Thailand

I have a real love hate relationship with Thailand. I love how cheep EVERYTHING is and how good the food tastes. I love the shopping, beaches and crystal clear water. I love getting a massage or two everyday. I can not live with out fruit, it's my favorite food in the whole world. The fruit in Thailand is so abundant. We would drink 3-4 fruit smoothies a day, what I would give for a papaya guava smoothie right now. Oh and the orange juice, if I were Oprah I would have this delivered to my set every morning. 

But there are a few things that keep this far from my favorite country. Because EVERYTHING in the county is catered to tourist the people seem so unhappy and jaded to it all. They're all missing something. Nobody was particularly kind, helpful or just generally happy. I know this sounds so below shallow, but the people are not attractive at all and the language is the harmful to the ears. The average tourists traveling to Thailand is about 17-24 and their objective is 2 things: alcohol and women. I had tears in my eyes for all the mother of these lost children. They would be on the street at 7 am in the middle of the road with their face in their own sickness and clothes half way on, just heartbreaking. I will leave the not so good things for a while, on with the good. 

Banana Pancake, now this is goodness!

Ko San Road, translates to hell on earth. There was just enough good (food, shopping, cheep lodging) to make you stay and all the bad would slowly effect you. At first it was heaven on earth and by the end I was ready to pay anything to leave. 

The Thia have some AWESOME temples. We got this tut tut driver to take us around at night and we were the only ones walking around these massive lit up temples. No heat and no tourists, I highly recommend it!

Budget Guest House. I love this place. One night when we returned from Nepal we realized our credit cards have been counter fitted at the ATM. No not stolen, we had them in our hands. But someone did some magic trick and made new cards after we had withdrawn money. Anyway, we had NOTHING! Well a I guess 2 baht, but that's less than 5 cents. We have not anything to eat since breakfast and it's not 1 am and we're walking the streets of Ko Sun Rd. If you ever have seen The Beach with the most talented Leo (and I'm sure most of you have not unless you've been to Thailand) that's what it was like only with out drugs. The lady at this place let us stay here and loaned us money to get some food, this is unheard of here. So yes there are a few nice Thai. 
So so many knock offs. I'm now instantly happy. We found a mall with like 8 levels. It was cut short when you realized everything was the same. But still a few good finds for sure!

We left the madness of Bangkok to go and find some beauty in the island of Ko Tao. The main reason we choose to go here is because it's the cheapest place in the world to get scuba certified. For less than $300 we got PADI certified, 3 nights hotel and 4 dives! Yes these are the reasons everyone loves this country!

We're such scroungers, we don't even have a beach towel. How can a 1 hour massage cost $6 and a hotel cost $8 but a beach towel is $20? 

Walking on these beaches at night is so beautiful. The sky gets so blue and all the restaurants light candles and torches, so romantic. 

Ko Tao has a few hidden gems for beaches that are less crowded. 

Taking advantage of our underwater camera. We find each other more interesting than the fish. 

The view from our bungalow. The beauty of these beaches is the solidarity. But for 2 days solidarity can turn into boredom. 

On the beaches they have these fish bbqs. You go pick out your fish and they cook it and bring it to you, so good! 
A little bored.

So yeah, Thailand is bittersweet. But go go go!!! In other words, we had a great time and loved it. 

Nepal

Dan and I were set off to travel various countries in Asia this summer and were set back in time so we happily settled on Nepal and Thailand (and Korea for a day). I was REALLY sad we didn't make it to India and Tibet, but I REALLY loved Nepal. I loved Nepal the most so I will blog about it first, because I might never get to the rest the way I'm blogging lately. Nepal is like NO other country I've been before, even though I was constantly comparing it to India it was still so different. 

There are tons of knock off mountain gear stores selling all kinds of stuff for cheap, too bad we had to carry everything on our backs or we would have taken orders.

The kids would follow you in the taxis selling you Nepali goods.

At the top of Monkey Temple, the view of Kathmandu the countries capital city. It's very polluted so it was nice to escape to the mountains.

All the buses would stop at the local tea shops for breaks. The rides were 6-7 hours and I was always so sick from traveling (I get motion sickness doing anything) so they were nice breaks. 

I love all the road signs!

SO BEAUTIFUL

One morning we woke up to these mountains! They were breath taking. We went during the monsoon season (beauty of traveling on a school schedule) so we were considered lucky to have seen the Annapurna's 

Checking in for our trek to Poon Hill, 3 days/2 nights.

