Night Market

We got matching friendship bracelet. We haggled and felt very accomplished when instead of paying 90baht for 3 we payed 70. Until we realized that 20baht is about 75 cents.

These are the weird taxi things we use sometimes. They are kind of expensive though.

These babies are much cheaper. Usually 20baht per person.

Monkey Club: Full Moon Party

Sooo last night, in celebration of our first day of actual class, second day of the program, a bunch of us went out to this club, called the Monkey club.

Words do not describe. Pictures and videos do a much better job.

Getting our fruit shakes on

Fish Market in Chiang Mai Part II

Fish Market in Chiang Mai! ewww

Downtown Chiang Mai --we decided to walk. It took us like 1.5 hours to get to this part, and we ended up being wrong and it took us like another 1.5 hours to find the right way. Let's not get me started about getting back to the Uniserv. I'm not sure I'll even HAVE feet by the end of this trip. But we didn't want to spend the 20bahts to get a Tuk Tuk--they are actually called something else here in Chiang Mai (Tuk tuk is what you call these taxi things in Bangkok) but I can't remember. 20bahts is the equivalent to less than a dollar. You can buy a copious meal with that.

When we reached the top of the Seventh Tier Waterfall in the Erawan National Park after walking in the heat for like 327514896896 years. We ended up swimming. Apparently the fish in these waters are notorious for nibbling at the innocent swimmers' toes. Julie freaked.

Kachanaburi, downtown market. Pictures give an idea, but videos are much more helpful in depicting the atmosphere we're in.

Program Officially Starts!

Okay so I basically have been taking wayy too many videos and pictures and been having wayyy too many ridiculous stories not to share on a blog.

Julie and I have been in Thailand for about a week now, traveling around. We landed in Bangkok at about 1:40am, took a two hour nap and eventually decided that we didn't want to waste any moment here and since we didn't technically have to be in Chiang Mai until Sunday (to move into our new homes for 5 weeks), we impulsively decided to go see the Seven Tier Waterfall in the Erawan National Park in Kachanaburi, a smaller town about 2 hours into Central Thailand.

I will spare you the details of getting there. Let's just say that we ran around A LOT, catching buses, trains, using sign languages as means of communication...The Thais have a good sense of humor. I'm pretty sure I couldn't possibly butcher their language any more. But surprisingly, they all seemed to know at least a little English, enough to be understood.

Kachanaburi was great. Super low key, super local. We were pretty much the only Westerners which got us a lot of attention. They were all pretty excited to see the white falangs (foreigners).

We spent two nights in Kachanaburi and then had a crazy chaotic day taking buses, taxis, and other random Thai means of transport to the train in Bangkok and from there we took the night train into Chiang Mai. A 14 hours train ride. Got into our new home, the Uniserv--which basically is a better version that the dorms (minus the shower which suckksss) Then spent the rest of the day wandering Chiang Mai. Probably walked about 14 miles, not even joking. But I am definitely getting used to walking a LOT.

Today was the first day of class. We went to the university which was huge. Had to wear a long skirt and shirt that covers the shoulders--madness. Had a couple of hours of class. Got our schedule for the program. Class actually starts tomorrow. First class: Environmental Psych at 1 pm! I have class Monday-Friday 1-5. Not too bad. Plus random field trips and other adventures I'll be sure on embark on during the weekend. The university colors are light purple. They love their weird colors. I think the tacky colors only works in Thailand though. Not every country could pull it off so well.

By the way, I saw my third tranny today. I actually spoke to him/her: him/her pointed Lindsey Bly and I to the bathroom, ha and when I mean bathroom I mean holes with feet placement. Yea, not all the bathrooms here have toilets. Obviously the tranny would point us to that one. And the club I went to yesterday had girl urinals.

Quick random facts:

People drive on the left side of the road.
The Thais in Bangkok really love their hot pink taxis
Here in Chiang Mai we've been traveling in weird and old looking vans that are open in the back (I'll eventually post pictures)
All the billboards have Asian models with really white skin. Or Caucasians. But I find their dark skin beautiful. I find these people beautiful. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. You always want what you can't have.
Everyone stands up really straight.
Thai Massage are amazing. And costs up 4$ for an hour. Mmm ya be jealous.
Chiang Mai is built around tourism. The street vendors are much more aggressive than in Kachanaburi. They actually haggle and chase you down the streets arguing with you on the price.
They have a huge mall here (in Chiang Mai) with a freaking Starbucks and a Mcdonalds. I swear, they are everywhere. It makes it less authentic which is too bad.
Our first lecture today in class made me really question modernization and globalization. But more about that later.
Julie and I were almost pick pocketed yesterday.

Okay now I am going to post some videos and we'll call it quits for today. I've been on this computer for wayy too long already.