tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34899827202978600242024-02-18T21:43:52.180-08:00Life As We Like ItRelocated back to the metro D.C. area, after a 3 year hiatus.Chrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-2721166031469821562010-04-09T09:28:00.000-07:002010-04-09T09:35:10.341-07:00Must Love Dogs....You remember this movie, don't you? :)<br /><br />Well, since I'm still job searching, I've decided that I should use my "free time" and put it to good use. Yes, this means, I will be voluteering at my local animal shelter. The Ventura County Animal Shelter located in Camarillo is in desperate need for volunteers. Some of my duties will include walking dogs, cleaning cages, bathing, and umm....cleaning up poop. Before you turn your nose up, let me tell you about the facility.<br /><br />I made a visit to the facility yesterday and was pretty impressed. All of the staff seem very friendly and dedicated to helping these animals. The cages and pens were all very clean and the animals looked well cared for. I've worked at shelters in the past and let me tell you, not all facilities are clean and maintained. Some are just downright disgusting.<br /><br />That said, the Camarillo shelter is top notch and I look forward to lending a hand to help animals in need. Kevin is just worried we'll end up with a house full of animals!<br /><br />I'll keep you posted. In the meantime, keep your fingers crossed for me in terms of the job search.<br /><br />Love from Cali,<br /><br />ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-46952492745182223522010-03-02T15:11:00.000-08:002010-03-02T15:23:13.992-08:00California Living....So we're here, in sunny California! I do realize that this means we do have to change the name of the blog, but alas, I haven't had any strokes of genius to come up with a name. Bad Chrissy. At any rate, life here in California is pretty nice. We are living in a fully furnished apartment in Oxnard, California right near the beach. We plan on staying here until our furniture and boxes arrive from Okinawa.<br /><br />That said, we live about a 5 minute drive from Kevin's office at Port Hueneme, Naval Base Ventura County. I hope he doesn't get used to it, because I don't think we'll be in Oxnard forever.<br /><br />I'm still looking for a job and have an interview with an independent production company scheduled for this Friday. In the meantime, I've celebrated becoming another year older, went to Las Vegas, bought a new car, and have become a bit more familiar with my neighborhood. Being so close to the beach, there are great places to go for a walk and run. I love it.<br /><br />As I'm currently a woman of leisure, I've been able to spend more time cooking and experimenting with recipes. While I don't have my own backyard garden for herbs, I've been able to get some fresh produce and veggies. This area of California is full of farms growing everything from kale to strawberries. <br /><br />Just last night, I made a pesto pasta salad. It was delish. <br /><br />Grab some basil and make your own pesto and go to town. <br /><br />In the meantime, if any of you have any suggestions for names for the blog, let me know.<br /><br /><em>Pesto Salad Pasta Recipe</em><br /><br />Ingredients:<br /><br />8 oz box of penne pasta<br /><br />1 cup of homemade pesto or store bought.<br /><br />1/3 cup of mayonnaise<br /><br />1.5 cups of frozen sweet peas<br /><br />1 cup of artichoke hearts, quartered<br /><br />*Optional: 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese<br /><br /><br />Directions:<br /><br />In a small bowl mix pesto sauce and mayonnaise together and set aside.<br /><br />Prepare penne pasta according to package instructions to al dente. Drain pasta well and toss in a large bowl. Add frozen peas to pasta and toss with pesto dressing until everything is well mixed and coated.<br /><br /><br />Gently fold in artichoke hearts and allow the salad to cool in the refrigerator for 20 minutes before serving. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese prior to serving. Enjoy!<br /><br />~ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-12398226027819606832010-02-14T22:42:00.001-08:002010-02-14T22:53:19.206-08:00From Okinawa to California....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyOrIjTVxBKJhXTqQk9qd55PUIl7rbsH7gVYsdKkuPL1WJwNcYXmDgoGkl6IYUIskijfA3VO3T26p1iwZOxGzb1wvU9QUnjS6iijne15ieQCicDZ7mOTsgwTYhf-IWoVKYXYnCY6JBw/s1600-h/p292208-California-Southern_California_Coast.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggyOrIjTVxBKJhXTqQk9qd55PUIl7rbsH7gVYsdKkuPL1WJwNcYXmDgoGkl6IYUIskijfA3VO3T26p1iwZOxGzb1wvU9QUnjS6iijne15ieQCicDZ7mOTsgwTYhf-IWoVKYXYnCY6JBw/s400/p292208-California-Southern_California_Coast.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438358241141255074" /></a><br /><em>Photo courtesy of Igougo.com</em><br /><br />For all you readers out there, <br /><br />I'm happy to report that Kevin and I have arrived in Southern California safe and sound. After spending a few days on base in temporary lodging on Camp Foster, we flew out of Okinawa and landed in sunny Los Angeles. From there, Kevin and I arrived in Oxnard, California, about a hour north of LA. Oxnard is located on the coast of southern California and this is where we will make our new home. Kevin will be working for the Navy over at the navy base in Port Hueneme. <br /><br />It is very beautiful here, and we certainly are liking the weather. So far, it's been sunny and warm, and no humidity. <br /><br />That said, we still have lots to do to get settled, so it may be a while before I post again. It has also come to my attention that the name of this blog may need to change....hmmmm....what shall we call the new blog? <br /><br />I'm open to suggestions...so just let me know.<br /><br />Until then,<br /><br />ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-67451780238282774832010-01-16T02:25:00.000-08:002010-01-18T16:36:10.669-08:00Temple Raiders At Angkor Wat<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-03uOjuGV_hLMf5DTVT_ChktwMnWc79d00M4B-GLqy7W2-8pBJjzfyR0BOAxRNpquHxuFoPsNxGCmn05lDeqkR1nV43yuUPNS_6F5K8htrRW_18wt6rYgs8NgnStjtFu3gqmO4jm8Q/s1600-h/DSC02316.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp-03uOjuGV_hLMf5DTVT_ChktwMnWc79d00M4B-GLqy7W2-8pBJjzfyR0BOAxRNpquHxuFoPsNxGCmn05lDeqkR1nV43yuUPNS_6F5K8htrRW_18wt6rYgs8NgnStjtFu3gqmO4jm8Q/s400/DSC02316.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427284565400711298" /></a><br /><br />Well, things have been a bit hectic for us as of late, so I really do apologize for the delay in posting this. We have received our 'orders' and will be leaving Okinawa for Port Hueneme, California in just a few more weeks. So...we have a million and one things to do before we go....<br /><br />Now that I've cleared the air...let's get back to Cambodia. Kevin and I arrived in Siem Reap, pretty late the first night, so we grabbed dinner (click here to see post titled <a href="http://millersinokinawa.blogspot.com/2009/12/siem-reap-cambodia.html">Siem Reap</a>) and hit the hay. The following morning, we got up to meet our personal tour guide and driver at 8am.<br /><br />If you plan to visit the temples, make sure you plan accordingly. There are well over 100 temples at Angkor, so most tourists usually buy 2-3 day passes. These passes are great since they are also your entrance to use the facilities. As most of the temples are in the Cambodian jungle, toilet facilities are pretty scarce. What little facilities that do exist, allow foreigners to enter for free with a pass, but locals have to pay. <br /><br />Kevin and I were glad to have a driver AND tour guide since there was a lot of ground to cover. Although we had done our share of reading up on the temples before we got there, we were both amazed by the sheer size of it all. On our first day, we went to visit some of the more major, popular temples like Ta Prohm, Angkor Thom, Bayon, and Ankgor Wat, to name a few.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZVq5q6MI5jP18Xjs3-vmbiLiZiB7L3PTGnU1Rbi_mt8jso3QqE9LPciBxBfvEiUKr-DoYeIql0uDEM8AH21nbfUPlCd5HMtAHZ-FUnOkQmUev5OhSBpd7zWpV6fn76MLm4UrN1nS9A/s1600-h/DSC02308.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNZVq5q6MI5jP18Xjs3-vmbiLiZiB7L3PTGnU1Rbi_mt8jso3QqE9LPciBxBfvEiUKr-DoYeIql0uDEM8AH21nbfUPlCd5HMtAHZ-FUnOkQmUev5OhSBpd7zWpV6fn76MLm4UrN1nS9A/s400/DSC02308.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427283692940227938" /></a><br /><br />Ta Prohm, in particular, is fascinating since most of the temple has been taken over by the jungle. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWB5nT8U5FrJfpNfAOE1spEIpbMTVC8DkGL-bzmI5THLUNoK__G7YQ6FDYYkLwoYuQMLHA-jLUOdIEEvpRoNjvZr8Pjdnh_sKMCo57M3YUTckyGolI_XWaEVX72LM24byqtSQPX3nqlw/s1600-h/DSC02315.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWB5nT8U5FrJfpNfAOE1spEIpbMTVC8DkGL-bzmI5THLUNoK__G7YQ6FDYYkLwoYuQMLHA-jLUOdIEEvpRoNjvZr8Pjdnh_sKMCo57M3YUTckyGolI_XWaEVX72LM24byqtSQPX3nqlw/s400/DSC02315.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427284585771844498" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFbzT1na6Y_QynjGYD7Qq0m9zGU14LCmcPI1UVzg_HvcpPIanxWeK6k6UMirQAyzwssuVsoeIbKQSftV56v8oG7O9HYsozgikkTict7HWtjHKI6xR_bY8XKUV_pu08a7kkzQGlsJH4g/s1600-h/DSC02329.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRFbzT1na6Y_QynjGYD7Qq0m9zGU14LCmcPI1UVzg_HvcpPIanxWeK6k6UMirQAyzwssuVsoeIbKQSftV56v8oG7O9HYsozgikkTict7HWtjHKI6xR_bY8XKUV_pu08a7kkzQGlsJH4g/s400/DSC02329.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427284574627719778" /></a><br /><br />Walking around the temples, we both felt a bit like Indiana Jones. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZXBzsgDnj72wChB2wYDB_WJLw5R9ihISBf91u9c8-9eqbU9QvjSRMmphID4Z9ZG7i_ukVlZqEC1imX11a8TuekeSkuxEFGjuE-ewv5XA8XZRrZM6IKzYk9kBH4iX9g5Yn7gio7BVLw/s1600-h/DSC02320.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZZXBzsgDnj72wChB2wYDB_WJLw5R9ihISBf91u9c8-9eqbU9QvjSRMmphID4Z9ZG7i_ukVlZqEC1imX11a8TuekeSkuxEFGjuE-ewv5XA8XZRrZM6IKzYk9kBH4iX9g5Yn7gio7BVLw/s400/DSC02320.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427285546019495026" /></a><br /><br />Our tour guide informed us that we were actually visiting at an ideal time, as the weather was pleasant. Not at all like the summer when the mosquitoes and sweltering heat can make temple raiding uncomfortable. That said, although we agreed with our tour guide about picking the best time; I strongly advise you bring insect repellant, water, and wear comfortable shoes. Although we had a driver to take us to the sites, we did do a lot of walking.<br /><br />The temples at Angkor Wat are really fascinating, while it is not one of the 7 Wonders of the World, it is in fact a UNESCO World Heritage site with thousands of visitors a year. Many of the temples were built (by hand no less) in the early 12th century. Unfortunately, today, many of the temples have fallen into disrepair. During the Khmer Rouge regime, many of the original blueprints and sacred texts were destroyed. As a result, the temple stones that have fallen off of the temples now litter the ground and must be put into place much like a jigsaw puzzle. International goverments like the goverment of France and Japan are just a few that have taken on the mammoth task to rebuild. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkLuYqRkCeOdYtqWXITfbyT8cNFPINNwu8ObSud83h0Nsdf2rxhI3d3Lz-ZIqgm-9ZcOj1EU2CCwC0ZOttI61SH_RmXOY04RV98gDs2EbNdwYfZn_VE6xKN01oaLdESK3Y628ShwNng/s1600-h/DSC02341.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqkLuYqRkCeOdYtqWXITfbyT8cNFPINNwu8ObSud83h0Nsdf2rxhI3d3Lz-ZIqgm-9ZcOj1EU2CCwC0ZOttI61SH_RmXOY04RV98gDs2EbNdwYfZn_VE6xKN01oaLdESK3Y628ShwNng/s400/DSC02341.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427287759258551682" /></a><br /><br />No problem; should only take about 1000 years....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pM22x6xqCVV4CDjzUCrpJewEHFjBl5vkI_vLA1jqSdoOUoULS9PVl4w39NQuoM7qM1WTBpmtTR1bWqpVzvXILFMxSYGy0D6oPbcN2wMVdV9NcNcVhiD1Nh531UDmex9NJc0jwE8Grg/s1600-h/DSC02339.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3pM22x6xqCVV4CDjzUCrpJewEHFjBl5vkI_vLA1jqSdoOUoULS9PVl4w39NQuoM7qM1WTBpmtTR1bWqpVzvXILFMxSYGy0D6oPbcN2wMVdV9NcNcVhiD1Nh531UDmex9NJc0jwE8Grg/s400/DSC02339.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427287752737586546" /></a><br /><br />After a hour or so at Ankgor Thom, we made our way over to Bayon, the temple best known for its multiple faces.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4_SWL_e5XmpqhqTzaI6kLs0RrlLYaXHdFdXPeLMb2LtX2Q-ud2poufFWcNYgj_Jc_Lvxy3BHEWKWHSGZk52cG37iqim3mKYr3oJJXbgzwnaFq1jZUKmY3i_7BZyvjgIrestt8Hf3Qw/s1600-h/DSC02359.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4_SWL_e5XmpqhqTzaI6kLs0RrlLYaXHdFdXPeLMb2LtX2Q-ud2poufFWcNYgj_Jc_Lvxy3BHEWKWHSGZk52cG37iqim3mKYr3oJJXbgzwnaFq1jZUKmY3i_7BZyvjgIrestt8Hf3Qw/s400/DSC02359.