We started our day at 5:00 am to get to Intercontenental airport. Checking is a breeze when you are 4 hour early! Out 14-hour flight will take us to Tokyo were we transfer to Thailand.
11.20.15
A 24 hour grueling flight. Changed planes
in Tokyo. Sat by the emergency exit which was better cuz I could
stretch my legs. Food awful. Arrive at 11 pm
Sat 11.21.15
The temple of the Reclining Budda
Victory monument area is important. 10 million people in Bangkok.
Sky train near Victory Monument.
Apple. Store in the Siam area
Indian town makes fabric. Old town used to have canals winding roads built over canals
King is the longest reining no ark in the
world. Known as Dad biking for Dad. The heat was pretty intense.
Coupled with jet lag it made us nauseous.
At 3 we had a late lunch and felt better. We walked to where we are to catch the Sky Train tomorrow.
Sun Nov 22
Green Buda and kings palace
Thailand means freedom
The Kings Palace was so crowded we were
packed together like sardines. Out of respect for the king we had to
wear sleeves and pants or skirt to our ankles. The heat was stifling.
Afternoon we spent at the paragon a shopping area, the Apple Store was I
Station to download books. Randy bought a SIM card for Internet access.
Then we celebrated our 30th anniversary with a nice dinner of yellow
curry.
Mon Nov 23
Drive to Auttya North of Bangcock.
Sightseeing in old town Auttya. Tomorrow we will stay at a small local
resort. Big family for farming and care giving. Intermarriage in royal
family caused health
problems because marriage to a commoner was not allowed. King of Ayutya
story drowning in river commoner female aced him he married her their
son became best King
White rice considered cleaner. Black rice is available might be nice to try. We had a buffet dinner at the hotel and crashed.
Tues Nov 24
I was able to FaceTime my sister this am
with the help of my travel companions. Isn't technology great! Today we
travel N for 5 hours with Happy stops, our tour guide's name for pit
stops, along the way. Thailand the golden axe also looks like an
elephant
The average income is $800-1600/ year
Afternoon ride saleng to Historical Park. Floating Later. festival Obon or Bon Festival Hot Air balloon
Wed Nov 25
All day bus ride Payoa lunch at local restaurant on to La Meridian at Chiang Rai
July/ Aug rainy season to grow crops.
King wealthiest works like a venture capitalists. Slavery in Thailand
eliminated by King Rama 5.
Buda means enlightened one. Teak tree and
bamboo grows in N Thailand. The evening meal was incredible. A buffet
like I have never seen at the Meridian. We then went to the night market
& watched the hot air balloons from our balcony. Thai people dress like West unless going to a traditional ceremony. Yellow powder on face not Thai.
Thurs Nov 26
Rode to MyraMe some are going to Burma we opted out of that. Boat ride to Laos. Opium Museum
Dinner at Le Meridian. too tired to go
anywhere else. Tomorrow at 10:45 on the way jewelry cutting stickie rice
pork curry a Northern cuisine.
Fri Nov 27
Jeweiry Day drive to Chiang Mai.
Retirement place for Thai people. Handicraft area. Silk and silver after
the elephant trip. Gem gallery international.
Fri Nov 28
7:30 leave for the Elephant camp lunch
included. Silver handicrafts in afternoon Thai massage in your room.
6-12 pm night market.
The night market was pretty good. I found
2 things I actually wanted to buy. We went to a Chinese restaurant that
had a band singing Pat Boone, Frank Sinatra -New York New
York, The Carpenders I'm on the top of the World. A guy from the
audience got up singing jambalaya—it was soooo bad it was great.
Sat Nov 28
Walking street local crafts. Elephant is a
work animal. Elephants are loyal to their owners. It is now against the
law to capture wildlife. Those who owned were grandfathered in. Used in
battle. They worked in the logging business in the past. After engines
elephants were tourism. Elephant frightens easily run were injured and
had to be put down. Conservation Center for elephants. Retirement Home
for elephants. Trainer called Mahoot. Gestation period is 22 mos.. 70
year life expectancy. Oldest female is the leader of the group a younger
stronger male protects the group. An elephant has 4-5 babies. Asian
elephants are smarter than African elephants. Harmon make the tusks grow
longer. Tusks grow back. Vegetarian. 440 lbs a day. Stickie rice fills
them up. 100 lbs @ birth.
