Ashley Hebert's Blogs - Discussion - Spoilers

pavalygurl wrote:Not sure if this is the right thread to post this but with all the talk about sparks and slow burn, I am curious to see what everone thinks about the scs of Ben and Ash kissing which then go to the flame dancers which I think are on Epi 5.

I'm so excited to share my travels with you. First of all, please know that I don't like flying. I'm especially bad with those big 747s, but I sure wasn't going to take a boat all the way to Asia! The first stop on my incredible journey was the beautiful island of Phuket, Thailand. I've always wanted to go to Thailand, and as soon as I stepped off the plane and that warm tropical climate hit me, I knew why! I immediately felt refreshed and ready for a new start. And after everything that happened at the roast and with Bentley leaving, I just needed a change of scenery. Thank you, Thailand!

Now I'm no expert on Thailand, but I can tell you that the one thing you absolutely have to know is how to say hello in Thai. It's pretty easy. Sawadee Ka. I think it's different if you're a man, so for you guys out there looking to trek over to Thailand, make sure you do some reading up first. Anyway, I started saying Sawadee Ka to anyone and everyone over there. I even say it now sometimes. It just sounds cool!

Okay, so on my first day there I really wanted to get out on the water. Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, known for its beautiful beaches and incredible coastline, so I sailed out into the Andaman Sea on a beautiful wooden long tail boat. Sure, taking a luxury yacht would have been easier and faster, but when in Thailand, right?! Back on shore, I checked into the Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa. Amazing place. It really offered me the perfect balance of serenity and comfort I was looking for. My room was gorgeous, with its own pool and stunning views of the ocean. There's just something about having the ocean right outside your window. The sound of the waves is so relaxing. What I love most about the Renaissance Phuket is that it's both traditional and modern. And if you happen to make it over there, ask for Annie, the hotel "navigator." Annie sat down with me and gave me some amazing ideas for dates. She even asked me if I had any guys for her! Sorry, Annie, I know I might be dating a bunch of guys at once, but they're my guys!

I was really excited for my first date in Phuket. Constantine is someone who intrigued me from the very first night, and I was so jazzed to spend an entire day with him. Unfortunately Mother Nature had other ideas. I knew I was in trouble when I got down to the marina and was informed by a local that this was the worst weather he'd seen in twenty-two years! As much as I wanted to brave the rough seas, the boat captain wasn't going to let us out in those swells. Thankfully Constantine wasn't too bummed out, and we headed into town to do a little exploring. Sometimes just exploring and kind of getting lost somewhere is the best way to really get to know a place. The rain would not let up, but it was light enough that it actually added to the romance. We strolled through the streets, checked out some cool boutiques filled with golden Buddha statues, and even got some advice from a local Thai gentleman who'd been married for thirty-seven years! He really did have some words of wisdom for us. Don't try to win!

After our little jaunt through town, Constantine and I decided to get out of the rain and duck into a cute café for a bite to eat. I love Thai food back home, but I wasn't prepared for the spice of that meal. Wow! We were both sweating like crazy! After lunch, Constantine and I hopped in a tuk-tuk (which is kind of like an open-air taxi) and headed back to the hotel. Constantine and I got showered up (separately, thank you very much!), then met up for dinner near the water. We had dinner in a traditional Thai sala, then went for a romantic walk on the beach. The water was so warm!

The next day, the guys met up with me to "make the world a better place" in Phang Na, a community deep in the Thai countryside. As beautiful as the island of Phuket is, it's also suffered through some difficult times. In 2004, Thailand was hit with a horrible tsunami that wiped away a lot of homes and took thousands of lives, leaving a countless number of children orphaned. The Baan Saan Orphanage, which was created by two remarkable and caring people (Sam and Gai), provides clothes, food and shelter to some of the children who were left parentless. And while it might not have been the most romantic location for a date, I knew it would be the perfect place for us to give a little something back to this incredible country.

When the guys arrived, we immediately got to work giving the boys' and girls' homes a complete makeover. We painted, landscaped, and brought in new furniture. We totally transformed their living spaces and gave them a huge colorful facelift. We also gave them twelve new bikes, a soccer net, balls and hula-hoops. It was hard work, but when we saw the look on those kids' faces, we knew it was worth it. Some of the guys helping out that day got pretty emotional there at the end, but I'm not telling you which ones!

My final date of the week was with Ames. After what happened on Constantine's date, I was worried the weather wouldn't hold and that Ames and I would have to come up with something last minute! It was raining, but not enough to keep us from doing what I wanted to do. Ames and I hopped on a catamaran and sailed up the coast to Phang Na Bay. The views were incredible! When we got to Phang Na Bay, we grabbed a kayak and glided through the crystal clear aqua waters into the world-famous sea caves. Just looking up at those rock formations was something I will never forget. It looked like a post card! If you get to Phuket, you just have to do this! The sheer beauty of this place made me realize just how far from my hometown of Madawaska, Maine I really was. Crazy!

So there you have it. Thailand really was the perfect place to kick off my journey around the world to find love. Sure it rained a lot that week, but that didn't stop me from having the time of my life. What's a little rain, right? And if you get the chance, Phuket is an amazing destination. Gorgeous beaches, friendly people, romantic settings around every corner. Next stop: the amazing city of Chiang Mai, Thailand!

CarrieAlexander wrote:Question(s): Wasn't Ben in her blog when I read it the first time? Where did he go? Where is the "slow burning" love comment? Why is this different than the origional?

Love_Me wrote:http://abc.go.com/shows/the-bachelorette/travel-guide

The Bachelorette Travel Guide

Take a closer look at the destinations The Bachelorette traveled to this season. Get a sneak peek at the upcoming destinations and read Ashley's blog as she journeys through these exotic locations.

