Do You Have A Bucket List?

I know, I know, it has nothing to do with Thailand, but I have to know:  Do you have a 'bucket list'?  Don't worry, tomorrow, we will get back to Thailand.

When I was 16, I had a journalism teacher give us an assignment of making a 'bucket list'.  Oh, they don't call it that now, but it was the same thing.  Our assignment was to get a piece of paper and write down 20 things we wanted to do in our lifetime - and then we had to save it.  We were required to look back at it often, and if changes needed to be made, they had to be done on another piece of paper - keeping the original. 

Over the years, I have had times when I wanted to change a couple of things, but mostly, mine has stayed the same.  A few years back, with a group of girls called the Scrapals (hi girls!)  (remember in my former US life, I was a scrapbooker) we made what was called a Circle Journal.  I will try very hard to explain this...

We would have a set number of girls join a Circle Journal group.  Each of us would make a journal to be passed around and shared.  We could pick our own topic, decorate our book, have a sign in page, journal about our topic and leave open pages.  Then in a particular order, we would mail our books to the next person on the list by a certain date.  That person, having sent her book on, would journal about whatever the next topic was... some picked "Little Girl of My Heart" which was about a childhood memory, another about "The Good Stuff" which is about something that makes you happy, and another about "My Secret Obsession" which you would pick one thing you are obsessed with (like shoes) and take a picture (oh, yes, you must share a picture with your story!) and then journal about the topic. 

We had 16 girls in this Circle Journal group, and I decided to do a "Dream" book about making a bucket list  about what you want to do in life.  I titled it "I Am a Dream Seeker!"

 As I said, we had to decorate the books and this is what the front of my book looked like:

And inside, I made a list of my dreams:

It was so fun seeing everyone else's dreams!   I still treasure this circle journal, and when I get home, I am going to open it and check out what dreams the other girls have achieved!

I still have my original bucket list, but I am not near it - it is half a world away in the states, so this one is the last one I made, but it was about 5 years ago.  Anyway, some things have been consistent, never changing, like these:

1.  I still want to visit all 50 states.  ( I have been to 37)

2.  I still really want to go to Hawaii (yes, I know it is a state)

3.  I still want to live in a house in the mountains overlooking water

4.  I still want to go on a whale watching cruise

5.  I still want to see and take pictures of covered bridges

6.  I am working on reading the Bible.

7.  I want to live near my family

8.  I want to have a 'city' of bird houses

9.  I would love to have a flower in bloom every month of the year

10.  I want lots of land to call my own

11.  I still want to go to Holland

12.  I want to take pictures of lighthouses

13.  I would love to own a retreat for scrapbookers with a campground as well

The rest of the things, I would like to do, but I would probably leave them off my next bucket list - times and wishes have changed and I no longer yearn for those.

I have made a couple of things on my bucket list come true;  I have seen the deep blue sea finally (Thailand) and today - I leave to go to....

Hawaii!!!

 

I am finally getting excited!  That is number TWO on my bucket list!  WHOOT!

So, I am working toward my goal...  how about you?  Do you have a bucket list?  If not, why don't you sit down and make one tonight?  I would love to hear if you did it!  In the meantime,  I am flying off to the land of volcanoes!  By the time you see my next blog, I will be in Honolulu!  

I was hoping to have blogs posting most of the time I am gone - do you think I did it?  Nope.  

Oh well, you will get a few scattered here and there for the next 3 weeks - but mostly, I will be playing in the sun, tromping up and down a volcano, sleeping by the beach, snorkeling, visiting my aunt on the side of a volcano (her house is on the big island) and visiting with my sister and nieces.  Think that sounds like fun?  Wait!  That is only half of the trip!  THEN we will be heading to California to go to Disneyland with our kids and grandkids!!  WHOOT!!

So, there will be a few posts between here and there, mostly of my last (Thailand) vacation.  If I am missing - it is because I am shooting pictures of my next one!

As Raelee would say - "I am so 'CITED!"

Now scoot off and make a bucket list!  Go on!   DO IT!

Phi Phi Island, Thailand

During the Phi Phi Island trip, we stopped at several islands, with the ultimate goal of reaching Phi Phi.  We had heard so much about it, but we still had no idea what to expect.  I am really not sure *what* we expected, but we were not disappointed.  Phi Phi (pronounced Pee Pee) Island was breathtaking.  Steve and I were glad to finally set foot on this island paradise:

  

There is no need for explanation, so I am just going to share pictures of Phi Phi:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There was even a place to go to the bathroom - but I was not to be bothered...

