New Pictures!

I have filled my Flickr, so Christa opened up an account and you can check out all the latest Island pictures there!!


HERE

-M&C

VIDEO IS UP!

Here is the link to the first Thailand video!

http://vimeo.com/1312509

Enjoy!
We Did!!

On Monday morning we went to the airport early. Thanks to Tip, Sue and Chris, we had a taxi ready and waiting for us at 5:30 AM. We arrived at the airport with tons of time to spare, so Mikey edited for a couple hours while I played solitaire on the cold airport floor. Once we arrived in Surat Thani, we took a shuttle bus to Don Sak Pier, then a 2 hour ferry ride to Koh Samui. The ferry was slow, but relaxing. Mikey and I watched rainstorms over the other islands and figured we would soon be experiencing the same... we were right! Once our ride (from Seashore Bungalows) picked us up, we were stuck in a HUGE tropical storm for the next 40 min. Our driver wasn't phased by it, he kept to 60 MPH the whole time, driving up onto sidewalks and swerving through the road. It was exciting to say the least!
Our place at Seashore Bungalows was great- secluded, quiet and very quaint. We had our own private bungalow directly on the sand with our own private deck and hammock. That day and the next we explored the area- took a LONG walk on the beach, went to Angela's Bakery for some good old American food (and baked good for me of course) and then relaxed at Roma Restaurant for Italian food and cocktails...
Without the help of Tip, its hard to get motivated to go to Thai restaurants, since we have absolutely no idea what to order!

The next morning we checked out from Seashore Bungalow and our friend Charles took us down the rode to catch a mini bus for another part of town- Chaweng. We stayed on the rickety bus for about an hour until we reached Chaweng. We finally found our destination: Montien House, at the end of an alley full of shops. The Montien House is GORGEOUS! The grounds are lush and green with "old school hawaii" style bungalows and a pool overlooking the ocean. For only $45 we get a room that would be worth at least $400 in the States! Mikey and I LOVE it here!!!

C&M

River Kwai

Today was yet another incredible day. Our train ride to the Bridge over River Kwai was breathtaking. The train ride was 2 hours full of canals lined with dilapidated tin roof homes, rice patty fields, miles and miles of palm trees, and tropical jungles. In fact, the terrain is so overgrown and lush that Mikey got whipped a few times by vines that popped their way in through the train window. It was the perfect way to see Thailand's countryside. We first stopped in a small city to see the world's largest pagoda and then took the train to River Kwai. The Bridge over River Kwai was built by American P.O.W's of WWII. We took a boat ride under the bridge to a P.O.W. memorial camp, then ate a delish thai feast on the boat while we sailed to the P.O.W. cemetery. Next up, a hike to a limestone cave with very small tunnels, but the reward was well worth the trek... then we sailed back home.
All of the jungles that lined the water, bamboo huts, and "boat homes" were so awesome to see. And the very few drops of rain made the afternoon absolutely perfect. The entire day, I felt as though I was living out an article from National Geographic.

Ayuthaya

Today was the BEST Fourth of July ever!!! We woke up early and took a taxi to Tip's Aunt's school. The school was only about 20 km away yet it took us an hour and a half because of rush hour traffic. What did all that time cost us? Less than $7 US. Amazing! Tip's Aunt was kind enough to let us use her private driver for the day. He drove us first to Ayuthaya's ancient's ruins of old Thai temples. After that we went to an awesome restaurant right on the river. It was one of the prettiest views we've seen yet. Next... more Thai temples. This time they were even more ancient, from the 1600's, built all from bricks. (See pictures for the amazingness!)
Last but not least, we... are you ready for this?! Ride elephants!!!! This was my (Christa) number one thing on my list. I've wanted to ride an elephant since forever and it surpassed all my expectations! Mikey and I were on one elephant and Tip got one all to herself. We rode around an ancient temple and through rice patties. After the ride was over we had a photo op with the cutest little baby elephant and one that picked us up with his trunk. Those animals are so amazing!
We have already done and seen so much and we have only been here two days. We are so blessed to have such good company and to be staying with such a hospitable family :)

THAILAND!

