Friday, August 16, 2013

CHINA..!

AND I HAVE NO PICTURES!

Except two, I guess.

It's 9pm and my flight for Taiwan is pretty damn early in the morning...and I still haven't really re-packed yet.

I barely spent any time in China this time around. I usually spent 2-3 months here, and it was only 10 days this time, and most of that time was preparing/recuperating from Thailand. For the first time, I wish I could stay a tiny bit longer, if only to see my family more!

But...I am also excited to see Mike and visit Taiwan again.

Here's a family picture with my grandma;

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And some photos I didn't upload from the flight from NRT to HK

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Til Taiwan then!

Thailand / Bangkok / 8.9-11/13

BANGKOK!

Bangkok is pretty big...or at least the traffic there made it seem so! It took around an hour to go 5 km...

We went to the grand palace area! The dress code was pretty strict- no knees or shoulders showing, so we rented some interesting clothes....

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case A

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my PhD father

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NO HOT DAY IS COMPLETE WITHOUT HORDES OF CHINESE TOURISTS

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ok then

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WAT PHO- reclining buddha! HE WAS HUGE

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Wat Pho was much much nicer to be in...it cooled down considerably by then and we got a massage in the massage school! Also, no hordes of tourists, which is always a good thing!

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Went to this street....It's good for nightlife we heard? We went at 4 though

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kawaii neko

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There was a group of shirtless europeans that were running down the street flexing and yelling at every girl in sight...

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Outdoor foot massage

We went to a big mall for dinner and had...knockoff American food that was SUPER cheap ($3 for a steak?!)

8/10/13

I was pretty sick this day, so I stayed home and played with Olivia, who was also sick. We went swimming in the hotel pool, had lunch/dinner together, and talked a lot! To be honest, this is probably the longest time I've spent with my sister alone, and it was pretty amazing how much she's grown up.

8/11/13

ANNND we left Bangkok this day! The whole day was spent in the airport, where we got lost from our parents (and found them again right before the flight). Olivia was pretty nervous haha.

Thailand / Phuket 8/8/2013

Last day in Phuket!

We had a general Phuket tour with this old man tour guide + driver combo. Didn't do too much, but it was a nice, laid-back day.

We went to the light-house that had a shrine!

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We went to a place to ride elephants (FOR ONLY 5 MINUTES...). We rode on a cow cart too...It was like a small theme park version of things you can do in Thailand, compressed into 5 minute attractions.

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Monkey shows...

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Elephant shows...

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Korean tourist LOL

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Olivia getting an "elephant massage"

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5 min elephant ride

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Had lunch outside! THE CURRY WAS SO SPICY

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KAWAII

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got dropped off at a cashew-making facility....and this was on the wall

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GOT A LOVELY MASSAGE- these things were jars full of the scents we could have had as massage oils

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Wat Pho

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Dinner at central plaza...but all we had was boba!

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...

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!!!!!

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DRINKS

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BOBA

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LOL

And then we flew to Bangkok!

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OUR HUGE HOTEL AT THE CHATRIUM! It was only like 90 bucks for a 2 bedroom/living room/kitchen!!

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WAHOO