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427288905884870466" /></a><br /><br />In addition to the many faces, our tour guide introduced us to "aspara"--a celestial dancer. Aspara is a typical decorative carving found on temple stones and walls at Ankgor.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FtOP0VvyJP9ETxBWZ9ZK_4C3QnmaVdHs5t1zmgbZi2kFKp4J9QgHYmXxN0P2pyo8UZH3d3yvGafb_S3dulMDPrSXabljCFX4q4z5VHYMmbuKLZqyJl4CcVAHiOML-6psENrJ0uG8Eg/s1600-h/DSC02399.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FtOP0VvyJP9ETxBWZ9ZK_4C3QnmaVdHs5t1zmgbZi2kFKp4J9QgHYmXxN0P2pyo8UZH3d3yvGafb_S3dulMDPrSXabljCFX4q4z5VHYMmbuKLZqyJl4CcVAHiOML-6psENrJ0uG8Eg/s400/DSC02399.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427290635934035266" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxK2TZ4Hkn5GazufAMzGzBy7a8CWJ-HHFIajfswUjmRAepeSItucekH-nDgnvlx3b3JtHRV3fyJ9pIpEC-kzFvqt4qc5uWoL6SjRE-Bx1QKaiVscFUpjRWmI7IY0_jyJTY7MZqLZTwvQ/s1600-h/DSC02411.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxK2TZ4Hkn5GazufAMzGzBy7a8CWJ-HHFIajfswUjmRAepeSItucekH-nDgnvlx3b3JtHRV3fyJ9pIpEC-kzFvqt4qc5uWoL6SjRE-Bx1QKaiVscFUpjRWmI7IY0_jyJTY7MZqLZTwvQ/s400/DSC02411.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427291432918792530" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0S0jbsfkvVXs028RoedCG1Vd7ycFn4kZ9AGemN5JufkljBHGxm38XLA210o7u1o_Waglg16GDANWCsQlKxYkbxIXiFvrlvT0xAXzt34qiaeM8GyX25NU2s86FjGoPeKPvbjcwzGOJtQ/s1600-h/DSC02406.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0S0jbsfkvVXs028RoedCG1Vd7ycFn4kZ9AGemN5JufkljBHGxm38XLA210o7u1o_Waglg16GDANWCsQlKxYkbxIXiFvrlvT0xAXzt34qiaeM8GyX25NU2s86FjGoPeKPvbjcwzGOJtQ/s400/DSC02406.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427291421654838818" /></a><br /><br />Our tour guide also showed us other decorative carvings, like these bas reliefs. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPahLN1lw9np1JOaKf5aa84sUuGkPaj-UoxdqEcPqzyG999pXlwdpPWCWGiREZG_6mtaxwDji46ERid8-2poOeg-vBykz313UXLyvhDS25AjQ-mZJCwPCUWKPSwkSVFE-Oen6NDQEAlg/s1600-h/DSC02418.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPahLN1lw9np1JOaKf5aa84sUuGkPaj-UoxdqEcPqzyG999pXlwdpPWCWGiREZG_6mtaxwDji46ERid8-2poOeg-vBykz313UXLyvhDS25AjQ-mZJCwPCUWKPSwkSVFE-Oen6NDQEAlg/s400/DSC02418.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427292684062513154" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxLlBlBPmps481VPHbub1LSNPtWFbE3j4xCruZrS3H0e8UasD0QqnD93GrozMybq5ig8dISLqEb6fGj6NpHHqN0H9ALUswt4ltxUlJFuUSwfACCdRepbKkz1N7VDrH95cvzD3ICgWIA/s1600-h/DSC02417.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSxLlBlBPmps481VPHbub1LSNPtWFbE3j4xCruZrS3H0e8UasD0QqnD93GrozMybq5ig8dISLqEb6fGj6NpHHqN0H9ALUswt4ltxUlJFuUSwfACCdRepbKkz1N7VDrH95cvzD3ICgWIA/s400/DSC02417.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427292674176251906" /></a><br /><br />We even saw monkeys frolicking. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYm1eGay2EJx5Mptqj8vDD2IwFJXbt0NujmYSbTGVkEc5SuKN21MuVMqX0Rog9s4a2_G_GqaIOMeL2_xy2vrtoXwcCPV475A9_zGI48fPwc3nBKwMWHVCiE97OzPbCKIu3ubwY_phGmA/s1600-h/DSC02433.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYm1eGay2EJx5Mptqj8vDD2IwFJXbt0NujmYSbTGVkEc5SuKN21MuVMqX0Rog9s4a2_G_GqaIOMeL2_xy2vrtoXwcCPV475A9_zGI48fPwc3nBKwMWHVCiE97OzPbCKIu3ubwY_phGmA/s400/DSC02433.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427293732456374530" /></a><br /><br />Our final temple of the day was Angkor Wat. Built for king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century as his state temple and capital city, the temple complex was a significant religious centre. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAp7qrF7ZbMxNv_ZZbn1zYBLU6VzMwYI0RHngRozYvnvenMIEUObkhVKyxy1j-RhDazM4aaJD8Qm2I9wGOn4PDWEAmTWJGW8L0UtW1LoMZrPKFg-nnvz_T9kptkV5U52KROSByRjL93A/s1600-h/DSC02436.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAp7qrF7ZbMxNv_ZZbn1zYBLU6VzMwYI0RHngRozYvnvenMIEUObkhVKyxy1j-RhDazM4aaJD8Qm2I9wGOn4PDWEAmTWJGW8L0UtW1LoMZrPKFg-nnvz_T9kptkV5U52KROSByRjL93A/s400/DSC02436.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427294794784705042" /></a><br /><br />Today, the temple is visited by thousands of tourists each year and is a national symbol of Cambodia. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQg__MJ2WV6XNr-RSk94FIJstnmvvO6p2UzUY152nA5p45x-bvCAgDgDUUzfiWWN9dEuSv7z7kjWtkmZJyLX5M55L2ylRZYmFzkb6PBUFBA2RCsoO-aqff5vxayhyphenhyphenT_2tuHTrwpXoDw/s1600-h/DSC02451.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQg__MJ2WV6XNr-RSk94FIJstnmvvO6p2UzUY152nA5p45x-bvCAgDgDUUzfiWWN9dEuSv7z7kjWtkmZJyLX5M55L2ylRZYmFzkb6PBUFBA2RCsoO-aqff5vxayhyphenhyphenT_2tuHTrwpXoDw/s400/DSC02451.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427295609478177154" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOYqpkhjs2rH7E5Fl7iriIuVycSV3WOAPci-phu3aAmSTwY4uNkxBK_Ae6KZtQDObf-tB5bPipN9HjVRhYVcjxBcWWwLsZlsCAsWrFrd_LpNl3XncTjDB6gXvUqAewPciuMoJURcPcQ/s1600-h/DSC02453.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYOYqpkhjs2rH7E5Fl7iriIuVycSV3WOAPci-phu3aAmSTwY4uNkxBK_Ae6KZtQDObf-tB5bPipN9HjVRhYVcjxBcWWwLsZlsCAsWrFrd_LpNl3XncTjDB6gXvUqAewPciuMoJURcPcQ/s400/DSC02453.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427296016433075890" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_aS4J0F-VrOIF-MlwfevhvcDZOjygFweGlGjpP3oPgMi6FkhyphenhyphendKVZB5Ghu8Zu-DBovNVOxP-snb5bB8QWUiFaSF66knNAZP3bqQ3nyPrx9qRdKgeU-nBxurlzaXD-UFBEOVJhE8b1g/s1600-h/DSC02459.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR_aS4J0F-VrOIF-MlwfevhvcDZOjygFweGlGjpP3oPgMi6FkhyphenhyphendKVZB5Ghu8Zu-DBovNVOxP-snb5bB8QWUiFaSF66knNAZP3bqQ3nyPrx9qRdKgeU-nBxurlzaXD-UFBEOVJhE8b1g/s400/DSC02459.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5427296410304689202" /></a><br /><br />Stay tuned for Day 2 of 2!*<br /><br />~Chrissy<br /><br />*Warning: Individuals who get bored easily (you know who you are!), should probably skip the next post. Day 2 of 2 consists of more temples.... If that doesn't interest you, this should....our last leg of our trip coming up: Vietnam!Chrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-89718351484175398292009-12-27T09:02:00.001-08:002009-12-27T09:04:44.835-08:00So this is Christmas....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gaTEv0BHubUMlfx4HlRlgoc9LxKTIXDfzDyal70Q779dPivsWwUHC6nNQ_czGpvbQWf8erYRUmO7AdhWUTE1-hMXeqfaSwq6k0di50bA6rOuS5TwI3uliFcs5wC7GdLs7YJEfDWe9A/s1600-h/IMG_2153.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_gaTEv0BHubUMlfx4HlRlgoc9LxKTIXDfzDyal70Q779dPivsWwUHC6nNQ_czGpvbQWf8erYRUmO7AdhWUTE1-hMXeqfaSwq6k0di50bA6rOuS5TwI3uliFcs5wC7GdLs7YJEfDWe9A/s400/IMG_2153.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419962989695960994" /></a><br />Greetings and Merry Christmas All!<br /><br />Hope everyone had a very happy holiday.<br /><br />I leave you with a photo of the Millers on Christmas day....<br /><br />Love, ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-70079685545888928602009-12-21T16:10:00.000-08:002009-12-27T09:14:05.137-08:00Walkin' in a Winter Wonderland<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR4_9I9mVJ2fTbDiLBhiXcF72m0Y1vdVCzvhZmqdXnmQU-Q8y2i6GDN7tg2fb8T8Cvt3EbvAG45TvaRHDjdlyzPzusLND8UnwVpNB_T3aYdxBhA8gV0msIbtCcC0D5Xmvk3WSMcsC0g/s1600-h/IMG_2141.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxR4_9I9mVJ2fTbDiLBhiXcF72m0Y1vdVCzvhZmqdXnmQU-Q8y2i6GDN7tg2fb8T8Cvt3EbvAG45TvaRHDjdlyzPzusLND8UnwVpNB_T3aYdxBhA8gV0msIbtCcC0D5Xmvk3WSMcsC0g/s400/IMG_2141.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5419961611748675986" /></a><br />Greetings Loyal Blog Readers,<br /><br />Kevin and I are back Stateside visiting the inlaws (the Millers) in PA and we have snow! Lots and lots of it! Guess after 2 and half years, I've sorta missed it. Unfortunately, jet lag is causing some problems for us (awake at 4am, sleepy by 2pm), but hopefully it will pass soon.<br /><br />In the meantime, just wanted to wish you all a very happy holiday.<br /><br /><br />Merry Christmas!<br /><br />Love, ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-61142990766016498202009-12-16T03:11:00.000-08:002010-01-11T01:55:18.502-08:00Siem Reap, Cambodia....After a few days in Bangkok, Thailand, Kev and I headed on to our 2nd leg of our trip, Cambodia! We flew into Siem Reap, which has now become a major tourist hub due to its close proximity to the temples of Angkor Wat. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHAH_HEZvS-NHiGJyOs_fdwui0f-OM3TpIwZzD0LxhwgDq8sPs3Sh_H-hqHnc49efqzV7c5jW0hV7Ok7XC-c2fuMeX4YMx_evotGp73QwD7BimWU3P8Z3CEZURGIf7ckSub68Ke0Z9w/s1600-h/DSCN4675.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHAH_HEZvS-NHiGJyOs_fdwui0f-OM3TpIwZzD0LxhwgDq8sPs3Sh_H-hqHnc49efqzV7c5jW0hV7Ok7XC-c2fuMeX4YMx_evotGp73QwD7BimWU3P8Z3CEZURGIf7ckSub68Ke0Z9w/s400/DSCN4675.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425258263277386514" /></a><br /><br />We were fortunate to have arranged travel from Siem Reap airport to our cute little boutique hotel (the hotel only has about 30 rooms). We stayed at the <a href="http://www.auberge-mont-royal.com/">Auberge Mont Royal d'Angkor</a>. Owned by a Cambodian man who emigrated to Montreal during the 1970's to escape the Khmer Rouge, most of the hotel guests were French or French-Canadian. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NZ4N4KOXBYmjIW8TVWDZrJk-0FkVvKrDFrqQPiNtI_oobx680zSlZzUTASpIPr9Gw5Qoe9BM75-f4z6FShyphenhyphenko8l_CnZ6FHKXm7-FtvF6P89YcSCkYKS45UBLrv8dInHZ-8pNALRyJQ/s1600-h/DSCN4575.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9NZ4N4KOXBYmjIW8TVWDZrJk-0FkVvKrDFrqQPiNtI_oobx680zSlZzUTASpIPr9Gw5Qoe9BM75-f4z6FShyphenhyphenko8l_CnZ6FHKXm7-FtvF6P89YcSCkYKS45UBLrv8dInHZ-8pNALRyJQ/s400/DSCN4575.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425258036416935490" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LwDXyP5QMsDaE4tPnSZ9yDMqa7yS_z2xYY2X1YHjplTm16YRSjZks_35tDU4SHR55MuZiL6lLmtKcQHG5BTIUxr7-_pSgXYgY6KQJKKIFbvGgEB-LyVTl2PU2ck3_TwMDmp_-iCsqA/s1600-h/DSCN4576.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LwDXyP5QMsDaE4tPnSZ9yDMqa7yS_z2xYY2X1YHjplTm16YRSjZks_35tDU4SHR55MuZiL6lLmtKcQHG5BTIUxr7-_pSgXYgY6KQJKKIFbvGgEB-LyVTl2PU2ck3_TwMDmp_-iCsqA/s400/DSCN4576.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425259616914809074" /></a><br /><br />Our hotel room was clean and air-conditioned, and the hotel had a pool as well as a spa. Kevin and I received about 3 or 4 massages while we were here. After walking on your feet for several hours (believe me, the streets of Siem Reap as well as the pathways at the temples are pretty dusty), your feet really deserve a little pampering. The prices are very cheap compared to spa treatments back in the U.S, so both Kev and I felt obligated to tip about 20-30 percent.<br /><br />On our first day in Siem Reap, we arrived pretty late, so we settled into our hotel room and then ventured out into the city streets to find dinner. Recommended by some friends of ours, we had a lovely dinner at the <a href="http://www.viroth-hotel.com/">Viroth Restaurant</a>. Part of the Viroth Hotel, this restaurant offered an outdoor dining terrace with excellent dishes ranging from fresh salads to several different kinds of khmer and amok curry.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlz0uGtAT1OfELNBNJX4yzfChUQq6irorS7RAKPQ88pHjsOv8ca1M__ZeSS-XRUPiiyCKoU2vtrUAo8NejGjzEwXk10Bn-_E6kQdRk4UYaYYfQR6mBAyxYMM7i07ssBKAP7AiwA9EqA/s1600-h/DSCN4578.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihlz0uGtAT1OfELNBNJX4yzfChUQq6irorS7RAKPQ88pHjsOv8ca1M__ZeSS-XRUPiiyCKoU2vtrUAo8NejGjzEwXk10Bn-_E6kQdRk4UYaYYfQR6mBAyxYMM7i07ssBKAP7AiwA9EqA/s400/DSCN4578.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425415748552767314" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYSZH8SRmzSwcx14WxnFgFvMalbCQmBo_uqEr537u-4UE7WOM6xk7VvPbif8ueWMo_EikJ2BtKc9U-YC3zWfzz5KoXfkMNZu-UHf3K6o3hbM5BWJho2wL2hD6iQclBBy9zk35kWjANg/s1600-h/DSCN4580.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJYSZH8SRmzSwcx14WxnFgFvMalbCQmBo_uqEr537u-4UE7WOM6xk7VvPbif8ueWMo_EikJ2BtKc9U-YC3zWfzz5KoXfkMNZu-UHf3K6o3hbM5BWJho2wL2hD6iQclBBy9zk35kWjANg/s400/DSCN4580.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5425415743491433618" /></a><br /><br />With our bellies full, we returned to our hotel to get a good night's sleep. We were due to hit the temples at Angkor Wat the next day. Day 1 of 2.<br /><br />Knowing we would have to meet our tour guide at 8am in the morning, we said good night.<br /><br />Stay tuned for our adventures temple hunting!<br /><br />~ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-46596204792793218332009-12-15T02:27:00.000-08:002010-01-16T16:40:33.112-08:00Good Eats In SE AsiaWhenever Kevin and I travel to foreign countries, we usually end up stuffing our faces with amazing, ethnic, international foods and dishes. We are both foodies so we actually look forward to "eating out." While most travelers might be a bit leery of trying new things, we go off the "beaten path" to find new and interesting places to eat.