Ohh to be back on the island of Phi Phi Don...

Life is really hard here. We have spent the last 2 nights in a small lil bunglow by the beach. It was alittle loud from all the late night parties going on, so we moved to Long Beach side. Now we are staying ina custom built tree house 'bungalow'. We have 2 rooms, 2 showers, 2 hammocks, a fat deck overlooking the ocean and even a monkey ringing a bell doorbell. It really sucks. I dont want to come home. Im sorry, I love you all-but I dont ever want to leave. I think they could use a Caliofrnian owned beach cabana outfit witha great restaurant as well... But reality sucks and Im well out of money so I will be home next week. Please be prepared for lots of stories, many a picture, and a little SE Asia homesick Mandy. :)-m

Leavin Cambodia...

So we have been having a great time here in good ole' Cambodia. We spent a few days in Siem Reap, checking out Angkor Wat. Wow what a awesome place. I felt like I was an explorer with Indian Jones, with a couple hundred other "explorers"with me". I took about 6 rolls of film. We saw it at sunset, sunrise and all through the day for about 3 days. On the third we headed down Phnom Phen. The girls decided we wanted to head to the beach. So after 1 night we caught a bus down to this slice of haven called Sihnoukville. What a life sitting on your hammock on your front porch, deciding when to start your day of a casual eating, heading to the beach, than maybe a drink or two containing some kinda of fresh fruit blended with rum....ahhh, beach life is rough!! The people here are so friendly. There are a bunch of kids who go around selling bracelet's and what nots..Some are super Sweet and others are just mean! Like one was cussing at Ash for not buying from them, and Dan was getting hit with a 2x4 with nails!! brutal, yet so cute! We became buddies with one girl, Tah, and went for Mexican last night to visit her at her other job-food runner. She also goes to school every morning 7-11. Busy little girl, only gets 5 hours of sleep every night!! What a slacker I am!
We are heading to Ko Chang back in Thailand in the morning. A few days there checking out the beaches than flying south to go to lovely Phi Phi, than Alas, the sad journey home....

Angkor Wat? Angkor Who?!

So we are in Cambodia after a long and dusty ride via bus yesterday. Just to catch you up...Sarah and Jess arrived the other night-they got in a little late, and then it took them 2 hours to get the usual 30-40 min drive to Khao San Road. So I get a phone call from Sarah from a payphone, they got dropped on the opposite side that we were waiting at. So Dan and I raced to get to them. I'm about half way there and I hear the laugh of all laughs...Sarah Diego! So I turn around, grab a hug and she turns me around, and guess who's there-well I guess you already know-but ASHLEY YOUNGSWICK!!!! Holy crap, I think I almost hyperventilated! Jess has a video of it all, and I will post it as soon as I can. So we got a tower or 2 of beer than headed via the great tuk tuk race of 2009 to the ping pong show. Ohh my. thank god they armed us with paddles! But they didn't really help with he banana's!! We also saw a lady shooting darts to pop balloons. At least I can say I've been there, done that. Mom-don't ask.....
So a lazy day at the D&D than we headed to Cambodia yesterday. But I have to go now, cause we are going to jump in some Tuk Tuk's and head to Angkor Wat. Ok, see you soon :( I can't believe we only have a few more weeks....

Ok OK!!

Fine you win! Geez, it just thats its kinds expensive to use the internet here, and Im running low on funds and thought I'd use the money towards food. But you win. Ill keep blogging....
So Sarah and Jess's plane got major delayed, they were meant to get in at 11 this AM, but now get in about 6pm :( So we checked into the D&D in Bangkok and Im about to go waste some time poolside waiting for them. We plan to hit up a 'Ping-Pong' show this evening, I will not explain seeing my mom is reading this-but use your imagination...
Then either tomorrow or the next we are heading off to Cambodia! Yeah!!! I've been waiting for Cambodia since we left home!!
We went to a half moon party in Koh Phangan the other night-4th. It wasn't quite like the New Years bash on the beach, but a rave in the jungle is always fun?! It wasn't quite my scene but i still enjoyed as best as I could-fire dancers are always entertaing. And how bout that same beat over and over again..We hung out on Koh Phangan the next day and had a farewell evening to Julio, Daniel, Sel and Georgie. The boys are heading to Phuket->PhiPhi than off to Malayasia then of to that island they call Australia. The girls are heading to Chang Mai-> Laos (jealous than back to the southern islands, we may meet up with them when we are down there..than to the same lil island. My next plan is to save up and head there myself, any takers...
Our trip to SE Asia is winding down, and I'm getting sad. We have less than 3 weeks! I'm excited for SD and Mr Coe to arrive, but it's gonna be super hard to say adios to Luke. Shit, Dan, Luke and I have been a lil family for almost 2 months! It's great to make new friends, but so hard to say goodbye. I guess I'll just have to say-'see you soon' :)

sooooo

Im not writing this anymore. No one is responding, and I feel like Im wasting my time. So I hope you all enjoyed this while you could. Peace-m

Beach party...

