The beginning of the end...

I can't seem to find the right words to describe the last two weeks and the feelings I am currently feeling. It is something between complete happiness from the amazing time that I had with my sister, to utter joy at the next 2 1/2 weeks of unexplored territory that I am about to enter, indescribable excitement at the thought of being home safe in the loving arms of my parents, and extreme sadness that in less than three weeks all of this will be over.

Me and Sarah had a truly memorable time on the islands of Ko Tao and Ko Samui over the last 2 weeks. In Ko Tao we took a snorkeling trip around the entire island, saw ladyboys perform their hilarious cabaret show (twice!), relaxed on the beach, and splurged on good food. We took a somewhat rough and seasick-causing ferry ride and ended up at an awesome hotel on the best beach in Ko Samui. We made friends with the local staff (the nicest people I have met in Thailand so far), survived the adventure of renting motorbikes (me driving with Sarah on the back), saw rocks shaped like male and female genitals (the female one was amazing -- very lifelike!), visited waterfalls that barely had any water flowing (due to lack of rain), and took a very fun ride on an awesome elephant named Leena! We spent a whole day and a half just laying on the beach and swimming in the clear, calm water just steps from our hotel, and dined at a very nice Italian restaurant that I could have never afforded on my own!

But, like all good experiences, it had to end eventually. And after what only seemed like days together, me and Sarah found ourselves in a speeding, bumpy taxi on the way to the ferry terminal in preparation for our return trip to Bangkok. The ferry ride turned out to be quite pleasant, and after a short hour and a half ride, and another bus ride of the same length, we finally reached the train station in the city of Surat Thani. After a couple of rounds of cards and a light dinner, me and Sarah went to bed early, in expectation of our scheduled 6am arrival in Bangkok.

The next day, by 11am, when we still hadn't reached Bangkok, we were both starting to get a little antsy (or, rather, Sarah started getting whiny and complaining that she wanted to get off!). But, despite the hassles, we finally made it back to our hotel in Bangkok, just in time for a very late breakfast!

So, after some last minute shopping and good food, me and Sarah boarded the public bus to the airport. And now, while sitting in an awesome restaurant with wifi that was recommended to me by a friend that I miss like crazy, I am alone again.

Luckily, I know a couple cool people here in the city of Bangkok, and my last couple days here won't be completely lonely. Plus, my good friends Mollie and Shaun are coming into town tonite and I am super excited to catch up with them and spend the day hanging around the city!

In a day or two I am going to head up north to a city called Chiang Mai (which is still in Thailand), and then will eventually cross the border into Laos. I don't have exact plans just yet, but I want to stay in Laos until right before my flight home, which is leaving from Bangkok. I'm very excited to be crossing the border of one more country before heading home in a couple of weeks.

It truly is the beginning of the end...

I can't wait to see everyone again back home, and catch up on all the lives and moments that I've been missing. See you soon, much love. Miss you all.