An Overdue Report: Cambodia

This is long overdue, but we've been so busy getting settled in and seeing friends and family that we haven't had time to provide an update on our last adventure to Cambodia and Vietnam. We finally have a free weekend, so here you go.

Our adventure began with a predawn tuk-tuk ride to the main railway station in Bangkok where we hopped on an early morning train for a 5 hour ride to the Cambodian boarder.

The train line ends 2 miles from the Cambodian boarder, so we hopped in another tuk-tuk for a short trip to the boarder.

After navigating the boarder crossing on foot, we found a taxi to take us the next 2 hours to Siem Reap where we met up with our friend Catie. In need of supplies we went looking for a 7 Eleven, but failed to one.

The next morning we headed off to see the ancient Khmer ruins of Ankor. Ankor Wat is the most famous attraction here, but there are hundreds of other ancient ruins here as well. Tom, our tuk-tuk driver for the day, took us to see the highlights.

Can you spot Mary?

Mary and Catie.

Cruising in our tuk-tuk

The temple known as "the jungle book temple" is great for exploring. It has not been restored and has been overrun by the jungle.

Hey Catie, look up.

Tom was nice enough to pose for a picture with the girls outside our guest house at the end of the day.

Then it was time for some rest before our bus ride to Vietnam the next morning.

Keeping with Tradition

(Should have been posted at the beginning of December)... 

Who wants to spend their birthday alone? Um, no one!  Actually, Greg and I have spent more of my birthdays apart than together. During college it was impossible to get a 5 hour trip in while studying for finals. While Greg was completing his master's there was night class and then one year he was in Sweden. On my last birthday Greg was in the US looking for a house for us in Eau Claire and I was still in Thailand. I look at it with a glass half full attitude, we kept tradition.

To make the most of my birthday weekend, a 3 day weekend because it close to the HM King's birthday, I went back to Phuket. I bought my tickets and booked my hotel. It ended up to be beautiful and relaxing. I didn't know it at the time, but it would be the last time I really sat on the beach in Thailand before moving back. The beach was quiet, I read an entire book, and ate yummy food. The only thing missing: Greg.

Upper Left then clockwise: I got a birthday card from AirAsia on the plane, my view from my chair, my lunch, Happy Birthday Me! 

Sunset, my dinner (Green Curry Spaghetti and a Chang Beer),  Fried Bananas for desert,  Tim Tams and wine for  my second treat, and I picked up some coosies for a souvenir. 

More beach, more yummy food, bottom left was the view from my hotel.

Hello Again

Recently my mom reconnected with her best friend from childhood. After not talking or seeing each other for nearly 40 years they rekindled their friendship first through Facebook and phone calls. Last month my mom traveled to Florida to see her friend for a week and evidently they picked things up right where they left off. Such a feel good story, isn't it?

I know it hasn't been decades, but it has been over 2 months since The MacLeod Thaimes had a new posting. It's been like a friend I've wanted to connect with, but since I don't know exactly what to say I've made excuses not to call or in this case write. Maybe for you reading this isn't awkward, but for me it is awkward because I feel like I've been ignoring someone or something for awhile. What I'm trying to say is, "Hello Again."

Now onto those excuses...  a lot has happened since the last post. I hope that over the course of the next few weeks we can get you updated on my last trip to the beach for my birthday, Greg traveling back Thailand, getting our things packed up in Bangkok, traveling for 10 days through Cambodia and Vietnam, celebrating New Years with good friends from the US in Pattaya, saying goodbye to friends made in Thailand,  moving back to the USA, closing on our first house, settling into our new house, experiencing winter again, job hunting, church hunting, buying a car, and all of the trials and triumphs that go with these experiences. 

Another excuse, The MacLeod Thaimes. Our Adventures of Living in Thailand is the name of our blog. It makes me sad because we don't live in Thailand anymore. While Greg and I have both done well with the move back to the US, we miss Thailand and our lives there. We miss it a lot. I'm thinking The MacLeod Thaimes title will stay, but we will get a new subtitle soon and someday new pictures, maps, etc. Right now I'm taking baby steps. 

Enough with the excuses. I think a good place to start is our new house. Yes, we have a house. Here's a picture. If you want the address, shoot me an email as I don't feel like posting that online. We love it. You should come visit. The calendar link to the right is up to date, let's figure something out!

We don't have this much snow anymore, but it's a good picture of where we live.

More to come soon.

I hope you feel the same way, but it's good to be back. 

It's Feeling Offical

On Friday I sent home a letter with my students' reports about leaving. Now it feels official. Everyone knows now.  Eric has returned to help Melanie get packed up and they leave for good in on December 7th.  Yikes, that's so soon.

Right now I am preparing for the last few weeks of school and researching Eau Claire, WI. One nice thing about it is its location.  After skyping with my family on Thanksgiving I've been missing people lots. Knowing we will be spending weekends with family and friends soon will help me step onto the plane in about a month to head back.  More on good things of Eau Claire soon...

