The adventures of Pioneer Girl travelling with enthusiastic Camper Barn Owl Guy

Started as a blog about my trip from Pittsburgh to California in a Ford Pickup, hauling a 30' refurbed trailer/camper. Ah, California Dreaming, 'n all that. Found that adventures can be long distance or in your own neighborhood... I look for my own twist on local sites, don't take the known for granted...and always find something new. It's easy, just open your eyes..

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Fly with the Greatest of Ease..

December 30, 2011 - Our visit to Chaing Mai in northwestern Thailand was awesome..  a much anticipated zip lining experience across the rainforest canopy is a must-do.  We hired a skilled driver for the day , traffic is in a constant state of snarl in the populated areas, best to leave it to the pros.


The day started with a visit to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep,a temple high in the mountains (over 5,000 feet) overlooking Chaing Mai (Mount Thai Suthep) lunched at the butterfly and orchid farm, and then finally a visit to the rainforest.  Our driver hooked us with with an eco-friendly,  private zip-lining experience run by local Thai's (no tied up Gibbons for human amusement).


Outfitted with harnesses, helmets and gloves and two hang-lines, we flew from treetop to treetop with cables and pulleys on a cable high above the forest floor...super fun. Now, yours truly PG has a fear of heights which was quickly surpassed by flying through the air with the greatest of ease.  We flew connected with about 12 platforms, the most impressive about 500 meters (about 1/3 mile) emerging from the jungle and flying low across a beautiful lake.  On this particular leg, we were hooked up on our backs so that we could fly like "superman" across the lake...oh, and since its a long flight this position would enable us to make it all the way across...  Well not for your truly.  I almost made it as my guides waited patiently on the platform.  I got about 15 yards from them and then started going backwards back across the lake.  What the heck!  HELP!  I heard lots of laughter on the shore and I continued to drift until one of the guides hooked up and started his way across to rescue me.  At the same time, I went into rescue yourself mode and started to walk my hands across the cable to meet him.  I highly recommend a zip-lining trip.  Once you get past the initial...how do I land fear, it's an awesome flight.


Heading to the beaches of Krabi today, more adventures to come!  Thanks for following me on my trip.  PG is savoring it all...  Keep your eyes open...xoxo PG

Saturday, December 31, 2011

Eat Like an Artist in 2012

I found this awesome article by Meg Worden, a Writer and Health + Creativity Consultant and loved it so much i wanted to share it. Is it okay to put it on my blog?   I wish I had written it...

"...Oxygen is THE primary nutrient. Get as much as you can. Take long deep breaths before, during and after you go to bed, get out of bed, speak, respond, make a decision, eat something, drink something or smoke.
Don’t smoke. But if you do, breathe more than you smoke.
Hang around trees. They are making oxygen all day long and giving it away for free.  They are also willing to teach you how to be still, silent and patient, to have deep roots, a strong spine and arms that reach towards the sun.
Drink water. Drink more water than any other liquid. Have a glass of water right after you breathe and before doing any of the things above. Go have a glass of water right now.
If you drink coffee or wine or scotch, be moderate. Stop with the first flush. And always-always-always drink only the finest coffee, wine and scotch you can afford. This is non negotiable.
Eat Food. Real food. Beautiful food. Vibrant food. Living food. Eat many plants because plants are so smart they figured out how to turn sunlight directly into food. Eat that miracle every single day.
Eat food with people you love. Even if you’re alone.
Do not eat the inedible stuff that is pre-made, packaged, frozen, canned, is an unnatural color or comes from places of unspeakable cruelty and disease. But if any of this is, for whatever reason, the best of your available options…eat with grace and graciousness. Allow it to nourish you anyhow.
Same goes for meat, dairy and sugar. Not much. But if and when you do, with grace.
Move around. Find exercise you enjoy and do it. Try yoga.
Be still. Try meditation.
A strong, flexible, well-fed body with a wide range of motion and a tolerance for stillness will give all those ideas you’re going to have in 2012 a sound container to percolate in. It will make sure those ideas are so clear and righteous that they spring forth from your forehead fully formed like Athena from the forehead of Zeus. Immortal ideas, darling.
Feed your immortal ideas with music, art and literature that is so breathtakingly beautiful that your body hurts from the experience. Then write to the artist and tell them what their work meant to you.
Consume more art than news.
Do not stay in toxic relationships. Period. Sometimes you have to love people from a distance. That’s all I’ll say about this.
Do cultivate healthy relationships. Make time for people that inspire and uplift you. Consider these meetings with your brilliant friends and collaborators the most important part of your job.
Consider belly laughing till tears stream down your cheeks to be the most important part of your job.
Also consider time alone to nurture your immortal ideas the most important part of  your job.

And if you hate your job, for the love of all things, please do something else. Don’t let “the economy”  or any one or thing guilt you into being thankful for a job that is killing you. There is always another way.

Being an artist in the world- whether you write, paint, take photographs, grow orchids, craft wedding cakes, practice healing arts or create your own entrepreneurial income in any format is a big responsibility. It requires a tender sensitivity, exquisite bravery and deep, rhythmic tenacity. It can be, at times frightening and painful. Ask for help when you need it. Be alone when you need it. But do not, under any circumstances, stop. Because your work is crucial. In fact, the whole wide world waits with bated breath for your unique light to shine upon it."