Hello all, this is Christa here! Well, we finally made it to Bangkok after 24 hours of traveling. Although the flight was extremely long, we felt like we were flying first class... Korean air is amazing!
Uncle Chris and cousin Tiffany (aka Tip) met us and took us straight to their estate on the outskirts of Bangkok. Next day we woke up and had an unusual but delicious feast of curry beef for breakfast. Michel surprisingly cleared his plate :)
Chris took us to see the private all-boys school where he teaches, which is nicer than ANY school or college I've seen in the U.S.. After that we exchanged our currency and left the bank feeling like millionaires with 33,000 ($1000 US) Baht in our pockets. Next we took a tuk-tuk (SO cute!!!) to the Royal Palace. We saw the emerald Buddha, multiple temples and shrines all covered in gold and ornate jewels. Words can't describe how beautiful it was!
Next we walked the streets of vendors and made our way to the largest reclining Buddha in the world at Wat Pho. It was big...really big.
Tip took us to lunch a small local restaurant where we had pork and egg noodles covered in something delicious. Michel loved it, another surprise! All three of us ate for the equivalent of $2.90.
After a satisfying lunch, we took the ferry across the river and a mini bus* the rest of the way home.
Our damage done for the day for both Mikey and I... including all food, transportation and admission fees was... 900 Baht ($26.30 US). I could get used to this!

*Minibus: An old school Toyota pick-up with benches in the back.

PS. Its HOTTTT but humid, which is nice.
PSS. PLEASE CHECK THE FLICKR FOR PICTURES!

Fathers Day/Sissys Birthday!

Hello all..

I am here in Cinque Terre, Italy.
Its 5 small coastal villages on the west coast, up by Genoa.

I wanted to come on and say Happy Father's Day to Terry and Happy Birthday to Keri!!

I am truly sad I am not going to be there to celebrate both, but I hope this comes in as a close second!

Love you all,
Michel

Firenze

A very busy town, but so incredibly beautiful. I am glad Christa spoke highly of this place because it was very worth it to come! Yesterday we rented bikes and did a bit of shopping then dinner overlooking the Ponte Vecchio & Arno River at Open Bar, an amazing restaurant!

Today we took a 20 mile bike ride through Tuscany and wine tasted at a 17th Century villa with over 180 rooms! It was the best lunch and wine combo I have ever had and cannot wait to share with my family & friends.

Recommendation of the day: If you do a bike tour in Tuscany, do Per's Bike Tour! Its a small, more boutique style ride that promises (and delivers) the best adventure through Tuscany and really gives you the ultimate Tuscan experience!!

Firenze pictures are up on the Flickr!!

NEW VIDEO!

http://vimeo.com/1154366 go here!!!


So here is the last of my drives bandwith... :(

More to come in a few weeks!

My Flickr Account...

Please click the link to my Flickr account!
I just updated it with some pictures from Munich & Venice!

Out of the internet black hole!

Hello all, I know & have heard that you are all waiting for an update!
I am writing this in preparation of soon finding some FREE internet in Florence(Firenze). Dad & I are on the train from Venezia (Venice) to Firenze as I write!

Let's back up a bit to inform you of the latest in my travels.

Since we last spoke in Bochum, Germany...
We arrived in Munich, Germany at around 5PM and checked into our hotel. Got situated and went straight to the Hofbrau House for liters of beer and GIANT pretzels! We sat at a table close to the TV's where the Euro Cup was getting underway. At this table were 3 Germans by the names of Florian, Fabian & Didi. We made quick friends with them & bought them a few rounds until the entire restaurant was singing American songs with us! Of course, we sang some Deutschland fighting songs as well.
Our table was one of the last ones to be kicked out of the place at closing time and all I can remember was stumbling around outside looking for Florian.
Then, as I look down a rainy, dark alley, I see a white Deustcher Fussball Bund shirt walking towards me with something big, smuggled under it...
Wouldn't you know, it was Florian and he stole an HB Liter Glass for me!

What a great welcome to a wonderful city...
The next day we woke up early and took "Mike's Bike Tour" throughout Munich.
It was a long and hard journey of 4 miles in 4 HOURS! Although it doesn't seem like a hike... After a night with the locals, it was pretty damn rough!
As soon as I started to feel recovered from the night before, we biked to the 2nd largest beer garden in the world for lunch... AHHHH!
Bought a couple more Liters and then finished the bike tour.
If you ever go to Munich, TAKE THIS TOUR!

