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.

Top of the World - Tibet

Flying over Mt Everest and the Himalayan mountain range is breathtaking and now I can say I was on top of Mt. Everest, the highest point on Earth at an elevation of 8,848meters or over 29,000 feet. What a great way to begin 2014 at the Top of the World! When we landed in at the airport in Lhasa,Tibet our car and driver met us, as you can not get an entry visa without a tour guide. We journeyed onto Tashi Takge, a very unique hotel near the Jokhang Temple Square. We were ready for dinner and some sleep before our next day of climbing to the top of Red Mountain to visit the Palace where the Dalai Lama used to live.

Portala Palace was built in the 7th Century at 9 stories high with a thousand rooms and is still a sacred site for Tibetans as well as a most famous and revered tourist site.

The 1080 steps seemed to go on forever, and even the guide was surprised that I could make the climb as it is the highest structure in Tibet at 3,767 meters or 12,359 feet.Thank goodness we rested and took photos with the locals making their pilgrimages along the way.

After successfully making it to the top, there was of course the climb back down the same thousand steps!                                                                                                                                                        

 

Afterward we went for a massage given by blind men, At that point any thing was going to help my sore muscles. A yummy dinner, yak butter tea and some rest had us ready for the next days visit to the Tsamkhung Nunnery, the only one in the old city of Lhasa. Tsamkhung means meditation cave and we were lucky enough to attend the morning chanting meditation of the nuns. They even shared their milk tea with us.

After a great lunch at a local “mamas homemade” restaurant, where we were gifted with white silk scarves and posed again for many photos, as we seemed to be the only tourists around, especially with light coloured hair and skin.

Then we met our guide to go on to Sera Monastery for the famed afternoon Monk debates. Sure wish I knew what they were discussing with such animated vigour. It is a tradition that the older monks ask the novices questions to see if they can answer and either give them a tap or a clap!

Finally a bit more shopping before our flight back to Nepal and Hong Kong. Then I flew to Bangkok and back to school… What a fantastic couple of holiday weeks in one of the most sacred places on Earth with so many prayers constantly being offered and candles continually burning.

 May you also enjoy many Blessings, Love and Light.

New Year in Nepal

After Christmas in Hong Kong, my grandsons flew to Singapore with their Dad to visit Disney World and Lego Land. Carrie and I flew to Kathmandu, Nepal to stay at the Himalayan Yoga Hotel and Meditation Center. It was cold in Hong Kong but this was colder and doing yoga outside, looking at the most amazing mountain range on the planet almost made it okay! When we weren’t doing yoga we visited many beautiful temples and World Heritage sites with ancient structures. With 123 spoken languages in Nepal, I was happy that English was one of them!

Of course there was shopping and souvenirs at each location and being  

two blondes we were a visible and ready target for the colourfully dressed anxious vendors begging for us to buy. We bought brightly coloured prayer flags, prayer wheels, prayer beads, meditation music, sining bowls and hand carved decorated Buddhas, jewellery, small bags, purses, scarves of assorted colours and beautifully hand woven pashminas. We happily coined a new favourite phrase, ”site shopping” along with sightseeing! 

Boudhanath, or casually known as the Big Buddha Eyes Stupa, is a huge magnificent site as the crowds of locals make their pilgrimage around it praying as they walk. The name Boudhanath means lord of wisdom and It is a protective, purificatory, wish-granting stupa. It has become one of the most significant objects of worship in the Buddhist universe with pilgrims coming from all parts of the world to offer their prayers and pay respect. We too walked, feeling the spiritual energy as we spun the many embossed metal prayer wheels surrounding the Stupa. 

We also visited the city of Patan and Bhaktapur Durbar Square where we saw the home of ”Kumari” the Living Goddess. We were fortunate enough to see her make an appearance through the open window of her palace home. Because no photos were allowed, they sold post cards of what she looks like in her traditional dress. 

One of my favourite purchases is hanging in my living room. We even went to the art studio where the students learn the intricate and detailed art of Thangka painting. Thangka is the name for the scroll banner screen hanging in every temple monastery and family shrine in Nepal and Tibet. The picture is usually free hand painted. First appearing around the 10th century AD, apprentice painters studied under experienced Lamas. Thankgas are often hung in homes to protect inhabitants from evil spirits. I chose Tara who is regarded as the Goddess of Tenderness.  

White Tara is compassion, peace, prosperity, health, good fortune and long life…who could ask for anything more?  Blessings