Xi'an Terracotta Warriors

After two months I'm back in China. Originally I had a whole massive route through China, up through Mongolia, Russia and then back down through Eastern China but money and motivation fell a little shorter than expected. Nevertheless, I had to stop in one of the most interesting point in China, Xi'an, to see the Terracotta Warriors.

Kanchanaburi

Originally we planned to get a bus to Kanchanaburi and find ourselves a hotel. However, after taking a taxi from the airport after flying in from Ko Phi Phi, taking an hour taxi across the city, and attempting to manage the bus station with zero help, we decided to return to our original hotel in Bangkok and take a tour instead. The tour took us to some historic World War II sites including the Burma Railway seen in the first two pictures. 

Additionally, we rode a train for about fifteen minutes with no real direction during which time we had coffee. Sometimes tours are a little bit confusing. 

We stopped for a few hours at a waterfall to hang out an relax. 

For our last night in Kanchanaburi, we stayed on a floating guest house. 

Ko Phi Phi

Enjoying a beer on the boat to Ko Phi Phi island. 

Finally here after several hours of two taxis, an airplane, and a shuttle bus.

Enjoying some local nightlife/music. Guy on the right had six foot long dreadlocks. 

View from our hotel room.
 

Finally made it to the beach to relax. 

Bangkok

I'm not sure what it is but the wild life in South East Asia is so much cooler than in New Jersey. 

From one of the Wats in Bangkok. 

hmm...

Main tourist shop in Bangkok. 

Need an ID of any kind imaginable?

World record holding shopping market

One of the stalls sold textbooks. If I brought my textbook list I'm pretty sure I could have purchased a decent amount of my books needed here. 

Walking through the flower market.

Detour to Chiang Mai

After spending almost three weeks in small towns and the middle of nowhere, arriving in Bangkok was a tad bit overwhelming. Since I wasn't set to meet my family for three more days, I took off to Chiang Mai to wait for their arrival.

I randomly picked this guest house because it sounded interesting. As soon as I walked in I fell in love with the place but was told the three rooms were taken. After sitting for a bit and talking with everyone one of the rooms became available and I got to stay here.

Spent the first day just wondering around and encountered some interesting things such as this sign. 

I ended up in a park where one of the other people staying in the hotel was doing acrobatic yoga. I should have gotten better pictures because some of the poses were crazy.

There were a group of guys playing this sport, not sure exactly what was going on but it seemed like the aim was to juggle a ball similar to a soccer ball and try and get it into one of the three hoops hoisted about twenty feet up in the air. 

One of the best things about this guest house was that dinner was included six nights a week so I was always back for dinner. 

Some dessert with fruit and dairy something or other.

Here are a bunch of lizards hanging out in a light, catching bugs for dinner. I loved these little guys and they were everywhere.

Decided to spend my last day doing a Thai cooking class. Here we are picking up some ingredients...

Successfully cooking fish balls, similar to American meat balls.

Saw this on my way to the train station, try and figure out what's wrong here.

The Overnight train from Laos to Thailand

The trip was quite enjoyable compared to the 17 hour train ride from hell. The pictures along the way were pretty interesting though so I decided to share. 

I sat here wondering how this was a sleeper train...

Turns out each pair of chairs across from each other turn into bunk beds. 

Arriving in Bangkok

Savannakhet Motorcycle Loop

This loop felt like the little brother of the Thakhek loop. It offered some amazing views of its own as well.

Brand new motorcycle! Much better than what I had before.

First stop in the morning of my ride. Nice collection of small waterfalls.

Little pathway leading to the largest waterfall. 

Farmers preparing the fields for the next season.

Why thank you!