This is your one precious life. You have arrived.

New Year's Eve in Thailand

I'm very happy to be spending the LAST of 2011 and first of 2012...here in Thailand with loved ones.  May your new year be filled with kisses and hugs...no more frowns~~~move past any sadness or bitterness and live today as if it were your first, set the stage for bigger and better things, sit quiet and let your muse show you the way. Thank every being that has touched your life and let go.   Breathe and let breathe...  Happy New Year...a wondrous year is yours for the taking.  I love you, Mom, thank you for my traveling pants  :)

Warm breezes flowing through this house, and the smell of...yepp! pork roast and kielbasa and sauerkraut wafting from the kitchen.  PG went to the Villa earlier and bought an organic pork roast, found the slow cooker...this place never smelled so good (so I've been told :)  The kielbasa (tastes more like hot dogs) leaves much to be desired but but tradition is tradition...soon as I redd up here, shower and polish, we are heading to the club for dinner, drinks, fireworks...then back to the homestead for PORK and champagne.  Life is good....can I pleassse get lost here??? 

The Doctor Fish will see you now...


PG feet
December 31, 2011...Good afternoon, friends, and pioneers everywhere!   Yours truly, PG, and PG niece...found the Fish Spa in Chaing Mai and decided we needed a treatment, no appointment necessary.  So, what the heck is this controversial Fish Spa or Fish Pedicure treatment?   If someone said to you:   Hey, come and stick your feet in this tub of fish so they can eat your dead skin!" (makes me wonder...who thought of that first??) You'd probably say...uh, I don't think so!! 

Yeah, the idea of having fish eat your skin, is justa bit creepy. But, here in Thailand and other Asian countries, many spa's offer this treatment where you become fish food.  These species of "doctor" fish (Garra Rufa),feed off of dry, flaking human skin.  Don't worry, they don't have teeth, so they don't bite, in fact, it tickles...as they chew off calouses and hard spots, it's a win-win situation, they get to eat, you get smooth tootsies.  PS I don't believe this is legal in the States...  so, just saying, gotta get your adventure pants on and come to Thailand..

But this PG was tickled pink to have tried it..lots of giggling going on,  which is always a good thing.  Havent giggled this much for months, what a great trip so far~  

Friday, December 30, 2011

You Say Bangkok, I Say...

Bangkoks official Thai name is the longest in the world...
Watch "Bangkok Official Name" on YouTube  Translation:   The city of angels, the great city, the residence of the Emerald Buddha, the impregnable city (of Ayutthaya) of God Indra, the grand capital of the world endowed with nine precious gems, the happy city, abounding in an enormous Royal Palace that resembles the heavenly abode where reigns the reincarnated god, a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukarn.


I knew you couldn't really say Bangkok...


Monday, December 26, 2011

Massages and Messages


December 26, 2011 - Sa-wad-dee-ka (Hello), Pioneers..Same day, different time....days seem to have to end and no beginning, having a hard time delineating days..can't believe it's still December 26.  After having no sleep once again last night, I feel I'm starting to crash and burn.  Today, Pad Thai served at pool side, followed by a Thai Massage, in the hopes of relaxing for some well needed sleep.  Unlike any massage I've had, I enter the darkened room through the curtain to find a small, neat futon on the bamboo floor and folded loose cotton pj's ready for me.  The smell of eucalyptus rising up through the air....no, wait that's a different song from a different continent.

The massage is performed on the floor and is called "nuat phaen boran" (the ancient-manner massage).  I'm instructed by the petite Thai woman to lie on my stomach and starting at my feet, this little woman inflicted a SERIOUS deep tissue massage and wake up call on every single muscle and tissue, every meridian,  in my body.  Using her elbows, knees, forearms..she puts my body into many yoga-like positions and stretches and pulls...sometimes hurting to where it was confused with a pain and a very large tickle, sometimes grimacing, something almost laughing.  (this would be a great adjunct to my regular yoga practice at home)   PS all for about $12 US.   It enlivened me instead of relaxing me.
..
Headed to a swim lesson at the International School for my niece, Ali...what a ham that girl is, with a very good butterfly stroke..and she's speaking Thai, a most difficult language, more and more every day.  So the message from Ali for the day:  doo-lae-dtua-eang-duay-na-ka!  (meaning "Take care of yourself...")

xoxo PG in BT..

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Turtle Love...Warning, Explicit Video

December 26, 2011 ... Love is everywhere in Thailand, and why not?  It's tropical, warm, friendly, close and filled with smiles...even the birds and the bees do it, why not reptiles and amphibians?  Tortoise keepers in Thailand have a perfect climate to keep them outdoors in a pen, and they can live up to 50 or even 100 years.    A long term commitment indeed.  These local neighborhood turtles are feeling the love...and if it could make you feel like a turtle voyeur, whatever you do....don't watch the awkward couple in the sun lit middle of this video..
(courtesy of M & K, who happened upon the happy noisy couple)

Hey, I'm entitled to at least one distasteful post!   Still smiling...xoxo PG in BT