The City of Angels: Travelers, there is no path, paths are made by walking. - Antonio Machado (Spanish poet and playwright)

What an amazing weekend, followed by a great Monday morning! How wonderful it is to say that.

This weekend I made a new friend. I knew I was going to like her when she spilled a drink down my shirt and then asked for my number. The next day she texed me: "Hey, remember me, I tried picking you up by spilling a drink all over you." She's from Portland and has been in Bangkok teaching English for four months now. She plans to stay for at least a year, maybe two. She's super friendly, chatty and loves to travel. It feels really nice to have someone I can text outside of Mercy's walls. I love it here and love the people, but we all need that release sometimes, well, at least I do.

This morning I received my package from Roma! I have *the best* sister in the entire world. It had love pouring out of it and was filled with creative collages, killer mix CDs, notebooks and funky pens, sea glass and worry dolls. We must be soulmates because you can read my mind. I love you so much other half.

This weekend I spent a lot of quality time with Pui, my lovely housemate. Friday we went out for a drink and bumped into Olivia, who occassionally comes to Mercy to volunteer and is from LA. She's fabulous and so nice.

Saturday was a perfect day- relaxing and time for reflecting. I went to mass, mostly because I love seeing the kids, not because I can understand anything that's going on. I had the Mercy two boys laying all over me, pinching my legs and picking at my already chipping nail polish. It's such a wonderful feeling to walk into a room and have a swarm of kids run to you, yelling your name. Their smiles ALWAYS brighten my day. After mass I went for a run and then jumped in the pool for a few laps- it's a nice little routine I've got going. I was going to meet up with Lauren, but we couldn't seem to connect, so I sat outside at Benjasiri Park and read The Little Princes for over two hours. I learned about the Napali civil war and the lost boys of Nepal- quite an interesting read. I was getting ready to head home when I bumped in to Ben. We sat, talked and watched the kids at the skate park until it started to rain. I've found when it rains it pours here and we watched the rain come crashing down over the lit skatepark for about an hour. I proceeded to tell Ben everything I had learned about Nepal that day.

Sunday Pui and I headed to the huge outdoor market, the 32 acre spread, known as JJ market. This is the same one I went to with Mom. What a successful day! I found a huge backpacking backpack to use for the beach trip this weekend- what would have cost $200 in the US cost me a beautiful $15 here. There is so much cool stuff, I have no doubt every female reading this blog would be as mesmerized as me- you can never find the same spot twice and it's fun to just wander. Pui and I were able to talk a lot and after a few hours we met up with Lauren. We grabbed ice coffees and sat under and umbrella to rejuvinate. It was nice to get to know Lauren a bit better, although she is one of those people that you meet and you feel like you've already known her for years- she knows no strangers, just like me. We can and will talk to just about anyone.

Sunday night Ben and I were supposed to make it to the international film festival, but due to a few *insane* taxi drivers and the crazy rain, we decided to postpone the film watching. Instead I waited until the rain stopped and popped over to Mercy 2 to see the wild boys. Per usual they were off the walls. I was soaked through in sweat from being a human jungle gym in a room with 25 WILD ones. When bed time rolled around, Ben and I made ourselves scarce as to not distract the boys, so we headed up to the roof. I learned all about how his dad makes sailboats and this past summer finished a 35' sail boat, all hand crafted. Ben said it is quite a work of art and absolutely beautiful. I believe it. They sailed it off the coast of where Ben is from in Australia this summer to Kangaroo Island for overnights. Sounds like heaven.

When I got home (and yes Mom, I was walked home) I started to think about all the amazing people I have met on my travels. Everyone I've met has had the most incredible stories. Lauren showed Pui and I the huge scar she has on her calf from the 3rd degree burn she got from a motorbike in Chiang Mai, sounds familiar. I showed her my 8 year old scar I have in the same spot on my leg from the muffler of Sara Brand's motorcycle.

Today I was asked to help Khun Usanee with a trip she is making in August- she is speaking at the 10th annual International Conference on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific (ICAAP). I am surrounded by awe inspiring people.

This "travel bug", it's quite contagious. Every day it's something new and you just have to say YES to it all. The love and passion for traveling seeps from every pore. It's a love for people, for culture, for the unknown. This Friday will mark my first full month at Mercy. Time is moving too quickly and it's going to be so hard to say goodbye to this hot, humid place I now call home.