#thank you for the ask papaya~ I adore this concept!!

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Not a req but like I had this sudden VISION… Teruko showing her caring side when any of the other hunting dogs get sick and still come to work. Like she cares, I know she cares. She’d worry and be more sweet, less loud and such I just feel it and I want your thoughts?~ are you seeing my vision?

So uh... yes. I am in fact seeing your vision.

Awww just- I know the boys would be so grumpy about it, (at least most of them <3) and just... her being a little quieter when she noticed J/ouno flinching at the loud volumes, a bottle of pain meds suddenly showing up on his desk.

And when T/etchou wakes up from his lightly feverish nap on the couch to find a blanket wrapped around him and T/eruko pressed against him pointedly reading a book (and NOT glancing over with thinly veiled concern), well he just curls deeper into himself.

When T/achihara finds his third box of tissues placed in his bag without a word about the frequency of the fits, there's not a doubt in his mind who put them there.

F/ukuchi tends to point it out a little more, a few throaty chuckles when there's a hand on his back during a particularly rough bout of coughing. Maybe a pointed "You're walking all by yourself?!" when the other members are visibly exhausted by the end of the day.

Just- absolutely caring acts, but no outward accepting of concern/worry. Except a few moments where she'll break, and end up asking 'are you alright..?' which of course is always followed by a more shrill 'NOt ThaT I cARE' to save face <3 (It's okay, they all know she doesn't mean it~)

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Welcome to Thailand

After wrapping up in Myanmar, feeling a little low after such a high with fun travel companions and also missing fresh, clean California nature goodness, my last night in rather polluted and frenetic Mandalay passed quickly and I arrived in Chiang Mai, Thailand where I met a very special guest in this trip, my mum!

We are traveling together for the month of November in Thailand, Cambodia, and Taiwan and I wasn't sure what to expect but so far it has been a treat. She's a sweetheart and I'm learning she is more adventurous then I had realized! I'm grateful to spend time together as I think our shared time for this trip will probably equal to the total days I've seen her probably over the last maybe, 5 years, crazy. There are giggly moments when she has quite the sense of humor, which makes my day, like when we tried durian ice cream (FYI the ice cream concept didn't make the durian flavor more palatable).

So we started in Chiang Mai (which many travelers I met en route told me they adored- I now totally agree). It is a beautiful northern Thailand city; interesting, relaxed, beautiful, diverse, delicious. This is a city where there is something for everyone - outdoorsy mountain bike folks can ride some gnarly downhill from Doi Suthrep National Park, culture and history aficionados can explore the plethora of intricately decorated Buddhist temples, night markets with lots of crafts, clothes and snacks which come alive after dusk, amazing and cheap massages... and the food!! Don't get me started on the food; I have been practicing some serious self-control (not always successfully) so as to stop filling my belly with the tropical fruits- oh-so-sweet, buttery papaya, creamy fat king bananas, pink and white dragonfruit, tart passion fruit, crispy and juicy rose(/wax) apples... salads, rolls, noodles, rice dishes with layers of flavor using coconut, lemongrass, chilis, tamarind, curry - if there's a place to fall over in a food coma, I think it is here! One can sweat off 10 lbs easy from the humidity in Singapore, Indonesia and Myanmar but perhaps it'll all go straight to the hips in Thailand.

We planned to be here for a special yearly festival where lanterns are lit and released into the sky for this awe-inspiring (and if you happen to be with a special someone- quite romantic) evening. In fact, I learned there were two beloved Thai festivals back to back and here is a little more about these lovely traditions from www.chiangmaitraveller.com:

•Loy Krathong (Thursday, November 2)

Loosely translated, Loy Krathong means, “to float a basket”. “Loy” means to float and a “Krathong” is a small handmade boat traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk. Modern-day versions often use styrofoam or bread which will disintegrate after a few days and can be eaten by fish. It is believed that the krathongs take away sins and bad luck and carry the wishes that have been made for the new year to start.

Thais use the festival to thank the goddess of water for providing life to the fields and forests and asks for forgiveness for polluting ways of the human... as a self-described nature lover, I find this so beautiful.

•Yi Peng Festival (Friday/Saturday, Nov 3-4)

In this festival, lighted Khom Loi (Lanna style sky lanterns) are released into the air through the course of the night. The act of releasing the lantern symbolizes letting go of all ills and misfortunes in the previous year, and Buddhists also believe that if you make a wish when you set off the lantern, it will come true (but only if you do good deeds the following year).

So, we took part with everyone! Down along the river bank I set off a Krathong and the following evening mom and I lit up one of the lanterns and made some wishes.

Chiang Mai is a gem for a destination and we even took a short side-trip to Pai, a village nestled in a valley between mountain passes, where it is currently so green and lush! Apparently known to be a hippie backpacker destination, Pai is quite the "crunchy" granola type of place- almost too touristy with its albeit delicious vegan and western culinary offerings and mellow small-town (even a little Rasta/reggae) charm. The minibus we took here made 762 twists and turns through the winding hills over the course of 3 hours and if you forgot your Dramamine well you are in for a hurl! There were even vomit signs in Thai along the road. We made it, (phew!) no barf bags needed.

Pai is a sweet, walkable town that wakes up at night with street stalls, but the only way to really get around Pai's natural surroundings is to rent a scooter/motorbike to check out the waterfalls, land split/family farm, Pai canyon, bridge... (there were also hot springs and elephant sanctuaries but we skipped those) I didn't expect my mom to hop on board but I was stoked when she did, really without qualms! Off we went on this adventure, and it was a nice joyride through misty, on and off showers and farms and jungles.

We are heading to Cambodia this weekend! First to the ancient Angkor Wat temples in Siem Reap and then southward to beaches of Koh Rong Sanloem and finally, Phnom Penh.