Women are like a fine wine - they just get better with age!

Looking back at age 27 - it's going to be a hard year to beat! Moved to Tunisia, traveled to Switzerland, Italy, Hungary and France with Alo, traveled for a couple weeks around Europe with one of my best friends Maggie, visited Charlotte in Madrid, visited Clementine in Lyon, had multiple overseas visitors (finally!) including Alo's mom, Clementine and Charlotte, got a pet baby turtle (and lost it- sad!),Alo and I got engaged!!, and had the most wonderful wedding and got married!!, became an Auntie again by gaining a new little niece Flora Jane, got to spend lots of time in the states with my family and friends, went to a Redskins game (HAIL!), moved to Thailand!...Gosh so many big things. 28 sure has some competition!

Alo did a good job at celebrating my birthday this year! Although I'm still trying to teach him the importance of a birthday cake and candles!; )

We started our day with breakfast at Crepes & Co. near our house - it was so good! After, he headed off to work and I headed to get a manicure and pedicure! Then I met him after work for a rooftop drink at Red Sky but unfortunately the rain kept us inside. Next we tried out our first Mexican restaurant in Bangkok - La Monita Taqueria. We were SO impressed. We've never found good Mexican overseas and this place is spot on! We enjoyed nachos, tacos, and margaritas and it was just wonderful :) We then ended the night around midnight with an hour long foot rub on the walk home - totally normal right??

Gifts that are wrapped! I was impressed!

Finally - a coffee maker! Or a baby red penguin - whatever you want to call it.

Alo really thought this cup was hilarious. Oh his humor...

At Red Sky - but the weather rained us out! Here is a write up on it - maybe when the rainy season stops we'll try again!

Smile pretty!! post margaritas...

And the cake (that I might have had to drag Alo to the store with me to buy..days later) ha!

Alo's birthday is coming up soon - let the celebrating continue!

Elephant's World & Erawan National Park

Our first little adventure as "husband and wife" was to go see the elephants in Kanchanaburi, Thailand and hike around Erawan National Park!

We just left early on a Saturday morning and returned late Sunday. It's only about a 2.5 hour drive if you leave early and beat the traffic. We stayed at a sweet place with small villas right on the River Kwai called Oriental Kwai Resort.  Saturday we spent our day at the Erawan National Park. It it supposed to be about an hour hike to the top of the waterfalls and you pass through the "7 levels" throughout the hike.  Since we were there on the weekend it was just packed, so I'd recommend a weekday next time! Other than the extreme amount of tourists and locals - it was fun day. The falls are a murky turquoise and just beautiful. I will say if you plan on swimming - get ready for all the fishies to eat you up! They don't actually "hurt" you, but they sure do nibble away...it's scary!

On Sunday morning we got up early and headed off to spend the day with my favorite 5,000 pound friends - the elephants! The elephant sanctuary is called Elephant's world, and they call themselves a "retirement" home for elephants, young and old. Basically they rescue elephants who were previously being used for money with substantial injuries, such as logging elephants, ones about to be sold into the circus, or ones being used on the streets of Thailand for rides or "tourist" purposes.  The whole trip involved learning about taking care of the elephants and their daily routine. Our day started with feeding them gourd like local vegetables, then preparing the rice balls for the elderly elephants. You have to make the rice balls for the elderly elephants because they all are over 75 and have lost their teeth. On average, most elephants in the wild only live to be around 65 because they lose their teeth and can no longer survive because they die of starvation. So in short - these guys and gals are really livin' the life at the retirement home - makes me so happy! Next we visited the home of the Mahouts - you could call them elephant guru's - they work with the elephants one-on-one and can teach/discipline them.  Most of them are actually Burmese and speak an entirely different language from their specific Burmese tribe. Afterwards, we had an amazing thai lunch prepared by a sweet little lady who lives on the plantation. Then we headed out to cut banana trees but unfortunately there were none available to be cut so we headed back to bathe the elephants. This was absolutely the most FUN part of our day. Basically we all got into the water and scrubbed their muddy backs and played in the water for awhile. They also have a small deck with a rope swing which was a blast. I rode one of the elephants out of the water at this point which doesn't hurt them as long as the weight is under 100kg. They explained how elephant rides with the wooden/metal seats which usually weigh about 50kg and 2 people on their backs really hurts them and wears away at their structure after years of being "worked" for tourists.

There were about 10 young volunteers working there from all over the world such as France, Columbia, Holland, and Mexico. Most were on a traveling spree around Asia for one reason or another and were volunteering for at least a month.  So for the entire day it was just Alo and I and the elephants and volunteers - NO other tourists or guests - could we have picked a better day??

Here are some pictures and videos from our day with the elephants, volunteers, and mahouts!

National Geographic picture??  Love this one!

Making the rice for the older elephants!

 Gosh he's so handsome :)

 No he's not a robber - this is how locals dress to block the sun!

We never ended up getting to cut the banana trees because on this specific day none were available but we did all stumble upon a path to a cave on the side of a small mountain close by so visited it instead (that shiny look is pure sweat!ha)

Feeding the older elephants their rice balls we made!

We just loved the wee baby! So darn cute!

All the volunteers and us at the end of our day!

Weeeeeee!

And some videos :)

 Click HERE and HERE

Back in action - Bangkok style!

Yes I know... I created another blog because once I moved out of Asia I realized I needed a blog that would work anywhere in the world. However, now that I'm back on this lovely continent, I feel it's only appropriate to get back to where I started - this blog! (and I have a secret love for my original one)

Moving away from Asia was a great way to really appreciate it. Being here can be super overwhelming at times - the hustle bustle - pollution - traffic - millions of people ALL the time - language - and more pollution - and more traffic, however once I left I realized just how amazing it really is. The people in every Asian country I've visited are just amazing. So nice, so happy, and they sure know their customer service...which if you know me - you know I highly value - Thank you Nordstrom. Not to mention there are just so many things that are so foreign to us "Americans". Like the fruits, vegetation, animals, religion, etc that it's just so intriguing. Even though I spent a year in Indonesia before and also have visited Thailand a couple times before moving here - there is SO much to learn and take in everyday I just love it. So here's to the next chapter in Thailand!

And on to the biggest topic to really write about today - Alo and I got married! 

Yes in 5 short months we got engaged and married all while living overseas for part of it (because I went home early to plan) and moving to a different country. Pat on the back? I think so! Was it easy or fun? The verdict is still out ; ) Don't ask my maid of honor - ha! But regardless - it was a completely perfect day and I seriously couldn't wipe the huge smile off my face from 7am until 3am that night - it.was.wonderful. I keep having flash backs and it's like I can remember every emotion and see it all just perfectly in my head. I can't even thank my family and friends enough for making our special day possible. And we were so honored and happy to have so many friends and family from all over travel to be apart of our day - love you all! And  If you haven't already seen some of the pictures, my photographer posted some on her blog - enjoy!:  Carrie and Alo's Rustic Vineyard Wedding

xoxo
Carrie