<br /><br />On our recent trip to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, we were fortunate to find a few dishes that we loved! <br /><br />As Alton Brown would say, we found ourselves some good eats. Here are the highlights:<br /><br />Folks, I give you one of the yummiest fruit shakes EVER!~<br /><br />It was a pineapple-mango, ginger shake full of deliciousness. Behold!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qfCg9Cru83HDmpJirI6S3hni5cU6XtEkoK57hY4F8KxigGX1JqlzABzucMtIW9x6_5ZiwaahFjMZA0Flf5KePiXtB6Dz-bGUA66Wwoi4FuojmH_ZQEHp2d8E38o3pmuM_go2bSJHdA/s1600-h/DSC02196.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2qfCg9Cru83HDmpJirI6S3hni5cU6XtEkoK57hY4F8KxigGX1JqlzABzucMtIW9x6_5ZiwaahFjMZA0Flf5KePiXtB6Dz-bGUA66Wwoi4FuojmH_ZQEHp2d8E38o3pmuM_go2bSJHdA/s400/DSC02196.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424685770668804354" /></a><br /><br />Notice the parrot on the side of the glass!<br /><br />While in Thailand, we also visited a floating market where we enjoyed some fresh, tasty exotic Southeast Asian fruits like lychees, rambutans, and pomelo.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvM6lQnKUm1UzWvMJzTgThxAy1kcAhL1kxs3pKDMu2v69FUxG2cRo_TpukZmOTv0bPrwxgvJ-dPk_sToOA6UOF_TfwleM1YhxJslpu4Pidszz1qZBsiV6ARZCxqI6WgdYdTCJULr0qg/s1600-h/DSC02222.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvM6lQnKUm1UzWvMJzTgThxAy1kcAhL1kxs3pKDMu2v69FUxG2cRo_TpukZmOTv0bPrwxgvJ-dPk_sToOA6UOF_TfwleM1YhxJslpu4Pidszz1qZBsiV6ARZCxqI6WgdYdTCJULr0qg/s400/DSC02222.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424686667367901938" /></a><br /><br />Then in Cambodia, we took part in fine dining at the <a href="http://www.hoteldelapaixangkor.com/meric.php">Meric Restaurant </a>at Hotel De La Paix in Siem Reap. This fancy restaurant offered a 5 course dinner complete with entertainment.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2PkI8UKOaQ5dlaF2maXTWeXik5OR-pUdCJQwR4hg6N5H12-doQ9V_mGiYfnZ_61UOE9sgz_945oZyPrNkvEjb1HhoGteUev1v0uGKu5ooqztOFl7BOxk1uqNyezDMc4vZXeJgPs4mg/s1600-h/DSC02674.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2PkI8UKOaQ5dlaF2maXTWeXik5OR-pUdCJQwR4hg6N5H12-doQ9V_mGiYfnZ_61UOE9sgz_945oZyPrNkvEjb1HhoGteUev1v0uGKu5ooqztOFl7BOxk1uqNyezDMc4vZXeJgPs4mg/s400/DSC02674.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424688529090468546" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIGWjmHhZzgvzFIEnYXyb9dOAtckv3nS7QmYRkXD29MuN8RT6d9j1iiNkOwxLYVaqFPmeVlQaeDM8a35JlhT9Zh6PdQuvnC1u7Aj2PzQ65irgqumSC1hX3iB_8q4ddX-ZeP_m3q59hQ/s1600-h/DSC02676.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGIGWjmHhZzgvzFIEnYXyb9dOAtckv3nS7QmYRkXD29MuN8RT6d9j1iiNkOwxLYVaqFPmeVlQaeDM8a35JlhT9Zh6PdQuvnC1u7Aj2PzQ65irgqumSC1hX3iB_8q4ddX-ZeP_m3q59hQ/s400/DSC02676.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424688518560426002" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsci5DbIV_w68ARzX-_Sm5ERLbjntZ7iQKdAAHwJCKX8sfKjdMBI2Bdsn5vwdbQbOM8SpIMAg4XoD9U6fVqKmYnxiL4wMSqIlb5tKXNNSi_t9JSQzPR20k6qUCIs5X6cBlrurpO8VekQ/s1600-h/DSC02655.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsci5DbIV_w68ARzX-_Sm5ERLbjntZ7iQKdAAHwJCKX8sfKjdMBI2Bdsn5vwdbQbOM8SpIMAg4XoD9U6fVqKmYnxiL4wMSqIlb5tKXNNSi_t9JSQzPR20k6qUCIs5X6cBlrurpO8VekQ/s400/DSC02655.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424688951495532370" /></a><br /><br />Finally in Vietnam, while sailing on a junk ship in Halong Bay, we had some amazing dishes of seafood. There's something to be said about dining "al fresco" aboard a beautiful teak junk ship!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hsJB4GmVJwk7D7tefy2bXoDkKr_a6ibASqo_2V63QoL24CnGTqUd_WasSltknqUARLj_9zZn-OQlCQU5UZ_VLpyDG9shvMA_aqbUh1I55qhadiiz9cA-gy1gPt6RUoRCeOOV3krb7Q/s1600-h/DSC02747.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3hsJB4GmVJwk7D7tefy2bXoDkKr_a6ibASqo_2V63QoL24CnGTqUd_WasSltknqUARLj_9zZn-OQlCQU5UZ_VLpyDG9shvMA_aqbUh1I55qhadiiz9cA-gy1gPt6RUoRCeOOV3krb7Q/s400/DSC02747.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424690678194739426" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QJIdYFcGaf-JmNGYgj4bdj79dSGTjeQZ_YqgZFAeFS5fbApiA5nMfw6vaBp1uHU0z3ygy57XbPpRLKNOL0LXpDHkZdY5o7gjG1rtGXqMsPKsAcerPTqpnV7ERuFglBL1qXaFZCAahg/s1600-h/DSC02753.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1QJIdYFcGaf-JmNGYgj4bdj79dSGTjeQZ_YqgZFAeFS5fbApiA5nMfw6vaBp1uHU0z3ygy57XbPpRLKNOL0LXpDHkZdY5o7gjG1rtGXqMsPKsAcerPTqpnV7ERuFglBL1qXaFZCAahg/s400/DSC02753.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424691215622546898" /></a><br /><br />Once night fell, the chef aboard our ship prepared a dinner feast. He was something of an amateur artist as well, as he created wonderful artistic pieces from fruit and vegetables.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1LgUdEPKOQyHRamRk_o6f9DbUWnsJYRoYSGuWdRtrOR6fvtYKIYhPBXfm3I1Sd2bGzp7DjEzVTEqCSuECBpzyCIcS_UCa1duTIG8xFty5jSpgypvSayd5kh3CGWDHFT63BinseFi5Q/s1600-h/DSC02951.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1LgUdEPKOQyHRamRk_o6f9DbUWnsJYRoYSGuWdRtrOR6fvtYKIYhPBXfm3I1Sd2bGzp7DjEzVTEqCSuECBpzyCIcS_UCa1duTIG8xFty5jSpgypvSayd5kh3CGWDHFT63BinseFi5Q/s400/DSC02951.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424692285778775810" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-XZu4IImwYvWkJw-RjHQ7p2de5M_j4rWA1bLENWSCiL1NxSRxft5LdLi6Z0F6YiW-jKmR1msxoAENSPnhnAdoa1KjKufSqnG2JJJHeC-wy4ESzyM-S6HQ21SzXpbfpYMnCWL3ddBnw/s1600-h/DSC02958.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh-XZu4IImwYvWkJw-RjHQ7p2de5M_j4rWA1bLENWSCiL1NxSRxft5LdLi6Z0F6YiW-jKmR1msxoAENSPnhnAdoa1KjKufSqnG2JJJHeC-wy4ESzyM-S6HQ21SzXpbfpYMnCWL3ddBnw/s400/DSC02958.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424692313541203250" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t54J9ivkWg_deuLZcOMOXp6PX4sICj3RE6iO85_2IqJrx8LhH_NqXB0y28rGSH2wF5AQ5Jast6m-DidWzSjJyY9V_Vj6_dIDYbC38y_JrF0rA8mkoqu_QkKse30kuVLvL0lia17zjQ/s1600-h/DSC02956.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9t54J9ivkWg_deuLZcOMOXp6PX4sICj3RE6iO85_2IqJrx8LhH_NqXB0y28rGSH2wF5AQ5Jast6m-DidWzSjJyY9V_Vj6_dIDYbC38y_JrF0rA8mkoqu_QkKse30kuVLvL0lia17zjQ/s400/DSC02956.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424692304406184562" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPiFqoCoPubXCkQ-Hel46llb_uswTgOl3sbsLjgp-pfPA-h6XmM-ed4awQqo-ZoOMAR8utnpcs81M7a1h1lw0v8Leq8Xr6d0vocTwXVFhUFscZGfffLgaJocw6RZnjPS1dDL6sA28Tw/s1600-h/DSC02953.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGPiFqoCoPubXCkQ-Hel46llb_uswTgOl3sbsLjgp-pfPA-h6XmM-ed4awQqo-ZoOMAR8utnpcs81M7a1h1lw0v8Leq8Xr6d0vocTwXVFhUFscZGfffLgaJocw6RZnjPS1dDL6sA28Tw/s400/DSC02953.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424692293342265218" /></a><br /><br />Now I'm sure you are all thinking: how <em>much</em> weight did you gain on your trip?! Guess what, I'm not telling.<br /><br />~ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-23245881724153768082009-12-14T03:27:00.000-08:002010-01-16T16:54:07.585-08:00It all started with one night in Bangkok....Since I've been remiss in posting pictures from our most recent 3 country (Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam) trip, I'm going to do my best to get this post done as quickly as possible. Keep in mind, we have hundreds of photos (yes, we really do take A LOT of photos) so instead of boring you to bits, I'm just going to pick a few of my fave photos for the sake of this post. Here it goes!<br /><br />Over the Thanksgiving break, Kev and I flew to Bangkok, Thailand to kick off our travels. We flew from Naha airport into Taipei, and then took a flight from Taipei to Bangkok. Unfortunately by the time we landed in Bangkok, it was well after 10pm so we didn't get to see much as our taxi drove us to our hotel (The Landmark). So on our first night of Bangkok, we crashed....<br /><br />The next day, we got up early to take advantage of the delish breakfast provided to us by the hotel and took the train to visit some of the sites, including the Grand Palace, home to the Emerald Buddha and Wat Pho, site of the world's largest reclining Buddha.<br /><br />Upon riding the train, we hopped onto a ferry. Then we saw it...the Grand Palace. <em>Grand</em>, doesn't really describe it. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqgpJe0ve0XTSMll_Dh5VbbegPdxvUrZ1zycgIbv-cbRdoliKHUeIdJaAKvF_Edw1NaVgUkFac8YC4FOIpzGk-UlxIJ66JOOclpwX3Ltvfu-omERptlJMHbMzHLPFO-ChM-X6PiEmZQ/s1600-h/DSCN4483.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpqgpJe0ve0XTSMll_Dh5VbbegPdxvUrZ1zycgIbv-cbRdoliKHUeIdJaAKvF_Edw1NaVgUkFac8YC4FOIpzGk-UlxIJ66JOOclpwX3Ltvfu-omERptlJMHbMzHLPFO-ChM-X6PiEmZQ/s400/DSCN4483.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415054586206029714" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesepcEB_2-qEVWW5CdlngbB6SH4x_zZ0c7PANm6eP0l03xmz3dL4dHCFzmdkZdP6r97NraUTDF0jtVDPFtacPsIxzOrJfaHn2-cm35B1wuYpbC8eTuI__OnJqjFu7DAO0TI9nfGN-iA/s1600-h/DSCN4487.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgesepcEB_2-qEVWW5CdlngbB6SH4x_zZ0c7PANm6eP0l03xmz3dL4dHCFzmdkZdP6r97NraUTDF0jtVDPFtacPsIxzOrJfaHn2-cm35B1wuYpbC8eTuI__OnJqjFu7DAO0TI9nfGN-iA/s400/DSCN4487.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415063860153749682" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-Z_HjgIJJXf3vOEsgkCKSSL9XpPgTG0GcxpDXG3VGPOicqYuItH03REPDPtVytiJqNbMkENU0hgJeuCsUPE-fR-3aCKiwJ3Akhwj1z0i47p8cZF2tUZkr9LPNawM17EGXxpcBcltKQ/s1600-h/DSC02060.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG-Z_HjgIJJXf3vOEsgkCKSSL9XpPgTG0GcxpDXG3VGPOicqYuItH03REPDPtVytiJqNbMkENU0hgJeuCsUPE-fR-3aCKiwJ3Akhwj1z0i47p8cZF2tUZkr9LPNawM17EGXxpcBcltKQ/s400/DSC02060.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424682067235086930" /></a><br /><br />The Grand Palace is grand and then some. It is also one of Bangkok's more popular tourist destinations, serving as the home of the Thai king for over 150 years. The current Thai king no longer lives here, but still, there are many gold gilded temples and pagodas, showing off the king's wealth and affluence.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4Az1Iyab8MWYUSzbv3-R7YuSa2xF5nJr5uAYPU4G5ELWYWNYffcC2ea0YFA-N_naM3cGs2e5rKk3uW1Vy5oT6qfzyEyo131avs8HyNKfDqdeVZu6l0WArOA-okDIbA_0S56wi7jtSw/s1600-h/DSC02088.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD4Az1Iyab8MWYUSzbv3-R7YuSa2xF5nJr5uAYPU4G5ELWYWNYffcC2ea0YFA-N_naM3cGs2e5rKk3uW1Vy5oT6qfzyEyo131avs8HyNKfDqdeVZu6l0WArOA-okDIbA_0S56wi7jtSw/s400/DSC02088.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424682382039056290" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVwbBOWc7jCARrt80gzehJAqPzbfP-Mg53UpxnDb42INtknRQl3ZX-EC2d7bExp6v7DEwkoStrdx-Sn5g62xTLP5wxW26y37nbJkP-zsGcTA0zA-eY5GoO_vLNyZYaCpT946V3qBdWA/s1600-h/DSC02106.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieVwbBOWc7jCARrt80gzehJAqPzbfP-Mg53UpxnDb42INtknRQl3ZX-EC2d7bExp6v7DEwkoStrdx-Sn5g62xTLP5wxW26y37nbJkP-zsGcTA0zA-eY5GoO_vLNyZYaCpT946V3qBdWA/s400/DSC02106.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424682665256518882" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbD-IPVwOWD9BnnZPmZCI5pHdamkXYqD22VF-ehm6rDmIj9PLSuAbEd1YKja4-6SkPaqGfJxxCGIldGo2C7LY9OthoqKFAbOjRdX-AXtn6PoMq16h2u0LwJWVBb1Aq7pmkr0EbEXMpHQ/s1600-h/DSCN4484.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbD-IPVwOWD9BnnZPmZCI5pHdamkXYqD22VF-ehm6rDmIj9PLSuAbEd1YKja4-6SkPaqGfJxxCGIldGo2C7LY9OthoqKFAbOjRdX-AXtn6PoMq16h2u0LwJWVBb1Aq7pmkr0EbEXMpHQ/s400/DSCN4484.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415055475174808178" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTi07yuG8n5wxlWNn8xpRo8gD2H3EPoJKAEgzj4p2lxC2j8b4gVd1gl0kRQh_S0vljqBFAQsufUbLW2D2nZASc3jL8QevyfG6F5fQiyCiYo-RZAMMmhxQffVkLiEkCWzW6rzCFP0wPw/s1600-h/DSCN4485.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCTi07yuG8n5wxlWNn8xpRo8gD2H3EPoJKAEgzj4p2lxC2j8b4gVd1gl0kRQh_S0vljqBFAQsufUbLW2D2nZASc3jL8QevyfG6F5fQiyCiYo-RZAMMmhxQffVkLiEkCWzW6rzCFP0wPw/s400/DSCN4485.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415056599448182626" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGNklk3HguWeg7Gdb7tLvyX55CGS_hvtM7WAiIeu2qz7H8DRLmk4-Wcqdmlx0rjQvTvEyExcxmveEbQR4GxmJNZJLZvjZMP0462KiyY6VsJtrIbzpdqkxly0HPUCKzsqbf4tez_YKIQ/s1600-h/DSCN4496.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQGNklk3HguWeg7Gdb7tLvyX55CGS_hvtM7WAiIeu2qz7H8DRLmk4-Wcqdmlx0rjQvTvEyExcxmveEbQR4GxmJNZJLZvjZMP0462KiyY6VsJtrIbzpdqkxly0HPUCKzsqbf4tez_YKIQ/s400/DSCN4496.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415057092342000642" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNV8aiU3PNsNhT9_AR6bJ_j_1bDssHQHPwZSzU0PnKzSjdg-g5koiN3v3QjIm6LL699MpOgXYm6i-Sxn3cv_-iD-XmeSWxLOgIUPppOknbSxrThLq_NVchJSDAgMmjWPLMwS-eoJu-lw/s1600-h/DSCN4495.