Chinese New Year

       So I think I have probably said sorry enough for not "posting in a while". I would hope most viewers would understand that this blog is written by a teenager who finds himself in a position that laziness easily creeps upon him. So I hope all will forgive me from now on for any tardiness on updates to my blog. Now that being said, I hope I can make it all up to you by putting up some pretty cool pictures on this post. By the title I have posted you can safely assume that this blog is about the Chinese New Year, but it is about how I celebrated it and not how my city traditionally celebrates it. Instead of hanging around the city, enjoying its festivities like I can with any other festival, I went on a little vacation with my first host family and the two other exchange students in my club. We went to a place right next to the border of Laos, on the outskirts of a city called  Ubon Ratchathani. I don't know how to explain it, so I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves. But first let me show you at least one picture of my city decorated for the Chinese New Year.

This was at the entrance to the festival. They had these giant masks that anyone could come up and put on. We thought it was hilarious.

This was right after the entrance. Just a cool looking picture.

      So the trip started out with a long drive. We finally arrived at our "resort" and settled in. But we didn't stop for a rest; we went right into our first activity. Our boat/hike tour.

It started with a long hike down to the shoreline.

Then our boat took us on a nice tour of the surrounding area first.

On this tour we saw many fisherman from both Laos and Thailand out on the unsteady rocks.

This was the view pretty much anywhere we looked from the boat.

We even got to see a few small waterfalls here and there.

Even my first host parents were having a great time that day.

I even got a great patriotic (for Thai) photo shot.

The beginning of our hiking tour. A great shot if you ask me.

The rocks went on and on, on both sides of the river.

But that didn't stop me finding some of the coolest places within those rocks.

What this place was really known for is the shapes that mysteriously show  up all around. Like here, you can see good 'ol Micky.

This place is said to be in a music video of a famous Thai singer. Now, since most of you don't know any famous Thai singers, I feel confident in saying that statement is probably true.

   After the great tour, we all went out to eat, and then after went back and settled in nicely to the resort. The next morning we woke up before sunrise. INTERESTING FACT: Ubon Ratchathani is the first place to see the sunrise in Thailand. So what did we do??? Well of course we headed out like good little campers, scrambled over the rocks by the river, all just so we could see the first sun rise of the day in Thailand. But it wasn't all for nothing, we got some great pictures as well...

Well let's just start out with the best one...

The guys on the trip...

The sun coming up over the trees on the other side of the river.

Well the sun was up, so time for one last picture and head back...

On the way we see this cool phenomenon. 

      After we got back, we packed up and headed on our way. But my host mom and dad had more in store for us yet. The brought us to an elephant showing company (Yes, Another one!) Sadly we got there right at the end of the last show, and they weren't giving out anymore rides for the day. They said they would be open again the next day, but we all made a consecutive decision that we were all tired and just wanted to head home (That, and we had done it before). But that being said, we made sure to not leave without photos...

Got to love these cool elephant pictures...