Sunday in the park....and off we go

 I did another see the monks and see donut man..  You don't think it is early until you are trying to stay awake to pack at the end of the day.  Monika and I took a cab to the botanical gardens..... very interesting.  Some of the flowers were not in bloom but many were an d it .was very nice day. It not bad...but was a steep walk up and very steep down but you knew your legs were working.  It is now 6 am and I will  be putting the puter away until we are at the Nest  week..There is no wifi at the ENP so I will write and then pate it in when we get to the Nest

Of course I put a massage into my evening as well as walking ab out street after street... The have a big mound of black jelly/past looking stuff that they paste that they put with ice and brown sugar... you walk by it for four years and then weaken...don't.. I had a bite and felt it was like axle grease and felt terrible in my mouth. It is not the million people, or crowds, of terrible music..or noise...it is all of that and after a few hours..I am saturated...  That is almost how I felt taking in all the flowers... I am looking forward to the ENP and soaking in all I can about the amazing animals.   so now for some pictures...





cactus room





I have a project Anthony





flower



i own the garden says the cat









Sat to Sun....and 2 more massage

It was a very late night when J&C arrived and we had a beer.  In spite of that we were up and at it early in anticipation of the arrival of Honeybunch and Rosemary   They are saying in Thailand for only a few days outside the ENP..so we tried to push in a full day. Of course, since this is Thailand...a massage was the first order of the day...Cheryl and Monika had a full body and the rest..foot.  130 baht...or a out $4 for an hour.   We next  visited a Wat and the monk was going to take two visiting monks into a venerable spot with a smiling Buddha...so we went along.  and yes...with a change in lighting... Buddha smiled...  The monk also did upon occasion.  Luck for us one of the travelling monks spoke Thai and English.... that was very special.  It appeared that one day the Monk opened and closed the window and found that the mouth changed and was smiling.



honeybunch holding the bag at the night market

After this we went back to the rice soup and dumpling place and then J&C and Honeybunch/Rosemary took a tuk.  It is fun to see others having their first ride. You know when you two new people in tuk and say go.... not easy. For Monika and I we are strong can walk....so...we stopped for cake at The House.  One cake was the same price as lunch for 4.  .....but it is as good as it looks



three monkies



with feet



hanging pigs

I went back for a second full body massage and who can resist.  I came close to tears, but I don't have any leg pain.... so the following is our night market....some put their feet into the tank,,,others held bags....I had a beer..and took pictures of what I found interesting.... with one to add to my favorite shops.

 

 





cooking school

I was the last to be picked up for the cooking class... 4 Aussies, 2 Holland, 1 china and 2 of us from the US.  After we went to the market and learn what we should buy and what we can substitute, we donned the funny hats and went into the farm to learn how everything grows and to pick some of the items that we needed for today

We got to choose what we wanted to make...red, green or yellow curry.  I took the yellow since it is the mildest.  You really have to bang the stone to make a smooth paste and if you don't and have lumps... unpleasant. I added the veggies etc. and made part of my lunch.

For the second dish, I made a veggie soup..  It was extremely favorable and very easy. The green on top is coriander..2 kinds and green onions. We added a stir-fry and then sat to eat. I had found a Chang at the market so I was full and happy.

Monika had been talking about Pad Thai for days, so for the take home, I made that and then finished with banana and coconut  cream...mmmm
.I think I learned more this time for I was paying careful attention.

On the way home I watched all the riders... mmm would love to be out there riding... but for now, I am sitting at the inn waiting for Joe and Cheryl to arrive.

.

I am more understanding of addiction

Monika said last night that she was not going to blog because we did not do anything special.   I did, I slept for 2+hrs in the middle of the day.  I also got some Advil and muscle cream for my sore legs and they are feeling much better.  We decided yesterday that we should have a body scrub...so back we went to the 2.25 hr massage place for a 2 hrs scrub and oil massage.  We were in the same room...but it was dark and we were clothed when we went to the shower and I felt very comfortable.  It was wonderful...my skin is smooth and relaxed...mmm it was close to the little dumpling and rice soup place so we went there and then back for a nap.....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz that's all she wrote.
I think I can live on mushed rice soup with a soft egg and ginger.  It looks like gruel but in the middle of the day when you are hardly functioning after the soft oil & scrub...it is as close as I am going to come to heaven on earth.   I thought it must be like the loving way of the women who bath the dead at the transition.  blissful.
Earlier, we got up at 5:30 and saw the morning monks and had a donut...same same.  Last night we went to the food court and watched some dancing...in the night market... easy day...So here are a few pictures that are different.

