These are everywhere in the old city, I wish I have a picture of the weird pink fruit I had for breakfast.

Took a ferry for 3 baht to the Wat Arun temple in Thonburi, across the river from Bangkok.

Tomorrow I start my five-month journey through five countries. It’s a 5 for 5 deal! I think it will be in this order, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, India and Nepal. Possibly Vietnam if I can throw it in. Then I’ll come back to the Midwest for home-cooked meals and fireflies before moving to Seattle in September. I must buy a sun lamp or I’ll potentially go through Arizona withdrawals.

I begin my trip tomorrow by flying to Bangkok. I don’t really have definitive plans for Thailand other then renting a bike, cruising around northern Thailand, sleeping, eating, yoga, meditation, reading, hammock, renting a little bungalow and swimming in the ocean. In late April I’ll fly from Bangkok to south India, where I’ll be working at Sadhana Forest for three weeks before going north for a yoga teacher training in Rishikesh, India. I plan on taking a bus to Nepal after the training, and experience a country I’ve wanted to see for the last several years.  After Nepal I’ll come back to Delhi to fly back to the US  stopping in Chicago Jeff and Michelle’s wedding! I’m so excited for that! Finally, I’ll end my summer in Seattle, where I’ll be starting a year of service with L’arche.

It’s strange to think that I might not see Prescott for awhile. This town has really took me in and I was getting so comfortable here. I’ll miss the wonderful people the most. This community is so beautiful, full of supportive, loving, and accepting people who genuinely want the best for you. I don’t know if I’ve ever experienced a sense of community to that degree. I’ll miss the kiddos at the school, their excitement and joy at exploring this world is incomparable, and I’ll miss their enthusiasm at something so simple as the neighborhood cat sitting outside the window. I’ll miss my early morning bike rides to work, when the skyline was pink and hazy over the green hills and Granite Mountain. I’ll miss the way the neighborhoods up White Spar smelled faintly like burning pine.. I might even miss seeing the large family of Javelina lumbering and snorting around the winding streets the night before garbage removal day. I’ll miss drinking copious amounts of coffee with friends at the Iris. I’ll for sure miss our long hikes and adventures all across this incredible state. But don’t’ worry, I’ll come back and visit soon Prescott!

A couple friends and I drove down to the Verde Valley on Saturday afternoon. I met a new friend who works for the Coconino National Forest so she rents a cabin out there. It is within minutes of Beaver Creek, the Bell Trail, and Montezuma’s Well. It was a great little two-day getaway. In the afternoon we hiked a portion of the Bell Trail, taking time to explore the creek area. Once the sun set we made dinner in the quirky little cabin kitchen, fried veggies, roasted beets and sweet potatoes, and brown rice. The next morning we walked to the petroglyphs and meandered around Montezuma’s Well.

About to take the night bus down spiraling roads to Delhi. From Manali, India. Summer 2011.

Brilliant winter hike on the east side of the park this past Sunday!