Now that the term has come to a close, it’s time for a vacation. The break after this term is a month long, because it’s summer in Australia and because this is the end of Term 4 at Vientiane College, so the new year also starts a new school year. Therefore, there are major travel adventures in store.
The itinerary:
Dec. 19: One day in Bangkok
Dec. 19-Jan. 1: India! I’ll be traveling with two PiA Singapore fellows, first taking trains between Delhi, Agra, and Varanasi, then flying south to Kerala State (Cochin, Munnar, Allepey, Varkala). I’m expecting India to be crazy, chaotic, fragrant, possibly illness-inducing, colorful, impressive, and delicious, among other things. (The first sentence of the Lonely Planet Guide description of Varanasi is “Brace Yourself.”)
Jan. 1-Jan. 4: Singapore! Spending more time with the Singapore fellows, and (likely) marveling at the efficiency of the modern city and the contrasts with India.
Jan. 4-???: Thailand! I’ll be visiting friends and PiA fellows in Chiang Rai, Nan, and Chiang Mai. Enjoying the company and working my way back toward Vientiane.
Jan. 20th: First day of teaching. New year, new term, new classes.
(key: A: Vientiane; B: Bangkok; C: New Delhi; D: Agra; E: Varanasi; F:Cochin; G: Trivandrum–departure point from India; H: Singapore; I: Chiang Rai; J: Nan; K: Chiang Mai)
Unfortunately, the fact that I’m having these epic adventures and visiting so many different places means that there will probably be a month-long blogging hiatus. I might try to drop in a quick update or two when I get a chance at an internet cafe, but substantive updates and photos will have to wait until January…look forward to many exciting things to come in the new year! In the meantime, enjoy a glance at some more photos from the past 3 months in my Picasa albums.