Everything that is done is done with gentle precision.  presentation is very important....I was not sure if this dish was for worship or for attraction to the restaurant but it was sitting by the side of the walk way.

The night market had a few interesting things... There are all kids of bugs and bats in cases...The butterflies I can see..but if anyone wants a bat, let me know.  The Christmas fairy is a bout 5 feet tall....again... 

I am off to cooking school and Monika is off to bus trip to a waterfalls... same same but different..  I am watching the weather and hope that Joe and Cheryl have found themselves near Korean at this time...I figured I would get an email if they were delayed... it is 7 and\ time to start the new day...

eat click rub

girl in fish

l

After the dentist, I was a little shaky...so we did an easy day...waled to market, had juice, medicianl tea, and bought a book that I had heard a bout ..What's what in a Wat..so if anyone come and we to the 7 of the 100 Wat's in CM...I will know more.  We had said  we would skip a day after the marrithon of yesterday ..but here was the opportunity.  This was the most gentle that I have ever had...I went to sleep.  We ate at the Mother Earth or Tree House as I call it..practiced taking pictures and then walked home the short way... it is now 5:30 am and we are off to see the morning monks...and have a donut...



street artist



new meaning to the land of smiles

Going to the dentist is never a pleasant thing...money, time, sour mouth etc.  Before we came, I booked an appointment with the dentist for a consult, cleaning and repair. The office is near the university since many of the 25 dentist teach.  Some are from local school and many, like the head of the clinic..a woman studied in the states.  I filled out an information card and waited a few minutes in a very pleasant office with computers, newspapers, flowers, and a reception staff of 5.  People bustled about and then I was taken downstairs to another series of offices to meet Dr. Lee.  She was about 5 feet tall...95 pounds and late 20's . I only saw her assistance face for a very few seconds,  but I suspect she was about the same age. Let's take a look...mmm mmm mmm ok...first the scaling... and she donned her face mask, put glasses on me Vaseline on my lips.  I rinsed with some antiseptic and off we were.  The radio was playing some tunes and soon Dr. Lee was singing in my ear in a soft voice and working like ballet with the assistant.  She scaled, and polished and said mmm mmm a few more times.
The the front tooth which had cracked...since she was going to remove a filling to refill...she gave me Novocaine...The needle looked bigger than her,  but her humming helped and actually it didn't feel too bad.  It was a resin filling so the ultra violet process was used and a few times, she stopped humming.  That is when I started to be anxious..but soon...ok, now for the molar.  The front of the crown had  broken off.. So here again, there was a very large amount of fill that was need...but after 2 hrs, She said...all done.  She asked the "boy' in the next office to look at the front prosthesis...and he said..oh boy, but there was not time to sent it to the lab and have if fixed.  Off to xray and a full mouth and two  bite wings  The first go,  my bridge was in so we had to redo it... they do the xray  upstairs and then it appears on the computer screen in the dentist  office.  She went through each tooth gum surgery here, new 3 crownd here, repair here, new post here... and it will take 2.weeks.
It was now 12:30 and I was to meet M at 1...bill for today...2 resin fillings,  3 xray and cleaning...just under $200. The projection for the two weeks...$2500 you do the math...even with 1200 for the air and $600 for an apt for a month.... so...anyone want to come next year... I will be here...and smiling.

Eat Wat and Massage

[NOTE IF YOU CLICK ON THE PICTURES THEY WILL ENLARGE]
We definitely have established a pattern for our day. I am enjoying doing the blog in the room, listening to the birds and watching the light come up between 6-7.  I was snoring at 10:30 last night...but wait till you hear the day.

After breakfast we walked to the Elephant Nature Park on our way the good doctor.  Monika paid for the trip and we checked to see that  Bonny,Joe, Cheryl, Rosemary were on the list.  The strange collection of dogs were lounging about on the floor. 

