Hey,
Really well-written and informative blog. Check out this cool new platform to connect with exciting locals and co-travelers on http://www.mingletrips.com/ and like me you could venture into KL in the company of new friends!
Cheers!
Eating Malasia This essay is pure delight, Zak. You really bring to life the erotic , sexual pleasure of eating exciting new foods, and you keep that metaphor going in a delicious way. Between the photos and your descriptions we can do everything but taste, chew, swallow those amazing creations. Thanks from your loving grandparents---
Singapore I wish you could meet me in Singapore in January. I didn't know that you were going to be there sooner. Your trip to Malaysia sounds wonderful, especially the food.
Mayamar looks serene Zak,
What a great blog. So much information about the people and the countryside as well as your take on it all. Thanks, Love, Sandy
Mae Nak I know the story is still in circulation. I just didn't spend enough time looking for someone to talk to and I wanted to write the blog. Maybe I will find more in the future. Sometimes it just take time to find a good talker. Most of the young generation, whom I was talking to, probably fits your description but I bet their elders have a lot to say. There were a lot of them there when I visited...but they weren't interested in me.
Ghosts ain't what they used to be We really enjoyed this, Zak, esp. the story about Mae Nak and your photos of her shrines and the surrounding area. How amazing Thailand is, with its charming gilded temples and statues, and paintings, all in a sweet, innocent style, yet with all kinds of debris close by, soon to become condos. It made me want to answer the ad on your blog page for a round-trip flight to Thailand for $950. Would I were up for that. Very interesting that you found no signs of shrines to ghosts of people who died in those 2 relatively recent tragedies, or anyone who knew or sought those ghosts. Instead they spoke of ghosts unconnected to real events, ghosts believed to do harm to or annoy ordinary people. It's as if the ghost story has no present gravitas, the way Christianity has lost its force? Interesting the way you relate your college Halloween parties and the debris left behind to these Thai sites. Can't wait to see your next one. Love
PET Preforms It was a awe-inspiring post and it has a significant meaning and thanks for sharing the information.Would love to read your next post too......
Thanks
Regards
PET Preforms
KL Class structures is an important aspect as much of the current 'class' structure (Malays in government vs. Chinese running the economy) was reinforced during a turbulent period in the 1960s.....it used to be British in government and Chinese in business......with Malays, Chinese and others as labor or villagers. But that is a very crude picture. Many 'Malays' today are of mixed ancestry. As far as chadors go, I am quite sure many of them are comfortable as they often wear jeans and other outfits with them. The chadors are usually quite light and probably shade against the sunlight....they prefer whiter skin......gucci handbags, high heels and other consumer items are often quite conspicuous. This is not the Middle East!!
Solo in KL--- NOT Just got this today, and here you are off on another mystery tour. Enlightening comparisons of American and KL immigrant groups, and the relationships between different ethnic groups--a sort of class structure? First place you've mentioned seeing women in chadors--they must be determined Muslims in that heat and humidity! Your mosque guide seemed appealing and helpful, as is the reading you report on. Photos really help us to see the architectural and cultural difference from Chiang-Mai and Bangkok, not to mention the U.S. Less talk about food--how are you doing with diet restrictions they laid on you in BKK?
Scorpians and Zoo Scorpions must be different in Thailand from those in Central America. We constantly got warned to shake our shoes out before putting them on to remove scorpions, whose bites would stop us from walking and cause poisonous infections. Very interesting photos and text, Zak.
Songran water festival What a pleasure to see what this festival is like, even through a plastic bag. Glad to learn it was cloudy and cool for the festival this year. Amazing that Bangkok empties out for this water-soaked event--the placid canal is esp. telling.
We feel as if we're with you on this scooter trip outside of Chiang Mai,Zak. How fine that by talking with the locals you learned more about the sites, like the peacock chedi or the cave--altogether the mix of text and photos is very appealing. Glad to see this--keep it up. Now Let's hope this comes through, as none have so far.
I think so.....many places in southeast asia look like this....but in Laos there are so many places like this in the mountains. the roads are bad and people still follow many traditional ways :)
Rough Seas I guess it either sucks (due to seasickness) or is exhilerating and fun (my case) on what is normally a pretty mundane trip. At least it isn't boring!!
Revat
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Great, I think it must be delicious Bali Islands Asian Noodle