Want want want want want...NOO!

There isn't much to report from heaven.

That's clearly where I am!

Baan Hom Samunphrai (the land and place I am staying on currently) is so lovely. Wake up and do Thai Yoga at 7, 3 delicious healthy meals a day, herbal steam bath at 5:30pm with ginger tea. And thai dessert after every dinner! I smell so incredible, it is ridiculous. After 4 days of the steam bath, my skin is so soft and I smell like sweet herbs. 

Every night we can hear the monks doing their evening prayers. 

Today I went into town with Homprang (the owner) and James (my petite frere!). We went to a shopping mall that was just crazyness upon crazyness. Every sense is completely overwhelmed (happily).

Everything is cheap, it is hard not to want everything.. especially clothes :\ I did buy some thai fisherman pants (220 baht=$7) that I am very happy about! And I was given beautiful pants and a light hoodie by another student. It is interesting though, feeling "I want, I want, I want" when I normally don't care so much, and giving up that feeling of want because for now, I don't need. I'm sure as my trip progresses, I will buy a few more things. Everything is just so BEAUTIFUL! And in the states, all of these clothes would go for $20-40+, easily.

Speaking of clothes, I just washed my clothes in the shower with some Lavender Bronner's I found in there.. I hope they dry sometime within the next few days! 

The only thing I am having a hard time with is finding a place to live. I'm just trying to remain in a place of trust, knowing I will be taken care of and end up exactly where I am supposed to. 

I'm finding I am shy and quiet here but I am enjoying not talking. I love listening. 

I miss hugging though. 

I love speaking Thai. 

I have a feeling my English is going to become poor. 

Poor picture: thai fisherman pants on the right

Thai money, Baht

Nice space for meditation

laagonka,

Jenifer

Louuuuunge.

First full day in Chiang Mai! :) 

Last night I had a mini mental freakout moment after Homprang fed me.

"Whyyyyyy the hell am I here? Why didn't I just come for a few weeks? Why don't I have a partner to travel with..or to cuddle? What's the plan stan?!"

So after a 5 minute cry, I passed out on my bed.

Apparently, they thought I was going to be an Indian boy because of my name, Sandesh. So I awoke when I heard giggling and whispering. The students here were trying to figure out if I was a boy or a girl. Which has provided a lot of laughter throughout the day :)

I feel better!

I went on a bike ride with two of the students.

Traffic is really odd and scary, so I was a little nervous. 

But I entrusted my life to James.. a 19 year old boy from France who looks Asian. He likes singing The Misty Mountains from The Hobbit and cracks up every time another American says 'Lounge'. 

It was a beautiful, crash-free bike ride :)

I had my first herbal steam bath, which is made by herbs grown on the land. Mmmm! It's kind of the best thing ever. 

I'm grateful to have a Utah background full of spiders, scorpion, lizards, snakes, etc. because instead of freaking out about things here, it just feels like home. And also backpacking since I was 10 has been useful! I'm also grateful for biking Portland so much because it made my bike ride less stressful. ha! 

I'm just trying to get in contact with a farm I really want to stay at and volunteer, and I'm also looking for different orphanages to volunteer. Thai kids are possibly the cutest kiddos EVER. 

The time change was really easy to adjust to. I had stayed up until 6am 2 nights before I left and for whatever reason, I think that helped a lot. 

Baby skin soft,

Jeni Peni 

p.s. we lit off lanterns tonight!

A Love Letter to Myself

Little known fact about myself, I love to write letters to my future self. hahah Sometimes I write ones to my next day morning self to waaaaaake up or for bigger events. It's really pretty amusing and fun (: This is a letter to my airport self.

9/16/13 Monday 12:20am

On the folds opening it: Trust, The Divine is always taking care of you

Hey there!

So...it's the big day, huh? Congrats! You've probably been crying and feel so nervous you might implode! But don't worry! You won't! Implode, I mean... there will be implode-free crying though. Woo?

     You're sitting in bed right now at the 727 house, feeling highly stressed. You don't know where you are going to live, I hope we figured that out. Also, you are cutting your hair soon and can't wait! If you hate it, remember all the yucky memories that got cut away with it.

     You're in for a grand adventure by yourself. Will it be scary? Sometimes. Will it get lonely? Yes. Are you going to long for familiarity? Yes.

     But remember, you are a phenomenal woman. You don't want a life built on comfortable bubbleness. You are open to change, being changed, and being uncomfortable. That in itself is a tremendous feat! You might not feel it but you ARE brave. Courageous. You have overcome a lot to get to this point and there is more to come but you're doing it. You're fucking doing it!

     Please remember how deeply you can touch lives and let others do the same. It flows both ways. Be vulnerable. The people you love are miles away but only millicentimeters from your heart. Tap into that web when you feel lonely and homesick.

     I love you so much. Thank you for all the hard work and lessons you've learned. This is going to be SOOO fun!!!!! 

    Love,

       Jeni

(What Would Maya Do?)

With what shall you travel with, dear Liza?

So I'm taking all of that, plus the kindle version of Maya Angelou's new book and a few movies on my iPad (So far, I only want to put The Polar Express and Tangled on there..)

And my St.Christopher necklace from my Grandma. He's the patron saint of travelers.

I leave on Thursday, my flight is around 10pm. I feel calm about it. I've had my fill of Price and I am so excited to not feel like a dried up starfish.

Enjoying American food while I can,
Jeni Peni

An Unexpected Companion

I used to live on a street with the most adorable little boy and his family. He is 3 and anytime I would mention Thailand his response would be, "I love Thai food!" 

When I was moving out, him and his Dad came over to say goodbye. His Dad gave me a card and a little figurine...

Meet...Mr. Pirate.

Mr.Pirate has asked to join my adventure and be in my pictures! :)

I'm happy to have this matey tag along!

Arrrrrrrrrmused,

Sea Captain Jeni 

"Are you excited?"

Hi all!

Everyone has their own opinion about a female taking a solo journey to another country and they all think I need to hear their 2 cents.. even the guy helping me at Staples. That's fine. But I think it is important to be conscious of your words and whether they are helping or harming that person.

Make sure they will be safe? Sure, that's fine.

Tell them they are nuts and you don't understand why they would want that as a life change? Not so cool. 

I tried to embrace the "You're crazy!" line but really, that kind of hurts. 

I'm finding out that most things in life are meant for understanding and that is pretty perfect. You don't have to figure out your own journey or others around you...cue sigh of relief and heavy weight lifted off of your shoulders.

I guess this is the blog that I am writing for Thailand.

I plan to write it with open honesty and vulnerability. Please know that nothing on here should be taken personally and if it does, that might be something to examine within. ;) 

Yes, I'm excited!

Yes, I'm nervous!

But most of all, I'm really really ready.

14 days and counting,

Jenifer