When we got there, the little Dr was waiting and said I looked my usual 60 yrs except for the joints.  My tongue was perfect, pulse good etc. so off to the needles. She used a heat lamp in addition to the pins so I did not fall asleep.  I got 3 months of arthritis tea pills and a sheet with the ingredients so hopefully I can get them at home.  Monika did not need the needles but also got a bag which looks like rabbit pellets. 

We already had breakfast at the inn so after 2 hrs it was time to start our eat or drink walk Wat day.  The juice bar had a pretty good sea weed, banana, mango drink, so I felt healthy. As we sat there a young family were across the street at another juice bar that had wheat grass outside.  As they chatted with others who came and went,it was obvious that was the local  bar for the healthy folks.  There dtr was outside with her bike helmet and "tools" fixing dad's bike.  When the young couple came out, he put her in a body carrier on his chest and they road away... I could live here.

We decided this would be Wat day, so after dropping off the pounds of  pellets, we were off.

I am pretty sure that after weeks you might not notice the flowers growing everywhere, but this hanging basket was in one of the Wat's and had the most

beautiful flower.  I would say the flower was about 3 inches in diameter.  This was the same Wat that was serving a meal for a family that had a funeral.  We saw this good spread of food, (they were serving themselves rice by taking a plate and scooping out a serving) and when I asked about our participating, she said funeral...oh that is why they are all wearing black.  That also reminded us that we needed to eat so we ate at nice Thai place and I had curry and M mushrooms...very tasty meal.  And enough strength to move along.

On our way to the large Wat at the end of the road, we stopped at server others and at one found a very interesting occurrence. Sitting on a bench was a young monk and on the right side of the alter a waxed monk.  No more relics... and we both had to look to see if he was not real

When we came to the large Wat at the end, some of the young monks were talking to the visitors, some were in school and some were taking their afternoon nap. That venture reminded us that we had not eaten is a few minutes or hours, so it was time for afternoon cake and juice.  I had some green stuff made from some leaf..I think it was morning glory, but who knows.  The cake was good...and the drink healthy.

As we are living our opulent life, we see so many who are working so very hard for penny's a day.  We found a massage place that gave us a full Thai massage, a head and shoulders massage, foot massage and ended with hot herbs...two and half hours for 500 bht.. $15...well we gave the staff another $3...can you imagine doing all that for what....a dollar an hour.  Other than the fact that they gave me a Thai body top...when I am a full figure woman...and the strings that tied it together were more like Italian spaghetti straps..and I can't tie a knot and I started with the 3rd string on the right and the 1st string on the left...it was ok.. I got the image in my head and was stiffing a laugh for a while..it was a sight..but the lights are low and ever one on the mats are too busy trying to survive the stick  between your toes..that it was ok..  Well ok until she brought out the hot herbs...it was the end of the day and they suckers had been heating up all day.   I felt like a marshmallow that was roasting on an open fire... she would put one on me then work the other two and I would pray...please move it ...I am on fire... she did...and I did not go up in flame.  When we finished...it was dark and we had to figure where we were going... not an easy thing...after it was more in perspective...it was a great treatment and I slept well....today is the dentist...   mmmm

and life goes on

I am doing better in the book stores, but I am now looking for body treatment anonymous. We stopped at sidewalk foot massage last night ...this was after a before airport bus ½ hr massage... there were two people working in a chair..and when we looked like we were going to stop, they said...sit..and then left and came back with two people that were doing something else. The one was dressed to go out to dinner in a nice restaurant, and she sat on the stool with me and immediately bonder with my toes..same polish. She gave a foot, back, head, arms massage for the same price as the moring..and thqt was 130 bhat...$4 for an hour.... I am adicted So far we have had four foot massage and thai massage and a facial....a new woman. The airport when smoothly, the plane was lovely,

We ate at the airport and were pretty full so we had a banana honey rotii and some fruit as we took a quick walk.Monika is now using the lobby computer finally got on in English. I was beyond tired last night and crashed early...only to walk at 5. I can hear the magpie whistling.. and yes Page/JA...the little dog is still yiping at the garage door... It is cool in the morning and last night a wonderful 82 that encouraged the ...ok here is a massage...lets just sit... and it is good.

for the photo folks

What stricks you about this country, which is probably the same as the USA ..I just don't notice it is the variations in wealth.  As we walked through the Siam after the protest, we walked by a series of cas..this Lambrangni was the last in the line  next to benz, porshe, etc... 