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNV8aiU3PNsNhT9_AR6bJ_j_1bDssHQHPwZSzU0PnKzSjdg-g5koiN3v3QjIm6LL699MpOgXYm6i-Sxn3cv_-iD-XmeSWxLOgIUPppOknbSxrThLq_NVchJSDAgMmjWPLMwS-eoJu-lw/s400/DSCN4495.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415057087383331042" /></a><br /><br />With beautiful architecture and marvelous Thai statues, the Grand Palace complex actually houses several impressive buildings including the Wat Phra Kaew (Temple of the Emerald Buddha), which contains the small, albeit <em>very famous </em> Emerald Buddha that dates back to the 14th century. The Emerald Buddha is so revered by the Thai people, that photographs are not allowed. One interesting fact I learned while visiting the Emerald Buddha is that the robes that he wears change with the weather. He wears one robe during the summer, another in the winter, and even has a special robe for when it rains. Look closely at the pic below, perhaps you can make him out! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BxKT4HmpA-ZcMowu-nwvJKXCR3kLBe2rcrhfBhEnpB4lGtFRdKEz-nOyOLvPLVKGn0btqtY3n-mMLqEVu4YJ8TlRVovJrn54DVgYAfqTlbuF0snA1XwNLVukUJh0KgZBlBBwmqMglA/s1600-h/DSC02121.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-BxKT4HmpA-ZcMowu-nwvJKXCR3kLBe2rcrhfBhEnpB4lGtFRdKEz-nOyOLvPLVKGn0btqtY3n-mMLqEVu4YJ8TlRVovJrn54DVgYAfqTlbuF0snA1XwNLVukUJh0KgZBlBBwmqMglA/s400/DSC02121.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424683030635351282" /></a><br /><br />Since the Palace is still used for official ceremonies, there are Thai guards. Kevin noticed their weapons were unloaded though....Funny....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k-4wtp3tiBEaYHjmzaqKNGWD4wLURwPPkL_yfEDzLFNBYiMlazPpeYk5Ag4wewcUggfZIQhidgGn8wa3IG0Ty-J70XOZpw0g5n9Pv_NxKui25UZczBFXig1cN7fYJ4Mo4KE6Ys8-Jw/s1600-h/DSCN4500.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2k-4wtp3tiBEaYHjmzaqKNGWD4wLURwPPkL_yfEDzLFNBYiMlazPpeYk5Ag4wewcUggfZIQhidgGn8wa3IG0Ty-J70XOZpw0g5n9Pv_NxKui25UZczBFXig1cN7fYJ4Mo4KE6Ys8-Jw/s400/DSCN4500.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415057888638677682" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-vt0rmWq58cQIjIXvLcovk0UvjxO0QdByq7unKPHEy7du0ap-OsWykyMOQORHkbyxNqlgZy16cpgXEDvYIWd7rCH6YJft94aPzaGxP9lcXCZmyoYo2vHqXe48v-w7WAlsgGGnT5SWg/s1600-h/DSCN4502.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP-vt0rmWq58cQIjIXvLcovk0UvjxO0QdByq7unKPHEy7du0ap-OsWykyMOQORHkbyxNqlgZy16cpgXEDvYIWd7rCH6YJft94aPzaGxP9lcXCZmyoYo2vHqXe48v-w7WAlsgGGnT5SWg/s400/DSCN4502.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415058086604135666" /></a><br /><br />After the Grand Palace, we headed to Wat Pho, a Buddhist temple which is also home to the giant reclining Buddha and a Thai massage school. However, on our way to Wat Pho, we stopped at local Thai jeweler.<br /><br />We saw these little gold piggies outside the store...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZAJxNCa7lpBQxocVFFyfie-xKUuqT7qcZcW1Y6z1faPQXrdokSlKTn9qo-ffiQ42Kg44nja9eX55MGPf6TQIwUZhYusEw2kad4X6x2vybKJLlXDDvSVqT5zQreokKaGawqAOYCVH_w/s1600-h/DSC02152.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheZAJxNCa7lpBQxocVFFyfie-xKUuqT7qcZcW1Y6z1faPQXrdokSlKTn9qo-ffiQ42Kg44nja9eX55MGPf6TQIwUZhYusEw2kad4X6x2vybKJLlXDDvSVqT5zQreokKaGawqAOYCVH_w/s400/DSC02152.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424683737289998418" /></a><br /><br />Then it was off to see the reclining Buddha.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeUnXTFal-1pEXoxLyCNyLsCmybSadWgeN_UhTcHDAoPfjWrKKscmVvtuYcpfOh5OAVH0UjRLOEGjUn-wJSL3Z8sBlcGuoYKpyMHhPNMU3Tr9-V9WvgwynfqsmufTLd6sI74_f88Dvg/s1600-h/DSCN4522.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKeUnXTFal-1pEXoxLyCNyLsCmybSadWgeN_UhTcHDAoPfjWrKKscmVvtuYcpfOh5OAVH0UjRLOEGjUn-wJSL3Z8sBlcGuoYKpyMHhPNMU3Tr9-V9WvgwynfqsmufTLd6sI74_f88Dvg/s400/DSCN4522.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415058534629707026" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxavvpGw-qMkUbWE8kf5PyWNZi9WwfiTEboJ5egQGZG6hdLNlwXhgQAPvHYlidIfFw5mDwdHhUtNOoAjDtHYm2wWP-3RFQqBgdFUkeVMHlCDBqf3ZVfqfWcKUlqzwn8ZCbNjnTJgiyg/s1600-h/DSC02182.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxavvpGw-qMkUbWE8kf5PyWNZi9WwfiTEboJ5egQGZG6hdLNlwXhgQAPvHYlidIfFw5mDwdHhUtNOoAjDtHYm2wWP-3RFQqBgdFUkeVMHlCDBqf3ZVfqfWcKUlqzwn8ZCbNjnTJgiyg/s400/DSC02182.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5424684439189944626" /></a><br /><br />While most visitors come to Wat Pho to see the Buddha, others come to get a Thai massage at the Thai massage school. Thai massage actually originated here and the massage school was the very first Thai massage school in Thailand. Eager to give it a go, both Kevin and I opted to get 30 minute Thai massages. Although a little painful (they use a lot of pressure and have you turn your body in odd, awkward positions), the massages were surprisingly cheap. It cost about $16 U.S. dollars for the two of us. Don't even ask what the conversion rate is between the Thai bhat and the U.S. dollar....<br /><br />That night we ate at a great Thai restaurant recommended by one of our guidebooks--<a href="http://www.baan-khanitha.com/">Baan Khanitha</a>. Popular with Westerners and set in an old Thai house, I was a bit surprised at how spicy our food was. Kevin loved it, but for me, it was a bit too much even despite my efforts to keep everything "mild." Note to self: If a Thai person tells you something's not spicy, don't believe it....<br /><br />The next day, we had made plans with a driver (<a href="http://www.julietaxitour.com/">Julie's Taxi Tours</a>) to take a day trip out of the city. Our driver came to pick us up at our hotel and drove us about 2 hours outside of Bangkok to the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market. Here, we boarded flat, wooden boats to take part of a daily market only open during the hours of 6am to 12pm. <br /><br />Designed to resemble the canals in Venice, the canals of Damnoen Saduak are a bit narrow, congested with many boats and vendors selling everything from fruit, noodles, soup, hats, and other Thai souvenirs. Although chaotic, it was a lot of fun to see all the colorful, noisy, vendors trying to grab our attention. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdmnu2j4owIFXFsfDBVxAh6WxlBIcK9XTAEm5Fz8M75iuqbyuQgF0CJgfiYN2ESepuuuX8a7wrLTNCqg2ILi2ShUupBeS9O8swixsXLtCWfp5f8t2wrI1J9t_LdHTubLsWM1qpSVDDA/s1600-h/DSCN4532.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkdmnu2j4owIFXFsfDBVxAh6WxlBIcK9XTAEm5Fz8M75iuqbyuQgF0CJgfiYN2ESepuuuX8a7wrLTNCqg2ILi2ShUupBeS9O8swixsXLtCWfp5f8t2wrI1J9t_LdHTubLsWM1qpSVDDA/s400/DSCN4532.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415062480361124690" /></a><br /><br />I got a kick watching the old ladies paddle their way through the throng of boats and people. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsJ-TF8snfrcE6AMhnMyxZoY5foqnVfcE5Z4qlsoCEOrrG65mNSv9yQMs_d8VuQ1a_jhjRmnHBmyRIlY-QOPJx0xGmmMUqiizcS_Ea4YGSTjLoXSgfSNGXTmTKIIxPDqyAW2TEPhaIg/s1600-h/DSCN4538.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdsJ-TF8snfrcE6AMhnMyxZoY5foqnVfcE5Z4qlsoCEOrrG65mNSv9yQMs_d8VuQ1a_jhjRmnHBmyRIlY-QOPJx0xGmmMUqiizcS_Ea4YGSTjLoXSgfSNGXTmTKIIxPDqyAW2TEPhaIg/s400/DSCN4538.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415062915644645314" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6n6iHSPo2WSamR3L4f0Gu1N6WVDSrYEC4flMBzBsJ5JcOuSvbtDwGA8ztE6W4tG9WrnSCP6lNRX5nZzKrMgM6B3X9aSjBJC5mZm4YJyHnE0xTFhHTGJpdZTCyEjxL4nYyor9gAE29Q/s1600-h/DSCN4542.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF6n6iHSPo2WSamR3L4f0Gu1N6WVDSrYEC4flMBzBsJ5JcOuSvbtDwGA8ztE6W4tG9WrnSCP6lNRX5nZzKrMgM6B3X9aSjBJC5mZm4YJyHnE0xTFhHTGJpdZTCyEjxL4nYyor9gAE29Q/s400/DSCN4542.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415063206492974994" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT62gkvmwhDr-cAKAo7nUufuYkQSFJs_YqWZd6EWfHvvtmuQYYgOTYDR_c8hcO82lhOKHIUHuVj38XhU-bvXCfbqGTFF0NTQKKX6dUm3015dSYlgMdYKtEY72SIGmnGp-wrHdtfZK5IQ/s1600-h/DSCN4540.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT62gkvmwhDr-cAKAo7nUufuYkQSFJs_YqWZd6EWfHvvtmuQYYgOTYDR_c8hcO82lhOKHIUHuVj38XhU-bvXCfbqGTFF0NTQKKX6dUm3015dSYlgMdYKtEY72SIGmnGp-wrHdtfZK5IQ/s400/DSCN4540.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415063505364509602" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SCvyR7CRUXdx3SC_5gz-dIWHqRGmzFe_p5_hymAEblDlg4NNsdgzKVH1eN5ajN1dpy9p4RcEY_N1_pC-Shvwzc_3rrd7LdsWcH03OeQmO5QuS1Pucu_31JCFK8XmCaXhOAsW6S7m4w/s1600-h/DSCN4539.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3SCvyR7CRUXdx3SC_5gz-dIWHqRGmzFe_p5_hymAEblDlg4NNsdgzKVH1eN5ajN1dpy9p4RcEY_N1_pC-Shvwzc_3rrd7LdsWcH03OeQmO5QuS1Pucu_31JCFK8XmCaXhOAsW6S7m4w/s400/DSCN4539.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415063500771947330" /></a><br /><br />After a few hours at the floating market, our driver took us to the Rose Garden. I wasn't sure what to make of the place, but the gardens were certainly beautiful. Contrary to its name, the garden did not have roses, instead they had orchids. Many different varieties and colors of orchids.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Qmq0VPr8aPBPubcLRMsjzU5FVEz9otpN9wTEbs75R1A847SeL58X0EfKh1gbdGfSrf2HgE9qa_PAb-dCDNKG8EwYFAD_uJqYI1gTgDVtfFZso44qok1aYwiv-Svb3vA2uyfiL1krAA/s1600-h/DSCN4547.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Qmq0VPr8aPBPubcLRMsjzU5FVEz9otpN9wTEbs75R1A847SeL58X0EfKh1gbdGfSrf2HgE9qa_PAb-dCDNKG8EwYFAD_uJqYI1gTgDVtfFZso44qok1aYwiv-Svb3vA2uyfiL1krAA/s400/DSCN4547.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415065479792978642" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmq-eZzwG4fliHZLt_KErkPZ64NL-GWwDa9AqKFkM3ZIGdjBUPrOdFEIgiSoWnEiNaS-z7KdL-x8E_wOMMxkM7T5m6ymaYanKl3QNUIFV-donCUUar1cFRmzT5mCpqzFF7Hbn_kEJTA/s1600-h/DSCN4546.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmq-eZzwG4fliHZLt_KErkPZ64NL-GWwDa9AqKFkM3ZIGdjBUPrOdFEIgiSoWnEiNaS-z7KdL-x8E_wOMMxkM7T5m6ymaYanKl3QNUIFV-donCUUar1cFRmzT5mCpqzFF7Hbn_kEJTA/s400/DSCN4546.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415065473545474354" /></a><br /><br />After a short walk in the garden, we ate lunch at a Thai buffet restaurant. I lucked out and was able to eat my very first fresh rambutan. Similar to lychees, rambutans can easily be found in SE Asia. <br /><br />For those of you who know me well, may recall that I enjoy eating dried rambutan available at Trader Joe's. Although I like the dried variety, fresh rambutan is definitely much better! For a bit more information about rambutans, click <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rambutan">here</a>. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-ipAXZr0v7SFvKEpAnrv9ggtQ-NJqXTLpfeVR4gT_KwjBKA2Sl_ITjwO7WB6Hh0mulB-mWEuVZ_Pym6iMGkF3JiIR9WTPObtEbXVX79EJmlSJCncrakFSuQHXvBS68gVctbv7etFng/s1600-h/DSCN4549.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-ipAXZr0v7SFvKEpAnrv9ggtQ-NJqXTLpfeVR4gT_KwjBKA2Sl_ITjwO7WB6Hh0mulB-mWEuVZ_Pym6iMGkF3JiIR9WTPObtEbXVX79EJmlSJCncrakFSuQHXvBS68gVctbv7etFng/s400/DSCN4549.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415066630168313634" /></a><br /><br />Once we finished lunch, we walked around a bit and later got the chance to see some Asian elephants before watching a Thai cultural show.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielw26pBNc-UYe3id2dEL70w5lCnB7Pnx0nmSK13DMcrReu3_UjTt1_KAkN_SbaIW_tMyD9VJlTM4atd4uGcGcln6YjbY9li3l_T9tGmnW591z_pmxyZBi5MC0Z3hCJrUY7ZRmnXL2eQ/s1600-h/DSCN4552.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEielw26pBNc-UYe3id2dEL70w5lCnB7Pnx0nmSK13DMcrReu3_UjTt1_KAkN_SbaIW_tMyD9VJlTM4atd4uGcGcln6YjbY9li3l_T9tGmnW591z_pmxyZBi5MC0Z3hCJrUY7ZRmnXL2eQ/s400/DSCN4552.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415066962946360690" /></a><br /><br />Bothered a bit by the elephants (I felt a bit sorry for them), we sat down to watch a Thai cultural show complete with traditional Thai dances. The show was entertaining, and gave Kevin and I the opportunity to see Thai traditional and cultural traditions.<br /><br />This is the famous Thai "fingernail" dance.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nZjj1CpqazhH1WTynX8i_2bClzETEzhlhfupC-JUIBaH1wGOZotkFmD4UV-4H8ilrjHU9G20comFCPIEPHF9jgjYbHxE1ZjxY4MAjBYIU77HGVNtXt3yv9pmT-DxB80JZihjf0o1_Q/s1600-h/DSCN4564.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nZjj1CpqazhH1WTynX8i_2bClzETEzhlhfupC-JUIBaH1wGOZotkFmD4UV-4H8ilrjHU9G20comFCPIEPHF9jgjYbHxE1ZjxY4MAjBYIU77HGVNtXt3yv9pmT-DxB80JZihjf0o1_Q/s400/DSCN4564.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415067729112082290" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZi8SiF5R0DCtBPhGDHwxyGAGHmaRhsSPMlThsth-6mzbbqGpsXGjRCJFmiAaL-_hMB1Bsbcma7-iFMOUPadyrbjyeVnpoE1x9sRERvvkG_eYc-drKJ5pe_SyNzJ2GuvchDnMXwCBRg/s1600-h/DSCN4561.