tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31408080146062370482024-03-13T10:52:21.061-07:00Run Away And Join The CircusAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12655840198379282521noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140808014606237048.post-8936698620973653292013-06-05T00:52:00.002-07:002013-06-05T01:00:35.381-07:00Angkor Adventures and Perhentian Paradise <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>275</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1569</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>13</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1926</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Siem Reap, Cambodia: <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Of all the
places I have travelled in the last 12 months, no country has had the level of poverty
of Cambodia. Many families live off of salaries of $1/day, lack adequate
nutrition, have access to limited healthcare, and are still the kindest,
happiest people anywhere. It doesn’t seem possible to me, but it is. The kids
are trained from a very young age (some of them appearing to be no older than
four) to beg for money or sell items. Therefore, they lack a normal childhood
that most kids in developed countries are so fortunate to have. It also
surprised me that amongst such high levels of poverty, that car brands such as
Lexus and Range Rover could be found on virtually every street corner? The
Cambodian people are so generous and although many know very little English, they have a way of communicating with others in such incredible ways. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The second night
in Siem Reap, Sarah and I had seen a free concert advertised and expected
authentic Cambodia music. What we got couldn’t have been more different and eye
opening. It was a charity performance by Dr. Beat Richner: a Swiss physician who lives in Cambodia.
He has been living in Cambodia for over two decades and founded the Kantha
Bopha Children’s Hospital (there are now several in Cambodia). Over 65% of the
population in cambodia carries the tuberculosis mycobacterium, children lack immunizations,
dengue fever and malaria are rampant, malnutrition is everywhere, and other
diseases (hepatitis, typhoid, respiratory infections, and dysentery) are
heavily prevalent. It really makes me understand how lucky I truly am to live
in a country where medical care is everywhere!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The temples:
going through Angkor Wat and the other temples in Siem Reap was an amazing
experience! Words cannot describe the beauty so here are some pictures that will
hopefully do it the justice it deserves. Some of these temples are over a
millennium old and are still in tact!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRgznhIX5Vw/Ua7dqAv5rcI/AAAAAAAAAf8/lBky1kFOYQI/s1600/IMG_8296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-mRgznhIX5Vw/Ua7dqAv5rcI/AAAAAAAAAf8/lBky1kFOYQI/s400/IMG_8296.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My first glimpse of Angkor Wat </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxmHjuwdgLM/Ua7dz6nty9I/AAAAAAAAAgM/ZvF42jyr_WI/s1600/IMG_8360.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kxmHjuwdgLM/Ua7dz6nty9I/AAAAAAAAAgM/ZvF42jyr_WI/s400/IMG_8360.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sitting in Angkor Wat :)</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JtwVxn1MEG0/Ua7duS-C0kI/AAAAAAAAAgE/vPVJrQUfv5A/s1600/IMG_8401.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JtwVxn1MEG0/Ua7duS-C0kI/AAAAAAAAAgE/vPVJrQUfv5A/s400/IMG_8401.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Unreal stone carvings in the walls</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hKSCUqn5Cgo/Ua7eqdSsrpI/AAAAAAAAAgk/Q1L9yIXKF30/s1600/IMG_8476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hKSCUqn5Cgo/Ua7eqdSsrpI/AAAAAAAAAgk/Q1L9yIXKF30/s400/IMG_8476.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cftXNA46A6s/Ua7eqKZajmI/AAAAAAAAAgg/7TkpRGTVuKs/s1600/IMG_8479.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cftXNA46A6s/Ua7eqKZajmI/AAAAAAAAAgg/7TkpRGTVuKs/s400/IMG_8479.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aSzH-4dQCZI/Ua7eqG_yWgI/AAAAAAAAAgY/OPaAxl_VcjU/s1600/IMG_8490.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="325" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aSzH-4dQCZI/Ua7eqG_yWgI/AAAAAAAAAgY/OPaAxl_VcjU/s400/IMG_8490.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We got a little hungry: why not eat some fried bugs in Cambodia??? Legs and all...</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hnodXP-MILM/Ua7fOj8ujYI/AAAAAAAAAgw/jdsrkHMpN-o/s1600/IMG_8500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hnodXP-MILM/Ua7fOj8ujYI/AAAAAAAAAgw/jdsrkHMpN-o/s400/IMG_8500.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Beautiful children all over Cambodia </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-daZmQk9Dm3k/Ua7ft9hgH4I/AAAAAAAAAhA/rcqQvcrneXA/s1600/IMG_8501.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-daZmQk9Dm3k/Ua7ft9hgH4I/AAAAAAAAAhA/rcqQvcrneXA/s400/IMG_8501.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DmR2oRHxWk8/Ua7fYm7fJQI/AAAAAAAAAg4/7Oem5canI3g/s1600/IMG_8503.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DmR2oRHxWk8/Ua7fYm7fJQI/AAAAAAAAAg4/7Oem5canI3g/s400/IMG_8503.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wl5_CU4HAVU/Ua7gIJZcN4I/AAAAAAAAAhI/gHn9tqDVuBo/s1600/IMG_8512.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Wl5_CU4HAVU/Ua7gIJZcN4I/AAAAAAAAAhI/gHn9tqDVuBo/s400/IMG_8512.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One of my favorite temples: Two of my favorites were Bayon and Ta Prohm (and many others)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-brNDvGe3cKE/Ua7ggLMKemI/AAAAAAAAAhY/7GjZmBPNxF0/s1600/IMG_8529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-brNDvGe3cKE/Ua7ggLMKemI/AAAAAAAAAhY/7GjZmBPNxF0/s400/IMG_8529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nts_6oTIaLU/Ua7gdjVC_jI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/DSONhNRhnu4/s1600/IMG_8530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nts_6oTIaLU/Ua7gdjVC_jI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/DSONhNRhnu4/s400/IMG_8530.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More extravagant works of art </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dA1dEDkRUDU/Ua7hEu-1DmI/AAAAAAAAAhk/jQcfmLZveew/s1600/IMG_8534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dA1dEDkRUDU/Ua7hEu-1DmI/AAAAAAAAAhk/jQcfmLZveew/s640/IMG_8534.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yRcj-Og2xUE/Ua7hW0L1q7I/AAAAAAAAAh0/lWuaoUd4-HU/s1600/IMG_8574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yRcj-Og2xUE/Ua7hW0L1q7I/AAAAAAAAAh0/lWuaoUd4-HU/s400/IMG_8574.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sdCs9tnANBA/Ua7hE1fP-VI/AAAAAAAAAho/U1xlyo_BpCU/s1600/IMG_8638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sdCs9tnANBA/Ua7hE1fP-VI/AAAAAAAAAho/U1xlyo_BpCU/s400/IMG_8638.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0TuGRQFoMqQ/Ua7hx3VuLpI/AAAAAAAAAiE/IUT_25x5mxk/s1600/IMG_8640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0TuGRQFoMqQ/Ua7hx3VuLpI/AAAAAAAAAiE/IUT_25x5mxk/s400/IMG_8640.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lKPcKcMXWJw/Ua7hwMcMe-I/AAAAAAAAAh8/KrkmhDUpqJ4/s1600/IMG_8658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lKPcKcMXWJw/Ua7hwMcMe-I/AAAAAAAAAh8/KrkmhDUpqJ4/s400/IMG_8658.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UOtrn2VLRN8/Ua7iF3PF0-I/AAAAAAAAAiM/ftuRuktdrwU/s1600/IMG_8660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UOtrn2VLRN8/Ua7iF3PF0-I/AAAAAAAAAiM/ftuRuktdrwU/s400/IMG_8660.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sunrise at Angkor Wat: a once in a lifetime experience </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YYnFYdpxKfM/Ua7jGgs9cUI/AAAAAAAAAik/jQrOoAx42js/s1600/IMG_8687.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YYnFYdpxKfM/Ua7jGgs9cUI/AAAAAAAAAik/jQrOoAx42js/s400/IMG_8687.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_oEow0-mIw/Ua7imfWQURI/AAAAAAAAAiU/KkCEL0O9sqs/s1600/IMG_8712.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-k_oEow0-mIw/Ua7imfWQURI/AAAAAAAAAiU/KkCEL0O9sqs/s400/IMG_8712.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
"Walk a mile in someone else' shoes"</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3DUqTPUULfg/Ua7jFbv4gGI/AAAAAAAAAic/llDPEnFwawI/s1600/IMG_8720.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3DUqTPUULfg/Ua7jFbv4gGI/AAAAAAAAAic/llDPEnFwawI/s400/IMG_8720.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Full circle rainbow: what an amazing day</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sllDvB43Oeg/Ua7jdwqityI/AAAAAAAAAis/PkjpgXD-U0k/s1600/IMG_8728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-sllDvB43Oeg/Ua7jdwqityI/AAAAAAAAAis/PkjpgXD-U0k/s400/IMG_8728.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gP8ble8ihqI/Ua7kE11j_lI/AAAAAAAAAi8/_J_67ZMDHQk/s1600/IMG_8742.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gP8ble8ihqI/Ua7kE11j_lI/AAAAAAAAAi8/_J_67ZMDHQk/s640/IMG_8742.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Scenic lake on our temple walks</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx8jE279VyM/Ua7j9LYyPYI/AAAAAAAAAi0/eFFZv56SM78/s1600/IMG_8752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gx8jE279VyM/Ua7j9LYyPYI/AAAAAAAAAi0/eFFZv56SM78/s400/IMG_8752.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Our tuk-tuk drivers daughters: we sure had a wonderful day with them!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jhXU7SNa0ew/Ua7kpHtvNQI/AAAAAAAAAjE/_U6i2RUb44w/s1600/IMG_8755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jhXU7SNa0ew/Ua7kpHtvNQI/AAAAAAAAAjE/_U6i2RUb44w/s400/IMG_8755.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4l_QE4VNZ-c/Ua7kwaH8L6I/AAAAAAAAAjM/xyKoqmwRZHQ/s1600/IMG_8774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4l_QE4VNZ-c/Ua7kwaH8L6I/AAAAAAAAAjM/xyKoqmwRZHQ/s400/IMG_8774.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E52wyUGrZ_U/Ua7k7-sYOZI/AAAAAAAAAjU/_WPaVapyOn0/s1600/IMG_8780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E52wyUGrZ_U/Ua7k7-sYOZI/AAAAAAAAAjU/_WPaVapyOn0/s400/IMG_8780.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>365</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2084</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>17</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2559</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Perhentian Islands, Terengganu, Malaysia:
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next weekend (turned into a week), I went on a solo trip to the Perhentian Islands in the North East of
Malaysia! After 12 hours on a night bus, I made it to Kuala Besut, and took a one-hour
ferry to the most beautiful islands I have seen in Malaysia. I was originally
going to stay 2.5 days but I stayed for nearly a week. I was super tired when I
arrived in the morning, but I found a cheap dorm, slept for two hours, and
started diving!!! I saw bamboo sharks, thousands of tropical fish, barracuda,
batfish, trigger fish, porcupine fish, puffer fish, bumphead parrot fish,
nutibranchs, a green sea turtle, rabbit fish, pipefish, and dozens more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">At the end of
the day I decided that I was addicted to scuba diving (well, I already knew)
and I wanted to get my next certification! I started that night working on
getting my rescue diver certification: honestly one of the hardest things I
have done in my life! The PADI website says it the most demanding but the most
rewarding course: they couldn’t be more correct. I spent three days saving
divers who were acting as panicked divers, those who were out of air,
nonresponsive, had nitrogen narcosis, you name it! My instructor was beyond
great and his goal was to “make my life hell”: he succeeded, but I still had
fun. I also had to complete an entire dive with no mask and with my eyes open:
it is MUCH harder than you would think! I also had to experience what it is
like have a panicked diver come up behind you and unknowingly rip the regulator
from your mouth, take off your mask, or essentially try and drown you! I was
thrown under the water numerous times: at least you can breathe under water
when you have a scuba regulator! I have come to realize that a panicked diver
is one of the most dangerous things possible! The course was physically
strenuous!!!! Having to carry a 90kg person from the water onto shore sure
takes it out of you! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">After much work,
I passed! I AM NOW A RESCUE DIVER!!! I am a way more confident diver and I feel
much more prepared for the crazy things that can happen while diving. I find it
ironic as well that both my sister and I are divers: but very different. I’ll
let Madeline stick to the platforms and springboards while I take on the open
ocean :)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Diving has
honestly changed my post-undergraduate plans. I had planned on extensively
travelling southern Africa or South America next year when I graduate but I
have a feeling I might be back in Asia or somewhere in the region to get my
divemaster!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>227</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1297</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>10</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1592</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The end of one adventure and the start of
the next! Tough Goodbyes<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today I took the
last exam of my junior year, ending my academic semester in Malaysia. Right now
I sit in my room in Malaysia packing up a chapter in my life that is not ready
to end. Tonight I leave the beautiful town that I have called home for the last
4 months. Tanjong Malim, a town that most Westerners would never like or come
to in the first place, has changed my life. The Malay girls here are polite,
poised, soooo hardworking, kind, devout, and quiet for the most part- I think
being around them may have improved some of these skills in me. The Malay
people are so unlike many people you meet around the world: in a good way.