The whole trek was beyond beautiful, amazing! There were countless waterfalls, lush green hills and I could only imagine how it would be in October with those beasts of mountains shadowing over you. Next time, because there will defiantly be a next time!

This is when is started to get into the forest area. Leeches, watch out!

We slept and ate at local tea houses in the mountains. This was my favorite part about the trip. I love to see the real life. These people have to hike 2 days to reach town, everything is like traveling back in time. They're so friendly and charge less than $2.00 for a nights stay! This is our favorite family making dinner.

Yes we got attacked by leeches, many, many leeches. This was my life's worst moment (I guess things are going pretty well)! If you remember Temple of Doom and how the blond chick was freaking out when she saw all the cockroaches in the cave, that was so me and maybe a little worse. I have NEVER acted to horribly in my life. We were lost and couldn't find the trail. We opted for no guide, which was going well until we got lost and were attacked by leeches and ran into dead carcases, ahhhh it was horrible. At one point I had at least 20 leeches crawling in and out of the netting of my shoes and socks. We were soon rescued by some Danish girls and their guides with salt rags, oh yea salt!

Poon Hill

So supposedly there is this amazing view of the Annapurna's Mountain range behind Dan, so sad. Oh well, you always have to leave something so you can have a reason to come back.

Chit wan National Park

Chit wan was great minus our guest house. We were able to take an Elephant ride and bathe the elephants, see wild rhino, go on a nature walk (not my fav, too many unfamiliar insects) and get suckered into taking the "tourist bus" that was actually the local bus. After that we reference this place to *&$#wan. 

And there she is, the beautiful Everest. We took a mountain flight to see her. It was scary taking the little plane, but so peaceful being surrounded by clouds and mountains.

I Love You Dad

Happy Father's Day Dad!

I know I'm a few days late but lately my dad has really made me proud, simply  just by being my dad. Never do I not smile when I hear his voice, well sometimes when he's after me for "running around like a chicken with it's head cut off" but then he says something like that and I always end up shaking my head and laughing. Nobody can turn tears in to laughter like my dad, it's magic. He can even make a joke out of you and you're laughing harder than anyone, how's this possible? It's his charm, he has major charm.  I love how you will never know if he's had a hard day, lost an election or a lot of money. He's always living in the moment and that seems to remain 4500 south and a Costco errand with my Mom. For traveling as what seems to be more than the President, his life is a simple one. It makes me smile when: I see his old Ford truck coming up the drive way (barely) to his beautiful home, to meet up with Dad on 7th east to pick out a Christmas tree in the cold winter weather while he's wearing a flimsy Steve Regan Jacket and a headband for the ears my Grandmother knitted. I loved the diamond on your tooth when you came back from Rome and walking in on you kissing Mom good bye for the day in the kitchen in the mornings. 

My dad ALWAYS answers his phone (even in the movies), and always sound so happy to hear my voice "Well hello Mia darling, is the sun shining?" Maybe every little girl thinks their dad can solve anything, but my dad's a miracle worker. Hours before a girls trip to Europe we were checking off the list and my Dad asks "Where your Euro Rail Pass?" I respond like a chicken with it's head cut off, "What Euro Pass?". Waiting in Atlanta (sky miles buy a lot of  layover time) and worrying about how I'm going to tell my friends how I spaced it, I hear on the intercom in the international airport "Will Miss Mia Harmsen please come to the ticket counter" like no big deal, the flight attendant hands me my Euro Pass.  Dad you're my constant hero. 

My Dad has to be the smartest man I've ever met. He just gets it, all of it. Nobody can be 100% street smart and book smart! He's the most down to earth, hard working, family guy I know. For those of you who know Mr. Steve, you're probably smiling right now- it's an effect he has on everyone. And if you have yet to meet him, it may take a few times but then you'll get it! Like kickboxing. My dad isn't you typical dad that teaches you how to ride a bike, although I do remember hitting balls at the Deseret Gym and well I guess teaching just wasn't his thing. But as I grow up and re-evaluate myself, the things I admire most about myself is not how well I can hit a ball, but how well I treat others and am I an honest and generous individual. I have not become even a part of my father but I've learned a lot and feel like "the luckiest girl in the whole world".

Engaged!

This beautiful girl and this handsome boy are getting married in the San Diego Temple on August 15th! I still can't believe it, Sis is getting married! After taking their engagement pictures this weekend I can't get out of my head how she's going to make the most beautiful bride, isn't she just gorgeous! They are such a darling couple and so in love, they just fit together so nicely. I love watching the way he takes care of you Sis and the way you take care of him, you're so meant to be together!

