COOKIE W
MARILYN WILLIAMS Joined: February 16th 2007
Logged in: May 3rd 2010
Logged in: May 3rd 2010
Travel Blog Posts
PUTONG BEACH, PHUKET
PHUKET TOWN, LOCATED ON EASTERN SHORE OF PHUKET ISLAND, IS THE PROVINCIAL CAPITAL OF PHUKET. THIS IS WHERE ALL THE GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS ARE LOCATED. PHUKET TOWN WAS SETTLED BY THE CHINESE MERCHANTS, WHO MIGRATED FROM CHINA OVER 100 YEARS AGO. THE ISLAND WAS PROSPEROUS EVEN BACK THEN FROM TIN MINING & RUBBER PLANTATIONS. THE WEST COAST HAS MANY BEAUTIFUL 'HORSESHOE' BEACHES IS ON ADANMAN BAY. PUTONG IS THE MOST POPULAR RESORT & THE MOST CROWDED! THIS IS WHERE I AM STAYING. I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPLORE KATA, KARON & SURIN BEACHES & IF I WERE TO RETURN TO PHUKET, I WOULD HEAD FOR ONE OF THEM! THE BEACHES ALL HAVE FINE, WHITE SAND AND WARM, TURQUOISE WATER. SO NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE ON THE COAST, IT'S LOVELY. THE RESTAURANTS ARE PLENTIFUL......MY FAVORITES ARE ON ... read more
TIGER CANYON
TIGER TEMPLE: WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1994. SINCE IT'S OPENING, IT HAS GAINED A REPUTATION AS A WILDLIFE SANCTURY. IT STARTED WITH AN INSURED JUNGLE FOWL GIVEN TO THE MONKS BY THE VILLAGERS. THE PEACOCKS CAME ATTRACTED BY THE CALLS OF LARGE COLONY OF JUNGLE FOWL. AN INJURED WILD BOAR STUMBLED INTO THE MONASTERY & THE MONKS CARED FOR HIM UNTIL HE COULD BE RELEASED BACK INTO THE FOREST. THEN WILD BOARS & UNWANTED PETS ARRIVED....ALL THESE ANIMALS ROAM THE GROUNDS OF THE MONESTERY. THE FIRST CUB ARRIVED 1999, AN INDOCHINESE FEMALE TIGER ARRIVED IN POOR CONDITION. HER MOTHER HAD BEEN KILLED BY A POACHER NEAR THAI-BURMA BORDER & THE CUB WAS SOLD TO A WEALTHY BANGKOK PERSON WHO ORDERED IT BE KILLED & STUFFED. THE PROCESS FAILED & THE CUB WAS BROUGHT TO THE MONESTARY. THE ... read more
THE ROYAL PANTHEON
THE GRAND PALACE COMPLEX WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1782, AFTER KING RAMA 1 ASCENDED TO THE THRONE. IT CONSISTS OF THE ROYAL RESIDENCE AND THRONE HALLS, A NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT OFFICES AS WELL AS THE RENOWNED TEMPLE OF THE EMERALD BUDDHA. IT COVERS AN AREA OF ABOUT 1 SQUARE MILE, IS SURROUNDED BY FOUR WALLS. AS MANY KINGS CAME INTO POWER, THEY BEGAN TO RENOVATE THE MANSIONS AND TEMPLES. THE TEMPLES ARE TRULY BEAUTIFUL, MANY BUILT WITH GOLD, BRILLIANT BLUE & RED STONES AND MIRROR CHIPS. THE CARVINGS ARE STUNNING AS ARE THE MANY FRESCOS DEPICTING THE SIAMESE CONCEPTION OF THE VEDIC GODS OF INDIA, VERERATED AS THE GUARDIANS OF THE UNIVERSE. BENEATH THESE GODS ARE INSCRIBED WITH THE TEN KINGLY VIRTUES TO BE OBSERVED BY A MONARCH. IT TAKES SEVERAL HOURS TO WALK THROUGH THIS COMPLEX, ... read more
BOAT BUILDING
80,000 live on boats or villages around Tonle Sap lake-- known as 'TONLE SAP LAKE FLOATING VILLAGES'. Many of these villagers never leave, they are born here, raised here & continue the cycle. They live on boats they build, have electricity. They also build their fishing boats, fish and sell their catch to markets. Average age is 54; many don't reach age of 5. I needed to write and share about these hardy people, who are very isolated/self contained, friendly, ambitious, gentle and welcoming.......We met a camera crew who traveled around these villages for 6 months and are preparing a documentary. ... read more
ANGKOR WAT
ANKOR WAT means 'CAPITAL CITY' or 'HOLY CITY'. Was capital of Khmer Empire during 9th - 12th century. Khmer was dominant ethnic group in ancient Cambodia. The temples were constructed of sandsone and brick: ANGKOR WAT; ANGKOR THOM; BAYON; PREAH KHAN; NEAK PEAN; TA SOM, to name a few. ANGKOR WAT is the grandest of all the temples, was capital and state temple. These temples were built of Khmer archicture beginning in 9th century. Temples located in city of Siem Reap. Many have been destroyed. They were not built for meeting places for faithful but palaces for gods. These temples are remnants of Angkorean civilization and represent the pinnacle of the ancient Khmer architecture and civilization. Many of the kings added extra shrines to original temples; buildings were surrounded by enclosures to protect them from evil ... read more
