So we did the most dangerous thing on this trip thus far yesterday...we rented 3 motorbikes and went biking around Koh Samui. Seeing that we were done with water sports and had our fair share of lounging, what better way to see the island than weave through traffic like locals? Having learned how to bike a few short years ago and not even having enough guts to go cycling on the street (I always stick to bike paths LOL...oh Lydia...!)...I wasn't driving. Instead I put my life into Tiffany's hands and it went reasonably well. In order to ease both of our tensions, I would talk to Tiffany during our cycle tour. "It's okay Tiffany, the cars and bikes will go around us...slow and steady..." I think it was more for my benefit as well talking it out. Even though we didn't go past 40 km/h it sure felt faster on a bike and I couldn't help but think at every turn...oh man, the sun scorched pavement will hurt on my bare arms and legs. No accidents though and it was cool, though I think I got motion sickness afterwards...that or I was REALLY nervous so that after I got off the bike, I felt pretty nauseous. The only down part of the day was when I tried to bike on a little dirt road. I did manage to succeed for a total of 10 seconds before I fell off and the bike on top of my leg, where it left a very nasty bruise. So...that was $40 Canadian dollars of damage for that little adventure...sigh. At least things including accidents are cheaper in Thailand than Canada. It's like when I was learning to bike, the bike always fell on top of my leg because I would be too heavy handed and try to take off too fast, lose my balanace and blah. Maybe it says as much about my fiery character as it does about my biking skills. Nonetheless, despite the scorching mid-day heat and the sudden torrential downpour, Koh Samiu was so gorgeous as we biked along the beach road...Alvina and Yo faired very well though as our other two drivers. I am sure all the other locals were laughing at our helmets and our turns. Only tourists wear helmets.

We went wave catching the day before on Chewang beach and it was amazing. The tide varies quite a bit but we picked a good day as we would float on our backs or on the floating device (like those plastic blow up futon things) back and forth until we got washed ashore. There is nothing like floating in the ocean and I did again attempt to swim. Seriously though, I don't like the taste of salt water or the stinging feeling on my skin against my insect bites. The clear waters are amazing as usual, and the aqua greens to sigh for - I don't know the next time I would be able to go on a tropical vacation...maybe my honeymoon.

I have been watching more television than I have for years during this trip - MTV, the news, movies, you name it. I feel so out with popular culture and even current events as I would rather read a newspaper than watch the news. It is strangely addicting and I don't know what I would do when I come home. To tv or not to tv? LOL.

Reality begins to hit again as I continue to ponder about housing choices in Toronto. To wait for residence or take another offer with roommies? We watched a few documentary like movies the past few nights, on about (In my country) the end of apartheid in South Africa...and I can't beleive we are going to the Killing Fields in Cambodia! Stepping into real history (and present) still baffles my mind as we visited places that were severely hit by the tsunami, WWII memorial sites of the battle of the Pacific (we never focus much on the Pacific war in our studies in Canada), and the miracle and bust of the Asian Tiger economies. I am lost in amazement sometimes and at other times, I want to completely turn off my brain and just be normal for once like other carefree 22 year olds. More and more I realize that my conception of "development" work (as well as missionary work) is much different in reality than the glamour that I have envisioned in my mind and I doubt my ability to do it. I finished "The Shack" the other day, and it was the timely reminder that yeah...hey, Anna it won't be you...but Him. Good book. Much needed and appreciated God. Thank you.

With about three weeks left in this trip, I want to bask in the present and try best as I can, to stop my mind from spinning into the unknown, the future. In the book, "God" was saying how often we spend the most time in the future, and in a future we imagine that is often without God. How true that is when I think of how I will prepare for graduate school, with little room for God to do his every miracles. So here's to that and so my house finding journey continues.

I miss home, I really do and I really want to pick up a stray cat but my mind keeps saying to me...rabies! The girls are great though, and I am so thankful for this summer. I was telling Jenny and Tiffany how this is the longest time I've hung out with just girls!