 

Asia has cobras and monkeys - and this looked like a lovely home for them:

 

Reluctantly, when the guide said it was time to go, we got in the boat and headed back out to sea, but with a heart full of memories of Phi Phi Island's simple beauty.

We off we went to see what adventures lay ahead:

 

And from the looks of it, I didn't think we would be disappointed:

 

The Islands of Thailand - Breathtakingly Beautiful

Finally, the pictures you have been waiting a month for - Thailand pictures.  So sorry about the wait; do you know what it is like sorting through hundreds of pictures?

Thailand was magnificent; breathtaking, refreshing, fun and exciting.  We had such a great time there - so much fun we would love to go back.  As with any place we visit, we did not have near enough time to explore.  The first day were were there, we scheduled several things to do, one was going to Phi Phi Island.  On the way to Phi Phi, we just watched in awe as the landscape before us unfolded.

In the distance, we saw the knobs of many little islands:

We thought they were pretty in the distance, but as we got closer, the view got even better:

The waters were different colors depending on where we were and the color of the sky.  If we were in the deep seas, they are dark, in the coves, they were blues and greens:

Many of the islands had little beaches by them:

As you can see, the scenery just took your breath away:

And so much of it was picture postcard perfect:

There were miles and miles and miles of these types of pictures - and of course, I got hundreds.  I am sure I could go on forever trying to show you what it was like, but instead of doing that, I will just share more of what we experienced over the next few days.  Are you enjoying the view?

Part 2 of our trip coming tomorrow.

What Kind of Instrument is This?

UPDATE:  I could thank about a hundred people for the messages that this is a sitar.  Thank everyone who informed me of what I was admiring.  I found out what it sounded like on You Tube.  Different, but nice.

I promise, I will back to the Thailand pics tomorrow.  I had to sort pictures to make heads or tails out of them so I could post quicker.  I am terrible procrastinator when it comes to weeding through the pictures.  

Anyway, I came across this and I wanted to ask you - does anyone know what kind of instrument it is?  It was battered, but beautiful.  I have no idea what it is and I really want to know - just for curiosity's sake.  (Is that apostrophe in the right place?  Lol...  never mind... the peas will tell)

Yes, I found it at a Salvation Army.  The price was S$230.00 and I dare say with the mother of  pearl inlays and carvings, I am sure it was worth every single penny.  If I were rich instead of so good looking (haha), I would have bought it just to sit and admire.  

So here is the deal; if you are reading this and know what it is, please let me know.  If you do not want to register with blogger, but do want to comment, I have my blog set up to accept anonymous comments - but please leave your name in the body of the comment so I can say thank you properly.

Can You Make a Rose from a Straw?

Our tour guide in Thailand can!  He was making them out of palm leaves, but ran out - so he started with straws:

Wove his magic:

Then he gave me a rose:

 

I think I posted about this already, but I am just amazed at his talent.  I wish I had taken pictures of the palm leaf ones. 

I found a video of how to do one similar:  Rose Made with Drinking Straws

The one I got was much more detailed and there were no loose ends at the end of the rose.  I even have leaves on mine!

Been a very rough week for me with very little... acknowledgment... here in Singapore.  Sometimes it just sucks being so far away from hugs.  On facebook, I have made a couple of tiny cries for help, and my air hug came from the states.  I love you for reaching out.  I will make it, just an emotional time for me right now.  

A very good friend is having heart surgery tomorrow (Friday) in the states.  Please, please say prayers she will get through it ok.  She has a hole in her heart and a mitral valve that "looks like cheese".  The Dr said she cannot wait any more - so she is finally letting him take care of her.  I love you, Dee!  Wish I were there so I could cheer you on - or kick your backside, whichever you need... somehow I think it is the kicks, but I would do it softly. 

Be back tomorrow.  I am off to pack for Hawaii!!  :-)

Getting Around and Getting By in Thailand

For the next few days, I will be sharing pictures of Thailand.  I have not had time to share them until now, and even though I tend to be a wordy person, I don't think any explanation is needed on these pictures.  I am just going to let you meander through the paths of other peoples lives.  

After browsing the pictures, I hope we will be able to enjoy what we take for granted. 

Today as we enjoy our nice air conditioned cars, homes, medical facilities and restaurants, maybe you can give thought to those that don't have the luxuries that we are so accustomed to.

Have a great (and comfortable) day folks...