Thailand part 2

Today we headed to eat Vietnamese food and then go to a temple. We rode a Thai taxi, which was just a small truck where we sit in the back. It was very interesting experience. It was a bumpy ride and the pollution was terrible.

Vietnamese food tasted very good. But I like Taiwanese food better. Vietnamese food is more vegetables and has less meat in it. Also both Vietnamese food and Thai food use peanuts alot for sauces and in the cooking. The taste is very unique and takes some getting use to.

This river flows on the side of the road as we walked towards the main road to get another truck taxi. The water is brown because of the dirt the river picks up as it makes its way down a mountain nearby.

We took a taxi up a big mountain to get to this beautiful mountain. I got a little dizzy from smelling the exhaust from the truck taxi but I guess I will have to get use to the smell. The dragons are very ornate and beautiful.

We climbed all the way to the top. It was a long way up and very tiring. I am getting older ><.

After paying to get inside the temple  by way of a "donation" we can pass through the gate. Here is a sitting place. The actual temple is up the steps but you have to take off your shoes before you enter. Also inside the temple you can not talk loudly or show affection to show respects to the monks and Gods.

This is the central part of the temple. It was very beautiful. The silence was also very peaceful. There were many tourist in the temple but also just as many people praying.

Through out the temple there were many idols where people were praying or showing their respect. I don't know what each one represented, but they were all beautiful and very well made.

My host mother and me are resting we are both very tired and feel dizzy and sick from riding the truck taxi around.

 There were many flowers and this huge tree were scattered around the temple creating a peaceful environment.

 This carving was made out of wood and is very intricate. The craftsmanship that went into this was very high.

 These columns are also made out of wood but have beautiful carvings on them depicting important scenes from their religion.

 Later at night we headed to a night market. I noticed that Thailand's night market focuses more on selling things while Taiwanese night markets forces on selling food. Either way there was alot of cheap things to look at.

 There was a temple near the middle of the night market.

 That is a glowing Statue of Liberty in the night market. It was strange seeing it. It looked like there was some kind of lantern festival going on that night.

After walking around for a few hours the nightmarket started to close down. I saw this sign at the entrance to a temple. I found it pretty funny.

Thailand first night

 The flight was long but not as long as the flight to Taiwan. My host mother Elisa was so scared of the flight there. The hotel was very beautiful and very large. On the taxi ride to the hotel I was amazed how big all the streets were. I guess I was use to the tiny streets of Taiwan.

  The lobby of the hotel was very pretty and had many restaurants. I have never stayed in such a fancy restaurant before.

 We had to find a adapter to be able to charge out phones.

 The view outside of our hotel.

 Elisa and me were very tired but we meet with two of Elisa's friends that invited us to go eat at a night club near to the hotel.

This is me and my new friend. His nickname sounds like "egg". He was super nice to us!

Thai food is extremely spicy!!!

In Taiwan again!

I am currently in Taiwan again!! I am so happy to be back I was very bored in my house waiting for the day that I could go to the airport again. I did however have a great time with my family and friends. I even got to take a trip to the mountains and New York. I feel very jet lagged and will wake up very early in the morning and then at around 1 or 2pm crash and have to go to bed again. I hope that soon I will get use to the time change and start sleeping at a normal schedule.

The plane ride from North Carolina to Taiwan was very long and tiring I woke up at 3am and was in the air for around 29 hours before arriving to Taiwan. The worst ride was the flight from San Francisco to Japan. Even though it was around 12 hours I could not wait for this one to end. Finally on the way to Taiwan I fell asleep on the plane and didn't get a immigration card to fill out. After going through immigration and customs I got my suit cases and was ready to meet my ride. I was just thinking about sleeping at this point I had been awake for too long to want for anything else. Stepping out of the airport I could feel the Taiwanese heat hit me very hard I had forgotten how hot it was in Taiwan!!!

With the weekend coming to an end I need to start to look for an apartment to live in.  

Taizhong and Chinchu