Our new car. 1990 Geo Prism, 48,000 miles when Greg bought it, no rust, no damage, runs like a new Toyota Corolla .  So ancient it doesn't even have a tape player. Looks old yet works like new. Maybe you'll get to see it in person if we use it to come visit you!

EC to Cedar Rapids 5:06

EC to Madison: 3:14

EC to Twin Cities: 1:43

EC to Des Moines: 5: 17

EC to Atkins Lake (heaven on Earth): 2:53

EC to Sheboygan: 4:28

EC to Oak Park: 5:43

EC to Hutchinson: 3:03

EC to Duluth: 2:46

EC to Grand Rapids: 8:44

School Celebrations

One of the things I've enjoyed most about teaching internationally is the celebrations. While schools in the US have strayed away from celebrating holidays, our school embraces them all! We celebrate Thai Holidays, Western Holidays, Christian Holidays, and Buddhist Holidays. Everyone participates as well. This year I have families from all over the world. My students are made up of the following nationalities.

• Thai/American 
• Filipino/British 
• Filipino
• French 
• Chinese
• Thai/Japanese
• British 
• American
• Georgian (the country)/ British 
• Syrian 
• Thai

It's amazing to see their awareness for the world around them, cultures that are so different from their own, languages, and the acceptance and respect they have for diversity at such a young age. I think having all of these days to experience the holiday helps them develop these important life long skills.

Two weeks ago at school we celebrated Halloween and Loy Krathong. While I wish we were planning a Thanksgiving celebration like the US, I'm really looking forward to Christmas. We'll have a big program with songs and family fun!


When we celebrated Halloween everyone arrived in their costumes ready for a fun day! Before going trick-or-treating at the business next door I had a student ask, "We are going trick-or-treating?" I answered, "Yes" she replied, "WOW! Just like the storybooks!" It was the highlight of my day to make the story book story come true!

Loy Krathong (literally means floating boat) was another great day. Many parts of Thailand did not celebrate the holiday this year that pays tribute to the water goddess. Celebrations did take place in designated spots in around Bangkok and I crawled into bed on Thursday 10th October I could see the krathongs floating in Benjakitti Park. Our school festivities included Thai costumes, a parade with the Loy Krathong song, and of course floating our krathongs.

Here's some photos to these celebrations to see for yourself how the Rabbit Class celebrated....

Friends :-)

Playing on the playground.

Does the US have Ben Ten? This is a character from that show.

Trick or Treat!

Not the best picture, but here's my class by our Halloween board in the computer room.

Jumping for Donuts! No hands!

Face Painting Room

Walking like Frankenstein!

Welcome to school!

Loy Krathong is a family event!

My assistant Ms. Pu 

Ms. Pu, Ms. Caiti, Ms.Oh, Me, and Ms. Mary

Waiting to "Loy Krathong"

My Solo Trip: เชียงใหม่

*Here is the first of many blog posts to come to keep everyone update on life (at least my life) in Bangkok. 

On October 18th Greg left to go back to the United States for work and I thought I would be going back to work as well. I did return to work for 2 days, but with the floods threatening Bangkok my school along with all others in the province were ordered closed by the Ministry of Education.. Along with my friend Melanie, who has also been husbandless for the pass month, we choose to stay in BKK. Besides for the constant anxiety, it was a great decision. Empty roads, blue skies, and most importantly no flooding in downtown.

After a week of being home though, I needed to go somewhere. I went to the train station to book my trip to Chiang Mai. Ironically, I wasn't allowed to book train tickets, but did get a bus ticket to go up and air tickets to come back for pretty cheap. Found a $15USD per night guest house with great reviews online and I was ready.

My trip was really great. I  slept, read, ate some yummy food, got pampered, and saw God's beautiful world.  Here's a photo journey of my trip. For all my photos you could click here, just remember these were not taken or were edited by Greg so have low expectations! 

My classy ride up north.

My first breakfast.

Beautiful Wat Phra Sing

I stayed at Wat Chediluang  for around an hour just watching the monks, reading , and  resting. So peaceful

One of the oldest temples in the Old City, Wat Chiang Mai,  was right behind my guest house. The main gate a 5 minute walk away.

Chinese lanterns were part of the Loy Krathong decorations. 

My trekking trip stop #1: Orchid Farm

#2: Karen Longneck Village

#4: 1 hour hike to waterfall. (#3 was elephants)

#5 White water rafting with my trekking tour. Right after this picture was taken we saw the 2 wild elephants in the jungle. AMAZING.

#6: Short journey on local bamboo raft. It was cold!

#7: I was asleep by 8pm! This was my great room. Air-Con, cable TV, warm shower and really lovely staff that helped me get all my touring organized. Definitely recommend Junior House!

Tiger Kingdom!

I was a little nervous to touch it's paw because I remember my cat Fluffy used to bit me if I did this...

It was a great trip, the only way it would have been better is if Greg would have been there too.