There appears to me to be such little gossip, there is no petty bullying, the
teamwork is so much more here than at home, no one is stressed or attached to
the clock, everyone has a bright smile on their face, there is no complaining, and the
list goes on. It’s hard to describe the culture here but it sure is different
than in the states. I love Malaysia more each and every day I am here…the
people here who have befriended me are just good people to say the least. I
have a new view on Islam, on Asian culture, and I couldn’t have chosen a better
country to study abroad in. It hasn’t quite hit me yet that in several hours I
will say goodbye to friends that I very well may never see again. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Now starts the
real adventure: 2 months backpacking through Laos, Thailand, China, and
Australia. I will keep you all posted on the crazy adventures that are ahead of
me!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12655840198379282521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140808014606237048.post-19583575286749744642013-05-21T08:21:00.000-07:002013-05-21T08:26:50.627-07:00Ocean, I Love You<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>87</o:Words>
<o:Characters>497</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>610</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">I thought life
could not get better than being in Bali- I was wrong. After spending 10 days in
Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo) I have seen it all (well, actually not quite yet). I decided months ago that I
couldn’t possibly leave peninsular Malaysia without a trip to <b>BORNEO</b>! There
were only two things that I just had to do- see wild Orangutans and SCUBA Dive
in Sipadan-I did both, and so much more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KnIMST3m56s/UZtdPay_-tI/AAAAAAAAAcA/ZAxffURmNbc/s1600/IMG_7190.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KnIMST3m56s/UZtdPay_-tI/AAAAAAAAAcA/ZAxffURmNbc/s400/IMG_7190.JPG" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sarah and I
arrived in Borneo and stayed the night in KK. The next morning we took a
crowded mini bus to Kinabalu Park to see the highest peak in SE Asia. We
completed the longest hike in the park besides the summit- the Liwagu trail.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TdLSDP6S7ng/UZteEUSV7LI/AAAAAAAAAcY/wLphWBMgkX4/s1600/IMG_7261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TdLSDP6S7ng/UZteEUSV7LI/AAAAAAAAAcY/wLphWBMgkX4/s400/IMG_7261.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IrUZdq9Kd3s/UZtcuA9hw5I/AAAAAAAAAbw/5pzeOrcxqx8/s1600/IMG_7197.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IrUZdq9Kd3s/UZtcuA9hw5I/AAAAAAAAAbw/5pzeOrcxqx8/s400/IMG_7197.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PYYJ7tGqF7k/UZtc2v-9CGI/AAAAAAAAAb4/WByYGvJFpUA/s1600/IMG_7226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PYYJ7tGqF7k/UZtc2v-9CGI/AAAAAAAAAb4/WByYGvJFpUA/s400/IMG_7226.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SlU4o0EsAps/UZtdu4Juu4I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/PWtCle5_RFg/s1600/IMG_7343.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SlU4o0EsAps/UZtdu4Juu4I/AAAAAAAAAcQ/PWtCle5_RFg/s320/IMG_7343.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>33</o:Words>
<o:Characters>193</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>237</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mLejAiZCAWs/UZteaG2adSI/AAAAAAAAAcg/E9MiVdPc_yk/s1600/IMG_7461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mLejAiZCAWs/UZteaG2adSI/AAAAAAAAAcg/E9MiVdPc_yk/s320/IMG_7461.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<b>Kundasang and
Ranau</b>: The next day we took a bath in a natural hot spring, walked dozens of
meters high on a canopy walk, spent lots of time in a butterfly garden, ate
amazing food, and saw the worlds largest flower (the Raflessia).<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wD1lZLkQFBI/UZtecnRmsoI/AAAAAAAAAco/Frx_1jIgxRw/s1600/IMG_7462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wD1lZLkQFBI/UZtecnRmsoI/AAAAAAAAAco/Frx_1jIgxRw/s320/IMG_7462.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The Raflessia Flower: roughly 1 meter in diameter!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L8gIydEs9Lw/UZtfnV5WPkI/AAAAAAAAAdI/medrN_4z1Ec/s1600/IMG_7619.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-L8gIydEs9Lw/UZtfnV5WPkI/AAAAAAAAAdI/medrN_4z1Ec/s400/IMG_7619.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
View from the canopy walk in Poring Hot Springs </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>104</o:Words>
<o:Characters>595</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>730</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The third day we
took a bus from Ranau to <b>Sandakan</b> (was supposed to come at 2pm- ya right, were
still in Malaysia). After waiting for the bus for nearly two hours, it arrived,
though not as we planned. The driver told us that we had to buy tickets ahead
of time and all the seats were full. We had to take that bus, so we sat on the
stairs in the bus for a 4.5 hour journey. I was honestly just happy to be on
the bus! After arriving, a friend I met on couchsurfing picked us up at the bus
station, took us to a wonderful dinner on the rooftop of a building in
Sandakan, and helped us find a cheap dorm. It never ceases to amaze me how many
great people there are in the world, that are always willing to help you out! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The next morning
we took a slow mini bus to <b>Sepilok</b> to start our wildlife adventure!!!! The
start of our 3D/2N trek with Uncle Tan’s started and we were off to the Sepilok
Orang Utan Rehabilitation Centre. We saw two semi-wild Orang Utans!!!!! After
that, we left for the <b>Kinabatangan River</b> to see wildlife! Sarah and I were
expecting to be possibly the only college students- nope there were three
others- Natalie and Briony from the UK and Elise from the States! The five of
us had a blast! The jungle camp we were staying at had no running water,
electricity for only 6 hours a day, and we slept under mosquito nets- it was
amazing!!!! The first night we went on a night boat ride and saw the largest
bat in the world (the Flying fox), the Buffy Fish Owl, Hornbills, a Malay civet,
and tons of other species. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bqKaTOIMhP8/UZtfTXM-C2I/AAAAAAAAAdA/fOfxSs_9Q1s/s1600/IMG_7684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bqKaTOIMhP8/UZtfTXM-C2I/AAAAAAAAAdA/fOfxSs_9Q1s/s400/IMG_7684.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCC-nOyuMA0/UZtfzss4e-I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/oeJv7Fn4D9k/s1600/IMG_7692.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UCC-nOyuMA0/UZtfzss4e-I/AAAAAAAAAdQ/oeJv7Fn4D9k/s400/IMG_7692.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The two semi-wild orangutans from the sanctuary </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>67</o:Words>
<o:Characters>384</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>3</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>471</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Flb2LvKK-2A/UZtgB2TV5II/AAAAAAAAAdY/98rAUAJcXB8/s1600/IMG_7881.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Flb2LvKK-2A/UZtgB2TV5II/AAAAAAAAAdY/98rAUAJcXB8/s320/IMG_7881.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">The following
day we woke up at 6am to do a morning boat ride- we saw crocodiles, monkeys,
birds, and others. A few hours later, we went on a jungle trek and ran into 3
WILD ORANG UTANS!!!!!! There was an adult male, female, and juvenile Orang
Utan. The male was not thrilled at our presence and kept breaking off large
tree branches and throwing them at us. It was crazy!!!!!!!! We also saw the
coolest insects I have ever seen! -the Lantern bug, and its babies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JpY92cRqal4/UZthQMHEtSI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/y-kZUIHjiNg/s1600/IMG_8051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JpY92cRqal4/UZthQMHEtSI/AAAAAAAAAeQ/y-kZUIHjiNg/s400/IMG_8051.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lantern Bugs :)</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0apa6eWmWtE/UZtek70uUzI/AAAAAAAAAcw/8SyiCchZjYE/s1600/IMG_7528.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0apa6eWmWtE/UZtek70uUzI/AAAAAAAAAcw/8SyiCchZjYE/s400/IMG_7528.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
There were tons of amazing species of butterflies </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v2DeQepd23g/UZtfHNt_jOI/AAAAAAAAAc4/8axrw3hl0NM/s1600/IMG_7489.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v2DeQepd23g/UZtfHNt_jOI/AAAAAAAAAc4/8axrw3hl0NM/s400/IMG_7489.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And lots of dragonflies </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pVNBv4f8sh0/UZtgOLjqhBI/AAAAAAAAAdg/BA6t9Cb9VHY/s1600/IMG_7919.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pVNBv4f8sh0/UZtgOLjqhBI/AAAAAAAAAdg/BA6t9Cb9VHY/s400/IMG_7919.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
A wild juvenile orangutan in the WILD!!!!!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">The next boat
ride allowed us to see Proboscis Monkeys (the ones with the huge nose). There
was a troop of over 30 of them and they were amazing! They made quite funny
sounds as well.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>27</o:Words>
<o:Characters>154</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>189</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S_gFv52le5E/UZtgh1huXNI/AAAAAAAAAdo/xSPJe3h76G8/s1600/IMG_8003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S_gFv52le5E/UZtgh1huXNI/AAAAAAAAAdo/xSPJe3h76G8/s400/IMG_8003.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Proboscis Monkey!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>49</o:Words>
<o:Characters>281</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>2</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>345</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">That night we
went on another jungle trek! This was my favorite- our guide Leo could find anything!!!!
We found sleeping Scarlet Rumped Trogons and Black and red Broadbills. Leo was
also able to spot a File-eared tree frog from over 15m away! The spider species
that we saw were also incredible!!! WOW, BORNEO IS TEEMING WITH WILDLIFE!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kc794-vlo5o/UZthvga9cII/AAAAAAAAAeg/RyrSOfZltPY/s1600/IMG_8056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kc794-vlo5o/UZthvga9cII/AAAAAAAAAeg/RyrSOfZltPY/s320/IMG_8056.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OV9AIwG0p_I/UZthUAlOHFI/AAAAAAAAAeI/OHPkHVM4ejg/s1600/IMG_8049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OV9AIwG0p_I/UZthUAlOHFI/AAAAAAAAAeI/OHPkHVM4ejg/s320/IMG_8049.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAP2dsq5O38/UZtg7RGlniI/AAAAAAAAAeA/Iv-R31IWGXk/s1600/IMG_8028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yAP2dsq5O38/UZtg7RGlniI/AAAAAAAAAeA/Iv-R31IWGXk/s400/IMG_8028.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
File-eared tree frog :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7GxZcCDa5PE/UZthuS05RPI/AAAAAAAAAeY/hh_EcRLUhIA/s1600/IMG_8068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7GxZcCDa5PE/UZthuS05RPI/AAAAAAAAAeY/hh_EcRLUhIA/s400/IMG_8068.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qOnCZwIDfQU/UZtgxnBFjMI/AAAAAAAAAd4/EdzwHQOGL98/s1600/IMG_8010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qOnCZwIDfQU/UZtgxnBFjMI/AAAAAAAAAd4/EdzwHQOGL98/s400/IMG_8010.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sleeping Scarlet Rumped Trogon </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyDlOxW4-Zw/UZtgmSsLfUI/AAAAAAAAAdw/8Osz6Ne1Gkw/s1600/IMG_8017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qyDlOxW4-Zw/UZtgmSsLfUI/AAAAAAAAAdw/8Osz6Ne1Gkw/s320/IMG_8017.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My favorite bird the entire jungle trip (besides the owls)- the Black and Red Broadbill</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>279</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1594</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>13</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1957</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JPHJP5KrqWU/UZtiF-1S8kI/AAAAAAAAAeo/N3r150BBo4Y/s1600/IMG_8087.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JPHJP5KrqWU/UZtiF-1S8kI/AAAAAAAAAeo/N3r150BBo4Y/s400/IMG_8087.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Morning we had to leave- saying goodbye to our new friends </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">On the third day
of being jungle people, we went on another boat ride back to the dock (a 45min
trip) and Sarah and I were off the <b>Semporna</b> so I could get my permit to dive
<b>Sipadan!!!!</b> Well, we didn’t make it to Semporna in time and I missed the ferry
to the island. We sat in an incredibly packed mini bus for over 4 hours in
awful traffic! At least we made it to Semporna that night so we could take the
ferry in the morning. We woke up the next day and we headed to Mabul Island!
The second we arrived, the divemasters told me they were waiting for me to
leave for Sipadan (a forbidden island that only 120 people a day are allowed to
visit). I was so excited that I forget to put on any sunscreen and I just
grabbed my swimsuit and ran. I picked out my wet suit, BCD, and other dive
equipment and jumped on the boat. I was too excited to be nervous but Sipadan
is generally a place that experienced divers go, and I am not to that level
yet. But, my adventurous self just had to do it- and it was 100% worth it!!!! I
have never done anything more exciting; I was smiling so much at some points
that my regulator would leak water. 6 other divers, two divemasters, and myself
headed to the first dive site. The second site, Barracuda point, is one of the
top 10 dive sites in the world and I now know why! I swam in a school of nearly
one thousand chevron barracuda (each over 1m in length), schools of thousands
of jack fish, and a school of nearly one hundred Pumphead parrot fish (some the
size of a table!). I saw over 50 sea turtles (most green but some hawksbill)
and dozens of reef sharks! The dives were all wall dives, so I was swimming
with walls of intricate and vibrant coral on my left and the abyss of the open
ocean on my right. This was the first time I dove in water that there was no
floor in site. It was extraordinary! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NxugR4XRUaA/UZuOjsOrsfI/AAAAAAAAAfA/p2sXdEefH7M/s1600/IMG_8124.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NxugR4XRUaA/UZuOjsOrsfI/AAAAAAAAAfA/p2sXdEefH7M/s400/IMG_8124.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
View from the ferry ride to Mabul</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fQuZkqpASj8/UZuOtjwjQxI/AAAAAAAAAfI/znkZhlcfx3I/s1600/IMG_8144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fQuZkqpASj8/UZuOtjwjQxI/AAAAAAAAAfI/znkZhlcfx3I/s400/IMG_8144.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Water off the shore of SIPADAN!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-by1BtpDW4CI/UZuOgeZb5zI/AAAAAAAAAe4/TpgQ7OuOfNc/s1600/P1120023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-by1BtpDW4CI/UZuOgeZb5zI/AAAAAAAAAe4/TpgQ7OuOfNc/s400/P1120023.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
ME DIVING WITH BUMPHEAD PARROT FISH AND A SEA TURTLE!!!!!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s4nXSUyhpSk/UZuPE0PKg2I/AAAAAAAAAfg/P78llV5MOmc/s1600/P1120030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s4nXSUyhpSk/UZuPE0PKg2I/AAAAAAAAAfg/P78llV5MOmc/s400/P1120030.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Reef sharks galore :)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YMIoDECF9bU/UZuO-1hjtrI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/wtjMaq67wlA/s1600/P1120056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YMIoDECF9bU/UZuO-1hjtrI/AAAAAAAAAfQ/wtjMaq67wlA/s400/P1120056.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Friendly sea turtle :)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HqkTYTQpmq8/UZuPBMJv4PI/AAAAAAAAAfY/fESQHVFoav4/s1600/P1120067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HqkTYTQpmq8/UZuPBMJv4PI/AAAAAAAAAfY/fESQHVFoav4/s400/P1120067.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Schools of Chevron Barracuda surrounding me!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-clbSgC2zcr8/UZuPQDFJ_oI/AAAAAAAAAfo/hJAjWnpBte8/s1600/IMG_8161.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-clbSgC2zcr8/UZuPQDFJ_oI/AAAAAAAAAfo/hJAjWnpBte8/s400/IMG_8161.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Bye bye Sipadan- I will definitely be back in the future!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">After completely
three amazing dives at Sipadan, I knew that diving was definitely my favorite
thing ever- so I spent the rest of my time in Borneo diving and getting my
Advanced Open Water Certification. The night dive was my favorite- I got to see
a sleeping turtle, 2 lionfish, a Spanish dancer, a PYGMY OCTOPUS (I was so
excited I went crazy!), and a million other spectacular things. One of the
greatest things I have ever had the pleasure of witnessing is putting your
torch to your chest, the whole sea being pitch black, and waving your hands in
the water. The bioluminescent plankton begin to glow and the ocean looks like a
night sky full of stars. I also got to do my first deep dive- that was also
great! I got to learn about underwater navigation and guide my own dive- pretty
cool! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
</span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";">Although I did
not have an underwater camera with me some kind divers took photos and sent
them to me! A French couple on my dive boat had a camera and they were so amazing and
took photos of me (photo credit for the diving pictures goes to Priscilla and Tristan- you are the best!). I figured that I would love scuba diving but not this much!
