Songkran in Koh Samui

After my sister went back to America, I was back to my house in Ban Chang and I still had school vacation time left. We had just been as far north in Thailand as the Golden Triangle where Burma, Lao and Thailand meet in the middle of the Mekong River. That is where (in the past) most of the drug trading was done on boats and the surrounding land was used to grow Poppies. Now I felt like the islands of southern Thailand were calling … Another airport and another flight.

Utapao Airport (an old US Air base during the Vietnam war) is only 15 minutes away from my home in Ban Chang. A short one-hour flight made a weekend celebration of Songkran Festival, on Koh Samui a reality… Happy New Year Thailand!

Koh Samui, is an island off the east coast of Thailand. It is located close to the mainland town of Surat Thani.  Ko Samui is Thailand's second-largest island after  Phuket. Tourists enjoy the abundant natural resources, white sandy beaches, coral reefs and coconut trees that are present on the island.Samui also has many beautiful temples and we enjoyed our visit with a monk at Wat Lamai.

We stayed at Manathai Beach Resort, but the locals know it as “Buddys”

It had it own separate beach across the road with a large beach side swimming pool in addition to the hotel pool, Jacuzzi, and a fantastic spa. The resort had many different choices of restaurants and foods including an Irish Pub, an old-fashioned American hamburger/soda shop, Italian Pastas and Pizza and of course beach side Thai food. All yummy!

The Songkran festival from the Sanskrit word saṃkrānti, or literally "astrological passage") is celebrated annually as the Thai New Year from 13 to 15 of April. It is one of the most important festivals on the Buddhist calendar and coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South Asia.

Families prepare for the New Year by tidying their homes and paying alms to the monks and the poor. Water pistols and buckets are used to drench friends and tourists. The throwing of water is meant as a symbol of washing all of the bad away and is sometimes filled with fragrant herbs when used in the traditional manner. It is also the time of cleaning and washing the Temple Buddhas and it is done ceremoniously by pouring flower infused water on the statues.  Another time honored tradition is honoring the elders by the younger members of the family who knee when presenting flowers and pouring water on the hands of the respected elder.

 On the way to the airport to come back to Ban Chang, we visited Big Buddha Temple, Wat Phra Yai where the 12 meter high golden statue of Lord Buddha was built in 1972 and has become a main tourist attraction on the Island. As many tourists and locals were visiting for

Songkran, we also ceremonially poured water before climbing the great staircase to the top. Buddha Blessings for the New Year!

Sharing Thailand with my Sister

We met Sunday morning as we had arranged at the big airport then flew by way of Bangkok airways to Chiang Mai where we stayed in a cute “Bed and Terrace” within walking distance of the famous “Sunday Night Market.” Of course we dropped our bags and went shopping! That’s what girls do… Then we had some yummy Thai food and a relaxing foot massage for our tired feet, thankful for "sister time" and the amazing skills of a Thai masseuse.

A visit to Chiang Mai must include at least one temple as there are hundreds and Wat Phrathat, Doi Suthep is rated #1 for all Chiang Mai things to do ... The temple has a huge golden chedi (spire) and sits high upon a hill with a beautiful view if the city. We opted tot take the lift instead of the stairs, it was HOT.

Doing the tourist thing we went to a silk farm where we saw many silk worms, then the spinning and weaving was all done by hand to create the brilliantly coloured beautiful world renowned woven Thai silks.

Onward we journeyed to see the making of paper umbrellas, painstakingly threaded and painted by hand to be used for decoration, protection from the sun and in the traditional Thai umbrella dance.

To complete the day we had a  Thai Lana Dinner and Cultural Show with front row seats on pillows and a low table filled with many tasty dishes to try. Finally we sent our prayers heavenward via the picturesque lighted hot air lanterns. A perfect ending to a "tourist" day.

The next day we took a Thai cooking class at a local farm where the ingredients were organically grown. Master chefs we are not but we masterfully crushed chillies to a pulp as we learned a few tips and tricks. Some new recipes, lots of laughs and we ate way too much food.

