Thailand - Chiang Mai, Bangkok Jan. 2016

Mon. Jan 25, 2016 Park a Hotel Chiangmai

Up and 5:00 AM for a 5:30 AM departure. We drove about a half hour to an area where lots of young monks walk to collect food, referred to as alms. We all gave food to the monks, then they chanted a blessing for us. We then went to Wat Chedi Luang where there is a university for monks. We spent time with a monk who talked about the day in the life of a monk, the basic principles of Buddhism, and we tried meditation. Jon and I decided we have what the monk referred to as monkey minds ! I did buy meditation beads blessed by a monk that is suppose to help with meditation. We then rode up a big hill in a funicular to visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. It was a cold, drizzly day, so the view was not clear, but I was able to buy brass temple bells. In the evening we were split into two groups where we went to private homes for a hosted dinner. Our hostess was named Rainbow, and her 15 year old son. We had a fabulous meal and wonderful visit.

We were up early and off for Alms to the monks

Food vendors were selling food for people to buy, then give to the monks

The street was also lined with vendors selling all kinds of goods

The monks would line up in small groups, you gave them the food, then they would chant a blessing

The woman is white is a buddhist nun

There also was a temple, it was all lit up with neon colorful lights

One of the vendor stands

We went back to our hotel for breakfast - this was the view out to the mountains capped in clouds from our room

Next trip was out to Wat Suan Dok

We then met with a monk and had a question and answer period about the life of monk, and learned more about buddhism and meditation

The monk we met with

The monk was holding meditation beads and explaining to us how to use them

Monk walking to class

We walked around the grounds of the temple following our class

Whole and sliced Durian fruit for sale

We then drove up into the hills to visit Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep. Again a temple with lots of buddhas and brass bells

The temple is known for it's jade buddha

Someone was sleeping on the job

Back at the hotel we got busy practicing writing our names on our name tags for inner with our host family

Ta da - Jon and his nametag

Making papaya salad with our hostess - Rainbow

Rainbow and Jon

At Rainbows - Jon, Me, Bill, Jim, Deb, Mike and Jana

Tues. Jan 26, Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Bangkok

Back where we started for our last two nights in Bankok. We flew from Chaignmai, about an hour flight. Jon has gotten a cold so we laid low this afternoon until dinner on a rice river barge this evening. Pleasant easy day today. Tomorrow we are skipping the morning tour to sleep in and hopefully speed up Jon's recovery. The weather is predicated to be cold for our visit to northern Vietnam, so we are planning to head out for the hunt of some warm jackets to bring with us.

At Chiangmai Airport - heading back to Bangkok

View out our window at the Evergreen Laurel in Bangkok

Our farewell to Thailand Cruise

Bangkok by waterfront at night

With Benny

Wed. Jan 27, Evergreen Laurel Hotel, Bangkok

We slept in this AM and headed out on our own to walk and explore. We headed down lots of tiny alleys loaded with vendors and food carts. The strap on Jon's bag broke and we found a guy who hand sewed it back. We also each bought a warmer jacket for Vietnam because rumor has it it is cold and damp there right now. We then joined our group at 2:30 PM for an optional tour. First stop was the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall. The art collection was quite lovely. The embroidery collection of framed pictures and tapestry was so spectacular, they looked like paintings. Several tapestries took multiple artisans two years to finish ! Next off to the Siam village for dinner, pre dinner outside show, then main show. The show was quite a production with amazing scenes, artistry, dancing, and pageantry. We got back about 10:30 PM, and tomorrow we head to Vietnam.