Hormonal Hotties

What sounds more fun than running from Santa Barbara to Dana Point California? A whole lot of things when you're lost and running 7 miles at 4:00AM in the ghettos of LA ! Actually all in all it was a great time and would do it al over again. 

All us ladies ran the Ragner Relay here in Southern California last month and it was awesome! There were a few glitches in the race and Ragner needs a little more practice before they take these things outside of Utah, but some of the miss haps were just priceless. 12 runners ran 3 individual legs in a relay race, each runner totaling about 15-18 miles. Our team name "The Hormonal Hotties" was actually quite litteral concidering Moka's prego. Our van was by far the best decorated with bras flying as we drove, the mega phone was far and beyond and I will NEVER eat a Costco muffin before I run again! We crossed the finnish line with baby bellies and children in tow ( I had to borrow some). This was a great weekend and loved getting to know all theses fabulous women!

The finnish line in Dana Point at Salt Creek Beach Park
The Hormonal Hotties

Spring

Maybe if I were more on top of this whole blogging thing I would enjoy it more. It feels like I'm looking at weeks worth of dishes and the pile keeps on growing. So April is birthday month at our house. We actually spend more in April that December! No joke between the two of us there are like 9 birthdays. I think I would rather have a Christmas baby than an April baby, not that I'm thinking of babies. Dan had a little party for me for my birthday, by that I mean I did everything, but the thought is always sweet. 

This spring has been a very busy one for us and by busy I mean a lot of company. The nice thing about living in California is that your friends and family come to you so you rarely get homesick. This spring we've had my brother Mark, sister Taryn, Clay and Aria, Jessica and Brett, Jill and Justin and family, Mom and Stephen and Amy and family. It can get old changing sheets every weekend, but it's soooo worth it. 

Mom called me the day before she decided to come in town, you're always such a sweet serendipity! We spent a lot of time in LA because I was working on a 3 day event. We ate, slept (Ritz!) and shopped very well. Don't you just love when Mom comes to town! Really, the thing with my Mom is that we could have not left the LAX parking lot and had the same awesome time talking in the car until it was time for her to leave.

Easter Weekend we had Clay and Aria in town. It was so nice to spend quality time with the two newlyweds. Aria I need your Goyza recipe, beyond amazing! Aria's first time to primary was helping me teach my class, thanks for sticking up for me against the little ones Ars! Lauren and Bridger came down from LA for Easter Dinner even during Bridger's Dental School finals. Holidays are always the hardest to be away so it's so nice to celebrate with good friends. 

Dan's sister Jill and her family came to stay with us for a night before they headed to Disneyland. Maybe that's why we get so many visitors? They were able to arrive on Dan's birthday while we were having a bon fire with some friends at one of our favorite beaches. It's so sad how fast kids grow up when you only see them a few times a year, it's so sad. 

Peter and Brittney also came down that same week to go to Disneyland. They all came up to Laguna and we had a little Chudleigh reunion. I was wanting to go home to visit last month but never booked my ticket because home kept on coming to me!

Girls Just Want To Have Fun

Girls Trip Phoenix 2009

This year the Harmsen girls ventured out to Phoenix Arizona. I have to say that I wasn't super excited initially, but am now all about this place. We all met at the airport, I was coming from California, Anne from NYC and the rest SLC. We were hooked up at the JW Camelback where we enjoyed some R&R around the pool and spa. I highly recommend this place!

No girls trip is complete without shopping. Phoenix is the place. They're Fashion Square has EVERY store you could think of but the real highlight was Last Chance. When you first walk into this place, the first thing you want to do is run away. It's by no means Niemans, nevertheless, there are some awesome deals! It's owned by Nordstrom, basically a step below the rack but still some pretty god stuff. We ended up going 3 days in a row and my pocket book wasn't even empty! 

I LOVE Amy's new look, don't you!

The bags filled the trunk! I do want to give a big shout out Carly. When we arrived, we didn't have a car rental and apparently there was some tournament going on and the whole world was on spring break, so they were all gone, nothing, nada! I give Carly a call and she calls her awesome uncle who rents us his fancy BMW. We were hoked up, thanks Car! He also gave us some awesome restaurant recommendations that made every meal amazing. 

So with some warm weather, beautiful spa and pool, amazing food, great shopping and the most darling girls out there, we had an awesome time!