Now I have 2 of the most expensive hobbies possible- travelling the world and
diving. Dang, I am just going to have to make sure I have a job one day that
allows me to do both. If anyone knows of one, let me know!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next blog will hopefully be about my adventures this past weekend in Cambodia :) </div>
<!--EndFragment--></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12655840198379282521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140808014606237048.post-7082390354634331262013-04-17T08:36:00.000-07:002013-04-17T08:36:00.028-07:00Bali Bliss <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>110</o:Words>
<o:Characters>631</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>5</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>774</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
It has been over a month since I have updated my blog- here it goes. I figured this blog would contain the stories from the last month (school and Thailand) but my mid semester break in Bali changed my mind. As cheesy as it sounds, the eleven days I spent in Bali were both eye opening and life changing. For one thing, I am certain that I will never stop travelling and I also need a career one day that will allow me to do A LOT of it- bye vet school. Back to Bali: it is a magical place! The culture, environment, mountains, ocean, flowers, people, food, and attitudes, are something so special that words can’t describe. I imagined Bali to be amazing but the way that the island maintains such a high level of culture while sustaining thriving tourism, is incredible. </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5NXJANdnuDo/UW6lh-MJjVI/AAAAAAAAAZU/IVDIRmwwodU/s1600/IMG_6481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5NXJANdnuDo/UW6lh-MJjVI/AAAAAAAAAZU/IVDIRmwwodU/s400/IMG_6481.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zFkAiSYO8zs/UW6mmLz2qqI/AAAAAAAAAZo/-cbH2ArTGmw/s1600/IMG_6552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zFkAiSYO8zs/UW6mmLz2qqI/AAAAAAAAAZo/-cbH2ArTGmw/s400/IMG_6552.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Just a few of the amazing flowers that are found throughout Bali</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>233</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1329</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>11</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1632</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What made my experience so fantastic to start out with was
getting my PADI DIVE CERTIFICATION in Tulamben, Bali!!! This is something I
have dreamt of doing for years and it finally became a reality. Although I have very few fears in life, one of them was (past tense!) a fear of deep ocean water. I don’t
know if it’s a fear of the unknown that exists down there or what but it
frightened me a bit. I figured I may be a bit scared of diving but that was not
the case. The moment I first put the regulator in my mouth and jumped in the
water, I knew it was meant to be. It also helped that our Balinese dive
instructor Erik was awesome! I know I am getting ahead of myself but diving is
the greatest thing I have ever done in my life- nothing compares (so far). I
honestly was teaming with joy and I could have stayed underwater the entire day.
The first day of diving I got to swim right beside a 2+ meter white tip reef
shark, lion fish, stingrays, tropical fish galore, dozens of species of coral,
sea fans, sea squirts, sea slugs, seahorses- pretty much everything!!! The next
day we got to dive to 18m deep and inside a ship wreck from WWII! I got to see
a massive barracuda, eels, pumphead parrotfish, octopus, and about a million
other marine animals! When I spotted the octopus I swam down to its level and
stayed there till it went under the coral. Just staring at an animal bores some
people but there was nothing going through my head but utter bliss. I know I am
a complete nerd but diving is my new favorite thing! It even made me realize
more than ever that a career in marine bio may be exactly what I need to do!</div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr4swW-mOXg/UW6gvQop9vI/AAAAAAAAAWU/DKRqcyEbcCQ/s1600/ERI+008.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fr4swW-mOXg/UW6gvQop9vI/AAAAAAAAAWU/DKRqcyEbcCQ/s400/ERI+008.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Right before my first open water dive!!!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UycwxBEquLs/UW6g0kWYl1I/AAAAAAAAAWc/IgldTEL34M0/s1600/ERI+018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UycwxBEquLs/UW6g0kWYl1I/AAAAAAAAAWc/IgldTEL34M0/s400/ERI+018.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Erin, Sarah, and I taking the plunge!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tnpAPdpSD9A/UW6g8QgF6pI/AAAAAAAAAWk/r4OdkuAn7mw/s1600/ERI+047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tnpAPdpSD9A/UW6g8QgF6pI/AAAAAAAAAWk/r4OdkuAn7mw/s400/ERI+047.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-47OFNVD32FA/UW6hIGCfNfI/AAAAAAAAAW0/WcbkVEogtn8/s1600/ERI+071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-47OFNVD32FA/UW6hIGCfNfI/AAAAAAAAAW0/WcbkVEogtn8/s400/ERI+071.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Some of the incredible species we got to see!!!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5e-D-OCbFco/UW6hBCGXxdI/AAAAAAAAAWs/rzhWQ0E2D_c/s1600/ERI+057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5e-D-OCbFco/UW6hBCGXxdI/AAAAAAAAAWs/rzhWQ0E2D_c/s400/ERI+057.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iEPk0jMgvow/UW6hPqbQsiI/AAAAAAAAAW8/YDiQGx8q9e8/s1600/ERI+085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iEPk0jMgvow/UW6hPqbQsiI/AAAAAAAAAW8/YDiQGx8q9e8/s400/ERI+085.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
NEMO!!!!!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R0lUY_ThfO4/UW6hgrtSnHI/AAAAAAAAAXM/3nOQlied71c/s1600/ERI+090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R0lUY_ThfO4/UW6hgrtSnHI/AAAAAAAAAXM/3nOQlied71c/s320/ERI+090.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipzcdq47SzY/UW6hgmHjx6I/AAAAAAAAAXE/Ef7pzahpt7U/s1600/ERI+105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ipzcdq47SzY/UW6hgmHjx6I/AAAAAAAAAXE/Ef7pzahpt7U/s400/ERI+105.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love the anemone fish!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lawhqrgo9N0/UW6hoPOWh1I/AAAAAAAAAXU/P7ZWiocOeeE/s1600/ERI+108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Lawhqrgo9N0/UW6hoPOWh1I/AAAAAAAAAXU/P7ZWiocOeeE/s400/ERI+108.JPG" width="382" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Us and our dive instructor, Erik :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MiQPLFQfzxo/UW6hvTa030I/AAAAAAAAAXc/SDtbWk9WZIs/s1600/ERI+120.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-MiQPLFQfzxo/UW6hvTa030I/AAAAAAAAAXc/SDtbWk9WZIs/s400/ERI+120.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sarah and I lookin' super fine...</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dou9x3eAjwM/UW6h42sLbQI/AAAAAAAAAXk/nXX_E8vkuRo/s1600/ERI+133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-dou9x3eAjwM/UW6h42sLbQI/AAAAAAAAAXk/nXX_E8vkuRo/s400/ERI+133.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lionfish that we spotted! </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fs-VSeJsoPg/UW6h-3gO4oI/AAAAAAAAAXs/z_CrIisIbu4/s1600/ERI+149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fs-VSeJsoPg/UW6h-3gO4oI/AAAAAAAAAXs/z_CrIisIbu4/s400/ERI+149.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The eye of an octopus as he hides in a coral garden </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-riRA9zZzVN8/UW6iHfStQ4I/AAAAAAAAAX0/IKDrk8hGU00/s1600/ERI+152.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-riRA9zZzVN8/UW6iHfStQ4I/AAAAAAAAAX0/IKDrk8hGU00/s400/ERI+152.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Swimming in the ship wreck!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwUG988lfO4/UW6iNo2PxmI/AAAAAAAAAX8/uVL3puuOmrU/s1600/ERI+160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LwUG988lfO4/UW6iNo2PxmI/AAAAAAAAAX8/uVL3puuOmrU/s400/ERI+160.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Exotic Sea-slug! </div>
<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>124</o:Words>
<o:Characters>708</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>5</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>869</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Diving was not the only great thing…the town of Tulamben was
on the same level to me as a few of my small favorite towns in Costa Rica. The
Balinese people welcomed Erin, Sarah, and I with open arms and I certainly felt
at home. It might be bad of me to say, but while I love Malaysia, I hoped that I
could wake up in Tulamben knowing that I could stay as long as I wanted. The
Balinese people introduced us to their traditions, customs, stories, food,
music; you name it- we got immersed in it. We went to a restaurant that had a
live band- and became friends with the members. After the restaurant closed we
all sat around a table and sang songs as the band played the music. Something
as simple as sitting with seven Balinese people and making music was so special
to me. They even knew some of my favorite songs- and sang Sweet Home Alabama
for Sarah-haha. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MZZlmccSF_Q/UW6ibQaCshI/AAAAAAAAAYE/xaVkrlkHcc0/s1600/IMG_0589.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MZZlmccSF_Q/UW6ibQaCshI/AAAAAAAAAYE/xaVkrlkHcc0/s400/IMG_0589.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uY1DDkLylpU/UW6npyL3ljI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/WfKV3cd0eM0/s1600/IMG_6658.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uY1DDkLylpU/UW6npyL3ljI/AAAAAAAAAZ0/WfKV3cd0eM0/s400/IMG_6658.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UuRFWbVeCLY/UW6ml0_9t8I/AAAAAAAAAZk/DmSPNta0n8A/s1600/IMG_6644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UuRFWbVeCLY/UW6ml0_9t8I/AAAAAAAAAZk/DmSPNta0n8A/s400/IMG_6644.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Views from our hotel!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>94</o:Words>
<o:Characters>536</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>658</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The dive center gave us a motorbike for the time we were
there so we got to explore the entire town (and even eat one of the best meals
I have ever consumed!). Erin, Sarah, and I squeezed onto one motor bike- of
course they made me drive- and we had a great journey! We could not drive more
than 10m without people waving to us and smiling. Everyone in Bali was happy
and had brighter smiles than I have ever seen before. We randomly picked a
small restaurant on the side of the road to eat at. What we didn’t realize is
that everything on the menu was octopus! In the same day that I got to swim
alongside an octopus, I also ate one- I am gross. But it tasted sooooo good!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QnEjuZpGfWY/UW6pR609stI/AAAAAAAAAaM/No9OPDT7nPQ/s1600/IMG_6715.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QnEjuZpGfWY/UW6pR609stI/AAAAAAAAAaM/No9OPDT7nPQ/s400/IMG_6715.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Mountain vista from our "joyride" around Tulamben</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pB2DTm6MvlE/UW6icjTT66I/AAAAAAAAAYM/6msw_jT1DnM/s1600/IMG_0598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pB2DTm6MvlE/UW6icjTT66I/AAAAAAAAAYM/6msw_jT1DnM/s400/IMG_0598.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
View as we drove through the town :)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x20HrJdrlB4/UW6i825rVnI/AAAAAAAAAYU/d_J6JGxK2HE/s1600/IMG_0631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x20HrJdrlB4/UW6i825rVnI/AAAAAAAAAYU/d_J6JGxK2HE/s400/IMG_0631.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
What's on the menu for tonight? OCTOPUS soup!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>128</o:Words>
<o:Characters>731</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>6</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>897</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
The last night in Tulamben we hung out with our dive
instructor and Balinese friends and went to the beach to sing and play the
guitar. Before the beach I took a pit stop to see a valley between two mountains where you can see the ocean from one side and the jungle from the other. As I
stood there, I looked up at the dark sky, which normally contained hundreds of
bright stars, and all I saw was two. A few days before I was listening to the
Balinese people tell stories about their culture. The one that remained with me
the most was the fact that to the Balinese, stars are reflections of lost souls
who no longer reside on Earth. When I looked up in the night sky and saw those
two stars I was filled with the appreciation that I have for my life. I hope that doesn't sound too lame but it was a really eye opening moment for me. I realized that have so
much to be thankful for and I am so grateful to have so many adventures to go on in my life! This semester abroad, which still has half
remaining, is an experience that is priceless...<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>158</o:Words>
<o:Characters>906</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>7</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1112</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wVSCUT4H2c/UW6jY_L0YVI/AAAAAAAAAYg/8Ojpxcsgxrs/s1600/IMG_0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wVSCUT4H2c/UW6jY_L0YVI/AAAAAAAAAYg/8Ojpxcsgxrs/s400/IMG_0654.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The last day in Tulamben, Sarah yelled to me and said that
there was a HUGE lizard. I figured it was maybe a couple inches bigger than the
normal ones but I still came out to see it. It was far from what I expected, if
fact it was a large male Tokay Gecko. After watching him for a while and taking
photos, I thought it would be brilliant to try and pick him up. So, I reached
down, grabbed him, and then it went sour. My left hand was bitten, hard I might
add, but I am the idiot that didn’t put him down. He then bit my right middle
finger and then a knuckle on my right hand. The last bite was hard enough that
he wouldn’t let go and had to be pried off using a knife. I didn’t scream or
make any noise during the encounter but as soon as I saw the knife, the only
thing I could do was rant to the men not to hurt the Gecko. Luckily he was fine
but my hand looked awful. The skin on my knuckle was ripped down the bone and both hands were
dripping blood. At least Sarah was awesome and helped me out :) I am glad she at least got to witness my stupidity so that it wasn't a complete waste. I don’t know how but all three bites are already perfectly
healed and I learned my lesson BIG TIME. Never again will I mess with a wild
animal like that! </div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wDsmjyfFUMw/UW6oGqrAPgI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/dmNKQSceDdM/s1600/IMG_6707.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wDsmjyfFUMw/UW6oGqrAPgI/AAAAAAAAAZ8/dmNKQSceDdM/s400/IMG_6707.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The Gecko that I was defeated by...</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>93</o:Words>
<o:Characters>533</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>654</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MbRUU9f-tWE/UW6skOQbfUI/AAAAAAAAAbE/YyRwN1eI-sA/s1600/IMG_7030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MbRUU9f-tWE/UW6skOQbfUI/AAAAAAAAAbE/YyRwN1eI-sA/s400/IMG_7030.JPG" width="400" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B-7AD0w4jMY/UW6p1qnxWgI/AAAAAAAAAaU/5yTdt6KyWvY/s1600/IMG_6820.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-B-7AD0w4jMY/UW6p1qnxWgI/AAAAAAAAAaU/5yTdt6KyWvY/s320/IMG_6820.jpg" width="212" /></a>We left that day from Ubud, a quaint and hippish town in
Bali.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We stayed in home stays
pretty much the entire time left in Bali. The first night in Ubud we found a
nice home stay but they had no room for three people. While we were walking to
the next home stay, the young man came to us and said he had one room we could
stay in- his room. We made our way into the homie room with a huge king size
bed! His toothbrush, deodorant, and all his possessions where in the room. His
family was some of the nicest people I have ever met. In Ubud I got to see a
monkey temple, a traditional Balinese trance dance, ate SUSHI for the first
