Varanasi, India

He taught Sean how to put a longyi on

Calcutta, India

Overcrowded train

Calcutta, India

Varanasi, India

 chai in clay pot (and you smash onto the ground when you are done... I tried saving some but they ended up crumbling in my backpack)

Varanasi, India

Snake charmer

Varanasi, India

rooftop+call to prayer+kites+sunset=most epic and beautiful moment of my life

Varanasi, India

Puja at the Dasaswamedh Ghat

Varanasi, India

 Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

the infamous itchy turf vests of India

Dasaswamedh Ghat, Varanasi, India

Varanasi, India

Peace, love, and good vibes for the fellow dreamers out there,

J.

Moei River, Noh Bo, Thailand

This is the river upon once we swam.  The river that swallowed my left-gauged earring.  The river that now has a piece of me.  The river I dream of swimming in with Yada, Jobson, and Tutu once again.  The river that Ganay rode me to on her motorbike.  The river that separates parents from children and enemies from friends.  The river that keeps the children of Noh Bo safe.   The river that separates Thailand and Burma.

Western Thailand

Bang and friends on their way to school

Wan Pen's Village, Thailand

Pad Thai in a banana leaf

Erawan National Park, Thailand

 Phrat Tat Caves, Thailand

Keisha and Sylvia

Bangkok, Thailand

Burmese boy

Mae Sot, Thailand

"Peace in Burma Now"

Mae Sot, Thailand

Weehay and friend boxing

Blessed Homes Orphanage, Noh Bo, Thailand

 Children of Noh Bo

Noh Bo, Thailand

Noh Bo, Thailand

  

Karen Boy and Girl Scout ceremony

Noh Bo, Thailand

Karen Boy and Girl Scout ceremony

Noh Bo, Thailand

Nabayo

Noh Bo, Thailand

Building the pipeline

Noh Bo, Thailand

Green Energy Team

Noh Bo, Thailand

Solar panels!

Noh Bo, Thailand

Riding on Ganay's motorbike

Noh Bo, Thailand

 

Noh Bo, Thailand

Burmese barbecue

Blessed Homes Orphanage, Noh Bo, Thailand

 

Breakdancer

Mae Sot, Thailand

 

Sukothai, Thailand

ThaCraw (a crossbreed between Muay Thai and volleyball)

Sukothai, Thailand

Sukothai, Thailand

Peace, love, and good vibes for the fellow dreamers out there,

J.

A Dose of Nostalgia

Here lie some snapshots of the most memorable moments of my travels.

Awaiting the taxi-boat to Wat Arun
Bangkok, Thailand

Che and Tiger (the most relaxed cat I've ever met)
Shanti Farm, Thailand

Trail of Vicious Fire Ants
Wan Pen's Village, Thailand

Erawan National Park Waterfalls, Thailand

Phrat Tat Caves, Thailand

Bang's Meditation Spot
Wan Pen's Village, Thailand

Wan Pen's Village, Thailand

And check out this guy's travel blog.  It is an astounding feat I can only aspire to become.
http://unionsquarebackslide.com/index.html
It belongs to Paul Currie, a person I had the fortunate serendipitous meetings in Thailand and India.

Peace, Love and Good Vibes for all you fellow dreamers out there,

J.

Decompression

It is now the 3rd week into Spring Quarter and I have yet to decompress and adjust back to the steadfast life of books, classrooms, and midterms.  It seems as though the lingering melancholy of a past life will be a constant reminder of where I've left my heart. The infamous travel bug has swept me off my feet and the only cure is to get back into the life of backpacks and travelers. After Dharamsala, the remaining amount of money spent on the internet was strictly dedicated to research, assignments, and emails.  But that did not limit my two week vacation in Thailand after the Institute for Village Studies had gone home.  Together with three other girls from the group, we set a journey throughout the beautiful southern peninsula of Tonsai and Railay and then up north to Chiang Mai and Pai.  It is strange coming back to a life where time harnesses such a limiting power upon my daily life.  Between school, extraneous chores, and a blossoming social life, I have found it extremely difficult to find time to refine my travel pictures.  They will be posted as imminently as possible.

But in the meantime, a colleague has posted on Facebook an inspiring short documentary about Ole Jorgen's Orphanage in Noh Bo where we resided in January. So beautiful and nostalgic, I can almost remember the embrace of the children.

Peace, love, and good vibes for all fellow dreamers out there

J.