Phuket Thailand

I'm so excited to share my travels with you. First of all, please know that I don't like flying. I'm especially bad with those big 747s, but I sure wasn't going to take a boat all the way to Asia! The first stop on my incredible journey was the beautiful island of Phuket, Thailand. I've always wanted to go to Thailand, and as soon as I stepped off the plane and that warm tropical climate hit me, I knew why! I immediately felt refreshed and ready for a new start. And after everything that happened at the roast and with Bentley leaving, I just needed a change of scenery. Thank you, Thailand!

Now I'm no expert on Thailand, but I can tell you that the one thing you absolutely have to know is how to say hello in Thai. It's pretty easy. Sawadee Ka. I think it's different if you're a man, so for you guys out there looking to trek over to Thailand, make sure you do some reading up first. Anyway, I started saying Sawadee Ka to anyone and everyone over there. I even say it now sometimes. It just sounds cool!

Okay, so on my first day there I really wanted to get out on the water. Phuket is the largest island in Thailand, known for its beautiful beaches and incredible coastline, so I sailed out into the Andaman Sea on a beautiful wooden long tail boat. Sure, taking a luxury yacht would have been easier and faster, but when in Thailand, right?! Back on shore, I checked into the Renaissance Phuket Resort and Spa. Amazing place. It really offered me the perfect balance of serenity and comfort I was looking for. My room was gorgeous, with its own pool and stunning views of the ocean. There's just something about having the ocean right outside your window. The sound of the waves is so relaxing. What I love most about the Renaissance Phuket is that it's both traditional and modern. And if you happen to make it over there, ask for Annie, the hotel "navigator." Annie sat down with me and gave me some amazing ideas for dates. She even asked me if I had any guys for her! Sorry, Annie, I know I might be dating a bunch of guys at once, but they're my guys!

I was really excited for my first date in Phuket. Constantine is someone who intrigued me from the very first night, and I was so jazzed to spend an entire day with him. Unfortunately Mother Nature had other ideas. I knew I was in trouble when I got down to the marina and was informed by a local that this was the worst weather he'd seen in twenty-two years! As much as I wanted to brave the rough seas, the boat captain wasn't going to let us out in those swells. Thankfully Constantine wasn't too bummed out, and we headed into town to do a little exploring. Sometimes just exploring and kind of getting lost somewhere is the best way to really get to know a place. The rain would not let up, but it was light enough that it actually added to the romance. We strolled through the streets, checked out some cool boutiques filled with golden Buddha statues, and even got some advice from a local Thai gentleman who'd been married for thirty-seven years! He really did have some words of wisdom for us. Don't try to win!

After our little jaunt through town, Constantine and I decided to get out of the rain and duck into a cute café for a bite to eat. I love Thai food back home, but I wasn't prepared for the spice of that meal. Wow! We were both sweating like crazy! After lunch, Constantine and I hopped in a tuk-tuk (which is kind of like an open-air taxi) and headed back to the hotel. Constantine and I got showered up (separately, thank you very much!), then met up for dinner near the water. We had dinner in a traditional Thai sala, then went for a romantic walk on the beach. The water was so warm!

The next day, the guys met up with me to "make the world a better place" in Phang Na, a community deep in the Thai countryside. As beautiful as the island of Phuket is, it's also suffered through some difficult times. In 2004, Thailand was hit with a horrible tsunami that wiped away a lot of homes and took thousands of lives, leaving a countless number of children orphaned. The Baan Saan Orphanage, which was created by two remarkable and caring people (Sam and Gai), provides clothes, food and shelter to some of the children who were left parentless. And while it might not have been the most romantic location for a date, I knew it would be the perfect place for us to give a little something back to this incredible country.

When the guys arrived, we immediately got to work giving the boys' and girls' homes a complete makeover. We painted, landscaped, and brought in new furniture. We totally transformed their living spaces and gave them a huge colorful facelift. We also gave them twelve new bikes, a soccer net, balls and hula-hoops. It was hard work, but when we saw the look on those kids' faces, we knew it was worth it. Some of the guys helping out that day got pretty emotional there at the end, but I'm not telling you which ones!

My final date of the week was with Ames. After what happened on Constantine's date, I was worried the weather wouldn't hold and that Ames and I would have to come up with something last minute! It was raining, but not enough to keep us from doing what I wanted to do. Ames and I hopped on a catamaran and sailed up the coast to Phang Na Bay. The views were incredible! When we got to Phang Na Bay, we grabbed a kayak and glided through the crystal clear aqua waters into the world-famous sea caves. Just looking up at those rock formations was something I will never forget. It looked like a post card! If you get to Phuket, you just have to do this! The sheer beauty of this place made me realize just how far from my hometown of Madawaska, Maine I really was. Crazy!

So there you have it. Thailand really was the perfect place to kick off my journey around the world to find love. Sure it rained a lot that week, but that didn't stop me from having the time of my life. What's a little rain, right? And if you get the chance, Phuket is an amazing destination. Gorgeous beaches, friendly people, romantic settings around every corner. Next stop: the amazing city of Chiang Mai, Thailand!

-Ashley

CarrieAlexander wrote:One more question: If the guy wouldn't let them out on the boat because it was the worst weather he had seen in 22 years was he in a coma when the tsunami hit?

Max64 wrote:

CarrieAlexander wrote:Question(s): Wasn't Ben in her blog when I read it the first time? Where did he go? Where is the "slow burning" love comment? Why is this different than the origional?

Her original blog is still on the People website. I think this one is something else, Travel Blog maybe from the ABC site

The Bachelorette Travel Guide

Take a closer look at the destinations The Bachelorette traveled to this season. Get a sneak peek at the upcoming destinations and read Ashley's blog as she journeys through these exotic locations.

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20502307,00.html