time in Asia, and saw beautiful rice fields!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-axRSY1Jyk_8/UW6qb8iW3LI/AAAAAAAAAak/sel65675H3Q/s1600/IMG_6860.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-axRSY1Jyk_8/UW6qb8iW3LI/AAAAAAAAAak/sel65675H3Q/s400/IMG_6860.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Artwork at the secret garden </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gafl728CaZY/UW6pPajANsI/AAAAAAAAAaE/7KDnf6jt00s/s1600/IMG_6756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gafl728CaZY/UW6pPajANsI/AAAAAAAAAaE/7KDnf6jt00s/s400/IMG_6756.JPG" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INflJSMvZ0c/UW6sdqtn4tI/AAAAAAAAAa8/pB-2c3Q7cyk/s1600/IMG_7010.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-INflJSMvZ0c/UW6sdqtn4tI/AAAAAAAAAa8/pB-2c3Q7cyk/s400/IMG_7010.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
View on the way to Ubud!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c62w5FmtBSE/UW6jYmERO3I/AAAAAAAAAYc/iq2qhyfLycI/s1600/IMG_1249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c62w5FmtBSE/UW6jYmERO3I/AAAAAAAAAYc/iq2qhyfLycI/s400/IMG_1249.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Traditional Balinese trance dance in Ubud!</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>184</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1053</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>8</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1293</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
The next stop in Bali was Uluwatu- one of the best surf
spots in the world. Sarah and I figured we would stay for a night or two but we
stayed there the entire rest of Bali. On the first day of being there we walked down
to the beach and Sarah lost a shoe. She ended up finding a small black sandal
to use as a replacement. Who would have guessed that losing a shoe would cause
you to meet some great friends? A very tan girl asked Sarah if she was missing
another black shoe- the shoe that went with the one she took. From that moment
on, we had met some awesome people! We all went to eat at Silver Fish, a bar and restaurant
above the surf, and hung out with our new friends for the next five days. We became
instant friends with three Canadian- Veronica, Tracey, and Jessica and an
Australian named Sid. What made me even more excited was that Jessica was from
the very north east of Canada and is an Eskimo! She lives in a town that has seals, whales, polar bears, wahhhhh!!! I am now friends with my first
Eskimo! By the end of the five days we referred to each other as a family- it
is amazing how much you can get to know people in such a short time. We ate
breakfast together, sang songs along with the guitar, star gazed, made homemade
Salsa, went on motorbike rides to neighboring towns in Bali, went to a pool
party, made homemade Sangria, swam in the ocean, and had tons of other adventures. We also met people from all over the world coming to surf- people from Germany, South Africa, New Zealand, Britain, Costa Rica, Morocco, you name it!</div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gVfhPmlxJHM/UW6j2NuemqI/AAAAAAAAAYs/LGyWEkT_uds/s1600/IMG_1433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gVfhPmlxJHM/UW6j2NuemqI/AAAAAAAAAYs/LGyWEkT_uds/s320/IMG_1433.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At the surf spot at Uluwatu</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCQyNh9um1c/UW6kERze8GI/AAAAAAAAAY0/kB_lxb_-M14/s1600/IMG_1495.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-OCQyNh9um1c/UW6kERze8GI/AAAAAAAAAY0/kB_lxb_-M14/s640/IMG_1495.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
View from the Monkey Temple!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hc7cKDPUTYI/UW6kYWew3VI/AAAAAAAAAZA/EY1VID0kk6w/s1600/IMG_1595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hc7cKDPUTYI/UW6kYWew3VI/AAAAAAAAAZA/EY1VID0kk6w/s320/IMG_1595.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nvStnlUlFAk/UW6rO0TJ2jI/AAAAAAAAAa0/G1J_U4Z5hL0/s1600/IMG_6962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nvStnlUlFAk/UW6rO0TJ2jI/AAAAAAAAAa0/G1J_U4Z5hL0/s320/IMG_6962.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Wow, Uluwatu was beautiful!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpXeY9QJoA0/UW6kYPpl4II/AAAAAAAAAY8/ZJf1fbqgj9U/s1600/IMG_1634.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lpXeY9QJoA0/UW6kYPpl4II/AAAAAAAAAY8/ZJf1fbqgj9U/s400/IMG_1634.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Sunset with our new friends :)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hlPGNnykg7g/UW6lBzP_gHI/AAAAAAAAAZM/ddayJdEpDYY/s1600/IMG_1651.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hlPGNnykg7g/UW6lBzP_gHI/AAAAAAAAAZM/ddayJdEpDYY/s400/IMG_1651.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Tracey, Sarah, Me, Veronica, Sid, and Jessica :)</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GMQhY2pUpms/UW6mMABEnWI/AAAAAAAAAZc/8kYhm6unSAY/s1600/IMG_6530.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GMQhY2pUpms/UW6mMABEnWI/AAAAAAAAAZc/8kYhm6unSAY/s320/IMG_6530.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My favorite Indonesian food! CAP-CAY!</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJmmIdBuZi0/UW6s0-QisDI/AAAAAAAAAbM/iBVmdhzhlfk/s1600/IMG_7118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XJmmIdBuZi0/UW6s0-QisDI/AAAAAAAAAbM/iBVmdhzhlfk/s400/IMG_7118.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On the car ride to Kuta :)</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8avHQVUGoOA/UW6s4pZ64CI/AAAAAAAAAbU/AyndyV1pEU8/s1600/IMG_7134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8avHQVUGoOA/UW6s4pZ64CI/AAAAAAAAAbU/AyndyV1pEU8/s400/IMG_7134.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Last animal I got to see in Indonesia- a cute goldfish :) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>13</o:Words>
<o:Characters>77</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>94</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Now I am back in Malaysia but I am quite certain that I will
be back in Bali in the future! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Selamat Malam! That means goodnight in Malay :) </div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12655840198379282521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140808014606237048.post-26538775955937144342013-03-17T10:30:00.000-07:002013-03-17T10:30:02.454-07:00Clingy Cat, Caves, Climbing, CRAZINESS<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>140</o:Words>
<o:Characters>800</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>6</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>982</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNormal">
Malaysia continues to be one giant adventure after the next!
Just so everyone knows, Marlee, Sarah, and I adopted a stray kitten: his name
is Lasak, which means energetic in Aceh. We took him to the vet: correction the
veterinarian met us in the middle of the street and gave him a super thorough
exam (NOT!!!) and an “injection”. Thank goodness Sarah and I have experience
with animals to make sure the vet wasn’t completely crazy. Lasak is the
CLINGIEST animal ever!!! He never leaves you alone and if you don’t let him sit
on your shoulders, in your lap, or carry him around, he tries to climb up your
clothes. Needless to say, I have quite a few scratches from him trying to be
too cuddly. The world is out to get Lasak though: the other cats try to attack
him, he was almost eaten by a pack of dogs last night, and someone at the
apartment burned his whiskers off! I was an unhappy person but I just think
that everyone is jealous that Lasak has a great life now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8qLHohWBiHQ/UUXHDgpTBFI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/cLlk-qv97vI/s1600/IMG_4515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8qLHohWBiHQ/UUXHDgpTBFI/AAAAAAAAAQ0/cLlk-qv97vI/s400/IMG_4515.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mmeisWBsgYs/UUXGLiqg7fI/AAAAAAAAAQU/8G_YGccvLi4/s1600/IMG_4518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mmeisWBsgYs/UUXGLiqg7fI/AAAAAAAAAQU/8G_YGccvLi4/s400/IMG_4518.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lasak!!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>31</o:Words>
<o:Characters>180</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>1</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>221</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Some of us also went to KL to see traditional Malay dance!
The costumes were intricate, extremely colorful, and it was a blast to see! Of
course I got yelled at for taking pictures but at least I got some good snaps. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K30l9qp7ry4/UUXGhTLwmXI/AAAAAAAAAQc/ouLRyZZBTac/s1600/IMG_4588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K30l9qp7ry4/UUXGhTLwmXI/AAAAAAAAAQc/ouLRyZZBTac/s200/IMG_4588.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1L5O9ANpk0Q/UUXGKhaDjUI/AAAAAAAAAQM/E1UBuyKELVI/s1600/IMG_4583.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1L5O9ANpk0Q/UUXGKhaDjUI/AAAAAAAAAQM/E1UBuyKELVI/s200/IMG_4583.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yqx0r8VCfJc/UUXG0zikYvI/AAAAAAAAAQk/sev9PX_bzRk/s1600/IMG_4595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yqx0r8VCfJc/UUXG0zikYvI/AAAAAAAAAQk/sev9PX_bzRk/s400/IMG_4595.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NWYQq62ntdU/UUXHCkl2Y3I/AAAAAAAAAQs/ty4fUJCxkGA/s1600/IMG_4617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-NWYQq62ntdU/UUXHCkl2Y3I/AAAAAAAAAQs/ty4fUJCxkGA/s400/IMG_4617.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Malay traditional dance!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oirOa5AGXuE/UUXH2XDflzI/AAAAAAAAARE/ALx3s5uzvPQ/s1600/IMG_4640.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oirOa5AGXuE/UUXH2XDflzI/AAAAAAAAARE/ALx3s5uzvPQ/s400/IMG_4640.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The sky I get to look at every day!</div>
<br />
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>98</o:Words>
<o:Characters>560</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>687</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
After our crazy beach weekend and a long week of classes,
six of us Americans left for the Batu Caves. After waking up at 5am to take
train, riding on the polar express for over 2 hours (the train was COLD), and
chasing after what turned out to be the wrong train, we arrived at a beautiful
Indian inspired location. We ate some of the yummiest Indian cuisine ever and
Erin even got her mango stolen by a monkey. Once we arrived we walked to the
backside of the caves to rock climb. Yes, REAL rock climbing! We also met a guy
that unlocked a gate for us and let us walk up to a base-jumping location. Of
course hank split her head open on a rock and cut herself on the barbwire. </div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_k0TcuD7Ko8/UUXH9SFTbZI/AAAAAAAAARM/CRS2684Xb1k/s1600/IMG_4698.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_k0TcuD7Ko8/UUXH9SFTbZI/AAAAAAAAARM/CRS2684Xb1k/s400/IMG_4698.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lwbhfsegUe0/UUXIsZYKZTI/AAAAAAAAARU/Ft75Jexwm28/s1600/IMG_4736.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lwbhfsegUe0/UUXIsZYKZTI/AAAAAAAAARU/Ft75Jexwm28/s400/IMG_4736.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Monkey that stole Erin's mango</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vpSHBrx3144/UUXJDKnGemI/AAAAAAAAARc/-_MdxfA-J5k/s1600/IMG_4739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vpSHBrx3144/UUXJDKnGemI/AAAAAAAAARc/-_MdxfA-J5k/s400/IMG_4739.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Statue in front of the caves</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qm0mZrLytmU/UUXJFImLhGI/AAAAAAAAARk/prTMEdVqlms/s1600/IMG_4746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qm0mZrLytmU/UUXJFImLhGI/AAAAAAAAARk/prTMEdVqlms/s320/IMG_4746.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fGyrIrYrivs/UUXLla_QAII/AAAAAAAAARo/_dKzHDfrLl4/s1600/IMG_4755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fGyrIrYrivs/UUXLla_QAII/AAAAAAAAARo/_dKzHDfrLl4/s400/IMG_4755.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9kR-syipeA/UUXNG4SoboI/AAAAAAAAAR4/GYWz8Fa9GQ4/s1600/IMG_4770.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-S9kR-syipeA/UUXNG4SoboI/AAAAAAAAAR4/GYWz8Fa9GQ4/s400/IMG_4770.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x5eoBtWUG8c/UUXLttsMBhI/AAAAAAAAARw/4c73jetcbEg/s1600/IMG_4780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-x5eoBtWUG8c/UUXLttsMBhI/AAAAAAAAARw/4c73jetcbEg/s320/IMG_4780.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The little bird that accompanied me before I climbed </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhjFk3XBpYI/UUXN8GGQdnI/AAAAAAAAASI/Njxbn9pc2sY/s1600/IMG_4844.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bhjFk3XBpYI/UUXN8GGQdnI/AAAAAAAAASI/Njxbn9pc2sY/s400/IMG_4844.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On the rocks :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9PTsmtOdKF4/UUXNf10tWSI/AAAAAAAAASA/jPk9qQnXi_E/s1600/IMG_4903.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9PTsmtOdKF4/UUXNf10tWSI/AAAAAAAAASA/jPk9qQnXi_E/s320/IMG_4903.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Climbed up to the location where the base jumpers leap off into the air</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fdhvZ_pwKl4/UUXdWqba0PI/AAAAAAAAASY/9W5txusLpPY/s1600/IMG_5016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fdhvZ_pwKl4/UUXdWqba0PI/AAAAAAAAASY/9W5txusLpPY/s320/IMG_5016.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3bFg33WRgWk/UUXdtzrrxuI/AAAAAAAAASg/BNpQtpPjajk/s1600/IMG_4957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3bFg33WRgWk/UUXdtzrrxuI/AAAAAAAAASg/BNpQtpPjajk/s400/IMG_4957.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Climbing up the stairs to the Batu Caves </div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4_YZv6VeVQs/UUXd2ReWv2I/AAAAAAAAASo/9kcJGVFvWyc/s1600/IMG_4953.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4_YZv6VeVQs/UUXd2ReWv2I/AAAAAAAAASo/9kcJGVFvWyc/s320/IMG_4953.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-18NPjwz7LF0/UUXeQDsvwUI/AAAAAAAAASw/IOfar69OeLQ/s1600/IMG_5028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-18NPjwz7LF0/UUXeQDsvwUI/AAAAAAAAASw/IOfar69OeLQ/s320/IMG_5028.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uxuj5YtQmo0/UUXe05HwoYI/AAAAAAAAAS4/QBWPzWyXBY0/s1600/IMG_5040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uxuj5YtQmo0/UUXe05HwoYI/AAAAAAAAAS4/QBWPzWyXBY0/s400/IMG_5040.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oppa's Birthday Celebration!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PrywDfc379w/UUXfCMk4CII/AAAAAAAAATA/iNaWwR5rFiM/s1600/IMG_5078.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PrywDfc379w/UUXfCMk4CII/AAAAAAAAATA/iNaWwR5rFiM/s320/IMG_5078.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U_kbH_OBDX8/UUXfqM3v_UI/AAAAAAAAATQ/Zvn_4tZlEsI/s1600/IMG_5147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U_kbH_OBDX8/UUXfqM3v_UI/AAAAAAAAATQ/Zvn_4tZlEsI/s320/IMG_5147.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g77uUfXoMVk/UUXfvTKOARI/AAAAAAAAATY/v14pG5zzXs0/s1600/IMG_5109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g77uUfXoMVk/UUXfvTKOARI/AAAAAAAAATY/v14pG5zzXs0/s320/IMG_5109.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
All the Americans and Koreans :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>470</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2682</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>22</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>5</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>3293</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
After another week of classes, we were off to SINGAPORE! But
first, on Thursday night, the American's came in my room at midnight and sing me
happy birthday and gave me an ice-cream: I am certainly blessed to have great
friends here to celebrate my bday with. Back to the story-let me throw a cliffhanger at ya, we came with 9 people to Singapore and left
with 6 people…We were told it would take 6 hours to get there- NOPE, I forget
sometimes that we are on Malay time. After a 2 hour train to KL, we boarded a
train to Singapore=another 7 hours (which turned out to be 9). When we arrived
to the Singapore border it was already near midnight. As we went through immigration,
we lost the first person. Poor Naz is from Kazakhstan and didn’t know that she
needed a visa to enter Singapore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The officials sent her straight back on a bus to Tanjong Malim (NOT
COOL!). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
After much help from locals, two journeys on the MRT, a long bus ride,
and some walking, we made it to our hostel for the night. We were starved!! I
hadn’t eaten a real meal all day and it was 2am already. No restaurants were
open: I thought I was going to have to eat my birthday dinner at the 7/11.
