For our last day in Thailand, parts of our party are dragging. This has been wonderful and exciting and perception-changing and educational… and exhausting. So, today, the vote is for something inside, out of the heat, and a schedule that is not at all demanding. So, we decided to visit Art in Paradise in Esplanade … Continue reading
Almost every ‘Must See’ list about Bangkok gives some space to Chatuchak Market, so we had to see what all the fuss was about. As always, I was very thankful for our friends who drove and navigated and got us smoothly in and out, because I cannot fathom driving around Bangkok. See <<THIS POST>> if … Continue reading
One of the things I really value about traveling, is that we have to learn to put our “Americanness” aside. We realize that, while sometimes it does seem so, the whole world does not speak English. The concept of “keeping up with the Joneses” is entirely different in other countries. Safety regulations are wildly different. … Continue reading
Asiatique was one of the places our hosts said was a “must see” while in Bangkok. Since I had seen it listed, repeatedly, on tourism websites and travel books, I was hardly going to argue. But I did have to ask, “What exactly is Asiatique?” Because while site after site listed it as something you … Continue reading
My husband, who has gone from Mr. Meat and Potatoes when we met and got married, to Mr. Texting Me Pictures of Silkworm Larvae and Octopus Balls (I’m not being crude there, that’s what it’s called on the menu.) when he is eating out for business travel, order this over our hosts frantic objections and warnings. Continue reading
Growing up in the United States, we don’t grow up with old. When a building is 200 years old, we’re all “Ooooohhhhh, can you imagine? This was built before great-grandma was born!” The oldest structures we have to oooohh and aaaahhh over are things like the Richard Sparrow House, built in 1640 and the Wyckhoff … Continue reading
At some point when you are planning your trip to Thailand (especially Bangkok), you are going to read in a guide book, or someone is going to helpfully insist, that you must go to a Thai mall while you are there. And you are going to think, a mall? Why would I take my precious … Continue reading
It seems many of our memories of Thailand revolve around food. (Come to think of it, a lot of our memories of a lot of our travel revolve around food. Note to self, examine our family’s relationship with food…) Anyway! On this particular day, we took a walk down an easy-to-miss back street, near the … Continue reading
Ah yes, the Tuk Tuk ride. The day we had a reasonable concern part of our party had been whisked off to parts unknown, never to be seen again. That was an exciting time. I’m telling you, we made memories on this trip! We had had our yummy lunch at <<Shoshanna Restaurant>>. We had politely … Continue reading
As we left Wat Pho, our friend had an idea for what he assured us would be a great, inexpensive lunch: Shoshana Restaurant. He was also confident this was easily walkable. Ok, the first part was quite true – yummy lunch. No arguments there. The second part… well, let’s say that it can be walked, from … Continue reading
It’s hard to imagine the humble origins of Khao San Road as layered sign after neon-colored sign beckons to you, offering everything from sustenance, to chachkies, to items of questionable legality. Those origins of the road are only alluded to in the name, which means ‘milled rice.’ The first hotel was a small one, serving … Continue reading
The Reclining Buddha behind us, and one of the oldest temple complexes in Thailand is laid out around us. The colors, the details, and the architecture are not at all western at all, which is, of course, exactly as it should be. But it’s also a little disorienting to me. I don’t know what the … Continue reading
Stepping over the threshold into Wat Pho, I was surprised – and then surprised at my surprise, if you can follow that – at the size of the famous Reclining Buddha. After all, in today’s day and age, we can easily view not only the professional, perfectly lit photos – but also a neverending supply … Continue reading
Today, we remember with fondness(ish) the experience that is the Water Taxi on Chao Phraya, in the heart of Bangkok. As the wise philosopher, or hubby Scott, put it: The Water Taxi on Chao Phraya is… an adventure for the senses. The people crowded around you, the rocking of the boat, the smell of water, … Continue reading
We are doing surprisingly well with jetlag, which is helping this whole transition a lot. We are still waking up (really) early, but even with that we are lasting until 9pm. At some point I expect we will hit a wall, but until then, we’re just going with it. Today that meant a golf cart … Continue reading
We finally arrived in Thailand at about 2:30 this morning. We were supposed to get in at 1 a.m., and all was on track across the country, then across the ocean and even boarding our plane from Shanghai to Bangkok. And then, for reasons I cannot fathom, the plane just seem to drive at about … Continue reading