Bangkok, Thailand
This was the first time that we had seen Lydia since the beginning of August. It was a wonderful Christmas present for all of us! We began by leaning how to make our own Thai food at the Blue Elephant restaurant. We saw the IMAX 4D version of Star Wars 7, which was not being released in China. We saved the big temples for the last day of the year, not realizing that businesses would be closed and the temples would be packed. December 31 was also a once-a-year duty-free export exhibition, which opened up a strange tour of the city in a tuk-tuk.
This was the first time that we had seen Lydia since the beginning of August. It was a wonderful Christmas present for all of us! We began by leaning how to make our own Thai food at the Blue Elephant restaurant. We saw the IMAX 4D version of Star Wars 7, which was not being released in China. We saved the big temples for the last day of the year, not realizing that businesses would be closed and the temples would be packed. December 31 was also a once-a-year duty-free export exhibition, which opened up a strange tour of the city in a tuk-tuk.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
We were here for three days and saw plenty of temples and even some monks. I had a discussion with three of them for about half an hour It was very interesting. He had tattoos on his arms and said that he regretted that because his body was no longer clean and pure. He and his friends were from Chiang Rai and were dedicating their lives to Buddhism, studying every day. His English was very good, but his friends were reluctant to talk because they thought their English was not good enough.
We spent a day at the Baan Chang Elephant Park in the Elephant Day Care program. Emilie and Lydia took care of Manoi, a 35-year old elephant. I took on King Pao, a 9-year old (just a playful baby!).
On Christmas day, we traveled to the Doi Inthanon National Park, where we hiked to the highest point in Thailand and went on a three-hour trekking tour.
Chiang Mai, Thailand
We were here for three days and saw plenty of temples and even some monks. I had a discussion with three of them for about half an hour It was very interesting. He had tattoos on his arms and said that he regretted that because his body was no longer clean and pure. He and his friends were from Chiang Rai and were dedicating their lives to Buddhism, studying every day. His English was very good, but his friends were reluctant to talk because they thought their English was not good enough.
We spent a day at the Baan Chang Elephant Park in the Elephant Day Care program. Emilie and Lydia took care of Manoi, a 35-year old elephant. I took on King Pao, a 9-year old (just a playful baby!).
On Christmas day, we traveled to the Doi Inthanon National Park, where we hiked to the highest point in Thailand and went on a three-hour trekking tour.
Being up so high in the Doi Inthanon National Park, there were times during the trek that the clouds rolled by and it was difficult to see very far away. About 3km before the summit of Doi Inthanon, Phra Mahathat Naphamethanidon and Naphapholphumisiri are two chedi built by the Royal Thai Air Force to commemorate the king’s 60th birthday in 1989 (the darker building on the right) and the queen’s 60th birthday in 1992 (on the left). Watch the images at the right that take about twenty seconds to shroud the King and Queen's temples. |
|
Ao Nang, Thailand
From Chiang Mai in the north, we flew two hours to the Andaman coast, landing in Krabi and staying in Ao Nang for five days. This is a beautiful paradise with limestone cliffs, many islands to explore, and beautiful turquoise water. We swam in warm water just about every day. We took day trips to several islands and kayaked to Pee Hua Too Cave.
Krabi
We took a taxi to Krabi to see the town. It did not have a beach, which was surprising. There is one intersection at which cavemen hold up the stoplights. We visited a beautiful temple while a couple was getting their wedding pictures taken. |
|
Proudly powered by Weebly