Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other Thai delights

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Bangkok is full of energy and excitement. We were dazzled by colorful, ornate temples and palaces. We found great museums, hair-raising tuk-tuk rides, and markets full of wonderful things to buy. Around almost every corner there were thai massages and food carts overflowing with yummy delights. We wandered around the streets and small alleyways, and got a drink at the tallest alfresco bar and restaurant in the world on top of the 60th floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel.

After a few days in Bangkok, we took an overnight train north to Chiang-Mai for more temple touring (there are over 100 in the town) , thai cooking class, monk chat (temples offer foreigners a chance to talk to monks with open sessions a few nights a week), and a taste of rural village life. Don also got some suits made at a tailor (what do you mean we have to go back to work!?)

After our trip through Laos (see earlier blog), we made our way off the tourist track to northeastern Thailand, where we were introduced to the outer boundaries of the Khmer Empire and several of its temples. Being some of the only white people in town, we were a real novelty and were able (forced) to practice some of the language and meet more locals.
Walking around a park in the town of Phimai one day, a group of 5 Thai ladies waved us over to join their lunchtime picnic with a raised beer and the typical downward sweeping "come over here" gesture. Although they didn't speak any English and we only knew a couple of Thai words, we managed to use the phrasebook at the back of our guidebook to talk for a while. We found out their names and talked about the nice trees, ponds and other natural features around us. We learned that they "chawp" (like) "falang" (foreigners), especially men (like Don!). We told them we were on our honeymoon (they use the english word, too). We figured out how to tell them we were "mangsawirat" (vegetarian) when they offered us chicken (which has worked out surprisingly well at market food stalls since then that don't have a menu!). We didn't get much farther than that, but now we know "nit noi" (a little) Thai and made a few new friends, too.

Its time to leave Thailand for a few days again...this time to Siem Reap!

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Photos

Wat Po
While the stuppas (burial momuments) are beautiful - the Thai massage school in the back of the Wat was truly memorable!

Garuda
Guarding the temple from evil spirits

Painting the lamposts
Scaffolding in Thailand - I wonder how often they fall off?

King Rama IX
A highly revered king who is really a father figure for the country. His picture is found just about everywhere from tuk-tuks to street stalls. At a puppet show we saw, the natinal anthem was played while on the video screen a photo retrospective was playing showing the king in action.

Long Live the King
Bracelets for the 60th anniversary of the King's reign (worn by many)

Jim Thompson's House
Beautiful examples of traditional teak houses

All dressed up and ready to go
Don gets a few suits made

cooking class
Thai food anyone?

White man in Asia
At the market

Monk with umbrella
Couldn't resist the photo

Thai picnic
These ladies kept the beer flowing amidst our butchering of the Thai language.

Friendly banker!
After realizing I was interested in an umbrella - free with a new account - this bank manager took us out back to his car and handed over two spanking new umbrellas! Later in the day we got some odd looks. "What's the farang doing with that umbrella?"

Phenom Rung
Thai women posing with a young monk