Nope, we meet some nice Indian men at a restaurant and even though they were
closed, they made us all noodles with fish and shrimp. They even gave me a
piece of chocolate cake! Singapore had some of the nicest people ever! I even
got a free shot of baileys at an Australian bar. Of course this whole process
occurred on my birthday but I live for adventure and I sure did get one! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yv0b_WFlBi4/UUXg4f74qBI/AAAAAAAAAT4/B7L_HuWD6dw/s1600/IMG_5264.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yv0b_WFlBi4/UUXg4f74qBI/AAAAAAAAAT4/B7L_HuWD6dw/s320/IMG_5264.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kWiHwBjsUZI/UUXf8RZXXQI/AAAAAAAAATg/o-K6UDwYwi0/s1600/IMG_5261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kWiHwBjsUZI/UUXf8RZXXQI/AAAAAAAAATg/o-K6UDwYwi0/s400/IMG_5261.JPG" width="400" /></a>The next morning we woke up and explored Little India and then
after hours of public transport around Singapore and a trip to the other side
of the city, we made it to Pulau Ubin: an island off of the coast of Singapore.
After the ferry, we went on our way to hike to a place to set up our hammocks
for the night. Like always, we bummed a ride with a guy with a big truck (yep
that’s right-six Americans and a Korean in the back of a truck). It sure is
nice being able to get rides lots of places we want to go! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HafNbxxg1p0/UUXg4q9sZPI/AAAAAAAAAT8/2WaZ5JBHuSg/s1600/IMG_5327.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HafNbxxg1p0/UUXg4q9sZPI/AAAAAAAAAT8/2WaZ5JBHuSg/s320/IMG_5327.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
That night we made a
fire, cooked some noodles in a pot, and told ghost stories. The island is
supposedly haunted and the locals told us that there is a tree with a red
ribbon around it somewhere in the island and that if you get within 20m to it,
you will be possessed. While we didn’t get possessed or see the tree, CRAZY
THINGS HAPPENDED!! For starters everyone fell out of their hammocks at least
once, well except Carson. I thought it would be cool to set mine up high so I
had to jump high to get in: bad idea! I fell smack on my back; again…some of
the other Americans tied their hammocks to the trees with thin rope. The ties
they made weren’t quite suitable for the weight of a person and bam, three
people on their butts. We also went trekking through the woods to get firewood
and lucky Erin got stung by a scorpion. She started feeling the venom going up her arm and I am not gonna lie, I freaked out a bit (on the inside). The locals even got a bit scared, but she ended up being fine. Hank also had her passport, camera,
money, and credit card lost/stolen. Lets just say, the weekend didn’t go as planned!
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XIoVkk1FQU/UUXg_lv3IjI/AAAAAAAAAUI/NuXmUBCjY5o/s1600/IMG_5355.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5XIoVkk1FQU/UUXg_lv3IjI/AAAAAAAAAUI/NuXmUBCjY5o/s400/IMG_5355.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ioCK6_cdXf8/UUXhssi0AjI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/T535qpmrrMs/s1600/IMG_5401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ioCK6_cdXf8/UUXhssi0AjI/AAAAAAAAAUQ/T535qpmrrMs/s400/IMG_5401.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The flowers in Singapore were A-M-A-Z-I-N-G</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BAKPgoSV2s8/UUXiDdWkdwI/AAAAAAAAAUY/aOgAtf3sML8/s1600/IMG_5410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BAKPgoSV2s8/UUXiDdWkdwI/AAAAAAAAAUY/aOgAtf3sML8/s320/IMG_5410.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jsT3qJAhgdQ/UUXiQH2_KjI/AAAAAAAAAUg/QNSZpdqjSnw/s1600/IMG_5419.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jsT3qJAhgdQ/UUXiQH2_KjI/AAAAAAAAAUg/QNSZpdqjSnw/s400/IMG_5419.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The spiders in some areas were also quite large</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udtzHmenh4w/UUXidLMWxZI/AAAAAAAAAUo/lEEOWZiXkZI/s1600/IMG_5378.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-udtzHmenh4w/UUXidLMWxZI/AAAAAAAAAUo/lEEOWZiXkZI/s400/IMG_5378.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;">
The next day we biked throughout the island and saw some beautiful scenery! The beaches had great species!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6n19kiJfYeM/UUX7crNyX1I/AAAAAAAAAV4/8o-7CFAJu7M/s1600/IMG_5550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6n19kiJfYeM/UUX7crNyX1I/AAAAAAAAAV4/8o-7CFAJu7M/s320/IMG_5550.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The most endangered species known to man! THE SEA SNEAKER!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1tEtT3CfeU/UUXjJtVvGkI/AAAAAAAAAUw/DZ-gtwlroLk/s1600/IMG_5478.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-R1tEtT3CfeU/UUXjJtVvGkI/AAAAAAAAAUw/DZ-gtwlroLk/s640/IMG_5478.jpg" width="425" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I LOVE BIRDS!</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gB5dFaorBmE/UUXjW4MyxrI/AAAAAAAAAU4/TlMLpo6RVUs/s1600/IMG_5435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gB5dFaorBmE/UUXjW4MyxrI/AAAAAAAAAU4/TlMLpo6RVUs/s400/IMG_5435.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Hiking through the island with my pals</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ScYIKen10UE/UUXjXAzkkVI/AAAAAAAAAVA/eEruZIuOUZs/s1600/IMG_5440.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ScYIKen10UE/UUXjXAzkkVI/AAAAAAAAAVA/eEruZIuOUZs/s320/IMG_5440.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Trip to the police station with Hank </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t8HXubCoUFQ/UUXj8IUJ9TI/AAAAAAAAAVI/moZgMZllZhE/s1600/IMG_5523.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t8HXubCoUFQ/UUXj8IUJ9TI/AAAAAAAAAVI/moZgMZllZhE/s320/IMG_5523.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ApVItOMfljE/UUXkaEA9q_I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/pOYZ4WlfKyo/s1600/IMG_5552.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ApVItOMfljE/UUXkaEA9q_I/AAAAAAAAAVQ/pOYZ4WlfKyo/s400/IMG_5552.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ha4s0mlXb0s/UUXlInIDVvI/AAAAAAAAAVo/-KI6lrzVz3o/s1600/IMG_5575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ha4s0mlXb0s/UUXlInIDVvI/AAAAAAAAAVo/-KI6lrzVz3o/s400/IMG_5575.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-73Kj5aPh59M/UUXlIsmHJkI/AAAAAAAAAVg/zBDu6jxV6Y8/s1600/IMG_5603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-73Kj5aPh59M/UUXlIsmHJkI/AAAAAAAAAVg/zBDu6jxV6Y8/s400/IMG_5603.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Before long, it was time to make the LONG journey home! It took 16 hours of a ferry, 3 buses, a trip on the MRT, a 7+ hour train trip, 2 more hours on the metro, and a taxi, to get back home! In the process, Hank was not allowed to leave the country because she didn't have a passport (and Carson stayed with her). So there is goes, we came with 9 and left with 6. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Even though crazy things happened, it was a great and MEMORABLE weekend :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12655840198379282521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140808014606237048.post-32778092262485897682013-03-02T06:33:00.003-08:002013-03-02T06:33:40.566-08:00"Sunburn, Stingrays, and Sea Lice" <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Over the weekend six of us Americans went beach
camping! So my personal belief is that there is no mediocre beach camping- it
is either the greatest weekend ever or it goes completely sour! Let me just
say, our camping weekend was fantastic!!! After a 2+ hour car drive and 45
minute ferry ride, we made it to Pulau Pangkor: an island off the west coast of
Malaysia. By the time we got to the island it was dark and we ended up walking
an hour and a half to a deserted beach to set up our hammocks and tents. The
last half hour was a trek through the jungle: which was hard due to the fact
that it was quite steep and I had no light. On the way we walked into a man
with a machete- at least he was super nice, lived on the beach, and was happy
to let us use his site. That night we sat around the camp fire singing and
listening to the guitar, telling each other funny stories, and swimming in the
ocean with the moonlight guiding our way. We didn’t bring any food but the next
morning we got a delivery of food from some nice person- spicy fish and rice.
Thanks to the monkeys, half of it was stolen immediately. We got to see some
huge monitor lizards, dozen of monkeys, tons of coral and barnacles (of the six
of us ‘mericans, over half got are feet sliced), and gorgeous tourist free
beaches. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0JYo4yPLKq4/UTIIcVDWl1I/AAAAAAAAAPg/DERA6F0_nHo/s1600/734872_10151536578691834_1123350371_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0JYo4yPLKq4/UTIIcVDWl1I/AAAAAAAAAPg/DERA6F0_nHo/s400/734872_10151536578691834_1123350371_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
One of the prettiest sunsets ever!!!</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dnAQxoDesh0/UTIIXCZNjTI/AAAAAAAAAOs/97H4iMms3ws/s1600/285606_133739276797093_2104696299_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dnAQxoDesh0/UTIIXCZNjTI/AAAAAAAAAOs/97H4iMms3ws/s400/285606_133739276797093_2104696299_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Album cover for our band</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RAjIEFt6Q5k/UTIIX0hMHpI/AAAAAAAAAO0/fpiAU867tbY/s1600/31445_10151536579471834_130458597_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RAjIEFt6Q5k/UTIIX0hMHpI/AAAAAAAAAO0/fpiAU867tbY/s400/31445_10151536579471834_130458597_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The view from my hammock</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dd4T1wLVLs8/UTIIaiyc0AI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/vqt0qntwBJ4/s1600/577275_10151536579601834_340688297_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Dd4T1wLVLs8/UTIIaiyc0AI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/vqt0qntwBJ4/s400/577275_10151536579601834_340688297_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>298</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1702</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>14</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2090</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">We all rented motor bikes- although I had never
driven one before or driven on the left side of the road, I survived and did
great! Hank (aka Jocelyn), one of the girls, crashed her bike in the first 15
seconds of driving and lost her driving privileges. We drove our motorbikes to
a pretty but crowded beach and swam about 45 minutes from one island to
another: this was not my brightest moment due to the fact that I was wearing
underwear instead of a bathing suit. Being college students, we didn't want to spend the five ringgets it cost to take a boat to the island, so we swam. We also got bit by lots of sea lice on the
swim over- regardless, we had a blast! When we got to the island, there was no reggae
bar as we had been told, and we had to hike through the mosquito and ant-infested
jungle to get to a snorkeling spot. Between wearing underwear, it being so
humid outside, and walking A LOT, my legs get super badly chaffed- ouch!!!!!
Thanks to everyone, we stopped and got baby powder- problem solved. We all
slept in our hammocks (much better than a tent) but I still managed to get a
bunch of mosquito and ants bites even with a net over me. That night I told
Erin and Sarah a bed time story- Sarah was so tired that at the middle of the
story she randomly asked me if the main character, whose name was Gringley, was a caterpillar...nope, she
must have been delusional (after 12, Sarah is gone). The story took place in the African Safari and in order to get the listeners attention, I asked what kind of tall animal could help Gringley- Sarah said a long neck dinosaur...you would think a biology major would know their species and location a little better. The whole time we were at
the campsite, it reminded me of survivor and I now realize more than ever how
hard it would be to be on that show!!! They pretty much always eat rice on survivor and I feel like I have been doing just that for the last three weeks. The second morning we had no food and
some kind fisherman let us come fishing with them on their boat! They caught
over 100 “dangerous” jellyfish, flounder, stingrays, and conchs: they said it
was their unlucky day considering the jellies are useless to them. When we got
back to camp we restarted the fire and cooked up a flounder and STINGRAY for
breakfast- yep mom, I am not kidding. Sometimes you gotta do what ya gotta do.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9KdiFOVeEEs/UTIJaQBDaJI/AAAAAAAAAPw/NE1YAx0eaIw/s1600/11013_10151536580966834_108312657_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9KdiFOVeEEs/UTIJaQBDaJI/AAAAAAAAAPw/NE1YAx0eaIw/s400/11013_10151536580966834_108312657_n.jpg" width="300" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JAPSScE8ciM/UTIIaoFdzyI/AAAAAAAAAPI/ClikK9doi5Q/s1600/581896_10151536580191834_1761076572_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JAPSScE8ciM/UTIIaoFdzyI/AAAAAAAAAPI/ClikK9doi5Q/s400/581896_10151536580191834_1761076572_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Birds and Monkeys!!! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--OmkyaYjcZc/UTIIXJn02iI/AAAAAAAAAOo/i5pJsy_BmpQ/s1600/11660_10151536579866834_1957006913_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--OmkyaYjcZc/UTIIXJn02iI/AAAAAAAAAOo/i5pJsy_BmpQ/s400/11660_10151536579866834_1957006913_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Fishermen that let us join their journey </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LXmj1kqpLt4/UTIIajzFiOI/AAAAAAAAAPM/N-DTEmxoO7E/s1600/481049_10151536580946834_290513257_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LXmj1kqpLt4/UTIIajzFiOI/AAAAAAAAAPM/N-DTEmxoO7E/s400/481049_10151536580946834_290513257_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Stingray for breakfast anybody???</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nAFrkhdg5_E/UTIJgtTWUOI/AAAAAAAAAP4/jp6a08Fpp0w/s1600/419812_10151536583081834_39730211_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nAFrkhdg5_E/UTIJgtTWUOI/AAAAAAAAAP4/jp6a08Fpp0w/s400/419812_10151536583081834_39730211_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yqz7KJB0Bzc/UTIJWKTzTXI/AAAAAAAAAPo/fcHBF4r9qz0/s1600/12979_10151536583116834_681141739_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Yqz7KJB0Bzc/UTIJWKTzTXI/AAAAAAAAAPo/fcHBF4r9qz0/s400/12979_10151536583116834_681141739_n.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Awesome monitor lizard!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">I have only been in Malaysia for three weeks now and have sooooo much to look forward too!!!! I have at least 4 more camping trips, a trip to Indonesia to get my dive certification and hike a volcano, going to Borneo, and about a million other adventures! </span> </div>
<br />
<br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12655840198379282521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140808014606237048.post-24087532943117673872013-02-25T06:13:00.004-08:002013-02-26T08:14:08.780-08:00"The first day of rafting class"<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>893</o:Words>
<o:Characters>5091</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>42</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>10</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>6252</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>902</o:Words>
<o:Characters>5147</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>42</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>10</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>6320</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">First off, classes began this week. Of the 20 hours
I am currently enrolled in, I plan on only keeping twelve. Three of the classes
I showed up for were being taught in Malay- I am going to have to learn FAST
(or drop the class). My batik professor only had the syllabus in Malay but
luckily she made one for us in English. With that said, the professors are
accommodating and most are great! It looks like I am going to be taking
climbing, rafting, batik, metal craft, animal morphology and histology, farm management,
and some sort of physiology class. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">It is quite funny because Sarah and I are
the only two blonde girls on the entire campus of over 14,000 people-
CRAZINESS!!! We sure stand out like a sore thumb but surprisingly not in a bad
way. I am so happy that the two of us have pretty much identical schedules: it
sure will make the semester easier. The students here are beyond friendly and
willing to help me with most anything. The professors here are not what I
expected in some ways. For one, they take you out to eat and it is often
customary for them to pay, they give you their mobile phone numbers, and some
are even cool enough to drive you to the beach! I guess I am lucky because I
have professors in the states that do that too :)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">Most classes were what I expected but last Thursday
was anything but ordinary. For one, I woke up early along with some of the
other Americans to go to climbing class. Yep, thats right, I am taking a rock
climbing class in Malaysia. I also was able to play tennis, bike around the
entire old campus, eat my favorite breakfast (roti with curry), and then on to
whitewater rafting (another one of my classes). Let me just say that what
started as a simple class of learning how to prepare the rafts and the other
equipment ended with a trip to the Malaysian government hospital. It was bound
to happen at some point or another, BUT REALLY, the first week of classes!!!!