Then we traveled north by van to Chiang Rai, along a narrow road winding upwards to where my personal favourite temple is located. I continue to marvel at the inspiration and dedication of the artist /designer Chalermchai Kositpipat who used his own money to build the beautiful white temple, Wat Rong Khun. With more buildings being added the creation continues.

No visit to Thailand is complete without a visit to our local pine tree lined Pala Beach and feeding a baby elephant! 

Thanks Rita for a fantastic time with you in Thailand.

Sharing Thai Food, Thai Hospitality and Thai Friendship

Many Blessings from the Big Buddha on the Mountain 

Happy in Hong Kong

March 10 was the last day of school and I flew to Hong Kong to visit Carrie and my amazing grandsons, Aidan and Taylor. No visit is complete without a visit to the famous Stanley Street Market or Temple Street Night Market in Kowloon. If you are shopping or "just looking" nearly everything, from cheap bargains to collectibles can be found there. The boys decided on remote controlled airplanes as there Ga-ga (grandma) gift! I was also able to visit the Hong Kong International school where the boys go and even attend there “student lead” conferences. What a joy to see them progressing so well.

Then I was lucky enough to be there for the Cub Scout competition Pinewood Car Derby. Carrie is the Cub Pack Den Mother so both boys entered with the expert help from their ex race car driver dad, John.

Aidan’s car #3 took first place and he became the International Hong Kong Cub Scout Pinewood Derby Champion. Taylor placed third and was so happy because, as he said,    ”it’s my very first trophy!”

The next weekend we took a ferry boat to Macau to see a “Vegas“ style Cirque du Soleil show. After the show we had a back stage tour as one of Carries friends was in the show. It was amazing!

The next day we visited the Venetian… just like the one in Venice and Las Vegas.  Naturally we took a gondola ride along the canal with a singing gondolier who sang “Moon River“ for the old lady (me). Yes, I remember the song!

And I fondly remember so many of the great times and shows in Las Vegas too! After a wonderful visit I flew back to Bangkok to meet my sister, Rita from San Diego who is flying to Thailand for her Spring break. Next...

Ides of March - Happy Spring

After a trip to Bangkok, dodging the protesters, I picked up my renewed passport. It's good for another 10 years. Then my Thai Yoga teacher and I went to a fantastic floral show at Dasada. There were so many flowers presented so artfully magnificently, it reminded me of the Belaggio Atrium in Las Vegas, the exposition even ended with “dancing waters.”

Another Happy Kindergarten Graduation and School is out until May.

We also celebrated the schools 10th anniversary with the first ever Yearbook (guess who was in charge? My anxious students are dressed and ready for the show. They did "It's a Small World after all."

  A huge evening dinner and celebration showcased many student performances and ended in fireworks. Bright lights and Blessings!

A Krabi Valentines Weekend

Krabi, not crabby… sounds similar but it is one place in Thailand that I had not been to, so with a couple of teachers and a three day holiday, it seemed like a good idea. A quick hour flight on Bangkok Air and we were at an island paradise called AoNang beach.

Jungle monkeys and typical Wisconsinite teachers,”speak, see, hear no evil." Ofda!

I did my first Kayaking in the ocean and I loved it. Long ago in Wisconsin we had canoes… not quite the same. Then a  longboat trip to Railey beach, only reachable by water, where we saw an amazing beach with huge rock formations jutting up in the ocean.

On the beach we also saw a wide variety of sunbathing beauties, with very little covering their glorious bodies, even they had all types of formations jutting up and out. "Teacher, teacher I have a question." Ok-Ok!

We swam and walked along the beach to until we came to a very crowded destination. Yes, we had found the “penis” cave temples. Not quite sure what everyone was praying for but I think it promised fertility if you touched them…I resisted!  

But I did have a nice massage on the beach and enjoyed the open air cook-out on full moon night. With some singing and dancing, a beautiful sunset and a glorious moonrise that really ended the perfect weekend. Now back to school on Monday. 

Blessings from the Land of Sunshine and Smiles.