The people of Bangkok brought their china to decorate the temple

There are dogs everywhere...but the ones that find the cool spot on the bench appear so independent.  I think this might be a great place to sleep since this pooch is very well fed.I have seen

I have seen pigs heads but this one spat on the metal slab looked particularly "DEAD"   

sad protester

my travel buddy

I would be remiss if I did not mention how glad I am that I am traveling with Monika..not only is she also on a photo path, but little except a plate of phat thai is on her agenda. She pays attention and grabs my heavy bag in a blink..When we come home we will both have pictures.. I many feet etc.. and she will have what she say... and again...same same but different

collection of thoughts...read the next one's if you don't like my rampling

Like everything, the new blog has the good and bad or easier and harder or takes more time than less time some have commented that they like my writing more when I travel...well I am more reflective. When I am home, I find that I give myself little time. It is probably my baggage of feeling that if I dance fast enough, I will stay with the group, not be left behind, and folks will admire my extra effort. I am so grateful that I have come to live in the community that I have, for I have observed that if I dance fast, folks wonder what I am up to..what I want...who am I trying to make look badly Maybe I am just a fast dancer and want nothing. Where I loss myself is trying to talk to others baggage. That is when I know I am not in touch with myself. Traveling gives me the opportunity to step back or out and just observe and then ask what are you doing and why... is it making you your true self.


The human in me gets angry at people who lead unexamined lives. Here, I watch hundreds of people going from one place to the other without seeing anything that is passing by..they walk with f25 lens and use the filter of alcohol....young girls thinking the dance is just the dance. They could be in Alaska or Jakata...it matters not...it is the dance...the escape. \

Last night I watched an older woman...ok maybe in her 60's she was walking with a cup of coffee and had a very glazed look...alone. I did not see a purse, but she was a frang and was headed toward an area with no guest houses. I turned to see her go to the side and stop ..she didn't look frantic or I would have turned back...this is her experience and I don't need to rush in.. I think that is my lesson for the day, We all walk about with different lens and filters. I often use the lens or youth and do not tend to my age or needs...Others the filter of fear, regret, anger or alcohol...it is all same same just different. Ok...enough serious thought... not a blog of pictures.

sunday

Sunday was a little sleep in for my traveling partner. I am still not organized but today will be a good day to move stuff around before we pack to go. We have tickets on the noon airport bus so we will have plenty of time to be on to our next venture. We thought it would be an easy day, but since we are letting our feet dictate life took us to several unexpected ventures. Some things are constant monks  and flowers

We water taxi/skyway to the Jim Thompson House/Museum and took the tour. This is my second trip but there was still much to learn and enjoy. While he was a collector, the Thai house is still simple and practical. The woodcuts for printing the skill for example...you use art already created many centuries before and then make a woodcut but you also make a cut in the wood that can be removed so you have an ability to put color into the fabric.Of course we had a great lunch ...Pomelo salad and a stir-fry for me..and large Chang.. Coconut milk for Monika. We took the canal boat behind the House for a short ride and when they stopped to get on a connecting boat, we got off and as we walked the stairs it was obvious that there was a red protest going on. Interestingly, while some have their faces covered, most were encouraging us to take a picture. The police were there, but respectfully apart from the scene. They did not have guns...nor mob control....just there in case.

At the Siam, we had icecream and I tried to get a cup of coffee. I got an “American” coffee which looked more like an expresso and it was $4..about 75 a swallow... I was not happy. Inside the Gourmet market, I got a good cup for $2.

Monika has been looking at the fish tanks, so on our way from the river...we decided to put our toes in with the Parana. In itself it sounds like a very dumb idea... felt like little electric shocks and I was not unhappy to retrieve my toes and find that I still had feet. They found my legs to be very taste and even when I would take my foot out...they would cling for awhile... no one died.. and I still have legs.

We ended the night with a Thai massage, dinner and a stoll down the Road...and another beautiful night in paradise.

This is one of the times that you think....what if...but you stay anyway since all the protesters are so happy