After driving about an hour from school into the deserved jungle (there is
actually a village of people that still live there) we started to inflate the
rafts and learn the basics.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">Once everyone got the hang of it, we took a short
break: what we did realize is that this is where problems would arise. We found
a small cliff, no more than 4 meters high and jumped off of it. Then we watched
some of the locals jump from the tall cliff (I can't quite guesstimate the
height but around 10 meters). Getting to the top wasn't easy and it was
super slippery. Sarah and I stood up there for a few minutes until we got the
courage to make the plunge. I new I had to be part of it and so I had to jump-
it was awesome and totally worth it! While getting back in the rafts and
practicing flipping, Oppa was dancing on the rocks and fell and hit his back-
HARD!!!! He was immediately pulled to shore and we made a stretcher out of
paddles and PFD's. Thank goodness he was wearing his helmet and life preserver.
We kept checking to make sure that Oppa had feeling in his feet and toes and
that he could remember everything. After much work we carried him to the truck-
which involved walking up a steep and rocky hill. We put him in the back of the
truck and considering he is tall, we couldn't close the back of the truck.
(This may not sound intense in words but it sure as heck was).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">So then the real adventure began. The five of us
Americans sat in the back of the truck- which was functioning as an ambulance. Oppa got to hear ridiculous
stories from us Americans hoping that he would feel better- he may not have
laughed but we sure did. Sweet Oppa also used some of the explicit words that
some of the Americans had been teaching him. The car had to be going at least
150km/hr but we made it to the hospital alive. Just so everyone knows, Malay
people are not great at estimating time and they are also not quick acting in
urgent situations. Us Americans put our Korean "bro" on a new
stretcher ourselves and helped get him into the hospital. They had to cut off
his bathing suit, shirt, and life preserver so his clothes were basically
ruined. Under his hospital bed was also lots of dried blood- I don't know if it
is a Malay thing or just the fact that it was a government hospital, but it lacked
normal hygiene. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">After about 4+ hours at the hospital, massive pain meds,
x-rays, ultrasound, and lots of observation later, Oppa was cleared to go. In
an attempt to lighten the mood we told Oppa that the reason he had to get an
ultrasound was to check on his siamese twin- I think we confused him a lot. He
also kept telling us that he didn't want to get surgery and we assured him that
he really didn't need it. We all kept joking with him saying that he was
"going to have to get three cats sewed to his spine for him to heal"
and he was a bit disturbed. Clara also asked him if he was still going to take
rafting. We said that my not be the most brilliant question to ask a person right after
they have just gotten fairly badly injured and are in the hospital. After
more than four hours in the hospital and all the listed procedures, the cost
was 50 Ringgets (16 USD). We were about to leave the hospital and Oppa
was profusely sweating so we checked him back in (the doctors claimed it was a
reaction to the meds). We left the hospital for a bit and ended up going to a
nearby night market- you can get pretty much anything there from a headlamp to
vacuum pieces galore and loads of seafood and fruit. Carson bought his "bro" a new swimsuit to make up for his torn one. After more time in the
hospital we finally made it back to KAB!!!! The doctors said that his injury
was just severe bone and muscle bruising- thank goodness! He was such a trooper and didn’t cry
a single time- I sure would have! I had to skip my first farm management class
but the hospital was way more eventful anyway. When we got back Oppa kept
repeating to us in his pain med stupor, "if it wasn't for you guy, I would
be died". <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">Unfortunately I didn’t bring my camera for any of this so there is no
picture documentation, which quite frankly may be a good thing. Regardless,
life here in Malaysia is full of never ending excitement and the stories of my
beach camping weekend are soon to come!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times;">-Sven <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_WLjPvq6rks/UStpaKp1PVI/AAAAAAAAAN8/e6drvrPqlMQ/s1600/IMG_4155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_WLjPvq6rks/UStpaKp1PVI/AAAAAAAAAN8/e6drvrPqlMQ/s320/IMG_4155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Oppa, with his bug spray, pre-injury </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0erCQtSJ0J0/UStqQ6MZNTI/AAAAAAAAAOE/U-tF0q6bQaQ/s1600/IMG_4435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-0erCQtSJ0J0/UStqQ6MZNTI/AAAAAAAAAOE/U-tF0q6bQaQ/s320/IMG_4435.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
At least Oppa can look at Justin Bieber during his recovery </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MTiK9ayhAn8/UStpVIVtJ4I/AAAAAAAAAN0/asirHB2VK18/s1600/IMG_4448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MTiK9ayhAn8/UStpVIVtJ4I/AAAAAAAAAN0/asirHB2VK18/s320/IMG_4448.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ingredients for homemade salsa! Thank you Clara :) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12655840198379282521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140808014606237048.post-76968364169178654032013-02-18T10:03:00.000-08:002013-02-18T10:28:16.538-08:00Sven and Fin take Kuala Lumpur <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>418</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2386</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>19</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2930</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Life is good. And what cannot be explained in words can be grasped in pictures. Orientation ended yesterday and today is the
start of yet another new adventure: classes. Let me start from the beginning of
orientation and fill you in on the eventful week we all had. First off,<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"> I am now all
moved into my new home! That means no more temporary housing which as Jocelyn
said, "was like an insane asylum". Instead of constant cobb webs and
cockroaches, I am now freezing at night (when you get A/C again it is just too
cold), my clothes smell after washing them in a washing machine, they fed us
six times a day at orientation, we have warm shower water, and we have a refrigerator
and microwave!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">One thing about Malaysia that has taken me no time at all to realize is
that there is NO SENSE OF TIMLINESS! The bus may say 2 hours but it means 5,
the locals say it is a 10 minute walk and it takes 40, class starts at 11 but
it actually doesn’t start till 11:25. This is actually not too bad because no
one really ever feels rushed. This may bite me in the butt when I get home to
the states. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">On the first day of orientation, the rules started pouring in!!! The
rules at UPSI are literally a complete 180 from Queens but it is amazing being
in a place with such great culture and people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tallied up all the fines that I would have accumulated in
the first two days living on the new campus: well over 1000 Ringgets! At UPSI, you
cannot cook in the rooms (fire hazard), you cannot enter the corridor or room
of someone of the opposite sex, no gambling, you cannot buy a heater for your
room (why you would want that in 90 degree weather I don’t know), you must be
quiet by midnight, you cannot have any pets, there is a curfew of midnight, no
swearing at all, and no “gangsterisms”. The school gave all the students hats
so all the Americans decided to wear them (that’s what you do with free stuff
right?). Well, not quite. We were asked not to wear the hats unless we are
playing sports (dumb Americans). The common rooms, the only confined place that
both a guy and girl can be, has completely glass walls. Mom, this makes me
think about you living in a convent for college-hahaha! The rules might be
excessive and not what I was expecting but Tanjong Malim and UPSI are amazing
places to be! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">All eight Americans have also been given nicknames-Sarah has become
Finnegan and I have become Sven (since everyone thinks we look German or
Swedish). Also, since there is only one American guy, we have adopted guy
names- I guess so he feels less lonely having eight more “guys” to hang with. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">I also purchased a cell phone- I love not having a phone with Internet! At
first we were considering adopting one of the sweet little kittens around the
school until we found out that we were forbidden from doing that (and they have flees and most likely harvest nasty diseases). But, Marlee
did buy some cat food to feed them and they are adorable! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lu6hn54-pFE/USJd4rzErTI/AAAAAAAAAG8/HfKORtYv6YE/s1600/IMG_3738.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-lu6hn54-pFE/USJd4rzErTI/AAAAAAAAAG8/HfKORtYv6YE/s400/IMG_3738.JPG" width="400" /></a> </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oN-1iDDreeQ/USJhEUME8eI/AAAAAAAAAIY/xgLc0TKVegI/s1600/IMG_3855.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-oN-1iDDreeQ/USJhEUME8eI/AAAAAAAAAIY/xgLc0TKVegI/s400/IMG_3855.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wrxjxPYaq2U/USJgOATcD6I/AAAAAAAAAH0/AV2Jqb8bP1A/s1600/IMG_3779.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wrxjxPYaq2U/USJgOATcD6I/AAAAAAAAAH0/AV2Jqb8bP1A/s320/IMG_3779.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LWiPDX8UtcM/USJgV85qcdI/AAAAAAAAAH8/4BPBRS9AdNU/s1600/IMG_3778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LWiPDX8UtcM/USJgV85qcdI/AAAAAAAAAH8/4BPBRS9AdNU/s320/IMG_3778.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My room!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vhh1RbF5Dxc/USJd5uhDeNI/AAAAAAAAAHE/9VffYvfWB-I/s1600/IMG_3752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vhh1RbF5Dxc/USJd5uhDeNI/AAAAAAAAAHE/9VffYvfWB-I/s400/IMG_3752.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
The town of Tanjong Malim</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XVM_vHR0y9Q/USJfc8ia-0I/AAAAAAAAAHc/7wbDLv9qPf4/s1600/IMG_3767.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XVM_vHR0y9Q/USJfc8ia-0I/AAAAAAAAAHc/7wbDLv9qPf4/s320/IMG_3767.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>53</o:Words>
<o:Characters>306</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>2</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>375</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">One night Husnil, a friend and a fellow student at UPSI (we pronounce it
oop-see) took us to the mosque on campus so that we could learn more about the
Malaysian lifestyle and culture. I purchased a head covering so that I could be
respectful when entering the mosque. It is great to have such welcoming people
here- we are treated so well and everyone is beyond kind. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Dc3eFRXiEM/USJhpGyQiOI/AAAAAAAAAIs/5lbL-w-8qNU/s1600/IMG_3867.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8Dc3eFRXiEM/USJhpGyQiOI/AAAAAAAAAIs/5lbL-w-8qNU/s320/IMG_3867.jpg" width="213" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ycVZINOseMM/USJgKnD6JdI/AAAAAAAAAHs/OXzylubvGHo/s1600/IMG_3786.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ycVZINOseMM/USJgKnD6JdI/AAAAAAAAAHs/OXzylubvGHo/s320/IMG_3786.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eebic8uWZJw/USJg1OxtiFI/AAAAAAAAAII/hmx4yLBb240/s1600/IMG_3826.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eebic8uWZJw/USJg1OxtiFI/AAAAAAAAAII/hmx4yLBb240/s400/IMG_3826.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ExuBE8b5Lzo/USJh0RtYryI/AAAAAAAAAI0/P4gY4X4vq8Y/s1600/IMG_3897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ExuBE8b5Lzo/USJh0RtYryI/AAAAAAAAAI0/P4gY4X4vq8Y/s400/IMG_3897.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>332</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1898</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>15</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>3</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2330</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One day of orientation we were told that we would have a
surprise outdoor activity-YES! The sheet said it would be at the sports complex
so I figured we would play football, ultimate Frisbee, relay races, or something on
a field. Nope, we all loaded into the back of a cargo van (the ones you would
imagine people being smuggled over a country border in) and were on our way to
go tubing. We were all wearing sports clothes, running shoes, and the oversized
polo we were all given- NOT water clothes! Having thirty people packed in the
back of a truck was hilarious! At one point a creature jumped into the truck
and the chaos began! All the Brunei, Indonesian, and Korean students started
panicking and screaming. I expected that a large snake, lizard, bird, or some
sort of fast moving, predatory creature had bombarded the bus- nope, it was a grasshopper.
It was also the bumpiest ride I have ever been on and therefore was AWESOME! When
it comes to tubing in Malaysia, 1) you must be fully clothed, 2)
you must wear shoes, 3) the water may look calm but you are 100% mistaken, and
4) the water is very cold. I didn’t have water shoes so I was forced to walk
barefoot to the start of the tubing-OUCH! The whole way the water looked
progressively less deep and less rough- how are you ever supposed to tube in
that? The guide, who is actually my instructor for climbing and rafting started
by telling us all the rules of the tubing, then pulled out a large rope. At
first I thought we were all going to have to hold on to the rope the entire
time- we didn’t. We were pushed down the river and began our journey. At some
parts the water was no more than 5 inches but at other parts you couldn’t
stand. We were all expecting little to no rapids but we got the opposite. The
rapids were so unexpected at parts that I was thrown out of the tube and into
rocks. Needless to say, I have quite a few scrapes, bruises, and welts.
Regardless, we all laughing so hard and had an absolute blast!!! Before we
left, Sarah and I hiked a short but strenuous walk up to the top of a vista in
which we could see the whole area- it was incredible! On the way back home,
Sarah and I rode in the back of a truck, also great! I sure do love sitting
in the back of a truck driving through the jungle wilderness!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SMeHkStQCGY/USJhdbcH2GI/AAAAAAAAAIg/Ex7kYf1j-QM/s1600/IMG_3917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SMeHkStQCGY/USJhdbcH2GI/AAAAAAAAAIg/Ex7kYf1j-QM/s400/IMG_3917.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the back of the cargo truck heading to our surprise in the jungle</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ci2DG2-lRW8/USJh3W1R9ZI/AAAAAAAAAI8/PpO5fH6fkYk/s1600/IMG_3920.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ci2DG2-lRW8/USJh3W1R9ZI/AAAAAAAAAI8/PpO5fH6fkYk/s320/IMG_3920.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s1jcLFUNg2g/USJiDScTRCI/AAAAAAAAAJE/-PrlZgobraQ/s1600/IMG_3921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s1jcLFUNg2g/USJiDScTRCI/AAAAAAAAAJE/-PrlZgobraQ/s320/IMG_3921.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3u3OwmS25Kk/USJibQm6YHI/AAAAAAAAAJM/figaqk8noms/s1600/IMG_3957.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3u3OwmS25Kk/USJibQm6YHI/AAAAAAAAAJM/figaqk8noms/s320/IMG_3957.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9hdPQAVFCic/USJit2iouVI/AAAAAAAAAJU/xqN_W5trh3w/s1600/IMG_3972.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9hdPQAVFCic/USJit2iouVI/AAAAAAAAAJU/xqN_W5trh3w/s320/IMG_3972.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H2pMldXV8iw/USJi65liqBI/AAAAAAAAAJc/98x8ETba45U/s1600/IMG_3978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-H2pMldXV8iw/USJi65liqBI/AAAAAAAAAJc/98x8ETba45U/s400/IMG_3978.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQuupNjqg80/USJi8aTJDPI/AAAAAAAAAJk/qm9Q1bIG3uQ/s1600/IMG_4019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UQuupNjqg80/USJi8aTJDPI/AAAAAAAAAJk/qm9Q1bIG3uQ/s320/IMG_4019.JPG" width="286" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZmNhF4OQeY/USJjCdoiSpI/AAAAAAAAAJs/nL06C4sDMaE/s1600/IMG_4005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9ZmNhF4OQeY/USJjCdoiSpI/AAAAAAAAAJs/nL06C4sDMaE/s400/IMG_4005.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TA5Locg97pg/USJjana3RLI/AAAAAAAAAKA/ooVgHkGgKhs/s1600/IMG_4021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TA5Locg97pg/USJjana3RLI/AAAAAAAAAKA/ooVgHkGgKhs/s320/IMG_4021.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>117</o:Words>
<o:Characters>668</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>5</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>820</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times; mso-bidi-font-size: 16.0pt;">After tubing, Sarah’s parents were texting her asking about the water
and the area. Carson (lone-American male) thought it would be funny to say
“Well the water was OK, however the gangrenous infected leeches did cause a bit
of a problem, however the local rat infested hospital gave me dirty needles
with old anesthetic for the pain, however I am not sure the pain will go down
soon”. I then thought it would be funny to say that Sarah lost a pint of blood,
has welts all over her body, and that the water had numbing properties so she
couldn’t feel all 55 leeches on her legs. I figured that this story was so
fabricated that not a sole would believe it- Nope, I couldn’t be more wrong.