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZi8SiF5R0DCtBPhGDHwxyGAGHmaRhsSPMlThsth-6mzbbqGpsXGjRCJFmiAaL-_hMB1Bsbcma7-iFMOUPadyrbjyeVnpoE1x9sRERvvkG_eYc-drKJ5pe_SyNzJ2GuvchDnMXwCBRg/s400/DSCN4561.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5415067719267921714" /></a><br /><br />With two full days in Bangkok, we got ready for the second leg of our trip: Cambodia!<br /><br />Stay tuned for our adventures in Siem Reap, Cambodia visiting Angkor Wat!<br /><br />More to come on that later.<br /><br />Travel on!<br /><br />~ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-79537973431808518782009-12-07T16:36:00.000-08:002009-12-07T17:06:45.395-08:00Xmas in Japan means Xmas cake and KFC!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWg6ocOZ81AS4TARY8UEkibqDer-d0tNC65t2y_m4SiR_rC-hYbco37DNX15-sy845FP_bdWq4v5w3GQX0WgK606clll05qW0fYIa8u2zAncmHIXAqj9Ce1Us7JodY6usG5sCjbKiSA/s1600-h/japan-kfc-christmas-1.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 265px; height: 399px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBWg6ocOZ81AS4TARY8UEkibqDer-d0tNC65t2y_m4SiR_rC-hYbco37DNX15-sy845FP_bdWq4v5w3GQX0WgK606clll05qW0fYIa8u2zAncmHIXAqj9Ce1Us7JodY6usG5sCjbKiSA/s400/japan-kfc-christmas-1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412663318623274834" /></a><br /><br />Xmas is more or less a Western holiday, but here in Japan, it is celebrated with a twist. Of course, most of the celebrating is commercialism at its best. Japanese stores and businesses put up Xmas decorations all in the hopes it will attract shoppers. <br /><br />But aside from the "merryment" of Xmas decorations, Xmas in Japan is anything but ordinary. Many Japanese families treat themselves to a special Xmas eve dinner from KFC. That's right. Colonel Sanders has made a killing here in Japan selling pre-packaged Xmas chicken dinners. I'm not really sure where this tradition comes from, some have said that Japanese eat chicken because they want to imitate Westerners who eat turkey with all the trimmings. Or perhaps KFC's popularity has grown due to the fact that Japanese homes do not have large ovens. You simply can't make a roast turkey or a roast chicken in a little toaster oven. KFC has come to the rescue bringing Japanese people pure <em>finger-lickin' deliciousness</em>. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HnNNBcx3I8t0kQkkZNxvedoUTt1kMejKON-XhQyDK29QzksABv9aPDd8z0GfmVzNrJj2d5TRhcMh-CEdSNH7p1Czv9NQRK3YC3cIQrh6QAqMep_JNphIMe9xV3oUL1tY2NJfkOC_DA/s1600-h/kfc-barrel.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7HnNNBcx3I8t0kQkkZNxvedoUTt1kMejKON-XhQyDK29QzksABv9aPDd8z0GfmVzNrJj2d5TRhcMh-CEdSNH7p1Czv9NQRK3YC3cIQrh6QAqMep_JNphIMe9xV3oUL1tY2NJfkOC_DA/s400/kfc-barrel.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412663632161161442" /></a><br /><br />So if you're inclined to eat some fried chicken on Xmas eve, keep in mind lines might be long. You might want to place your order in early.<br /><br />In addition to the "grease fest" of fried chicken, Japanese also like to partake in Xmas cake. Many Japanese bakeries like Fujiya, even ice cream parlors like Blue Seal sell special Xmas cakes. The cakes are usually sponge cakes decorated with whipped cream, strawberries, and cute little edible Santa Clauses and reindeer.<br /><br />I think the Japanese have something here, because these cakes are delish! The cakes aren't too sweet and are <em>oh so pretty to look at</em>. If you want to take a look at the Xmas cake Kev and I had last year, take a look <a href="http://millersinokinawa.blogspot.com/2008/12/christmas-in-okinawa.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Have I mentioned how much I love Xmas in Japan?<br /><br />Happy Holidays!<br /><br />~Chrissy<br /><br />PS: Unfortunately, this year we will not be celebrating Xmas in Japan. We're flying home to PA to celebrate with the family. However, before we leave, we plan to eat a little fried chicken and Xmas cake...<br /><br /><em>Photos Courtesy of Stippy.com</em>Chrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-43787153273515454192009-11-29T16:39:00.000-08:002009-11-29T16:53:27.719-08:00All the way to Thailand, Cambodia, & Vietnam!Hello Loyal Blog Readers,<br /><br />Kevin and I have just returned from a 10 day trip to Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam! We are certainly glad to be back in Okinawa, no longer having to live out of a suitcase. Anyway, it was a whirlwind trip, but no worries, we have lots of photos to share and some interesting stories too, so stay tuned. <br /><br />In the meantime, I wanted to wish my wonderful father a very Happy Birthday! Happy Birthday, Daddy! We love you and miss you.....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2eNZMDkJXYcYDQ579Xe-PG8Dtv0YfltmZR704yw64x-c_aG5yyazZFWZid9txdIobS3IQGebYkMBM6l8lJzRPtrdTzWfCdOBL66LApvgxxOcZaG9nFo655aqKch5MYPw2cZIY2aoqg/s1600/130985075403_0_BG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI2eNZMDkJXYcYDQ579Xe-PG8Dtv0YfltmZR704yw64x-c_aG5yyazZFWZid9txdIobS3IQGebYkMBM6l8lJzRPtrdTzWfCdOBL66LApvgxxOcZaG9nFo655aqKch5MYPw2cZIY2aoqg/s400/130985075403_0_BG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5409691031224617442" /></a><br /><br /><br />Love, ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-85380629849525618212009-11-11T01:14:00.000-08:002009-11-11T01:19:32.485-08:00Gotta love Okinawa....As today was Veteran's Day, Kevin and I decided to enjoy our day off taking in the sights on Kokusai street in downtown Naha. This street is very popular for tourists, since there are so many sights, sounds, and smells. <br /><br />There is even a great fisherman's market complete with Okinawan seafood specialities...the market does have a butcher for all you meat eaters, but let me warn you...Okinawans love their pork, so it's pretty much "swine" all the way...<br /><br />Seeing all the seafood, Kev and I couldn't resist....so we bought this guy. <br /><br />"Say hello to my little friend...."<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowJaf9ms8Lhfyk6UFhnPfytpNQe5uAjSMiNF1azKN2MgEaLlgYiKYVqIhkliZVvjbZ-UIP4NbfYxNxdBGkGrG3BTDuS_GiAFmeN0l93TB79hVZiiNg98dDO6y7jCad6b1pkaBetleaA/s1600-h/DSCN4474.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowJaf9ms8Lhfyk6UFhnPfytpNQe5uAjSMiNF1azKN2MgEaLlgYiKYVqIhkliZVvjbZ-UIP4NbfYxNxdBGkGrG3BTDuS_GiAFmeN0l93TB79hVZiiNg98dDO6y7jCad6b1pkaBetleaA/s400/DSCN4474.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402772806475332738" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5fhM9EbxErDDw5AKwhH7ofBv2McnnyCuV-_SP2_4jM-IVRZSQ4MxxMsLAeMrsoekmYI9LbCwkZRMDxeoEHZq-de5f24Xo3UBAsg6igl0ZPNck8t0OoxUHY2Tnl_Hqk8-FkiMYH89mA/s1600-h/DSCN4472.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ5fhM9EbxErDDw5AKwhH7ofBv2McnnyCuV-_SP2_4jM-IVRZSQ4MxxMsLAeMrsoekmYI9LbCwkZRMDxeoEHZq-de5f24Xo3UBAsg6igl0ZPNck8t0OoxUHY2Tnl_Hqk8-FkiMYH89mA/s400/DSCN4472.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402772804213865938" /></a><br /><br />Dinner is served... :)Chrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-46198708531953856662009-11-10T00:27:00.001-08:002010-01-09T04:01:54.860-08:00Taiwan, Part IIApologies for the delay, but here is the long awaited second installment of our trip to Taiwan. <br /><br />After spending a few days in the city, we decided to head out to Wulai, land of beautiful green mountains, fog, and hot baths. However, before taking the train out to Wulai, we had one quick stop at the Fishermen's Market, home to Lover's Bridge.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXc3CMP9CFyBlTyKRrGzHlfQeKXFTLxL3e9Kk7ItxRwt1N9F2rxHLFZlHSI78baGwzRvFIJ8bFPWRgLvRvyeQXQbyfE5uDDIAOjRiIwSUV9udt0ckHiyt1Zbgc3t09HmoN0k8NNr9gbg/s1600-h/DSC01884.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXc3CMP9CFyBlTyKRrGzHlfQeKXFTLxL3e9Kk7ItxRwt1N9F2rxHLFZlHSI78baGwzRvFIJ8bFPWRgLvRvyeQXQbyfE5uDDIAOjRiIwSUV9udt0ckHiyt1Zbgc3t09HmoN0k8NNr9gbg/s400/DSC01884.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402389672936000706" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnz43VFcAAV9WLnCJSa9nS9OHtq-jQ9K1gSXq7tyi0yOExjKGrI9OABV9TtaYY64tmpH-c5ZjaavyX0RuWpMnk5QzSMQsTpApp7fvO5r4kyTEDZJ3DmIe_-mvu8AohPcxzrGP7_jkAw/s1600-h/DSC01880.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAnz43VFcAAV9WLnCJSa9nS9OHtq-jQ9K1gSXq7tyi0yOExjKGrI9OABV9TtaYY64tmpH-c5ZjaavyX0RuWpMnk5QzSMQsTpApp7fvO5r4kyTEDZJ3DmIe_-mvu8AohPcxzrGP7_jkAw/s400/DSC01880.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402389665941818642" /></a><br /><br />There isn't too much to see here, but since the weather was pleasant, we decided to take a stroll and enjoy some of the sights. We did find a seafood restaurant on the 2nd level of the fish market. However, comparing this market to the one we went to in Seoul, we were a bit disappointed. <br /><br />The next day, we headed to the Taipei Main train station to board our train to Wulai. <br /><br />Wulai, is home to one of Taiwan's aboriginal groups, the Atayal. Wulai is also popular among tourists for its hot springs and baths. Naturally as Wulai is nestled in the mountains, it was very green and with two typhoons just off the coast of Taiwan, it rained...A LOT. As a matter of fact, we had nothing but rain the entire time we were in Wulai.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCftALyYzaKI7Y5m5jl3nMspTgquKndCWtIVl1STAEvrdlkDT-CHsN__1Dt7wKFSqxoAYGQ4kpxuYlmSKUqsgmB1Rbn6UzBn7uzJiBDfYB5SCgNOczVwr4DqON9xzbH9hcweZunSDlA/s1600-h/DSC01890.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgCftALyYzaKI7Y5m5jl3nMspTgquKndCWtIVl1STAEvrdlkDT-CHsN__1Dt7wKFSqxoAYGQ4kpxuYlmSKUqsgmB1Rbn6UzBn7uzJiBDfYB5SCgNOczVwr4DqON9xzbH9hcweZunSDlA/s400/DSC01890.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402390859353790562" /></a><br /><br />But we didn't mind. With umbrellas in hand, we walked all over Wulai taking in the beautiful scenery. <br /><br />I couldn't resist. I got a kick out of this sign. Bungee jumping, anyone?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXA6NybYuIcAM5jWcaCVxj-4FF3fxO9GzBo_7DgR1wtrMd1rabQlmFsxAL4EcBgxV-1R9qh887UtI3N37FFdVnvxuibEPtAXKZ9lh1HrMCbz7PM0NKev8w-eEAuV0vo_gsmfVrXBw-w/s1600-h/DSC01888.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcXA6NybYuIcAM5jWcaCVxj-4FF3fxO9GzBo_7DgR1wtrMd1rabQlmFsxAL4EcBgxV-1R9qh887UtI3N37FFdVnvxuibEPtAXKZ9lh1HrMCbz7PM0NKev8w-eEAuV0vo_gsmfVrXBw-w/s400/DSC01888.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402390849523058706" /></a><br /><br />With all the rain, the Wulai river was very high...not to mention muddy. Ewwww....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJ3iQPrvUstv2rEtXsR2NYBAxxKxwxQlWJ3Z0Vq9UbMABzUNA1FonkzKK5Jra3Caw02_r1pXdKb6Fh39wgVM5m1HO3uBb-KTTYc-60mwMuN_fx58hBsEeRdReP8FwARXtLhXOofPucw/s1600-h/DSC01887.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVJ3iQPrvUstv2rEtXsR2NYBAxxKxwxQlWJ3Z0Vq9UbMABzUNA1FonkzKK5Jra3Caw02_r1pXdKb6Fh39wgVM5m1HO3uBb-KTTYc-60mwMuN_fx58hBsEeRdReP8FwARXtLhXOofPucw/s400/DSC01887.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402390838958361618" /></a><br /><br />After walking a bit, we came across a little train. This train was like the train at Disneyland, each car had room for two people. Upon boarding the train, we were taken to the Wulai waterfall.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBlV5bTJ8lFON50FPQIvY7tSSjElQhiW52jiH6eMIvkU9juf0dGO6of89TNtwPfmQmQFm5tXTsKhsWL_DFQFYyfo8-4EZvEG76LvGpPqBEHDmqy8DWq351n5gXvoaCSyirs9xNXb5Tw/s1600-h/DSC01893.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLBlV5bTJ8lFON50FPQIvY7tSSjElQhiW52jiH6eMIvkU9juf0dGO6of89TNtwPfmQmQFm5tXTsKhsWL_DFQFYyfo8-4EZvEG76LvGpPqBEHDmqy8DWq351n5gXvoaCSyirs9xNXb5Tw/s400/DSC01893.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402392679250500194" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNZkOvgR2F95DO7sR9ysYtleGtg99TZQ3zJt-yz7LEtkBkelJye2_DFrvu5oE38lsZowqEH64X7DS0AsYGO-2V7YQcrhbPXnblYDj5aMD_DkXZnD98cz3gu5Mi387TnxQdzXRtnVm-g/s1600-h/DSC01930.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZNZkOvgR2F95DO7sR9ysYtleGtg99TZQ3zJt-yz7LEtkBkelJye2_DFrvu5oE38lsZowqEH64X7DS0AsYGO-2V7YQcrhbPXnblYDj5aMD_DkXZnD98cz3gu5Mi387TnxQdzXRtnVm-g/s400/DSC01930.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402392696068167266" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrl1WIiSW5xVOdJftmJMhbqtHeNFxhSA5srjgMgnUdLl05XEDNgZYFzU1a4AifXvgYeV0Cj2FA8TLBVRWC4PoE9tHeTmEvN8qh6AIhBWLU5Jl58yVSTWMW3gJiQbH8FFbMZLyJU3fOQ/s1600-h/DSC01913.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisrl1WIiSW5xVOdJftmJMhbqtHeNFxhSA5srjgMgnUdLl05XEDNgZYFzU1a4AifXvgYeV0Cj2FA8TLBVRWC4PoE9tHeTmEvN8qh6AIhBWLU5Jl58yVSTWMW3gJiQbH8FFbMZLyJU3fOQ/s400/DSC01913.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402392690538250098" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhReZB95YqLWV7rHrQ-UreSW5b5T3TRCTLlLclk-C2ot6ddLGG5ZKHmsx-r4MAVZxdMji3NY1h2O35Qpg_kjTLKKATEpBgznaNQpV8h2q1SIaOQk1Ld0NzKX5Ca8za7Ul48v6bgYBMg/s1600-h/DSC01902.