First view of the tallest mountains in the world

Our second attempt to fly to Kathmandu went much more smoothly than the first one. The sky was clear. Because of congestion at the airport (it's the only international airport in the entire country.), we got to do several circles. Each circle gave me a spectacular view of the massive snow covered mountains towering above the valleys. These views only increased my excitement. In a matter of weeks I would be walking in them!

An early goodbye.

I woke up a couple mornings ago in my hostel in Kathmandu sick and sore, and I realized something. I'm ready to go home. A complete 180 from everything I've told everyone since the earthquake happened. "Yep, I'm good. I just want to find a way to volunteer." It doesn't really matter what the logical side of me wanted to do. Or how badly I wanted to say that I stayed and helped pack boxes or deliver rice to villages. My brain decided it was time to go home. I admit it, I flip-flopped. Completely.

24 hours in Mandalay and a much needed rest in Bangkok

It was recommended to us that we take the train at least part of the way to Mandalay, where we were flying to Bangkok from. So of course we did. That means that in Myanmar we used a ferry, taxis, a bus, boats, an airplane, bikes, a horse cart, electric bikes, a train, and our feet to get around Myanmar. Dang.

Train dogs are tough dogs.

Trekking in the smoke

We arrived in Hsipaw (See-Paw) as cold and cranky little icicles after the overly air conditioned sitting night bus. Luckily the hotel was prepared and had little nap spots set up for us until we could check in. After sleeping most of the morning away, we motivated ourselves enough to wander around. And by that I mean we managed to find a stand that sold fruit smoothies. We then wandered around the town a little bit more to where we were told we were able to see an old palace. Unfortunately when we arrived at the gate, it was closed and had no indication of when/if it would be open. Wandering back in the direction of our hotel we found the morning market (also closed), and booked our trek for the next day. It was a approximately six hour hike through some villages with an hour long motorcycle ride back to the hotel.