After the tour we went back to the beer garden (Chinese Tower) to meet up with our new friends to watch the Deustchland vs. Poland game. We made about 3,000 more friends here and all got back into singing and drinking together!
The match ended with Deustchland on top 2-0 and we said goodbye to Florian & Fabian and headed to the train depot for a night train & much needed rest...

Well... we definitely got the rest we needed and after 20 hours on trains, we arrived in Venezia!*

*We took a sleeper car to Vienna, Austria which allowed us to sleep for cheap in a real bed! Woke up in Vienna, spent 5 TERRIBLE hours there and then caught the first possible train to Innsbruck. From Innsbruck we took a train through the Alps, which was incredible to see, changed trains in Verona, Italy and finally arrived in Venezia (Mestre)...

...breath....

caught a regional train to Venezia (St. Lucia) & then across the Grand Canal to our hotel in the Rialto Bridge area.

Venice is amazing, I don't think I really need to describe it in detail, you just have to come see it for yourself... OR watch my travel-film that will be completed in August!

We stayed 2 nights in Venice and ate wonderful pizza (I am eating it AT LEAST once a day until we leave) & gelato (Christa, you were right... It's fantastic here!)

STRACIATELLA FOREVER!

See you in Florence!

-Michel


PS- There is a drumstick-like ice cream here called the King Cone... If you know where they sell it in the states I will pay you a finder's fee!!!

Bochum, Germany.

After a night in Amsterdam, we arrived in Bochum, Germany where Shelby's old nanny lives. She put us up for two nights and bought us a great Spanish dinner?? Yeah, I thought it was going to be weird, but it turned out to be tasty! Today we went to where the Mosel & Rhine rivers meet and hiked through a forest for 2 hours... Don't worry, what we found on the other side was worth the walk and a video (to be posted after I return to home) will show the surprise!

Tomorrow, we head to Munich to drink beer & celebrate the beginning of EURO CUP 08!

PS- Amsterdam is strange...


(Bad News) My hard drive is full... which means, no more editing room :(
I don't know what to do.. I HAVE SO MUCH GOOD FOOTAGE, but no way to show it...
Pictures & more text to follow!

Paris, France

um... WOW.
This place is amazing.
The people... AMAZING
The food... INCREDIBLE
And my new friends Alex, Sylvain, & Virginie made us feel right at home with the best meal we've had on our trip. And then, a night-run through Paris on 2 scooters that were kick ass!

More info & video to come!

VIVA!

London - Day 1&2

FIRST THING'S FIRST!
Click this link to see a little travelfilm from London!
http://www.vimeo.com/1107470

London was a great adventure through time. The Underground has to be one of my favorite subways in the world! It is easy to navigate and takes you ANYWHERE in London. The historical sites, such as; Parliament, The Eye, London Tower, Trafulgar Square, & Westminster Abbey are fantastic and it's great to look at well-kept artifacts dating back 1000+ years!

BUT, THE FOOD SUCKS!

I really can't explain it. All I can do is hold my nose when I bite into the bland-mystery-meat burger, topped off with leafy greens that I swear grow wild here and wash it down with a nice WARM beer!

Enough about the negatives, London is a great town and I would love to come back to host an anti-tube-law* party on The Underground & maybe stay outside of the city... And of course, bring my own snacks!!


*While we were traveling through London, the new mayor, Boris Johnson, passed a law that prohibits drinking in The Underground. A group of young activists staged a giant party on the Circle Line train in protest of this law. These kids love getting pissed!!

Leaving on a jet plane

The time has come. Dad and I arrived at the airport, EARLY I might add! Luckily he put me in charge of the clock and I did a little conning in order to get here on time. We drove from Carlsbad to LAX in 70 minutes (record time/ZERO traffic) and now... We wait till our 5:30PM boarding call. See you accross the pond!

Travel Prep

On the Sunday before our take-off, Dad & I went over all the maps he bought and highlighted our points of interest.

Dad's Favorite Point: Portofino
Michel's Favorite Point: Abbey Road (HUGE Highlight mark)

Christa helped me persuade him (Dad) into spending some time in Florence, which will hopefully turn out to be amazing!

I spent the rest of Sunday watching the 18 inning Padre game, while Dad surfed the net reading countless reviews about pickpockets and other "security" risks.

Welcome!

Hello everyone!
This is going to be the central site for my travels this summer!

Over to your right is a link to my Flickr account, where you can see pictures from my travels...

Feel free to subscribe to this blog to receive up-to-date blog posts.

-Michel