Hello from the island country of Sri Lanka! We arrived in Sri Lanka’s capital city of Colombo late last night. Colombo has a population of about 750,000, with the greater metropolitan area having a population of roughly 5.6 million. Sri Lanka is an island country in South Asia located in the Indian Ocean. The country…
Thailand Recap
Thailand is a place that quickly felt like home to us, similar to Guam. We were relaxed, got an excellent dose of nature, and established one of the best workout routines we’ve had since being gone. This month went faster than any other so far this year. Time really flies when you’re having fun! Thailand…
The Alexis Angle – Thailand
Thailand is the eighth stop on our gap year and one of my top three. I don’t think any place could compare to Japan, but I really enjoyed staying here! These are some of the things in Thailand that really stood out: The Elephants Thailand has a slight obsession with elephants, and when I mean…
Schools Around the World – Thailand
The Thai public school system is overseen by The Ministry of Education. We have seen numerous different schools around the Chiang Mai area, whether on foot or riding in a Grab. We see college students all the time while walking around Chiang Mai University, and we ran into so many students during our trip to…
Climbing Into A Cave and Climbing Waterfalls: A Day In Northern Thailand
For Field Trip Friday yesterday we went on a day tour in the mountains about one hour north of Chiang Mai. We got to explore a huge cave, climb what they call the “sticky waterfalls”, gaze at a natural spring, and enjoyed spending a full day in the mountains of Thailand. The waterfalls are something…
A Birthday Far From Home: Alexis Turns 14 in Chiang Mai
Happy Birthday, or as they say in Thailand – sùk-sǎn wan-gèrt, to our sweet girl! Alexis turned 14 today and we had a great time celebrating. It’s hard to turn 14 without your friends around, but in her true spirit she embraced the positive and had a wonderful day! Turning Fourteen Halfway Around the World…
Gap Year Packing Audit: What We Use, What We Don’t, What We Wish We Had
Before our year of adventure began, I had planned to write a post about what we packed. With only one backpack each, we had to be very intentional about what we brought. However, the week before we left was such a marathon I truly didn’t have time. Then, I guess I just got busy exploring…
Our Evening at Chiang Mai’s Famous Sunday Night Market
Last night we visited Chiang Mai’s famous Sunday Night Market. This is considered the best night market in Chiang Mai and we were all excited to check it out. We LOVED night markets on Guam and went every chance we got. This market starts at Tha Phae Gate and runs about 1 kilometer through the…
Chiang Mai Adventures in Learning: Conversations with Monks and The Planetarium
During a conversation with the family we met from China, we were discussing education. They expressed that school in China is very rigorous. The school day often starts around 7am and does not end until 9pm. When they inquired about what our kids are currently doing for school, I don’t think they truly understood. I’m…
Chiang Mai: Beyond the Tourist Trail
I am currently feeling a level of comfort that I haven’t felt since our time on Guam. While Braxton and I were on a walk this afternoon he said “I really like it here, it feels calm”. When an eleven year old boy is picking up on that you know a place has a relaxed…