Dinnertime

Vilde speaks fluent thai, after just 4 months in the country. It's extremely impressive! Therefore, we haven't had a hard time going for dinner at none-english speaking places like this one. 

Photos by Christina Skreiberg

Mae Sot for a Week

85 % of the population in Mae Sot are Burmese. The town is on the boarder of Burma, and thousands of Burmese have fled over the boarder to Thailand. Where they don't receive a refugee status, which means they cannot get a job, any legal documents, etc. 


I'm gonna be here for a week - and will visit a tiny Karen village in the bush for a few days, I'll visit one of the refugee camps with a burmese friend of mine, he'll take me to the garbage dump where lots of burmese come every day to find stuff. ETC. I'll be busy. 

Burma VJ

Today I'm off to Mae Sot, close to Burma/Myanmar. 

I recommend you to see Burma VJ, the oscar nominated documentary about the situation in Burma. People risk their lives to film how the country is being controlled by the government. There is no freedom of speech whatsoever. 

Here's a still from the film; monks marching on behalf of the people. 

Loi Krathong

As a lucky surprise, we were by the beach for the yearly Loi Krathong festival. Were they, each year, let a hand-made beautiful banana boat float away on the ocean or on a lake. Then you make some wishes for the new year, and let all bad things sail away. 
Loi Krathong takes place on the evening of the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar, which usually falls in November. "Loi" means "to float" and a "krathong" is traditionally made from a section of banana tree trunk. 

I joined in and made my own with the beach-guys. And let it float away the same night. It was full moon and the ocean was filled with krathong's with candles. 

Photos by Christina Skreiberg

Travelling in the Hot Hot sun

Learning to cook Thai Food

We love thai food, so we've had a chef teach us how to make curries, dips, pad thai, and lot's of other cool dishes. It was at the super nice Roi Thai restaurant at Koh Lanta, and he is the guy behind these pre-made curries! Can absolutely recommend it. 
Can't remember the name of our teacher, but he ditched his finance-job in busy Bangkok, and now lives a quiet life by the beach, where he makes everything from scratch. 


Here's Line & Wendy in action. 

Photos by Christina Skreiberg

Tattoos and Long Hair rule at Koh Lanta

At a tiny quiet gem of a place in Koh Lanta, we've become friends with a great group of guys. The whole bunch is uber-cool: long hair, lots of tattoos, looking like a mix of rock-dudes and beach-bum hippies. 
We've had a lovely time hanging out for a week - and things like work, busy schedules, things to do - well, it's not been part of the picture. 

Photos by Christina Skreiberg

Wendy

Wendy is from New Zealand, and became friends with Line, Vilde and I in London. She lives in Oslo now, which is great for all of us. Here she's slapping on some mosquito spray as the sun sets. 

Photo by Christina Skreiberg

My Beachy Reading

I'm just getting into the down-time. Am reading Freedom, by Jonathan Franzen at the moment. And am loving it. + Interview magazine, which I love to. 
Today we leave for Chiang Mai. Chiao beach!

My love for the Olsen twins

I admit it... I simply love the Olsen twins. I have digged them, and especially Mary-Kate, since they emerged on the fashion scene, and still have a very teenage-type fascination for them and their style. I can't help it :) These pix are snapped from the Olsen Anonymous blog - which is heaven for girls like me!


Mary-Kate

Ashley

Looove the white dress!

MK

Kiddo in Bucharest

I love this picture snapped by Yvan Rodic! What a fantastic outfit!

Boobies on the Beach

Vilde is making some nice boobes in the sand. We're having a lovely time here in Thailand!

Pix by Christina Skreiberg

Sabrina Dehoff

I just love Sabrina Dehoff's colourful necklaces!!!

My Mobile Office: Kantiang Bay, Ko Tao, Thailand

Sometimes you've got to do a little bit of work. We found wireless, and got cracking. Here I am, early this morning, in our 'new' office. 

Hot pink bin bags

I have posted this before. But I think it's awesome, this trash bag installation by adrian kondratowicz. Installed in 2008 on the streets of new york, it was a vivid art intervention for urban beautification and environmental awareness.

Pink 'Ernesto Neto' Heaven

At the Ernesto Neto exhibition with my friends Colleen and Linn, and Linn's kiddo Frida.
We stayed for hours.


Linn & Frida

Linn, Frida & Colleen

Colleen & Moi

Most pix by Christina Skreiberg

Cloak Bag

I just bought this, for my Thailand trip:

The Cloak Bag was designed to solve a problem many travelers face when carrying their expensive cameras in less reputable areas; how to keep your camera out of sight yet still ready at a second’s notice when you are out exploring. It is the first bag of its kind, allowing full access to the camera without the need to take it out of the bag.

Off to Thailand

Today I'm off to Thailand for 3 weeks!! 

I'm heading off with my friends Line and Wendy, and we're visiting a friend of ours who has moved there. We have two weeks together, and then I head off on my own, to do some work. I'll be focusing on the situation in Burma after the "election", and am heading to Mae Sot, which is by the boarder. I've kind of promised my dear mum that I won't head into Burma, as she's afraid they'll realize I'm a journalist and that she'll never see me again. I hope I can keep my promise!

But before that I'll be lying on a beach for 10 days, then head to Chiang Mai where my friend lives - and then, Mae Sot, and finally Bangkok for a few days. 

I have pre-made some posts for the blog. Am not bringing my laptop (that rarely happens), but only my fantastic camera, pen, paper, recorder, stack of books I'm looking forward to read, etc. 

Chiao!

Good Bye Home!

This is my flat. With me in it. But I'm moving out today, cause I'll be renting it out for a while. Good bye!

How to handle the barbeque with Pure Elegance!

These pix are from our summer in France. Here our dear friend is handling our dinner with great care. I'm a fan of the effort!

Photos by Christina Skreiberg