After two days in KL with no connection the US, Sarah parents were worried sick
about her being in the hospital- oops. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UCO2o3c207k/USJjSz3Ud5I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/SYbEzVB9y9c/s1600/IMG_4038.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UCO2o3c207k/USJjSz3Ud5I/AAAAAAAAAJ4/SYbEzVB9y9c/s400/IMG_4038.JPG" width="378" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thug life: Koreans and Denisse </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rGrvswzN22A/USJkKyWd9tI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Ha_JVWOwAUw/s1600/IMG_4085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rGrvswzN22A/USJkKyWd9tI/AAAAAAAAAKU/Ha_JVWOwAUw/s400/IMG_4085.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>418</o:Words>
<o:Characters>2383</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>19</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>4</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>2926</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
On the last day of orientation, we all went to KL for a
tour. Kuala Lumpur sure is one large city! After taking many taxis, trains, and
walking A LOT, we found a hotel for the night. The thing is, hotels in KL are
semi-expensive and the rooms are SMALL! With the eight of us Americans, we
wanted to fit into just one room: not quite possible when the room is just a
double bed and coffee table. We ended up getting two rooms- which meant four
people to one bed. We all went out for dinner- we all ate frog! This was a
great weekend to be in KL because it is Chinese New Year. That means dragon
parades and fireworks galore! I even got to be a part of the parade and hold one
of the poles to control the dragon. Prank playing has become a constant trend- after tee-peeing Carson’s room, he
got payback on Sarah and I by putting a raw egg in our drinks- sadly, it didn’t
stop either of us from drinking it (extra protein right?). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Believe it or not, we all fit in the beds in KL and slept
really well. We all went out barhopping in KL and did anything we could to get
random guys to buy drinks for us. The drinks are so expensive- sometimes over
30 Ringgits for one drink! So, Sarah and I thought of a brilliant plan to get
guys to buy us a drink. We both pretended that we spoke Swahili (a good one to
pick because who in Malaysia is going to know it). We had lots of
“conversations” in our language and some Russian guys really thought that was
so cool= free drink. We went to a disco club- what we had been trying to find
all night! After much dancing we all went to sleep in our jam-packed bed. The
next morning, we went to check out and start the days journey- we had two
goals- find BOOF (a store that looked cool) and an outdoor sports store. We
ended up finding both but BOOF was closed. As we checked out the front desk
told us that we wouldn’t be getting our deposit back. OOPS- they told us we had
“too many people and ate too much breakfast”. Well, I guess that happens when
you fit eight people in a place that is designed for four. We bought bus tickets
for our journey back home to find that we had to wait three more hours- 1)
Denisse was watching our stuff and got us kicked out because she was sleeping
in an area that was not allowed 2) we bought Oppa (one of my favorite Koreans)
a Justin Beiber poster so that his room could have some color. We super glued
it to the top of his ceiling above his bed so that every morning and night he
can admire it. Don’t all 26-year-old Koreans like Justin Beiber? Denisse was
also nice enough to read all of us Americans a bedtime story- which consisted
of Goosebumps! </div>
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IiyUIyJrc1Q/USJkK14deWI/AAAAAAAAAKY/5CJBD8M5kXs/s1600/IMG_4111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IiyUIyJrc1Q/USJkK14deWI/AAAAAAAAAKY/5CJBD8M5kXs/s400/IMG_4111.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UBnNQLBv8vA/USJkYie_QTI/AAAAAAAAAKk/l_tzqM29zzI/s1600/IMG_4127.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UBnNQLBv8vA/USJkYie_QTI/AAAAAAAAAKk/l_tzqM29zzI/s400/IMG_4127.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1DxpcU9Y07Y/USJkkzNZZbI/AAAAAAAAAKs/baXj0JZuAwI/s1600/IMG_4135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1DxpcU9Y07Y/USJkkzNZZbI/AAAAAAAAAKs/baXj0JZuAwI/s400/IMG_4135.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
My Korean friend: Ko</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-20Dj_p1L1P4/USJlJtexcAI/AAAAAAAAALA/fK5DYehePqg/s1600/IMG_4171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-20Dj_p1L1P4/USJlJtexcAI/AAAAAAAAALA/fK5DYehePqg/s400/IMG_4171.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JHWqqxKNGRQ/USJlPiAwcEI/AAAAAAAAALI/85h67ZAH1_Y/s1600/IMG_4168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JHWqqxKNGRQ/USJlPiAwcEI/AAAAAAAAALI/85h67ZAH1_Y/s400/IMG_4168.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLemP1poon0/USJlb1xF2OI/AAAAAAAAALQ/2-pVEScujwk/s1600/IMG_4177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pLemP1poon0/USJlb1xF2OI/AAAAAAAAALQ/2-pVEScujwk/s400/IMG_4177.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Petronas Towers!!!!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YU-0YcrD-bY/USJmDkaxNQI/AAAAAAAAALc/FHEWHA_x3CY/s1600/IMG_4209.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-YU-0YcrD-bY/USJmDkaxNQI/AAAAAAAAALc/FHEWHA_x3CY/s400/IMG_4209.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Who wants frog for dinner? All the Americans!</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t-2qjWjPRTs/USJm0uG5ptI/AAAAAAAAAL0/fQxadYIf1x4/s1600/IMG_4214.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t-2qjWjPRTs/USJm0uG5ptI/AAAAAAAAAL0/fQxadYIf1x4/s400/IMG_4214.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-LP-UfwEao/USJm1gG9VsI/AAAAAAAAAMA/j3oDQizV93s/s1600/IMG_4210.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-LP-UfwEao/USJm1gG9VsI/AAAAAAAAAMA/j3oDQizV93s/s320/IMG_4210.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FsdWpnNFvk/USJm0tYq_SI/AAAAAAAAAL4/BazXN7OjsEg/s1600/IMG_4216.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5FsdWpnNFvk/USJm0tYq_SI/AAAAAAAAAL4/BazXN7OjsEg/s320/IMG_4216.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYQ7c3MWiok/USJmIob-roI/AAAAAAAAALk/Kjmo2iboYZU/s1600/IMG_4183.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kYQ7c3MWiok/USJmIob-roI/AAAAAAAAALk/Kjmo2iboYZU/s400/IMG_4183.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
There is supposed to be an "I" at the beginning but Sarah left that out :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyu-4ztFKiU/USJnh25k9jI/AAAAAAAAAMM/buMMqWLAGV0/s1600/IMG_4281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xyu-4ztFKiU/USJnh25k9jI/AAAAAAAAAMM/buMMqWLAGV0/s400/IMG_4281.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YaVwCY3m7x0/USJnit8d9OI/AAAAAAAAAMU/gQ65zOVG-a4/s1600/IMG_4323.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YaVwCY3m7x0/USJnit8d9OI/AAAAAAAAAMU/gQ65zOVG-a4/s400/IMG_4323.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AQsEk1mbEQ8/USJnn-RR_2I/AAAAAAAAAMc/MzbiufK7nYw/s1600/IMG_4310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AQsEk1mbEQ8/USJnn-RR_2I/AAAAAAAAAMc/MzbiufK7nYw/s400/IMG_4310.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OrdausQarX4/USJoO20XaQI/AAAAAAAAAMw/ktNsYiiHJZ8/s1600/IMG_4350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OrdausQarX4/USJoO20XaQI/AAAAAAAAAMw/ktNsYiiHJZ8/s320/IMG_4350.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BEej7wnveTQ/USJoSGrcZ_I/AAAAAAAAAM4/SdFojJUOQ44/s1600/IMG_4371.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BEej7wnveTQ/USJoSGrcZ_I/AAAAAAAAAM4/SdFojJUOQ44/s400/IMG_4371.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Being a part of the dragon parade!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W1cMCiC-sCs/USJo2LbYTnI/AAAAAAAAANI/wysFHw9tqeE/s1600/IMG_4406.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W1cMCiC-sCs/USJo2LbYTnI/AAAAAAAAANI/wysFHw9tqeE/s320/IMG_4406.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Miqthz5wDk/USJo5tlLoSI/AAAAAAAAANU/i_ppVRipv2w/s1600/IMG_4430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6Miqthz5wDk/USJo5tlLoSI/AAAAAAAAANU/i_ppVRipv2w/s320/IMG_4430.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Goosebumps bedtime story</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Between tubing down a rapid filled river, being part of a
dragon parade, eating some super weird food, exploring KL, eating yummy food,
orientation was a success! Now to start classes- oh and I basically have a four
day weekend. I love only have classes Monday though Wednesday (and a short
class early Thursday morning) <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;">:) </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;">-Night everybody!!!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;"><br /></span>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>47</o:Words>
<o:Characters>268</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>2</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>329</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12655840198379282521noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140808014606237048.post-28803809423081188592013-02-11T09:46:00.000-08:002013-02-11T09:47:34.232-08:00The "waterfall" journey <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>134</o:Words>
<o:Characters>769</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>6</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>944</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today was certainly an adventure: and let me say, choosing
Malaysia was definitively the best choice I could have made. There may not be
nightlife, bars, dancing, live music, etc., but what it does have is amazing rainforests,
incredibly nice people, immense culture, and fanfreakintastic food. After
waking up, I went to breakfast with Sarah and some of the other study abroad
students. Let me say, I was quite concerned that the 104 MYR per week ($34 USD)
would not be enough money to eat! I correct myself- breakfast cost a total of
1MYR (less than 40 cents)-CRAZINESS!!! There is an Indian influence to the food
so 1) I am going to have to get used to S-P-I-C-Y food!!!! And 2) I need to get
used to eating curry for breakfast. I also already accidently drank the tap
water, which the Malaysians don’t even drink. You know you shouldn’t drink the
water when the locals even boil it before drinking it-oops, I feel fine so far. </div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0wtWISQ6Sjo/URkRLjfIoQI/AAAAAAAAAEM/aQrIg5L-Sfg/s1600/IMG_3580.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0wtWISQ6Sjo/URkRLjfIoQI/AAAAAAAAAEM/aQrIg5L-Sfg/s320/IMG_3580.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OuiufDI4r_w/URkQPtZpczI/AAAAAAAAADw/DXf67F9a2mA/s1600/IMG_3579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OuiufDI4r_w/URkQPtZpczI/AAAAAAAAADw/DXf67F9a2mA/s320/IMG_3579.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
After breakfast we started walking into the town of Tg.
