tel aviv

Hello,
I  moved to tel aviv to an amazing apartment near the bima. These two weeks have been an emotional rollercoaster. Starting new has always been hard for me. When faced with finding a job, place to live and being a grown up - well thats really challenging.
I  have been working at Mike's place a trashy restaurant/ bar with an american style of grossness. I  really despise the place and as of today quit. I found a job as a meeting coordinator at a brokrage firm with normal hours.
In other news. maybe  I  can breathe now.
Love,
Michali

THAILAND IS THE LAND OF SMILES.

I just returned from my Thailand adventures with yelly. It was a month of learning, eating, beaching, having tons of fun and trying tons of new things :) i had a blast! I think every time I end up traveling I learn that I know nothing. Each place I travel be it Europe- or now Asia has a way of reminding me how much more I yearn to learn about different cultures.  

 We landed in Bangkok and experienced a culture shock. There were tons of people pushing past us, fast traffic going the other way, and people shouting in Thai. It was crazy to see the size differences many of the people I could see clear above their heads and I am only 5'7". 

For the first two weeks there I was very sick. I was perscribed anti maleria pills . They were really strong!!!! and I spent a lot of time in Thailand's most ... interesting bathrooms 0: ) haha. not so nice, after visiting a very nice Thai DR. he laughed at me and told me that I didn't need the pills. Maleria was a huge problem 50 years ago but now not a problem even in the jungles. I stoped taking them- problem stopped yay. 

We made it down to Phuket. 

Where we found ourselves in a Thai only area.  we have a knack of finding these places of no toursists. so we really saw the really Thailand so cooolllll!.

The food was harsh on my stomach. While a huge meal can cost 3$ it was hard for me to find things purely veggie. not with fish sauce. 

everything was soooo aforable. 

after Phuket where  I was cranky (sorry yelly) we made our way on a ferry to Thailand's islands of Koh Phi Phi.  BEAUTIFUL!!! we took a 7 island tour which shows you monkey islands(not very friendly residents) and Maya bay which was the island where the beach was filmed. 

pure paradise. we spent 10 days there doing a lot of exploring, there were tons of tourists. every night there was a beach party and we met tons of israelis. 

we ended up exploring in the jungle and came out on the most beautiful island resort, lush and rich with a pool overlooking the sea!!!!

amazing. 

finally it was time to leave the beauty and head north to Chaing Mai. This was by far our favorite place. people were quality. This is where most of the jungle treks, elephant riding, and cooking classes happen. 

we ended up staying at Julie's guest house (highly reccomend) a hippy haven. Tons of backpackers from everywhere. the entire week's lodging, alchol, and food came out to 65$ not including attractions we went ziplining (terrifying but so much fun) and took an organic cooking class . ( I am now an expert Pad Thai chef) and we went ELEPHANT RIDING!!!! it was my favorite!!!

we went to Baan Chang Elephant camp. A home for rescued elephants .there were things I really loved and things I didn't agree with . 

Each elephant has a personal care taker called a Mahout. These Burmese men are paired up with elephants based on their personalities. a calm mahout will recieve a calm elephant (like harry potter sorting hats). These men are 24/7 with their elephants even sleeping close by. They have such a connection that the elephants seem to understand their thoughts and small actions. the Mahouts send the money back to their families,  Elephants are amazing. Many were rescued from bad people and will remember that so it is important to ask teh Mahout before petting the elephant and loving it. 

Each mahout had a small pick in his hand. I had a problem with that. even though the elephant's skin is 3inch thick. they justified it by saying it is the only form of protection against the elephant if he goes off. 

they are amazingly strong and can easily pick you up with their trunks. but still . 

also when we first came in they were chained by their foot. i didn't like this but they explained that asian elephants are fighters and if left unchained at night  they would fight till oneo f them died if they did not like eachother. 

i thought women held grudges... jeez

overall it was amazing we fed them, rode them bareback, and washed and played with them.. they look very well taken care of : ) 

i love elephants!

they are so amazing.

 

i am coming out of the high of being in thailand, it was the most amazing place we met so many great people from everywhere from france, holland, israel, belguim, norway, argentina, canada. 

now i am homeless and jobless 

but thats ok working on it. 

lots of elephant hugs, 

michali