December 24, 2009 – Day 364 – Bangkok, Thailand

Feeling pretty bad today so slept most of the day in efforts to get better before Latham comes to visit. Made mistake of getting a room with a window so we hear thumping music from Khao San Road’s 24 hour nightlife. At least we have a great location—a side street leading onto the center of Khao San. Proximity to endless amounts of great street food, bars, 711s galore, and more crazy drunken foreigners than you can shake a stick at. Wow, it’s nice to see and show some skin freely after coming from India. It’s like a weight was lifted from our shoulders and we can really live a little. Shorts, tank tops and dresses here we come!

Crazy Khao San Road

December 23, 2009 – Day 363 – Bangkok, Thailand

Feeling at least well enough to leave our room, we ventured outside and chowed on some oily pad thai from one of the many street carts. We walked around Khao San Road and much of the surrounding area, mostly just marveling at the amazingly organized traffic, the abundance of supermarkets, the gregarious use of air conditioning and the fact that Thais have wonderful attitudes and manners.

Tasty street food

We are delaying any major sightseeing because Saben’s brother Latham is flying in on the 25th to visit us for a couple of weeks. Until then we are planning to fully enjoy some great food, some great people, and some great air conditioning (well, at least whenever we pop in a 711….which is as often as possible).

December 22, 2009 – Day 362 – Bangkok, Thailand

We made it out alive! Now we’re in the most fabulous place we could possibly be after such a long tiring last several months. A true vacation spot: Thailand! It is so beautiful, so organized, so clean, the people are so happy and friendly, and everything is so bright and colorful. Even our plane here was nicely decorated with saffron, fuschia, and deep purple seats with smiling Thai ladies in traditional dresses. Fantastic!

The view down Koh San road

Although we have officially survived India, it sent us with a parting gift of the typical Indian variety. So even though we didn’t get to go out and see much of anything, we are both extremely happy to be here.

November 11-12, 2009 – Day 320-321 – Jodhpur/Udaipur, India

On the way to Jodhpur last night we discovered that India has made yet another attempt on our lives. This time is was in the form of some poisoned desert eggs! Saben nearly croaked on the bus ride but luckily kept his guts about him til we landed in Jodhpur at the trusty Evergreen Guest House (exceedingly clean and wonderfully cheap! Rs. 250 double room with private bath, hot water). We spent the 11th lying flat on our backs fighting the clutches of death again and hoping we really don’t die here.

Fruit beer!, it cures what ales you. (some exclusions may apply)

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November 10, 2009 – Day 319 – Jaisalmer, India

At sunrise we awoke to a morning as cold as the night had been. With nothing but our noses peeking out of our blankets, we were nearly frozen solid in the cold desert air. The stars were amazing but the wind that came with the blanket of night was almost more than we could take. Our toes hung over our tiny beds and let in an unwelcome draft that chilled our bones each time we stretched beyond the fetal position.

Boy and Camel, a story of freezing death

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October 18-19, 2009 – Day 297-298 – Rishikesh, India

Although we didn’t take any yoga courses like the Beatles did when they came to Rishikesh, we enjoyed the days we were outside walking around he little town.

Just hanging out

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October 17, 2009 – Day 296 – Rishikesh, India

Happy Diwali! We both woke up today and after 3 days of fear, it seems that we will be able to get better. Thanks to Cipro from pulling us from the foot-in-the-grave (we’re not even joking, we were both concerned about dying from dehydration and not sure if we would even be able to wake up the next morning; neither of us has never been this sick in our entire lives).

Happy Diwali!

October 13-16, 2009 – Day 292-295 – Delhi-Rishikesh, India

Well, we were just counting ourselves lucky in thus far not having any dreaded travelers’ illnesses from India and wouldn’t you know, Lin woke up to yak her guts out? Saben was feeling pretty weird too and Lin was going downhill fast. As it always seems to happen, if we are going to get sick, it is always on a travel day. No refunding tickets or sleeping it off in the hotel room. No, we were destined to spend the day wandering around Delhi until our night train to Rishikesh. The day was terribly unpleasant, the train was unpleasant but we made it to Hardiwar…

Besides our room this is all we saw

September 3, 2009 – Day 252 – Chendgu, China

Overall an unusually cruel and terrible travel day on a Chinese train. Got to Sim’s and finally we were able to collapse into the confines of a quiet room with movies and showers and a real meal that was not ramen noodles.

September 4, 2009 – Day 253 – Chengdu, China

Lots of errands to run today in preparation of our approaching Tibet trip! Gathering supplies and meeting our 2 travel mates to-be. Seem like cool guys. Laundry day!

September 5, 2009 – Day 254 – Chengdu, China

Saben is sick with Lin’s yak flu (sorry!) and took the day off. Laundry got rained on during the night and now not only smells weird but completely refuses to dry. This evening at 7pm we set out for the train station to embark on a 3 day journey to Lhasa, Tibet. It took 3 security checks, photos of our passports, and a smokey waiting room until we were ready to board our mobile home. Good riddance China, Tibet here we come!

August 28, 2009 – Day 246 – Beijing, China

A typical day in Beijing consists of copious amounts of smog so thick it looks like you can slice the air with a smooth karate chop. Today was an inordinantly lucky day for us: the sun was shining! Since Lin was feeling a bit better from an attack of yak flu, we spent the day between 3 very lovely parks (Bei Hai, Zhongshan and the last one we can’t remember the name).

Looking down upon the Forbidden City

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