outdoor sports
• Thong Pha Phum - hotsprings
• Si Racha
• Ko Si Chang - monastery - 2 weeks
• Ko Chang - jungle, beaches, elephant sanctuary
• Ko Kut
• Chiang Mai - 1-2 weeks (used as base)
• Do Chiang Dao National Park
• Ban Mae Kampong
• Doi Inthanon National Park
• Chiang Rai
• Mae Salong
• Ubon Ratchathani
• Phetchaburi
• Prachuap Khiri Khan

 India: 4 weeks?

• Agra - Taj Mahal?
• WWOOFING in Kerala - 3 weeks
• Maybe go to Tamil Nadu?

...also, is this worth $500?  It seems AMAZING.  http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/volunteer/journeytofreedom/index.htm