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhReZB95YqLWV7rHrQ-UreSW5b5T3TRCTLlLclk-C2ot6ddLGG5ZKHmsx-r4MAVZxdMji3NY1h2O35Qpg_kjTLKKATEpBgznaNQpV8h2q1SIaOQk1Ld0NzKX5Ca8za7Ul48v6bgYBMg/s400/DSC01902.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402392682055408642" /></a><br /><br />From there, we got on the gondola to get an even better view.....Sooooo green!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPOMeD39qwG00slcL5F5bcbIs5jrSa-20NxHZR2SWVwsdpYOwxJ47_rh5xturMOORg968qsmVHp875Pvo87jSf58fUfKjbSFrsJeb56UKHZnqGDEkgk0PKFPvQEwsh2cG0ad4uPwAPw/s1600-h/DSC01941.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPOMeD39qwG00slcL5F5bcbIs5jrSa-20NxHZR2SWVwsdpYOwxJ47_rh5xturMOORg968qsmVHp875Pvo87jSf58fUfKjbSFrsJeb56UKHZnqGDEkgk0PKFPvQEwsh2cG0ad4uPwAPw/s400/DSC01941.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402638074613811522" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wZc2SgZXAGp4FF36qvPHnLVDBFGdci2JVxeorl6YCSoh2nZt_acwNB03tmDvZrXtZf8HbZaOik_X326ynvB9DuL3vnacpljJxf07XA0-_zNoxdrgSVih-9gZe7kGTSkbfXiByQVr5A/s1600-h/DSC01935.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1wZc2SgZXAGp4FF36qvPHnLVDBFGdci2JVxeorl6YCSoh2nZt_acwNB03tmDvZrXtZf8HbZaOik_X326ynvB9DuL3vnacpljJxf07XA0-_zNoxdrgSVih-9gZe7kGTSkbfXiByQVr5A/s400/DSC01935.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402638066044754226" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikrxH77BzgWzQuNEMjODw2qAQXprLb2CYWLpMEYlfl1tnKlCC4iBkNNLcRoH_A2HFovK7n2u9IGu8rmoVCc6YDofDx0UCbeGjJ1lr_3oz98WggoiQzs28ZdK97kofifvAZLzMo4CiLg/s1600-h/DSC01932.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjikrxH77BzgWzQuNEMjODw2qAQXprLb2CYWLpMEYlfl1tnKlCC4iBkNNLcRoH_A2HFovK7n2u9IGu8rmoVCc6YDofDx0UCbeGjJ1lr_3oz98WggoiQzs28ZdK97kofifvAZLzMo4CiLg/s400/DSC01932.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402638059819210226" /></a><br /><br />Once we got to the top of the mountain, we took a walk around what was a park. There was even a hotel here. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEciNO8SScTs0Q95NDKJ6q5hNpvVU37JDEYG_ix0WOxfnkl4PCLYYUNcIQjudh44wnJqTUnYb6MwjX3ReP-dCYeBrol7hWVeYDRozBFYMbwY0vY7glxCZQC0o9avBHLFwBn5zsYESBA/s1600-h/DSC01952.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMEciNO8SScTs0Q95NDKJ6q5hNpvVU37JDEYG_ix0WOxfnkl4PCLYYUNcIQjudh44wnJqTUnYb6MwjX3ReP-dCYeBrol7hWVeYDRozBFYMbwY0vY7glxCZQC0o9avBHLFwBn5zsYESBA/s400/DSC01952.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402638761442080066" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4vhrIgzbtt8iAdj6dObOpS8liXp7vlvXLodMdXT2YRyN8tqG1DwH5fO0AN7Z_5ivqs5bT7lUNcE6bDnE_ieZzzCGvElVLVV2_-6nAto5kuJbfH1HhAarahuAUGaZ0oQIzCg0YcCsAg/s1600-h/DSC01968.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA4vhrIgzbtt8iAdj6dObOpS8liXp7vlvXLodMdXT2YRyN8tqG1DwH5fO0AN7Z_5ivqs5bT7lUNcE6bDnE_ieZzzCGvElVLVV2_-6nAto5kuJbfH1HhAarahuAUGaZ0oQIzCg0YcCsAg/s400/DSC01968.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402638760075291522" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXehuVQrSLMUp4RBSmjV_hZZQRfl79_2ivKpiU_naNB_F_6Dq-3mQyzM6qFL5QhgHYHYm-LDAp31hS0hoDafOGB2coKPBNgo4KUm5RDWJEo1xoOHOcqPeFhLRzCFykiEgCU0fRWIa0w/s1600-h/DSC01962.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHXehuVQrSLMUp4RBSmjV_hZZQRfl79_2ivKpiU_naNB_F_6Dq-3mQyzM6qFL5QhgHYHYm-LDAp31hS0hoDafOGB2coKPBNgo4KUm5RDWJEo1xoOHOcqPeFhLRzCFykiEgCU0fRWIa0w/s400/DSC01962.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402639286483851698" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKfB6o9ZGQ0d162jdyM5kTQytimRPwmDDoG7IgRCFDrejqlmSwgueTlBbpUlx9s6DXrRwuhdkLdu1R0ZQM4fM4UE86PyhWWe0hxGFfa8TSjv1-C4afqVavf2hdxO0IPlNZDc4DPJowQ/s1600-h/DSC01958.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCKfB6o9ZGQ0d162jdyM5kTQytimRPwmDDoG7IgRCFDrejqlmSwgueTlBbpUlx9s6DXrRwuhdkLdu1R0ZQM4fM4UE86PyhWWe0hxGFfa8TSjv1-C4afqVavf2hdxO0IPlNZDc4DPJowQ/s400/DSC01958.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402638738176399874" /></a><br /><br />Everything in the park was so green and lush.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLu3VDGQe5N_9AUa4l_mxS9dYBQk3GDxpst5RHEvOVhhcbevMXVQ_nSSD2UfbvG2CbdkN4MY6NHCNDerD6meU1_JlBMDWUBN9xMy8yW-JeONWOnt_X6MlBcpdEAz88J-t3ZsONFjKkQ/s1600-h/DSC01984.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlLu3VDGQe5N_9AUa4l_mxS9dYBQk3GDxpst5RHEvOVhhcbevMXVQ_nSSD2UfbvG2CbdkN4MY6NHCNDerD6meU1_JlBMDWUBN9xMy8yW-JeONWOnt_X6MlBcpdEAz88J-t3ZsONFjKkQ/s400/DSC01984.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402639947874430594" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshGUASnns2q5BMQ7Rk1wjVX06GrSzUsRCKMv-EnxAP_215sZJqbOxLvjgnSW36EVOefS-dVS_q7tWFsxrCa2GvTcc2Af3lurRL50NqrXtQ8U9KPZVIJCTUZm5b4qXQKsnIGGMAT6CfA/s1600-h/DSC01967.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgshGUASnns2q5BMQ7Rk1wjVX06GrSzUsRCKMv-EnxAP_215sZJqbOxLvjgnSW36EVOefS-dVS_q7tWFsxrCa2GvTcc2Af3lurRL50NqrXtQ8U9KPZVIJCTUZm5b4qXQKsnIGGMAT6CfA/s400/DSC01967.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402639940395389666" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrhAFEcBce9na_Od5KYAC0GjTT6Vjn_dMWwaSM-U3k3QTDYeVIjNWDrWhvsCfjtp-fEAZtQwz8uL0mFjedSBao1OAqZ5liBOFtSDmEk3vkuGb3vJd1SMb0WWBhNrggZqeev8IHBqkwg/s1600-h/DSC01959.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrhAFEcBce9na_Od5KYAC0GjTT6Vjn_dMWwaSM-U3k3QTDYeVIjNWDrWhvsCfjtp-fEAZtQwz8uL0mFjedSBao1OAqZ5liBOFtSDmEk3vkuGb3vJd1SMb0WWBhNrggZqeev8IHBqkwg/s400/DSC01959.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402639932398266866" /></a><br /><br />After a day in the rain, we couldn't wait to get back to our hotel (<a href="http://wulai-en.landishotelsresorts.com/">The Hotel Landis</a>). We stayed at a beautiful hotel complete with our own private bath.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnURhPPEMD_M6zgvD8MCG3XNXZ89k1N2mrJ6Qe_ZA_bcXCOtu6z4zxD3dp-hGUPbDOhG4POOg5xl1M8qKCCN6pFiv7ScIpjizUhC7TH3Cu0iHuhIvwMv7sQ58t-RoDBKN_tSr_dpK4Q/s1600-h/DSC02009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnURhPPEMD_M6zgvD8MCG3XNXZ89k1N2mrJ6Qe_ZA_bcXCOtu6z4zxD3dp-hGUPbDOhG4POOg5xl1M8qKCCN6pFiv7ScIpjizUhC7TH3Cu0iHuhIvwMv7sQ58t-RoDBKN_tSr_dpK4Q/s400/DSC02009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402640593968638802" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi718SJjPSZY7PzP5JCg2tVzgF7HJAOU-sGiA6RedKWHciQqweop66v9U2xLheAbUG4lsNh4_KO1toY2ip_TK1OB58GWLCS-SfH0fzdkGwYIWo3gx19TWLklRNQbbvttrPD9j4GIAPniw/s1600-h/DSC02008.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi718SJjPSZY7PzP5JCg2tVzgF7HJAOU-sGiA6RedKWHciQqweop66v9U2xLheAbUG4lsNh4_KO1toY2ip_TK1OB58GWLCS-SfH0fzdkGwYIWo3gx19TWLklRNQbbvttrPD9j4GIAPniw/s400/DSC02008.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402640582384532674" /></a><br /><br />And this was the view from the window in our bath. So peaceful....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGBChXseGTBe_31U6QjKMJ59RqWOm8TkxJpaJ-MWw-cOhCQBXUMeGev-WS4O5snZ3Ub0J3JMr-7hLNakLSh6fFoQXDYqV6-PU5H2KSKwPVSr93wb7UG_bL7hWwGZlXAc7MMOX2-QpnQ/s1600-h/DSC02020.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwGBChXseGTBe_31U6QjKMJ59RqWOm8TkxJpaJ-MWw-cOhCQBXUMeGev-WS4O5snZ3Ub0J3JMr-7hLNakLSh6fFoQXDYqV6-PU5H2KSKwPVSr93wb7UG_bL7hWwGZlXAc7MMOX2-QpnQ/s400/DSC02020.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402640602224121026" /></a><br /><br /><br />We had a wonderful time in Taiwan....definitely worth the 5 days we were there. I leave you with this night shot of our hotel....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1v8AfGJBfjK3AWX_QH-Cwze3VFrOQAotYan8KjwR85LKpgvVSTGehc3yor80HHmzBN8PqdKUQxvZeneS1Jcl7nrJKrxjbmC8sIkgoEC2cNyxpYnMHJm_BApHYmfZMh0TeY-452MuzeA/s1600-h/DSC02038.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1v8AfGJBfjK3AWX_QH-Cwze3VFrOQAotYan8KjwR85LKpgvVSTGehc3yor80HHmzBN8PqdKUQxvZeneS1Jcl7nrJKrxjbmC8sIkgoEC2cNyxpYnMHJm_BApHYmfZMh0TeY-452MuzeA/s400/DSC02038.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402640607296776306" /></a><br /><br />Happy Travels...<br /><br />Love, ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-85631219542131942942009-11-08T23:30:00.000-08:002009-11-11T01:13:10.588-08:00No excuses....BUT....Okay, I know I've been a little slow to post to this blog, but lately, I've been feeling a bit pooped. Really. Will you forgive me if I tell you that I got the flu shot and think I've developed a slight reaction to it? I mean, I'm so tired....It was just a seasonal flu shot, but still....so tirrrrreedddd....Oh and let's not forget that I had final exams for my online classes with University of Maryland last week too....<br /><br />But I digress...I'm out of excuses. I do hope to get a spring back into my step and eventually post Part II of our Taiwan trip shortly....<br /><br />And....in the meantime, stay tuned! In just a bit, we should have even more photos to share!<br /><br />Love from Oki,<br /><br />ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-53874858501541594882009-10-17T17:29:00.001-07:002009-10-17T17:36:50.301-07:00Someone actually reads this blog?!?!?I received this lovely award from loyal reader, Heather! Thanks so much, Heather!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3LXv8VBQNVq613FR0-u-3z_IuptvrtHkxYl8UWRBwwgDWRfdUcGMoaLpDmRd_WLLHD1f7IWKHQd1a_B3C07ogRPgzkOBRYmtO_EiZm0WjR26CV4D_okkY_0ZgfL5jMDhNtJmykniVg/s1600-h/one_lovely_blog_award.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv3LXv8VBQNVq613FR0-u-3z_IuptvrtHkxYl8UWRBwwgDWRfdUcGMoaLpDmRd_WLLHD1f7IWKHQd1a_B3C07ogRPgzkOBRYmtO_EiZm0WjR26CV4D_okkY_0ZgfL5jMDhNtJmykniVg/s400/one_lovely_blog_award.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393731204187019202" /></a><br /><br />My blog has been awarded the “One Lovely Blog Award." Glad you enjoy reading! <br /><br />Since I've accepted the award, here are a few rules: <br /><br />Accept the award, post it on your blog together with the name of the person who has granted the award, and his or her blog link. Pass the award to 15 other blogs that you’ve newly discovered (although I chose some that I've known about for a little while). Remember to contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.<br /><br />That said, here are a few blogs that I enjoy reading:<br /><a href="http://hollieandblake.blogspot.com/"><br />Peaceful Typhoon</a><br /><a href="http://www.maryandseansadventuresabroad.blogspot.com/">Mary and Sean's Adventures Abroad</a><br /><a href="http://traveltvgirl.blogspot.com/">Travel TV Girl</a><br /><br />That's about all I can think of for now.<br /><br />~ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-15206840738820912882009-10-17T02:44:00.001-07:002009-10-17T03:49:42.009-07:00Taipei, TaiwanAs promised, here is my blog post about our most recent trip to Taipei, Taiwan. Kev and I went for just a few days. The flight wasn't bad at all, about a hour flight from Okinawa to Taipei. We were hoping the weather would be good for us, but alas because of the two typhoons brewing in the Pacific, we did get some residual rain.<br /><br />On our first day in the city, we checked into our hotel and then decided to visit the National Palace Museum.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvxOEx-gKpCsW2Xh_KS91jZCRwtbQU8UlE6WNcB5SfI_ma50-WS-htqLcIibng2hkYHj9ivllAxN-c6wjbVcltBNk1Zkj87a8CYVT8YSutBAL-92eNxSBZoXhwlo_hS4lJ2wCoHHZ4w/s1600-h/DSC01777.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvxOEx-gKpCsW2Xh_KS91jZCRwtbQU8UlE6WNcB5SfI_ma50-WS-htqLcIibng2hkYHj9ivllAxN-c6wjbVcltBNk1Zkj87a8CYVT8YSutBAL-92eNxSBZoXhwlo_hS4lJ2wCoHHZ4w/s400/DSC01777.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393503155782939202" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXWjFfvLQnotUl5e-QKrvhcnNEhDGEqAbZvy546uFJY3t7WcO6O9Nr05GVKJJ_ZTuKCRNRH9Rv4CmhaT6O6uh16inBx-FHyLNZopCgciRpjBIpvvW8idjG5lcYHIh5re6ilVi13bUUw/s1600-h/DSC01775.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXWjFfvLQnotUl5e-QKrvhcnNEhDGEqAbZvy546uFJY3t7WcO6O9Nr05GVKJJ_ZTuKCRNRH9Rv4CmhaT6O6uh16inBx-FHyLNZopCgciRpjBIpvvW8idjG5lcYHIh5re6ilVi13bUUw/s400/DSC01775.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393503148600257986" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwm4rVFmoFXYCFkIIYNI_Uw255B5p7oBOgpKlLmuGN4uXFjg6IbNNPMpdjzgFw2lt6CsB4VKUJrbHaOCReGqBKmcFq5Ipho4nx7V15LsQdeHOjNRLy687kNVeDahQG-odlFqoyAW3gA/s1600-h/DSC01778.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRwm4rVFmoFXYCFkIIYNI_Uw255B5p7oBOgpKlLmuGN4uXFjg6IbNNPMpdjzgFw2lt6CsB4VKUJrbHaOCReGqBKmcFq5Ipho4nx7V15LsQdeHOjNRLy687kNVeDahQG-odlFqoyAW3gA/s400/DSC01778.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393507911041475090" /></a><br /><br /><br />The museum is mostly a collection of art from the many dynasties of China. Pretty cool stuff, but what was even more interesting for us was learning about the indigineous groups of people who lived on Taiwan. Prior to the Han Chinese coming from mainland and becoming the majority population of the island, aboriginal groups had lived on the island. These people are related to the same groups of people who lived in Australia, New Guinea, and Samoa.