IN TUK TUK WITH JOYCE & SCOTT
Joyce & I arrived in Phnom Penh at 11 pm, February 3rd, 23 hours after leaving Fort Lauderdale! We had 2 hour stop- over in Seoul, which is large, modern airport. Purchased Cambodian visa at Phnom Penh immigration for $20 US. Scott met us and we traveled to our guest house by 'TUK TUK', which is good, standard transportation. Our guest house cost $40/nite, with own private bath, close to the Royal Palace and river. US dollars is main currency in Cambodia. Food is quite good, Amok was recommended when in Phnom Penh! This is a fish dish cooked in parchment paper. Was quite good. Many cafes along street with good coffee pastries/bagels, good way to start the day! We visited 'TUOL SLENG' genocide museum, former office S.21, 'Kampuchea Democratic' 1975-1979. Was previously used as a ... read more
OUR STUDENTS
Have just finished two weeks of teaching conversational English at the Haikou Municipal Educational Research & Training Academy. This is our fourth year teaching with Global Volunteers & the most fun. Our team of 17 bonded quickly & the laughter & companionship developed quickly! Each morning we boarded the bus at 8AM & returned to the hotel by noon for lunch. Roy & I shared a class, consisting of 9 students, all Chinese English teachers. They were eager to increase their ability to speak conversational English. Teachers teach their English class 'from the book'. Once out of the university, they do not have much opportunity to speak conversational English. Day of our final class, the Academy gave a closing ceremony & each class sang songs........ours sang 'WELCOME TO ISLAND OF HAINAN' & dressed in native Hainan ... read more
GATHERED FOR TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEAL
It was an honor to be invited to Yongxing, a small village outside Haikou City, to celebrate Gongqi, an annual celebration of ancestors. It is a day for the families to gather together to pray for their ancestors and share a meal. Two of our students, who I taught last year through Global Volunteers, invited us to share a meal with their family. Our guides to the village, were two of our students from class this year, who also teach in Yongxing middle school. We went by taxi and, because of a big traffic jam, it took 1 1/2 hours to reach the village from Haikou City......normally it would be an hour journey. When we arrived, our two friends were waiting for us, plus two more students from last year. It was such fun to see ... read more
HONG KONG HARBOR
AFTER 16 HR FLIGHT, NEWARK/HONG KONG ON CONTINENTAL, WE ARRIVED IN HONG KONG & SPENT ONE NIGHT. FOLLOWING DAY, FLEW 1 HR TO HAINAN ISLAND TO PREPARE FOR OUR 'FOURTH' SESSION WITH GLOBAL VOLUNTEERS IN HAIKOU CITY. THE WEATHER IS VERY WARM & HUMID........WE'RE USED TO THAT & RATHER ENJOY IT! HAD A NICE DINNER WITH OUR CHINESE FRIENDS UPON OUR ARRIVAL IN HAIKOU LAST NITE. WAS A WONDERFUL WELCOME FOR US......... ALL'S WELL!!!!! ... read more
CHINA SOUTHERN '777'
Guangzhou has come a long way since the days of 'Canton'. It is a hub for China Southern Airlines;we spent time there on either end of our trip. The architecture is quite stunning--there are an abundance of hotels, shopping malls, gated, high end condos. There are green spaces throughout the city, parks with lots of shade trees, reflecting pools -- a nice way to spend time reading & relaxing. There are restaurants galore--traditional Chinese to cappaccino at Starbucks or McDonald's. IKEA has a big store there and we noticed a beehive of activity. Following are photos we hope tell the story of booming, cosmopolitan city, a major business hub........... read more
