And the Countdown Begins...

March 30th, why can't you arrive already?

My excitment began last spring when my sister decided to attend Rangsit University in Pathum Thani, Thailand for 6 months while studying abroad. She couldn't have chosen a better time to go, since my spring break also falls on one of her breaks. This gave us the perfect excuse to come visit her at Rangsit as well as travel to Southeast Asia, where I have never been before. Our plans have been finalized for months, so now I just have to painfully wait in excitment for Term 3 to end. The countdown began last spring at 342 days.

When March 30th finally arrives, my mom and I will hop on a plane to Detroit (which seems counterintutive since we should be going west, not east) then take the long 13-hour flight to Japan. During the 16-hour layover in Tokyo Narita International Airport, I am hoping to be able to wander about Tokyo for a bit if I haven't already passed out from fatigue, and possibly indulge in some authentic sushi! Once we finally arrive in Bangkok, Thailand, we won't stay long, because we board yet another plane south to Koh Samui (located near the Gulf of Thailand) and take a ferry to the island of Koh Phangan. When not in our hut (yes, they actually call it a hut instead of a hotel room) we will be relaxing in a tropical paradise, taking in the warm Thai sun and wading in the crystal-clear water of the Gulf. After four days of recooperating from the long flight and time change, we will be spending the weekend in mountainous Chang Mai, hiking, visiting temples, and crusing along the river. During our stay, we are taking an elephant excursion which consists of riding your elephant through the jungle with a tour group and splashing around with it in a river. Hopefully I will not have to clean up after the elephant; I don't think I own a shovel big enough! I am hoping to learn a little bit of the Thai language while I am there. The last few days of our stay will be in Thailand's capital city, Bangkok. From the things I have heard, this city is similar to New York, x3. I am excited to try all the exotic food here, because they are known for having some wacky cuisine. The push-carts on Khao San Road apparently have the best Thai delicacies in the country including bamboo worms, friend insects on a stick, and fried elephant trunk. I am known for trying all exotic ethnic food that I come across, so these are definitely top of my list. The shopping is supposed to be fantastic in Bangkok, which is a plus, but that is not the reason I am going.

There are a few things I am not looking forward to on my trip:
- Having to make up term 3 finals and missing the first two days of term 4
- 13 hour time difference
- Humid, 90+ degree weather
- Malaria!


Countdown update: 115 days