Monday, October 22, 2012

Pai - Upgraded

Thailand is comfortable. Thailand is beautiful. Thailand offers yummy healthy food. As it's been ran over by tourists for such a long time, it might not be the most interesting SEA country to explore but it sure is the most well organized one.

Remembering how tranquil and embracing Pai was, we decided to go back. We passed two nights sleeping on planes and buses. Flight from Amman to Colombo, Sri Lanka. A stop over at the airport made me realize I wanna explore Sri Lanka soonish. Flight to Bangkok, then a train, then a taxi, then coconuts and Pad Thai (the noodles) and a foot massage. Night bus to Chiang Mai, taxi to the bus station, bus to Pai and here we are. About 48 hours after arriving at Amman's airport.

On the last bus concluding two days of transportation
At first I was sure this dog was a puppet.
Was it worth all the hassle? Hell yeah! We're now enjoying an upgraded Pai. The weather is nicely warm but not humidly dripping hot. There are more tourists but not that many so it means more feeding options are available at our disposale but we still manage to get a quiet spot. All in all we're on a Pai high :)

You can't see the river but it's flowing under it all and next to our door

This corn was not there 4 months ago! A minute from our door.

Happiness is yellow today

Some more Pai - are you coming over already?

A dog in the temple. Licking meditation is uniquely practiced by temple dogs.

You got to read this line? Really? Well, there's actually a hidden message in this blog. See if you can decipher it.,.,.


Saturday, October 20, 2012

Hong Kong, Israel, Jordan, Thailand

This blog hasn't been updated in a while. Maybe not such a long while but we've managed to change our plans drastically. The trip to Hong Kong was supposed to be a visa run from Yangshuo, China. It's such a lovely place with marvelous scenery and nice nightlife that even the hordes of tourists visiting it cannot completely spoil. We've decided to stay there for a few months after getting a new visa in Hong Kong. Yes, Hong Kong belongs to China. Yes, you can get a Chinese visa in Hong Kong. Something about a SAR (Special Administrative Region)...

Anyway, we've left a bag full of stuff in Yangshuo and then, about a week into our Hong Kong time, being too lazy to visit the embassy and get a new visa, we've decided to fly to Israel for a visit. There have been many good personal reasons for that visit. We took the risk of never seeing the bag we left ever again but luckily, a day before our flight we got it from a nice Israeli guy who just came from Yangshuo to visit Hong Kong.
A few hours on a plane and it's a different world...

Desert totem in Israel. If you know where it is, you've had a great time there ;)

Yes, I went to the naked festival again. Thinking about making a tattoo that says "Tattoo" in Hebrew. Long story...

Desert sunset in the south of Israel

Delicious middle eastern vegan food in a steak restaurant in Israel.

Frognector went to TechAviv to hear some more encouragements to the Israeli hi-tech industry.

Tel Aviv sunset at yet another "Goodbye party". I kinda like these parties

While in Israel, I realized I should get out of the country soon. There were many options for a mew destination but Thailand came through as a very comfortable place to stay for a bit while focusing on Colnect. We got tickets from Amman to Bangkok and set off to meet cool friends in Jordan for two days. It's been really great and I expect more short Jordan visits in the future.

Falafel, Hummus, Foul in Amman, Jordan

A branch in the dead sea, this time from the Jordanian side of this sea.



Falafel in Amman - when the Jordanian Tourist Police asked me why I am going to stay in Amman my reply was "to compare falafels". I was only half-joking ;)
There have been many new cool stories on the way but this blog is largely being ignored but people who actually care about what I do so it'll keep being a picture blog with a few comments. Now in Pai, Thailand and a new post is coming up.