Malim to go to the market. On the way Sarah and I met a nice Malaysian woman
and had are picture taken with her (I really need to get better at
conversational Malay!). After making our way to the city by hitchhiking with a
guy who we met (don’t worry mom, there were five of us) we went shopping, I
finally found an ATM that would except my card, Sarah and I got some rugs, and
we met some locals. Some of the locals loved taking pictures of all us “white
girls” as they say. Oh, and don’t worry; we actually took a taxi back- which
cost a total of 5 MYR (less than $2 USD). Everything here is cheap and I love
it!<br />
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>97</o:Words>
<o:Characters>555</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>4</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>681</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9s8FvWTEokE/URkQlRNzRkI/AAAAAAAAAD8/sv3NWc7LBsE/s1600/IMG_3587.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9s8FvWTEokE/URkQlRNzRkI/AAAAAAAAAD8/sv3NWc7LBsE/s400/IMG_3587.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cr6dW0ROYo8/URkQoiVpapI/AAAAAAAAAEE/RVjcKPmWkKM/s1600/IMG_3595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Cr6dW0ROYo8/URkQoiVpapI/AAAAAAAAAEE/RVjcKPmWkKM/s400/IMG_3595.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-00A2Xd5rIB0/URkRMplKtqI/AAAAAAAAAEU/pb9HhlbXHG4/s1600/IMG_3599.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-00A2Xd5rIB0/URkRMplKtqI/AAAAAAAAAEU/pb9HhlbXHG4/s320/IMG_3599.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p0XCYNr3QfA/URkRVxW09UI/AAAAAAAAAEY/5fFOi7zIGCQ/s1600/IMG_3598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-p0XCYNr3QfA/URkRVxW09UI/AAAAAAAAAEY/5fFOi7zIGCQ/s320/IMG_3598.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>218</o:Words>
<o:Characters>1246</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>10</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>2</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1530</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
When we got back home, we got lunch (we only had five
minutes so we all got a chocolate ice-cream bar)- YUMMY and nutritious! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwF5AlkxlIM/URkSA9sFviI/AAAAAAAAAEw/oZVy3jc5eVY/s1600/IMG_3607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qwF5AlkxlIM/URkSA9sFviI/AAAAAAAAAEw/oZVy3jc5eVY/s400/IMG_3607.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2KUYqJS6XHk/URkR93pWeOI/AAAAAAAAAEk/1DmaKp4v7js/s1600/IMG_3635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2KUYqJS6XHk/URkR93pWeOI/AAAAAAAAAEk/1DmaKp4v7js/s400/IMG_3635.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
We all met up with some of the guys that work at UPSI and they guided us on a “30 minute” trek to the waterfall. Well, at least they said it would take 30 min. It ended up taking nearly 2 hours to get there and the whole journey lasted over 5. It was so worth it! I wanted an atmosphere with lots of outdoorsy activities and I sure did get it! We got to see monkeys, a Hindu temple, swim in a really pretty river, find the largest snail shells known to man, play games with the three cutest Malaysian girls (one wearing a slip knot t-shirt?), and got to trek through the Malaysian rainforest. We also witnessed a young girl running after and kicking a chicken, what the heck? Poor chicken! Right before the “waterfall” we had to cross a rickety, wire bridge to get to the water. When we arrived I asked where the waterfall was and the guys pointed to the left. I was confused? It was a river with nearly nonexistent rapids and maybe a 2-inch waterfall. Regardless, the swim was not only refreshing but also beautiful. It was interesting because we had to swim in our clothes because the Malaysian men cannot see woman in their bathing suits, in fact, they won’t even shake the hand of a woman. Oh and the Malaysians were amazed that I could swim haha. Could life get any better, I don’t think so. The flowers and vegetation are also extremely diverse- biodiversity to the extreme!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YKAEcmuWyvg/URkSo2MDEhI/AAAAAAAAAE8/UyR5PC6cjDM/s1600/IMG_3667.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YKAEcmuWyvg/URkSo2MDEhI/AAAAAAAAAE8/UyR5PC6cjDM/s400/IMG_3667.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W1OF2SRkvQo/URkStyr1_-I/AAAAAAAAAFE/HXd6mXNfoKQ/s1600/IMG_3652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W1OF2SRkvQo/URkStyr1_-I/AAAAAAAAAFE/HXd6mXNfoKQ/s400/IMG_3652.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSk0PXdOTWA/URkS8TgfXdI/AAAAAAAAAFM/HMgQZA_hVqo/s1600/IMG_3675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KSk0PXdOTWA/URkS8TgfXdI/AAAAAAAAAFM/HMgQZA_hVqo/s400/IMG_3675.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8D5pE4BLXSU/URkS-ct1S1I/AAAAAAAAAFU/hHfZyuO6Hm0/s1600/IMG_3673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8D5pE4BLXSU/URkS-ct1S1I/AAAAAAAAAFU/hHfZyuO6Hm0/s400/IMG_3673.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I1fWSPRG1wA/URkTOpScjLI/AAAAAAAAAFc/1WCCii0zMaA/s1600/IMG_3676.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I1fWSPRG1wA/URkTOpScjLI/AAAAAAAAAFc/1WCCii0zMaA/s400/IMG_3676.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eehisg8s904/URkTxXChmzI/AAAAAAAAAFk/xj7sOg68HOE/s1600/IMG_3664.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-eehisg8s904/URkTxXChmzI/AAAAAAAAAFk/xj7sOg68HOE/s400/IMG_3664.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0AHvqvC_bo/URkTyGAVo0I/AAAAAAAAAFo/xCINRxGPH1k/s1600/IMG_3684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-r0AHvqvC_bo/URkTyGAVo0I/AAAAAAAAAFo/xCINRxGPH1k/s400/IMG_3684.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HRvl_xmrZ7M/URkUAoAXfDI/AAAAAAAAAF0/KZ8yFsuUcMU/s1600/IMG_3681.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HRvl_xmrZ7M/URkUAoAXfDI/AAAAAAAAAF0/KZ8yFsuUcMU/s400/IMG_3681.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRXZSPg8nx4/URkUTj5WVwI/AAAAAAAAAF8/UDb1mY7aSCQ/s1600/IMG_3697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KRXZSPg8nx4/URkUTj5WVwI/AAAAAAAAAF8/UDb1mY7aSCQ/s400/IMG_3697.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fIuc1tS87r8/URkUbe2qlcI/AAAAAAAAAGE/UWDyIL4OERQ/s1600/IMG_3688.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fIuc1tS87r8/URkUbe2qlcI/AAAAAAAAAGE/UWDyIL4OERQ/s400/IMG_3688.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:DocumentProperties>
<o:Template>Normal.dotm</o:Template>
<o:Revision>0</o:Revision>
<o:TotalTime>0</o:TotalTime>
<o:Pages>1</o:Pages>
<o:Words>173</o:Words>
<o:Characters>987</o:Characters>
<o:Company>Queens University</o:Company>
<o:Lines>8</o:Lines>
<o:Paragraphs>1</o:Paragraphs>
<o:CharactersWithSpaces>1212</o:CharactersWithSpaces>
<o:Version>12.0</o:Version>
</o:DocumentProperties>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After our excursion, we decided it was time for dinner- we
were all starving! We walked to the restaurant and I ordered sweet and sour
chicken. Let me say, Malaysian sweet and sour chicken is spicy beyond belief
(my lips were numb after the third bite). It was tasty but the only thing that
saved me was the dragon fruit juice with my dinner. The restaurant looked a lot
nicer than some of the others so I figured it would maybe be a little over
priced: nope, still only cost a whopping $3 USD per person. Sarah also had two
very blonde moments of the day 1) glancing at a burger stand in the middle of
the jungle, Sarah said they must be American burgers because the flags above
the stand are American. I’ll let that slide; the Malaysian flag kind of looks a
bit like the US flag). 2) I said dang; my chicken had a lot of bones in it- Sarah
replied, “oops, ate all of the chicken bones in her dinner because they seemed
like crunchy vegetables”. Oh Sarah. The dinner conversation was ridiculous
hilarious- Marlee tried for nearly an hour to explain the difference between
southerners and northerners, to the Malaysian guys. Overall, Malaysia is
amazing so far and I still have 4.5 months left! </div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12655840198379282521noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140808014606237048.post-36169758729965359582013-02-10T07:58:00.000-08:002013-02-10T07:58:02.307-08:00Is all the meat water buffalo? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6YeI4ukak3M/URe7BwRHX3I/AAAAAAAAACc/B1tA_cnEr30/s1600/IMG_3536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6YeI4ukak3M/URe7BwRHX3I/AAAAAAAAACc/B1tA_cnEr30/s320/IMG_3536.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-__-xmruCBP0/URe7CGq1cTI/AAAAAAAAACg/9-cq1eXjrTc/s1600/IMG_3524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-__-xmruCBP0/URe7CGq1cTI/AAAAAAAAACg/9-cq1eXjrTc/s320/IMG_3524.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DI4tAuCYpyg/URe7fSSfalI/AAAAAAAAACs/NOgynis6LZc/s1600/IMG_3540.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DI4tAuCYpyg/URe7fSSfalI/AAAAAAAAACs/NOgynis6LZc/s320/IMG_3540.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4bF5cAev0E/URe7h3qNq2I/AAAAAAAAAC0/OHIknxdSNBE/s1600/IMG_3534.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U4bF5cAev0E/URe7h3qNq2I/AAAAAAAAAC0/OHIknxdSNBE/s320/IMG_3534.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-muGBg5ZrPzs/URe7-Yr4qbI/AAAAAAAAAC8/Am2uZ2eYnz4/s1600/IMG_3550.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-muGBg5ZrPzs/URe7-Yr4qbI/AAAAAAAAAC8/Am2uZ2eYnz4/s320/IMG_3550.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xgiN8_CC4oY/URe8Jh_jkTI/AAAAAAAAADE/4yVbJhdlt5M/s1600/IMG_3570.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xgiN8_CC4oY/URe8Jh_jkTI/AAAAAAAAADE/4yVbJhdlt5M/s320/IMG_3570.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qhAs0rSdXXI/URe8YV_Y0LI/AAAAAAAAADM/xEczq7quDKU/s1600/IMG_3575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qhAs0rSdXXI/URe8YV_Y0LI/AAAAAAAAADM/xEczq7quDKU/s320/IMG_3575.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOMkc2LQuAM/URe8g7FOlRI/AAAAAAAAADU/LeY6kk9v63U/s1600/IMG_3537.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gOMkc2LQuAM/URe8g7FOlRI/AAAAAAAAADU/LeY6kk9v63U/s320/IMG_3537.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ErKKcL4qr3k/URe8nv3AxuI/AAAAAAAAADc/sccd4mMpkuE/s1600/IMG_3577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ErKKcL4qr3k/URe8nv3AxuI/AAAAAAAAADc/sccd4mMpkuE/s320/IMG_3577.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
So, I am now at UPSI!!! Sarah and I arrived at our new home to find that we are living in a small apartment with 5 other roommates plus spiders, lizards, mosquitos, and others. There is no refrigerator, A/C, stove, microwave, HOT WATER, trashcan, toilet paper, and according to Sarah, "overall cleaness". And the windows are sealed in with a nice layer of newspaper and duck tape (actually, I don't think there are windows behind the newspaper). The amenities that we do have are floral curtains, a one-inch mattress, dirty sheets, tape infested walls, dirty floors, and dusty shelves. The look on both Sarah and I's faces was most definitely the funniest part of the day! Sarah told herself to expect the worst and she said "it was pretty darn close to that", haha. Regardless, this is actually the kind of study abroad I had hoped for all along :) It might seem like this is the worst living situation ever but I really don't mind it- next time Sarah gets the bed by the creepy spider curtains though. I wanted exotic and I sure did get it! Despite the cold water, I was so nasty after 2 full days traveling, that a shower was much needed. But we did find out that this is only our temporary home and we move into somewhere new in two days. The atmosphere here is really pretty and very lush: there are rivers, rainforest, and everything green and tropical, all over the apartment complex. I went on a walk around the area with some of the students and got a sense of the area, which is quite beautiful (and there are some really cute cows and rabbits). I went into the local 7/11 near the school to buy a water bottle and noticed that every single pack of cigarettes had gruesome pictures of what smoking can do to you- it supposedly stops the people here from smoking (we should bring that to the US). For dinner, we ate at a local restaurant and had some trouble ordering food: they only spoke Malay (luckily I learned some new vocab). My debit card was rejected at every ATM so Clara was nice enough to pay for Sarah and I. The whole meal for three people cost 7 MR (only $2.50 USD): CRAZY!!!! I think what I was eating was in fact chicken but it could have been a mystery meat, most likely water buffalo. The mosquitoes haven't gotten bad just yet and I surely hope it stays that way. Everyone is great so far! There are so far 6 other girls for the US, several Korean girls, an America guy, and a girl from Kazakhstan: more are still to come! Tomorrow we have the entire day free= exploration!!!! Today was also Chinese new year!!!! Year of the Snake! Due to that, a lot of things were closed and we were unable to move into out permanent homes. Fireworks are going off right now which is really exciting! The first day in Malaysia has been a success and I am sure lots of amazing things are to come! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12655840198379282521noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3140808014606237048.post-72899772173382639272013-02-10T02:44:00.002-08:002013-02-10T02:44:48.847-08:00Journey to the Other Side of the Earth <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVr21TU2O0E/URd6Bd-fHbI/AAAAAAAAACM/8Qycmk9-D2k/s1600/blog+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVr21TU2O0E/URd6Bd-fHbI/AAAAAAAAACM/8Qycmk9-D2k/s320/blog+1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
For starters, I have neither narrative skills or experience blogging but here it goes...I am currently sitting in the airport in Kuala Lumpur but I will back track for a while. So, this whole adventure kind of started last summer (actually I think my whole life is one big adventure) when I travelled to Costa Rica to work with the cutest, most loving animals ever: SLOTHS!!! While in Costa Rica, I contracted a terrible and expensive illness...the travel bug. I have recently found out that there is not only not a cure, but the illness worsens with time. Well, that led me to travel to Turkey and Greece with Jess this past winter break, which was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Now, the real journey begins as I am studying abroad for the Spring 2013 semester at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris in Tanjongmalim, Perak, Malaysia!!! From what I have heard from people already here, it offers some intense culture shock which I am more than ready for.<br />
<br />
As with everything in my life, there is NEVER a dull moment, in the states and out. After saying goodbye to my mom and day Friday afternoon, I started my 2 day journey to Malaysia. While still in Charlotte, I received a call from Sarah: my Queens friend and fellow bio major who is also studying in Malaysia this semester. She tells me that the TSA officer won't let her get through security because she doesn't have a Chinese visa to fly to Hong Kong (thank you Jun! at least I had one!). Even after Sarah making it through security, we nearly missed our first flight because we were too busy chatting and missed the whole, "your gate has changed" thing! At least we were right near it and pretty much hopped on the plane right before the doors closed, FEEEEWWWWW! As much as I hate reading I bought a new book to read on the plane (considering it is 25 hours flying time to Malaysia). Sarah asked what I planned on reading so I pulled it out, oops, not the right book. Out came the other book I brought: "Writing in Biology". Sarah looked at me with utter disgust which confused me, my book was about traveling after all? I would have paid money to have a picture of Sarah's face at that moment!!! I looked down and started laughing, and semi-crying: that was not the book I planned on reading, but I did bring it as a reference for my science classes here (sorry Queens bio professors, that is still not my favorite source of pleasure reading). I got out my other book, "How to Travel the World on $50 a Day", which hopefully will give me some info on how to decrease the cost of my illness. After about 2 hours, I read the book and it was TV time! I have recently become obsessed with Breaking Bad! So much so that in the last month I watched sessions 1-4, and the first season twice (thanks Anna <u>Blake)</u>. Somehow, I really don't know how, but the plane had the whole 5th session which I had yet to see (Hints, had not yet seen). Seriously, it was my lucky day! Then I watched "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" (which was weird). I guess Sarah liked it so much that she watched it three times haha- delirium can sometimes get the best of you. Then it was on to the next flight, LA to Hong Kong, in which I drugged myself to make it through the 16 hours (which wasn't even bad at all-MELISSA!!!). The flight was quite nice because Sarah and I got a seat-and-a-half each! This made the trip more comfortable than it could have been! First class looked pretty darn nice: people had their own pod-like corners to sleep in. There were several times I looked over and I wasn't sure how Sarah could actually sleep the way she was laying. We also both missed dinner: I was looking forward to having sweet and sour chicken.<br />
<br />
The flight from Hong Kong to KL was next and it sure was interesting. We were served brunch and had a choice of two plates- I chose ham and eggs. The mystery meat has already started, the menu on the plane said I was getting ham and eggs but it was definitiey not ham (this reminds me so much of my ham-burger from Costa Rica). Note to everyone, if you go to a restaurant and the menu says ham-burger, the hyphen is not just randomly placed there, it means your meal is not made of the normal beef but something crazy! Then Sarah all of the sudden said, "what is that spraying noise". Then we looked ahead, the flight attendants walked through the aisles, several times I must say, to fumigate the plane (thats what I thought they were doing but who knows). It looked like one of those action movies where the guys in all black, spray crazy gas in the air and kill everybody (jk Mom and Dad, it wasn't that bad). But anyway, the air smelled of disinfectant for a while (if that was even what they sprayed). Once we got off the plane, we stepped foot into Malaysia for the first time (I can already tell its gonna be HOT!!). Sarah and I are the only blonde and blue-eyed people here, at least that we have seen so far. Now we are sitting at a smoothie bar in the KL airport blogging (my first ever!) and waiting for another American student to arrive :) My hand now feels like a claw because I have such poor typing etiquette so I think it is time I go...and dang I use too many parentheses. After all, lets be real, I am a biology NOT english major. But I made it here safely and I am so excited for what the future is going to bring :)<br />
<br />
Love,<br />
-Merdy </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12655840198379282521noreply@blogger.com0