Sun Nov 29
City Tour of Chiang Mai Old town
People travel by foot or oxen &
buffalo. King Rama 6 ll built the school here. Photo op at the palace of
3 kings. Every Sun have the walking market. Wat Tuindo flower garden
temple.
Home hosted dinner release lantern wonderful.
Main cum ( cum=1 bite)
Pan leaf folded
Dried ginger
Scallion
Peanut
Coconut
Lime
Palm sugar
Lemon grass
Soy stick
Mon Nov 30
Leave Chiang Mai for Cambodia with a Bangkok connection. airline 216-913 2nd floor immigration 2nd security check.
Found out I had an unlocked phone by default and received a SIM card on the plane. Bought more gigs and have my own internet. Exchange rate 4000 Reil =$1 we are going to a Museum today and dinner show tonight.
Tues Dec 1
Ankor Wat in morning and afternoon. Randy climbed to the top I stayed at the bottom.
Wed Dec 2
6:30 wake up call. 7:3p luggage out ride
the Water Buffalo cart to the rice fields water drains out to the Mekong
Delta. Lotus flower worships to the Buda water
Lillie stems used as food drop into boiling water. Make a necklace.
White pelican fish Eagles Boat ride to the floating city. During the
monsoon they all go to the Temple. Vietnamese eat dog. Tour guide dam
gave us his life story. Very sad and interesting. then lunch. Flight PG 914 to Bangkok. Spend night in Bangkok and leave for Vietnam around 11 am.
Thurs Dec 3
Vietnam Airways 600 departure time 8 am
So far Vietnam sucks. We were made to
wait at the Visa department because our visa that was sent to us didn't
have pictures. Our driver took us to a crummy hotel that had
construction in front so we had to walk over mud to get to it. Our room
is on the third floor with no elevators. Did I say our hotel sucks?
We went to her Randy's suitcase sewn up, a 10 min walk. Finally after about 30 minutes we found it. Then
a search for something to drink. We found a coffee house across the
street but getting across was a bit harrowing with motorcycles as far as
you can see. We finally just held up our hand and weaved our way into
oncoming traffic. We didn't get help but I did get grazed by a tire. Opt
for a cab on the way home! Had a nice shrimp dinner at 5 Oysters and
came back to do laundry and veg. We can hear a local band from a local
bar. Lost power. That means no AC ugh.
Fri Dec 4
City tour. Via motorcycle. 8:45-1 pm. I am afraid. Four more days.
The ride was at time a bit harrowing, stinky and HOT. But it was better than I thought it would be. A snack of iced coffee and condensed
milk, a lunch of Pho was included. After a bit of a rest we went to yet
another hot market where hawkers shouted as we walked by. I suggested a
foot massage and Randy agreed. It was air conditioned and delightful.
We found a nice shop on the way back to the hotel where we were left
alone while we looked. Dinner at Rose Garden. No electricity for the
second, hot night. We will move to Nikko Saigon.
Sat Dec 5
Got to the Nikko Saigon much better. Went
to the war museum. May look for an Apple Store this afternoon. Saw the
post office built by Gustave Eiffel who built the Eiffel Tower Randy
remembers the ATM machines were once telephone booths when he was there.
We enjoyed our new hotels AC and lushness for most of the late
afternoon. Right before bedtime we heard a knock at the door. A white
chocolate truffle delivery. Now that's what I'm talkin about!!! Yum.
Sun Dec 6
I had a bit of Teresita in the am, but
not enough to stop me. Took the Shuttle bus to Central Market walked to
the river. Not much to see along the way. We were so desperate for AC we
ate lunch at Burger King. After lunch I went to the gym at the hotel.
For dinner we had a nice dinner at the hotel and of course our truffle
delivery before bed. I could get used to this! Tomorrow, back to a night
in Bangkok before heading home.
Mon Dec 7
We didn't have enough time to do much, but we had a great dinner at a restaurant next to the hotel Thai stir fried crab... Yum
Tues Dec 8
Homeward bound. We have a 4 hour flight
to Tokyo and a 20 hour flight to Texas. We will lose a day and get home
on the same day we started! Because we are going W to E opposite from
the direction the earth rotates on its axis jet lag should be a
challenge.