Wow. Can I just tell you how ridclious this party was! So we get a very early-noon-ferry to the island. Very early considering it was New Years, and we have no place to stay, and would be forced to stay up all night...on hte beach. Ohh, and yes it was absolutely DUMPING rain. Perfect for an all night beach party right? So we arrive, it lets up a bit-and we stake out a place to waste the day at. Found a restaurant that was playing Friends, and then movies. Friends wasn't so bad, at least we could nap. So we wasted the day doing that and checking out our home for the night. The beach is just a massive bar. Bucket bar, after bucket bar. They were setting up dance platforms, and structures all up and down the beach. At about 9 or so that night we headed out to start this all nighter...
Headed to the beach after locking up all our stuff in some lockers we found. Stopped by trusty 7-11 for our first few rounds and off to the mayhem. So we rocked out drinking buckets, and beers all night. We went up to the mountain bar and had some more 'drinks' and danced the night away. Almost every bar had different music. Classics, base and drum, techno, hip-hop you name it-well not country :) We all agreed to meet back up for the countdown, and of course Luke the pyro had some fireworks, and we celebrated with many hugs and kisses, and a nonstop fireworks show for quite a while. This continued till daylight.....
Once the skies became light, me being me, had to start help cleaning up this beach. So wrong. It was a fucking mess. It was a futile effort, but I recruited a few folks a did a lil patch where we sitting at. And the first few feet of the ocean pretty much was the boys room, so no morning swim :)
We stumbled into a place for a bite to eat and waited for a place to open so we could rest until 10, so we could get a taxi back to the ferry station. And of course since it's Thailand, we were about 3 hours off schedule, and got home around 3 in the afternoon. After a shower, some pizza, and a couple of movies, and no sleep yet- I'm ready for another beer. Rally anyone?
Hope everyone had a great New Years, but I can honestly say this was hands down, the best New Years yet. 2009 will kick some major ass. See you all in about 26 days
love and kisses-m

some long lost pictures...

Halong Bay- This after Dan had magically pissed in a beer can..As you can see Im working very hard..


Halong Bay-Kayaking can make you very thirsty...Luke on the right, and Daniel on the left



Some Tomb in Hue-Weird. Me being silly. I think I would make a great warrior!




Hoi An- Part of the crew-Luke, Sel, Mez and yours truely...

Where was I...

OK, so Back to Christmas...

We went to Koh Tao as I said..The night picture is from Christmas Eve. We all got 'dressed up' and headed to the buffet they had set up at our hotel. It pretty much was Thanksgiving dinner, which was awesome since I had a veggie burger and fries on actual turkey day. I never realized how much I love and missed turkey!-And yes Mom, I would love to come over for one when I get home. we had din din and lots of wine and headed out to party the night away.


Katie, Dan's sis got in on Christmas morning and we headed out to the tree on the beach and did a lil gift exchange. Daniel was nice enough to buy us all Santa hats, so we looked quite festive heading out there! Spent Christmas day lazing away int he sun and swimming. The sun hasn't been to friendly since we arrived, but we did enjoy the day.

The Next day was Mez's birthday, and Katie being the peach that she is, fulfilled my request to bring English muffins and Holindaise sauce via London for for Mez for her special days breakfast. So I headed into the kitchen at our hotel and manned up and got the bene happening. Soo good! Ohh, and yes, chocolate birthday cake to end breaky with :) We hopped on the motorbikes and headed to another part of the island where we once again lazed in the partial sun most of the day.
Once again we headed out after a great lobster dinner, and drank ourselves silly. Dan stayed in, he signed up for the advance diving course, but Im sure we all did our share of his drinking for him :) it's pretty cool he will get to go down by himself, and go night diving!
We then headed to Koh Samui on the 29th, and went to Koh Phangan for the new years 'full moon' (it wasn't) party. It is said to unbelievable...