<br /><br />Following our jaunt in the museum, we then headed to Taipei 101, currently the world's tallest building. We managed to get there late enough in the day to enjoy the beautiful sunset. The bottom floors of Taipei 101 are shopping floors, with other floors serving as business offices. Of course, the top level floors are observatories open to the public. According to Wikipedia, Taipei 101 is one of the 7Wonders of the World and has 101 floors, 5 of which are underground. The Burj Dubai in Dubai (visit our <a href="http://millersinokinawa.blogspot.com/2008/01/part-ii-of-dubaiabu-dhabi-trip.html">photos</a> from our December 2007 trip for that) is trying to beat Taipei 101,but since it is still under construction, Taipei 101 still holds the record as the world's tallest building.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmDBUxZVRy47UCK2EGbHvYVWbfnPAVvgzW8nuX2eguvemvCmqXBggGMaEGdAb86mHNGBQrp-7tnjvke36jV_-VnWWPg_Z485Jw4G1-rk9nkRNVRwfIgJNmMf_ctsaheMNCgvPfWcT7g/s1600-h/DSC01789.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikmDBUxZVRy47UCK2EGbHvYVWbfnPAVvgzW8nuX2eguvemvCmqXBggGMaEGdAb86mHNGBQrp-7tnjvke36jV_-VnWWPg_Z485Jw4G1-rk9nkRNVRwfIgJNmMf_ctsaheMNCgvPfWcT7g/s400/DSC01789.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393505965057632002" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEStN9XihnyvpMbRBE2X9NHuaw3tLyiI4S7fQ0iQ3c8X4S8R5vId3azZ2TUSVZZh2jln9bFGoE5DcI1y8e8NKFEE_Fsu0C1p-Lm7H4R1LV_A-fTsaS-prosW06NUh0m0LSFfdAxXgskw/s1600-h/DSC01788.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEStN9XihnyvpMbRBE2X9NHuaw3tLyiI4S7fQ0iQ3c8X4S8R5vId3azZ2TUSVZZh2jln9bFGoE5DcI1y8e8NKFEE_Fsu0C1p-Lm7H4R1LV_A-fTsaS-prosW06NUh0m0LSFfdAxXgskw/s400/DSC01788.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393505950836466914" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQA1BsG5HgjfwnH3wc4ZHmCP9UUBgxySI5scuw-hRqpaOw8gS4U5vJAEpDsR1TYYQ03vGPntiUZ7zIr28Gx5Hg6s-dDhyphenhyphenj1nLgfeQhYhOMqP06MWKypjum70X98tmntqXjHP_BZTJaSg/s1600-h/DSC01783.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQA1BsG5HgjfwnH3wc4ZHmCP9UUBgxySI5scuw-hRqpaOw8gS4U5vJAEpDsR1TYYQ03vGPntiUZ7zIr28Gx5Hg6s-dDhyphenhyphenj1nLgfeQhYhOMqP06MWKypjum70X98tmntqXjHP_BZTJaSg/s400/DSC01783.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393505934590866242" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3Zcnw7qWKPRqv0WkIBwseKYPghaTptUTdLa3MVkC3KSSt8ukEgithx04COuZXdj4qx5XQVXxg8vUDNO4LznLYXumn1OezFW2lZw48SZHJP0yuhh5qkEXN5_Yz1KaYec2PYd0spn3bQ/s1600-h/DSC01791.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3Zcnw7qWKPRqv0WkIBwseKYPghaTptUTdLa3MVkC3KSSt8ukEgithx04COuZXdj4qx5XQVXxg8vUDNO4LznLYXumn1OezFW2lZw48SZHJP0yuhh5qkEXN5_Yz1KaYec2PYd0spn3bQ/s400/DSC01791.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393506587573991570" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJhI0rccnLgzKy6dBH1mB39lLXMvokzElZ49g09og40V1Ui4EVDxjw6h6WKp2urv-23XDfAJCyRqD6qJLIla_xwQnpoM_SnqfHdHgT6mC7iJhkzKsL0wPydpxf3OeV-cCK9T5H0USOw/s1600-h/DSC01784.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEJhI0rccnLgzKy6dBH1mB39lLXMvokzElZ49g09og40V1Ui4EVDxjw6h6WKp2urv-23XDfAJCyRqD6qJLIla_xwQnpoM_SnqfHdHgT6mC7iJhkzKsL0wPydpxf3OeV-cCK9T5H0USOw/s400/DSC01784.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393505943446174994" /></a><br /><br />The following day, Kev and I decided to just walk about the city to see what we could find. We came across two beautiful temples. A Confucian temple and a Buddhist temple. Both were equally beautiful with their ornate designs and bright and bold colors. It was amazing to see how devoted the Taiwanese are. You can tell the community has put much of their hard earned money into these temples.<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgXHZvKWd5ppHmsjNyjYXPBzAmyrkEg2ZCm_lT3rCKLNRYz9wkHLNDg_-C-SNTLYx56kIBHrdGWc_pehYjZWyvZw1VncUaAVzpjnveirvqt_l-2OW9yIlHDk4r619FPqXF603lmrwaw/s1600-h/DSC01821.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDgXHZvKWd5ppHmsjNyjYXPBzAmyrkEg2ZCm_lT3rCKLNRYz9wkHLNDg_-C-SNTLYx56kIBHrdGWc_pehYjZWyvZw1VncUaAVzpjnveirvqt_l-2OW9yIlHDk4r619FPqXF603lmrwaw/s400/DSC01821.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393509666508796978" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHaQQXEcjy6AOsdMlATkpNKzgNapGPrQTjswLS6Es8d84GuK_qOpjQ1ibgjvKi_ZvZs2M8bCOVle_nyPfmf-KRDFfautntoBeSsDs5gn-RBm5zZB6ryOlDXSM-849DfHYnXX6QIq2VLQ/s1600-h/DSC01802.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHaQQXEcjy6AOsdMlATkpNKzgNapGPrQTjswLS6Es8d84GuK_qOpjQ1ibgjvKi_ZvZs2M8bCOVle_nyPfmf-KRDFfautntoBeSsDs5gn-RBm5zZB6ryOlDXSM-849DfHYnXX6QIq2VLQ/s400/DSC01802.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393509649162884402" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxxWQQY66V2QMz9JlbWyBlvvdrAk7WYnJBx0X0JcmXTyMDPrrcOayrkZhEp48pGipcZ8-4Rt5UKBf7XxfEul5Rg1_zPaMlWKazOd_Zfask5-c94yqcX6K7kQrSMZ0fN7udiofcBlJQA/s1600-h/DSC01798.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfxxWQQY66V2QMz9JlbWyBlvvdrAk7WYnJBx0X0JcmXTyMDPrrcOayrkZhEp48pGipcZ8-4Rt5UKBf7XxfEul5Rg1_zPaMlWKazOd_Zfask5-c94yqcX6K7kQrSMZ0fN7udiofcBlJQA/s400/DSC01798.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393509637578800002" /></a><br /><br />To the average person, there probably doesn't appear to be too much of a difference, but believe me, there is! At the buddhist temple, people were buying flowers, cakes, incense, and other offerings to well, you know, Buddha.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGn8G4l3ucwuYgyhFUw5AG_Y0A6tKZWUwnBgrUOGFFUvlCNNlcc8tiKhk4JO06HxMSdazqdvGw4XMJMSMQtqri9uI8loxnJXYXq5O6sZ8tnQbdUOrrczX0Z1qhCBRJfmpsMwtKKhupHQ/s1600-h/DSC01868.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGn8G4l3ucwuYgyhFUw5AG_Y0A6tKZWUwnBgrUOGFFUvlCNNlcc8tiKhk4JO06HxMSdazqdvGw4XMJMSMQtqri9uI8loxnJXYXq5O6sZ8tnQbdUOrrczX0Z1qhCBRJfmpsMwtKKhupHQ/s400/DSC01868.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393511412186362466" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4i76Od7e6CQUOKGqrEr_oFQJl_LSck92K1aFfE8LYpDDEkmKGLsT2NExCjqDkoAFAfjA42snc_Vt7fiWx9LFqFA5fotAYT1I8jKGbkblxHcxxWEGmsmEYN8xh3KIui4fovohCd5tBA/s1600-h/DSC01873.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4i76Od7e6CQUOKGqrEr_oFQJl_LSck92K1aFfE8LYpDDEkmKGLsT2NExCjqDkoAFAfjA42snc_Vt7fiWx9LFqFA5fotAYT1I8jKGbkblxHcxxWEGmsmEYN8xh3KIui4fovohCd5tBA/s400/DSC01873.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393511404877409698" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgp8pWHy045vmOcQDE2HzLr0zyxr5TQK6xMLNHMUYyysC0Vmc-G-W8aW1VNvZyA3ymM72BC1IloTGsSuMaRRe4n58GpZXWD88s937B5ERrdZA0MNA_wPAtxHgFebXDzTXZ6SCU966TQ/s1600-h/DSC01867.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHgp8pWHy045vmOcQDE2HzLr0zyxr5TQK6xMLNHMUYyysC0Vmc-G-W8aW1VNvZyA3ymM72BC1IloTGsSuMaRRe4n58GpZXWD88s937B5ERrdZA0MNA_wPAtxHgFebXDzTXZ6SCU966TQ/s400/DSC01867.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393511392936849842" /></a><br /><br />Once we paid our respects, I came across these fun figures outside. <br /><br />Check this out!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrsmwGKekPnjzzn32So6yjTBUn2qDxKyAej5wiaD9qiWhR2Fr42i0Ueu41LUKwRzLu9PJ4xoQ1FYuYvC0ss5opDfqAFka7GqOrr7gs5wcIbx92JD_MhF7tsGbZ7ZiJ1-vJh6A6dccbA/s1600-h/DSC01877.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbrsmwGKekPnjzzn32So6yjTBUn2qDxKyAej5wiaD9qiWhR2Fr42i0Ueu41LUKwRzLu9PJ4xoQ1FYuYvC0ss5opDfqAFka7GqOrr7gs5wcIbx92JD_MhF7tsGbZ7ZiJ1-vJh6A6dccbA/s400/DSC01877.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393510497221926386" /></a><br />What? I can't hear you....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTZf8jeWvvaoRPyhhyphenhyphenkuUFIfYmuwiHI1By4C9nVR9_Ws-VEmc80fZtvj7ZlHN0nk3VSUiogm45u4fhhTC7TdZgryM8TY81809iWIiBVFQ1XImWsKQ6n_vNq2x1HGeVTcgw8_7CuJAwQ/s1600-h/DSC01876.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfTZf8jeWvvaoRPyhhyphenhyphenkuUFIfYmuwiHI1By4C9nVR9_Ws-VEmc80fZtvj7ZlHN0nk3VSUiogm45u4fhhTC7TdZgryM8TY81809iWIiBVFQ1XImWsKQ6n_vNq2x1HGeVTcgw8_7CuJAwQ/s400/DSC01876.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393510482980035858" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lyQvyXvQL5W39h6EmbJjVcRJSlQYMI_ZOJYV6mtTdsJzL-q9e0Rf0-XqNLdehJQBmh6xvYGKtF1sYWvvkUv5sjYQFF5OJdmxJwQcS7ZyBpm06p_kEM4IVJ2xeDfsEgWd6XwCbTOo8Q/s1600-h/DSC01875.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lyQvyXvQL5W39h6EmbJjVcRJSlQYMI_ZOJYV6mtTdsJzL-q9e0Rf0-XqNLdehJQBmh6xvYGKtF1sYWvvkUv5sjYQFF5OJdmxJwQcS7ZyBpm06p_kEM4IVJ2xeDfsEgWd6XwCbTOo8Q/s400/DSC01875.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393510473189548226" /></a><br />I can't see you....<br /><br />Okay, okay, so I'm a dork.....<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsTQrDcqBhoqvgGWbYfiOQbYlYWKCcNHrzqBHeBfsBLmSU98V4Lb0AD3zLhKwg9lpUkK_M_YH3Wed4Zu5Qs7smq5Cwfet4dLcBAXlJ1D_87lvFv4vMomIGD5fEN8I9oIVLb55Et1RQg/s1600-h/DSC01879.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilsTQrDcqBhoqvgGWbYfiOQbYlYWKCcNHrzqBHeBfsBLmSU98V4Lb0AD3zLhKwg9lpUkK_M_YH3Wed4Zu5Qs7smq5Cwfet4dLcBAXlJ1D_87lvFv4vMomIGD5fEN8I9oIVLb55Et1RQg/s400/DSC01879.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393512395174644338" /></a><br /><br />Anyway, before leaving the city, we took a trip to Lover's Bridge and the fishermen's market before escaping to the quiet respite of Wulai. Wulai is about a hour train ride away in southern Taipei county. Nestled in the mountains on the banks of the large Wulai river, Wulai is famous for its hot springs and aboriginal culture. One of Taiwan's original aboriginal groups, the Atayal, still live here. <br /><br />Stay tuned for the fishermen's market, Wulai, and part II of our Taipei Adventures!<br /><br />~ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-56194351317565082252009-10-06T18:55:00.000-07:002009-10-06T19:09:14.488-07:00A typhoon, wait, there's two....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt2-rmls3nGMvQ1hlTDLMWeZThqMHHsmAo6CHiqUUILr9GAVA8hpd9xPnEDgBclsuuuXNPHJTGaSukn-6tGDWPZSHbsjozcc0UqJFRD2RlgNEC6OYOFYvK1YE7RX17rRKlyP8dNVbVQ/s1600-h/Typhoons2_IR_NHC.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt2-rmls3nGMvQ1hlTDLMWeZThqMHHsmAo6CHiqUUILr9GAVA8hpd9xPnEDgBclsuuuXNPHJTGaSukn-6tGDWPZSHbsjozcc0UqJFRD2RlgNEC6OYOFYvK1YE7RX17rRKlyP8dNVbVQ/s400/Typhoons2_IR_NHC.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389673674929429586" /></a><br /><br /><em>Courtesy: NAVY NRL</em><br /><br />Okinawa is prone to typhoons, that much we know. However, I'm not so sure that the island has had two typhoons (named Parma and Melor) come at once?? The good news is that for the last day or two, we've received mostly rain and wind. In addition to that, both typhoons have moved away from us. Thank goodness. We have plans to travel so we wouldn't want typhoons ruining our plans!<br /><br />Stay tuned for more.....<br /><br />Love from windy Okinawa,<br /><br />ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-88984073134003224962009-09-23T19:02:00.000-07:002009-09-23T19:04:20.867-07:00Travel, travel, and more travel....Okay, I'm so excited that I'm not going to be able to contain myself. Chrissy! Sit. Down.<br /><br />Well, I'm seated....Guess what? We are planning a trip to Thailand! Woohoo! I don't have all the details yet, but we're excited. <br /><br />If any of you cyber-folks have some recommendations, then let me hear 'em!<br /><br />~ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-695191970540594742009-09-19T05:00:00.000-07:002009-09-20T18:37:00.537-07:00Taiwan Here We Come....Next month Kevin and I will be taking a trip to Taipei, Taiwan. With just a few more months left on Okinawa, we're trying to keep our schedules full of travel and good times....:)<br /><br />We'll be staying in the city of Taipei and will also be taking in a few days in the beautiful countryside of Wulai where there are some natural hot springs...<br /><br />If anyone has been to Taiwan, please feel free to share your recommendations. Remember, Kevin and I are huge "foodies" so if you have any restaurant recommedations, we'll take that too....<br /><br />Stay tuned....<br /><br />~ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-49790611832837811212009-09-11T18:10:00.000-07:002009-09-11T18:13:56.476-07:00To Work...I know it's been a while since a blog post, so here I am to tell you about a great feature a local blog called "Okinawahai" did on me. The feature is basically about my journey to find employment here on Okinawa, and some of the hardships I faced. I hope it's useful to other wives and spouses out there who may be struggling.....<br /><br />Click <a href="http://www.okinawahai.com/my_weblog/2009/09/chrissy-works-to-produce.html">here</a>.