yay, visitors

I just got off a 10-hour train through the middle of Vietnam, and am not quite ready for sleep, so time for a wee blog post.

I am so excited because I've been making plans. Even though my Thanksgiving was spent sans-family in Hanoi (I had sweet and sour tofu instead of Tofurkey, in case you were wondering), I will have friends and/or family to spend Christmas, New Years AND my birthday with. I know -- so exciting!!! Traveling solo for an extended period of time makes you THOROUGHLY appreciate things like that.

My friend Paloma from Spain is meeting me in Thailand on December 18th and we are going to have an adventure for a few weeks through Thailand and Malaysia.

And then, wait for it, MOM will meet me in Thailand in the end of January and we will have an adventure. I am so excited that she is going to step (actually LEAP) out of her comfort zone and have an adventure in Thailand. So exciting. I can't wait to share the places I've loved visiting and experience some new ones with her too. How cool!!!

Oh so in case anyone is wondering where I've been ... Hue for a few days, then Hoi An. We rented bikes and went to the beach yesterday. I stuck my toes in the South China Sea and then spent the afternoon people-watching, sipping on a mango shake, from the balcony of a restaurant. Echos of "Helooooooooo. You want boat-ride? You buy something?" will echo in my head for days to come.

Tomorrow, a boat ride from Nha Trang to some of the islands, and maybe a bit of snorkelling.

Oh and, my exhaust-pipe burn is getting much better. Nasty scar, but at least it is healing.

Okay people, send me emails. I've talked to some of you but have no idea what some of you are up to these days...