After flying through a month in India, our global group took off for a much-needed vacation in exotic Thailand! In comparison to the crowded streets of India, Thailand felt like going home. As we stepped off the plane at the airport in Bangkok, exhausted from the overnight flight, we were struck by the technology that surrounded us, the clean atmosphere, and the efficient highways. We were soon whisked away to our hotel, where most of us spent the day sleeping and relaxing, recovering some of the energy we had spent during our long stay in India and trying to record our final thoughts about that beautiful, magical, confusing, strange land in our rapidly filling journals.

Before going our separate ways for fall break, our group spent one day seeing the sights in Bangkok. Our tour began bright and early with a boat ride to see the city, on which we were fascinated by the sight of the many houses, businesses, and temples lining the sides of the endless canals! A while later we stepped off the boat and climbed up the steepest steps we'd ever seen, which led to the top of a gorgeous temple and a breath-taking view. As we stood in awe of the beautiful city we were exploring, it was hard to believe that we were once AGAIN in a completely new land with its own unique language, food, architecture, religions, and culture to experience!

Next we visited a Buddhist temple with a gigantic gold "reclining Buddha" - very impressive. We explored more temples (of which there is no shortage in Thailand!) and saw more golden Buddhas than we could count! By the end of the morning we found ourselves in the courtyard of the Grand Palace, an incredible complex of temples and royal palaces that supposedly inspired "The King and I." Each of the buildings could have been a monument by itself; they were covered with beautiful colored glass and gold so that each was like a brilliant jewel glimmering under the sun. Our eyes were completely overwhelmed as we were led from place to place. There were glittering statues of demons and golden towers and images of Buddha and bright paintings covering the walls and on and on....It was impossible to take it all in!

A buffet on a boat offered us a moment to collect our thoughts after all we'd seen that morning, but soon we were off to view the Ancient City, which is Thailand in a nutshell. Reproductions of temples, palaces, stupas, stone sanctuaries, and traditional houses all stood within a few blocks of each other, offering us a perfect opportunity to capture a glimpse of all of Thailand on our cameras!

By that evening everyone was eager to take off on our varied adventures for the rest of fall break. Christine, Calista, Rachel, Eric, Kelly, and Annie were the first to take off, leaving right away for a few days on the beaches in Pattaya. The next day they were followed by Laura, Cara, Stewiee, and Iris, who had also opted to spend their vacation on the beach. Jess, Lara, Sue, Beth, Kirstin, and Ryan had decided to stay for the shopping and excitement in Bangkok, while Kina, Linnea,Dahlia, and Taylor all felt lucky to be able to meet their parents and spend the week with loved ones from home. DeAne, Wrick, and Thomas headed south to Krabi, and the remaining group, Sarah, Paul, Reid, Ben, Greta, Andrea, and Tiffany, hopped on a night train to the northern city of Chiang Mai.

Our group managed to have some incredible experiences during our free time in Thailand! Some went elephant trekking and bamboo rafting, some shopped and relaxed. Others hiked by waterfalls and explored Hmong mountain villages, and still others walked beautiful beaches and went snorkeling. A few went to Thai kickboxing matches, some learned to cook Thai food, and most enjoyed traditional Thai massages. It was wonderful to have a break from class and be on our own in such an intriguing and exciting place!

All too soon our vacation was over - but more exciting travels were awaiting! For the past few days we've been getting to know Hong Kong, exploring downtown markets, hiking in the mountains to secluded beaches, learning to use the buses and trains and ferries, and starting class at the Chinese University in Hong Kong. You'll have to wait to get more details about Hong Kong - China's a completely different story altogether!