Sweet memories Dear Castelloes...
Thanks again for taking the time to share with us your amazing experiences. You look great in that shirt!
We have been of Chiang Mai too and so it is like being there again. In envy you all! I love the way to describe the markets. Enjoy as much and as long as you can!
Some news from Mexico: we have moved! We are now living 1 week in the house and we really are enjoying it! I will send you some pictures soon.
Take good care! And I am impatiently waiting for the next chapter!
Thinking of you all and abrazos a todos!
Ina
Sweet memories Dear Castelloes...
Thanks again for taking the time to share with us your amazing experiences. You look great in that shirt!
We have been of Chiang Mai too and so it is like being there again. In envy you all! I love the way to describe the markets. Enjoy as much and as long as you can!
Some news from Mexico: we have moved! We are now living 1 week in the house and we really are enjoying it! I will send you some pictures soon.
Take good care! And I am impatiently waiting for the next chapter!
Thinking of you all and abrazos a todos!
Ina
crowds I remember the crowds bothered some of you at first, but it sounds like you are at home in the busy Walking Street now. You have had a lot of chicken and rice on this trip! Glad everyone likes it! Hope your next stop, Hong Kong(?) is as pleasant! We will be thinking of Ella on her birthday! Love, Louisa and Paul
Monk processional I assume that all the monks are fulltime, or maybe some have part time jobs. And if they are fulltime, do they work in wats, or teach, or just pray and contemplate. The pictures are wonderful, and looks like the ramen noodles are still in packages. From your blog, I pictured people just pouring wet noodles into huge bags, which didn't sound very appetizing or practical.
Loved this This is a great blog! We will be studying Loy Krathong next week in my class. Would it be worth Skyping about? We just got that set up too. It might be neat if there was an English speaking Thai child or person to ask questions of. I know I am not asking for much!! I'm just excited!
-Sandra
food We enjoy your many comments about food. Is there much waste in the giving of so much food to 10,000 monks? Glad the elephant ride went well. Maybe you should do the zip line before you leave. It can't be worse than the one at your house where you run into a tree! Reed found this out Thursday! Love, Louisa
wow Beautiful photos and expression! I can see places through others. Yes I felt it. Will u mention the cost of the things and activities like cottages and things , please? We can have an idea . Have wonderful days!
the photos! Dear Castelloes: how wonderful to see the photos of Thailand; I liked that country so much - the beauty of the temples and the gentle, sweet people. I took many photos (I have a funny one of monks smoking cigarettes and just "hanging out") when I was there 5+ years ago. The temples are lovely and gaudy at the same time; the food is extra good, as you describe. I was interested to learn - when I was there - that the monks do not make a lifetime commitment to monkhood. I was told that a 10 year period is typical, but I would like for you to investigate this and inform me. We miss you and cannot wait to see you again. Thank you for the blogs, and love to all Edith
hello MAY,
Thanks for sharing such great information. I must be slow did not get the joke need a little help willhave Joy or LEIGH to explain. Give our regards to Paul, Jordan and Ella. WILL BE ANXIOUS TO HEAR THE NEXT STORY. GAIL
settling in I enjoyed reading about your current locale and the pleasures of a bit more space and a chance to cook for oneself. Have you befriended a dog or cat to share your travels? I wonder if May went back to share conversation with the monks. Your teaching skills sound like they are far from rusty. take care and love, Megan
English Lesson Have enjoyed all your writings especially with the very good
pictures. Especially enjoy the cultural exchanges like the English lesson, Donald Duck of all things at the wat and can picture you all enjoying the chats with young strangers and vice versa. Great stuff from all of you.
Love, Lee
I enjoy your blogs so much I'm learning about a part of the world I never knew much about... and will probably never visit. You are so brave to just GO! It seems so very different from what I am used to, but also very fascinating. Thank you!
Wats up? Enjoyed learning about and seeing wats. Wonder if rich people build wats to earn merit like Catholic kings used to build cathedrals? Or are the wats built and kept up by the Thai government, king, etc. It was also fun to hear about May's monk chat. Probably reminds May and Paul of English lessons in Hangchow.
English lesson Your explanations in your English lesson were very clever. They had good questions I think. Very interesting about the wats and food shopping also. Any chance for turkey for you this week? Love, Louisa and Paul
English lesson Your english lesson story made me smile this morning. It reminded me of many similar lessons (minus the decompose/deteriorate one) in Japan with eager learners. what a hoot it could be. It does highlight how interesting/confusing our language can be when seen from another perspective. Thanks for the update! Love to all, Jeanine
Hello It is so great to see Ella. Paul the pictures are amazing, I can not imagine how beautiful the fire balloons were floating in the sky.
Glad I finally got connected to your blog. Thanks for the wonderful information. Our Love to you all !!!! gail
Places to Stay Ubud John - we stayed in a low-budget (but nice) place called Warji House (on the web). The place with the pool was more expensive, but also very nice - Okawati Hotel or Guesthouse (also on the web, I'm sure). We stayed at an affordable place, and just swam at the pool place. There are zillions of lovely places to stay in Ubud, but not that many are online. We flew a budget Australian Airline - Jetstar - from Singapore - great airline. Hope that helps.
Loy Krathong - way cool Hello Castelloes,
Thanks so much for sharing your experiences with us. We will definitely be using this as we gear up for our Festivals of Light celebrations and research. Keep all the cool stuff coming our way.
Martha
Bangkok I can't imagine what it must be like to walk around the streets of Bangkok. Your pictures are awesome. I am especially fascinated by the stupas. They are exquisite. Do you go inside of them or are they just for decoration? Is their rice at all like our risottas or is it just regular cooked rice? I could live on rice and chicken so the food would not be a problem for me. Have a wonderful time. Thanks for keeping in touch.
Love, Doris
Loy Krathong The pictures and description give a realistic feeling of the festival--thanks for sending a blog just on Loy Krathong. You were really lucky to arrive in time for it!
Bangkok Bangkiok sounds like such an interesting city! Hope your stomachs adjust so you can enjoy some of that unique food! The market areas sound fun. Quite perceptive about the foreigners on the Khao San Road! Love, Louisa and Paul
I want to be there! Bali. Wow. It is on my short list. Keep your notes! I do understand that the only more beautiful than the views are the people. Good place to regain your strength.
C
We are a family of four from the US traveling for 8 months in Southeast Asia (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia). We'll end our trip with two months in an apartment in Paris.... full info
Ina and Manuel
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Sweet memories
Dear Castelloes... Thanks again for taking the time to share with us your amazing experiences. You look great in that shirt! We have been of Chiang Mai too and so it is like being there again. In envy you all! I love the way to describe the markets. Enjoy as much and as long as you can! Some news from Mexico: we have moved! We are now living 1 week in the house and we really are enjoying it! I will send you some pictures soon. Take good care! And I am impatiently waiting for the next chapter! Thinking of you all and abrazos a todos! Ina