Another Year Older...

Every August I celebrate a birthday and each year I am more grateful to be healthy (wealthy and wise would be nice too) but I am blessed in so many other ways. I have wonderful and amazing friends all around the globe and in so many cities. This year we celebrated the August Full Moon and my birthday with a Goddess gathering... feasting, singing and dancing in the moonlight.

 Gifts galore ... jewellery, purses, orchids, and of course roses and coconut ice cream with small sweet cakes from India. And so many Facebook birthday wishes as well as emails and the best of all was a phone call from my daughter Carrie and grandsons Aidan and Taylor... I am truly blessed! 

  

 May you also be blessed and enjoy the gifts of friendship and family.

Thailand Island Fun

Remembering America, we had a great July 4th party at my house that included hot dogs, peanuts in the shell, old fashioned fireworks and ear piercing karaoke! It was a lot of fun for Thai and Foreign teachers alike. 

Next I could look forward to having a school break in July AND having Carrie, Aidan and Taylor come to Thailand to visit. We decided to go to the small Island of Ko Samet and the only way to arrive is by ferry or speed boat. Opting for the fastest way, we were dropped off in the water and waded into Jep's Bungalows where we stayed. The restaurant was right on the beach with lodging just a short walk away.

Cloudy with some showers every day still did not dampen the amazing time we had... sparkling ocean waves to ride and a white diamond beach for sand castles, yummy food and hair braids with fierce henna Tattoos for the boys.





Next stop would be the Brookside Valley Resort where the plan was to go Zip-lining. Now there is a part of me that wanted to do it ... after all I have done it before as well as sky-diving and walking on fire but that was in the past. Now maybe a broken hip and old age had something to do with my decision to enjoy watching and be the photographer!

         You go mama...

Happiness is the feeling that comes after being scared and doing it anyway!!

The resort pool had a pirate ship at one end perfect for cooling off.

The small lake had paddle boats to peddle just in case the adrenaline rush from the extreme activities wasn't enough.

Thanks guys for a fantastic couple of weeks with you in Thailand. Ga-Ga

Weekend in Phuket

 It was another Buddha Day school holiday... and we had Friday off. I decided to try a short Bangkok Air flight to Phuket Island leaving out of Utapao Airport, in Ban Chang/Pattaya where I live. An old American airstrip from Vietnam days, the small airport now only has a few flights a day but it is really convenient avoiding Bangkok.
Landing in the rain... it continued to rain the entire weekend.  I never even put my swim suit on. So we ate yummy Thai food, shopped and visited Temples.

At the tip of the Island, high on a hill overlooking the ocean, the Temple of Elephants was unique in that local Thai and visitors alike would bring and leave small elephants as a token of their many blessings to come.

The position of the Buddha hands (Mudra) in statues has different meanings.

The Buddha Mudra below: BHUMISPARSA - Calling the Earth To Witness the Truth

May you continue to receive the Earths many blessings today and everyday.

Hollywood - Hong Kong

To start the new school year in May, I wanted a new haircut so I braved a Thai hair salon that only cuts black Asian hair and doesn’t speak much English…presto a new look!  But my photo with the Hollywood sign was actually taken here in hot sunny Thailand. Seeing the sign in the local hills of Rayong made me feel a little homesick for the USA as I used to live in West Hollywood, California. There from my previous penthouse condo balcony I could actually see the real HOLLYWOOD famous sign that often appears in movies.  That was then… 

 Now I had an air ticket to Hong Kong which I needed to use. It was for the trip I had to cancel when I broke my hip, so off I went to see Carrie and my grandsons before my school started. I visited their school .. a very tall modern school building. I was able to see Aidan do his original book presentation and also help do an activity with Taylor's class (some teachers just can't stay out of the classroom!)
For their International Day, Taylor was a USA Moon Landing Astronaut and Aidan was Good Old Uncle Sam.
                   












On the weekend we went to Ocean Park and had a great time. Games, prizes, lots of rides, shows, and even a cable car ride all in one day!

Hong Kong Harbor is a hub of constant activity, with cruise ships, boats and the ferries back and forth to Macau. But this May was very special... it marked the arrival of the Yellow Rubber Duckie! Huge crows filled the Harbor walkways just to take photos by the big duck. Yes, we did too!

Being in Hong Kong always brings back memories of when Carrie and I were stranded there during 9/11.  But relaxing in their high-rise apartment where the view from the window is spectacular seems to bring peace. . .
May you enjoy peaceful days and restful nights. Blessings from Thailand.

  

Japan - Cherry Blossom Time

Being in Japan in April with my family AND the experience of seeing the Cherry Blossoms in full bloom has to be one of the top high-lights of my life.

The weather was cool… a nice change from hot Thailand. A pale grey sky and the mist in the air just added to the magic as the umbrellas seemed to compliment the brilliant multi-colored parade of Japanese kimonos.

Lit by brilliant sunlight in the daytime and almost surreal at night, the spectacle of the blossoming trees proudly displaying their cherry pink and frosty white flowery blooms created the most stunning backdrop for photos. Everywhere we visited looked like it could be a Japanese  water-color painting or a replica of a famous work of art.

 My Daughter Carrie did a magnificent job of planning the trip... all I had to do was fly from Bangkok. We met at the Osaka airport. Then took a taxi to Kyoto where we stayed in a traditional Japanese house.

 One day we ventured out to see the famous Bamboo Forest. Taking a "Romantic Train" ride we arrived at our destination, Arashiyama, in pouring rain and took a rickshaw taxi. As the downpour continued the boys and I oped for some hot green tea instead of walking the slippery steps to the next Temple.

At the Hollywood-like film studios in Kyoto the boys completed their "Ninja" training and happily wore their outfits to dinner.
We visited many stunning historical sights and gardens including Kinkaku, the Golden Pavillion, a Zen Buddhist Temple and we enjoyed a traditional Japanese tea ceremony at the Sekka-tei Tea House.

Our final night we feasted and were entertained by Maiko and Geisha Girls