<br /><br />~ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-47311954314445011102009-08-17T21:38:00.000-07:002009-08-17T21:48:09.095-07:00The end is in sight...I've had about an entire month off from school and it has been heavenly!!! Of course, Kevin has been gone for two weeks of it; but still what girl doesn't like a little "alone" time? <br /><br />Well, anyway, starting next week, I'll be back in school. Right now, I'm just five classes short of getting this Business degree...what?! Huh!?? Yep, that's right. Soon enough, I will have a Bachelors in Business Administration. <br /><br />In other news, Kevin and I have reluctantly decided to return to the States the end of January 2010. Despite the fact we love Okinawa, we have decided not to extend. <br /><br />Soooo between school and seeing as much as we can before we leave Oki, this means we're going to be <em>real</em> busy....<br /><br />I'm sure we'll have some interesting posts in the very near future. <br /><br />Until then....enjoy the island life!<br /><br />~ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-84416825240244782232009-08-10T16:44:00.000-07:002009-08-10T16:53:52.899-07:00Engrish....Ahem...I mean English...no really, I give you ENGRISH!For those of you who live here in Japan; I know you can all appreciate this post. For those of you who don't know what I'm talking about, I present to you: ENGRISH! Yep, that's right. Engrish. <br /><br />The Japanese absolutely go <em>ga-ga </em>over English words-- so they put it on EVERYTHING....t-shirts, packaging for food, etc. The problem is, it just doesn't make sense. Bad grammar, poor sentence structure, you name it.... I saw a sign recently that made me chuckle. STOP OF THE USE. Do you know what this means? The sign was meant to read NO ENTRY, but it said STOP OF THE USE instead. Sorta makes sense if you think about it. It's <em>not entirely </em>wrong.....<br /><br />Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to take too many photos of these funny signs (don't worry, I'll do it soon, I promise); but in the meantime, I thought I would hold you over with the following website dedicated to <a href="http://www.engrish.com">Engrish</a>....<br /><br />And before you reprimand me, let me just say; we're not laughing AT them, we're laughing WITH them....<br /><br />~ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-75352474125036024292009-08-08T21:28:00.000-07:002009-08-09T17:15:44.309-07:00Yogurtland in Okinawa?!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv32UeEgYh2rmun7PQpE4Hl7PpJfHmbpWD7RwVyzBFDKTMtNquhqBwMfg5jEJaO4WYhrnQ8nR6tZaq3rwwDwmwwl1EAS_Lc8TyXpETawaRGbhPfUcvCCln09-rbBsVO3kT4fwohtyzuA/s1600-h/DSCN4455.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv32UeEgYh2rmun7PQpE4Hl7PpJfHmbpWD7RwVyzBFDKTMtNquhqBwMfg5jEJaO4WYhrnQ8nR6tZaq3rwwDwmwwl1EAS_Lc8TyXpETawaRGbhPfUcvCCln09-rbBsVO3kT4fwohtyzuA/s400/DSCN4455.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367879989763635554" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPSX0R6IaAkevC5snkLePaZMbMXhEa3H9DqbVXHTLe4GHoSIbvi5kGnmkhtgQegKToyrBnRYJ5T7a68XM3bDzWH-dya-F3EPSe0xfGKuDe_lai8CMZ2B9zfZnfPoICkCVLUpmlCeLKQ/s1600-h/DSCN4454.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPSX0R6IaAkevC5snkLePaZMbMXhEa3H9DqbVXHTLe4GHoSIbvi5kGnmkhtgQegKToyrBnRYJ5T7a68XM3bDzWH-dya-F3EPSe0xfGKuDe_lai8CMZ2B9zfZnfPoICkCVLUpmlCeLKQ/s400/DSCN4454.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367879984996164354" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcdv-cZv885s0p1Ta-2KjOIViv6xGYeoz9MRMhuOAJKlsuM9Y7ey7fTpx15ufS1nY_Awv8DDRsBoKcAahkXKTPiIE6Xqw0OGdyCUTtp6CaOclZFL1yABaXoRbKup4dVnhy4p2QYC9yA/s1600-h/DSCN4459.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCcdv-cZv885s0p1Ta-2KjOIViv6xGYeoz9MRMhuOAJKlsuM9Y7ey7fTpx15ufS1nY_Awv8DDRsBoKcAahkXKTPiIE6Xqw0OGdyCUTtp6CaOclZFL1yABaXoRbKup4dVnhy4p2QYC9yA/s400/DSCN4459.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367880671632504386" /></a><br /><br />I have just found paradise on earth!!! Okay, not really, but I have to tell you about this new <strong>FAB</strong> place to get the best frozen yogurt right here on Okinawa! The U.S. based chain <a href="http://www.yogurt-land.com/">Yogurtland</a> built a store in <em>American </em><em>Village </em>in Chatan-Mihama. The store opened just last month in July.<br /><br />I went there today and had the most scrumptious frozen yogurt. The nice thing about this store is that it's self-serve; so you choose your own flavor of yogurt (there's about 16 different kinds), you pick your own toppings, etc. I'm afraid I didn't get too many photos as I didn't want to make too much of a scene with my camera....<br /><br />Speaking of scene.....I have a whopper of a story to share with you. Let me preface this story by saying that sometimes I am <em>really</em> embarrassed to be an American living here in Okinawa...you'll see what I mean in just a second...<br /><br />Case in point. Today at Yogurtland. Yogurtland is a U.S. based store, the flavors of the yogurt may be a bit different to cater to local tastes; but everything else is the same. Including the pricing concept. Price is based on weight (per ounce in the States), pure and simple. And of course, here on Okinawa, the price is in yen. The price is 200 yen per 100 grams.<br /><br />You would <em>think</em> people would read directions that are clearly visible in both ENGLISH and JAPANESE....that's what I thought until I was waiting in line behind this American family who made a BIG scene....(sigh).......<br /><br />Instead of reading the directions at the front of the store, they each (there were four of them) filled their cups FULL of frozen yogurt. Then, they piled on the toppings. When they got their cups weighed at the cashier, they were utterly shocked when the cashier told them the total price. They were appalled and made quite a fuss about it. In the end, they paid the price and left.<br /><br />Okay, I know, I know; they should get some credit for at <em>least</em> paying the bill and leaving...but really...it was ridiculous. I know we have all made mistakes as Americans living abroad in a foreign country at some point and that's fine. What's not fine is when you make a big scene and you are clearly the one to blame. <br /><br />It just irritates me to no end when silly Americans super-size their yogurt and are shocked when they see the price....GRRRRRR....<br /><br />Soooooo what's the point of my story? Well, it's this. Don't be ignorant. Read directions and follow what others are doing. If you notice that folks are not filling their cups to the brim with yogurt, why should you? SERIOUSLY..... <br /><br />Anyway, I'll get off my soapbox now. I leave you with a photo of my yummy yogurt. I think my favorite flavor might be toasted coconut. Of course, you can sample as many flavors as you like, just remember, it's 200 yen per 100 grams! <br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwIJN_rfIEeNAexm1vvUfEN7qLsjJvfpRsRp0RkBlUXNuESKnYmRvQf0JyQTZ31XCiwrQ6QyRItH85E79GG1oHZvnZGcdxPwuVdnqHlthApKYhOLnH1rk2qHtm8xw2lCXNyIOntsFOg/s1600-h/DSCN4453.JPG"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizwIJN_rfIEeNAexm1vvUfEN7qLsjJvfpRsRp0RkBlUXNuESKnYmRvQf0JyQTZ31XCiwrQ6QyRItH85E79GG1oHZvnZGcdxPwuVdnqHlthApKYhOLnH1rk2qHtm8xw2lCXNyIOntsFOg/s400/DSCN4453.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5367879994166179314" /></a><br />Yum... :)<br /><br />~Chrissy<br /><br />PS: According to the Yogurtland Japanese website, there will be another location opening up on Kokusai Street on 8/19!Chrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-73974591869855635972009-07-31T03:23:00.000-07:002009-07-31T03:32:42.860-07:00Pretty Okinawan Toes....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMf4GTLvpDo7s7GxgBEKP3gQ083NJ8pJzcV8cbe85C8Szc05FZazyENICe8x8RMpWcRDhtxO9onKCk7-MAE3MSHhmFKDntrDDjWEthWMyp96nrVw-BJai9k9iZqmiZcXiYAR-F_RbhA/s1600-h/DSCN4446.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMf4GTLvpDo7s7GxgBEKP3gQ083NJ8pJzcV8cbe85C8Szc05FZazyENICe8x8RMpWcRDhtxO9onKCk7-MAE3MSHhmFKDntrDDjWEthWMyp96nrVw-BJai9k9iZqmiZcXiYAR-F_RbhA/s400/DSCN4446.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364570223852526498" /></a><br /><br />Getting a pedicure here on Okinawa is an event....the nail salon (called Cocok's) serves you tea, massages your feet, and then paints them with beautiful nail art. <br /><br />Now that's what I call pampering!<br /><br />Isn't life on Okinawa, great!?<br /><br />I leave you with a photo from tonight's sunset on Toguchi Beach, July 31, 2009........<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAAa6aQZc-9s7yBKhrdgL1KHNh0Ks1IAuo9G2YOyq5CK_mie8KOiT6iYBYuo0FlrNcyL0m1Bo0YnjpiHzzKEbdfXgZRw-LFpf6Q2tGOYwjF7V93Jq5euc9L4Aot7ljx6LfQxYwX6BHQ/s1600-h/DSCN4445.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoAAa6aQZc-9s7yBKhrdgL1KHNh0Ks1IAuo9G2YOyq5CK_mie8KOiT6iYBYuo0FlrNcyL0m1Bo0YnjpiHzzKEbdfXgZRw-LFpf6Q2tGOYwjF7V93Jq5euc9L4Aot7ljx6LfQxYwX6BHQ/s400/DSCN4445.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364568925123860514" /></a><br /><br />~ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3489982720297860024.post-50376118690008985442009-07-30T01:59:00.000-07:002009-07-30T02:15:12.406-07:00Sunflower Days....<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESYQYDMwqvWulcer80gT5zv5KZYfwdUFe4X53mpamfsU0RjkZHYSgwPmGDxynfIM7C69uXYan613SPMKkVz2pMILPenXGtdO_dktL7j_T2gd-NlGgXUnqvjaXwpuG-P5041MjjyK78Q/s1600-h/DSCN4444.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESYQYDMwqvWulcer80gT5zv5KZYfwdUFe4X53mpamfsU0RjkZHYSgwPmGDxynfIM7C69uXYan613SPMKkVz2pMILPenXGtdO_dktL7j_T2gd-NlGgXUnqvjaXwpuG-P5041MjjyK78Q/s400/DSCN4444.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364179122038509042" /></a> <br />I love summertime in Okinawa....sure, it's hotter than heck out there, but the truth is the island is absolutely gorgeous this time of the year. It makes you realize just how lucky you are to be living on a sub-tropical island. Just take a look at this beautiful field of sunflowers near our house in Toguchi. On my way to work this morning, I saw several cars pulled over to snap a few pictures; so I decided to follow suit.<br /><br />Nothing says summer like lazy days and sunflowers, right?! These flowers just brighten my day...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPONiYPAfXG1dk2JKj8Yvq0MNOW2S01P-J3uYzjpZik7p3Ms7IkJFcPjfTJMXxW_xHKwIrnfR1mZyFmz-ldEfveVpWPhXJIL1K9dUFJJ0fnZmK-t7wDVLEetb4uXEGRD3g6JG5VkmwA/s1600-h/DSCN4431.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPONiYPAfXG1dk2JKj8Yvq0MNOW2S01P-J3uYzjpZik7p3Ms7IkJFcPjfTJMXxW_xHKwIrnfR1mZyFmz-ldEfveVpWPhXJIL1K9dUFJJ0fnZmK-t7wDVLEetb4uXEGRD3g6JG5VkmwA/s400/DSCN4431.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364176106381741554" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-rZeDt9X7rAQDOtSoFik5c294ta_0heTYXep0Mpk9cz9AI-ymojypAO2leQ_G8JPliLfbGXngL6jO34x4R1MqyI4b2N3mnjsUuOVgGpunz2eXBNFnD1zlsy4iCO2Flt2SVw6zWjbCw/s1600-h/DSCN4441.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-rZeDt9X7rAQDOtSoFik5c294ta_0heTYXep0Mpk9cz9AI-ymojypAO2leQ_G8JPliLfbGXngL6jO34x4R1MqyI4b2N3mnjsUuOVgGpunz2eXBNFnD1zlsy4iCO2Flt2SVw6zWjbCw/s400/DSCN4441.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364176122111177138" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2UKuAOJn3gD1iPR_Q3C9HYcsGH0CCNcXWooZw5pAbb7bbj6yLMFW2dwfJ2-DUAiqI0f8Dlm1ptX7Ca8bWt_DbGc4UpbcxccQfBZ45_CehBvlyteeyEVsDEDBWkI0ELtpgJVxq2Vhlg/s1600-h/DSCN4434.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp2UKuAOJn3gD1iPR_Q3C9HYcsGH0CCNcXWooZw5pAbb7bbj6yLMFW2dwfJ2-DUAiqI0f8Dlm1ptX7Ca8bWt_DbGc4UpbcxccQfBZ45_CehBvlyteeyEVsDEDBWkI0ELtpgJVxq2Vhlg/s400/DSCN4434.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364176114110026690" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguz9Szl5hknH5itqQtgOAK8atPJtKnVoVx7tctks1QOhjKYGatbqEqMNTswpJopsZRWxMu7U2jIF-zwCvxqogPmOz_dcddgcx84tV76ZmadJGXzsHn8e3AtuRABxv2YGLgNjf6orY8g/s1600-h/DSCN4435.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguz9Szl5hknH5itqQtgOAK8atPJtKnVoVx7tctks1QOhjKYGatbqEqMNTswpJopsZRWxMu7U2jIF-zwCvxqogPmOz_dcddgcx84tV76ZmadJGXzsHn8e3AtuRABxv2YGLgNjf6orY8g/s400/DSCN4435.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364177825165898146" /></a><br /><br /><br />Here's a picture of myself, just for extra measure!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9t6Mnu3P4kR2JW_KAK643yGi9uHabl9-GYRRIQkcbclOR-8vdHlzaLtKbGffeAgfbpzYRRW0boNHl-bTtGxxqxvmIF3t7rd3RucGWRRfPVlPTRsi4tiMB40yFsS7fzJRk7LsiHfgNEA/s1600-h/DSCN4438.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9t6Mnu3P4kR2JW_KAK643yGi9uHabl9-GYRRIQkcbclOR-8vdHlzaLtKbGffeAgfbpzYRRW0boNHl-bTtGxxqxvmIF3t7rd3RucGWRRfPVlPTRsi4tiMB40yFsS7fzJRk7LsiHfgNEA/s400/DSCN4438.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364176721166033570" /></a><br /><br /><br />Happy Summer!<br /><br />~ChrissyChrissyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02492662657848950203noreply@blogger.com0