Well, it's now been 5 days in Bangkok and I still feel I haven't even seen a 100th of what the city has to see. This is partly due to the fact that I've been sick for two days with travelers "stomach" shall we say. The great thing I found out yesterday is you don't need to go to a doctor. I walked into a pharmacist and told them what was wrong and they gave me a batch of antibiotics to take care of it. I already feel better but I'm not allowed to eat fruit, egg or spicy food. So far those have made up a big portion of my daily diet so I'm a little upset.
Thailand's landscape is dotted with massive temples. They are amazing to be inside and the feeling you get is one of serenity. I spent time yesterday traveling around different temples including golden mount. From the top you could see all of Bangkok laid out before you. The students I traveled with told me about how the first temple was built by King Rama III but fell through the ground under its own weight. King Rama the IV and V rebuilt as it is now, which is really a sight to see. I am putting pictures up of that little adventure today. So far getting a pictures on this blog has been a real nightmare and it takes up to 15 minutes to load three or four of them. If anyone knows a different service to load pictures I'd love to know. I was thinking of using flickr but it would cost me $20 bucks. That's 640 baht!! I mean I could buy two shirts, some shorts and a fancy meal for that. :-) I may do it anyway though because I really want everyone to see the beauty of Thailand.
I'm stuck inside right now as a powerful thunder storm is throwing rain down by the bucket full. i got caught in it last night and it soaked through to my skin in about three seconds. Jim, his students and I were forced to run for a building overhang to wait out the worst of it for about 45 minutes. Fortunately I love the guest house I am at so I don't mind stretching out int he common area to talk with people and read a book. Well, I'm off to grab some food and watch a movie. Talk to everyone soon!
P.S. To all of my students I just want to say keep up the good work with Audrey and I can't wait to see how you've all progressed by the time I return.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Soi dogs and fried rice
First, I need to make a bit of an addendum to my previous entry. I was pretty jet lagged and said that I had met with Jim the teacher and that he was Max's uncle. Actually he is Alec's uncle, Sue's brother. Lack of sleep can be a powerful memory eraser.
Anyway, I am back from Samui now and in Bangkok again. I had written a fourth blog in Samui but it was deleted as a monsoon came in and we lost power for a while. The weather on Samui was amazingly fickle, clear skies with sun followed in ten minutes by torrential downpours and ten minutes later with clear skies. It was sort of like extreme suntanning. I took a lot of pictures while i was out there but I need to find a service that will let me put them up en masse for everyone to see with out membership or codes.
I was thinking of some of the things that I am slowly becoming used as I spend time in Thailand. It's really amazing how certain things that seem really alien can become common and habitual in such a short time. For instance, dogs. Thailand has about 10 million of these furry mongrels and they go anywhere they feel like, including temples, restaurants and int he street. Still, after a week in samui I just got to expect being chased by soi dogs (street or feral dogs) as I walked through the temple area at night. I also got used to seeing them laying in the road, asleep, with cars going around them. They barely raise an eyebrow at all this commotion and continue resting in "their" road.
Something else that seemed strange was eating fried rice or noodles for breakfast and omelette's for dinner. Even after one week I find I love to eat this way and have just gotten back from breakfast of fried rice with eggs and chilies. Smoothies and fruit at 10 pm are the norm as I walk down the ever bustling street of Khao san road. Food over in Thailand is sort what you want, how you want it, whenever you want it.
Oh, I've also made a traveling buddy. His name is Dan and he's from London, England. He was walking down the street with his finger in a guide book with that "oh my god!" expression on his face I remember having just 9 days ago. I struck up a conversation and soon we were hanging out and grabbing a beer at the local pub. His friends come in tonight and I look forward to getting to know everyone. Well, that's about it for right now. I'll check in again soon and I hope everyone is well.
Namaste,
Adam
Anyway, I am back from Samui now and in Bangkok again. I had written a fourth blog in Samui but it was deleted as a monsoon came in and we lost power for a while. The weather on Samui was amazingly fickle, clear skies with sun followed in ten minutes by torrential downpours and ten minutes later with clear skies. It was sort of like extreme suntanning. I took a lot of pictures while i was out there but I need to find a service that will let me put them up en masse for everyone to see with out membership or codes.
I was thinking of some of the things that I am slowly becoming used as I spend time in Thailand. It's really amazing how certain things that seem really alien can become common and habitual in such a short time. For instance, dogs. Thailand has about 10 million of these furry mongrels and they go anywhere they feel like, including temples, restaurants and int he street. Still, after a week in samui I just got to expect being chased by soi dogs (street or feral dogs) as I walked through the temple area at night. I also got used to seeing them laying in the road, asleep, with cars going around them. They barely raise an eyebrow at all this commotion and continue resting in "their" road.
Something else that seemed strange was eating fried rice or noodles for breakfast and omelette's for dinner. Even after one week I find I love to eat this way and have just gotten back from breakfast of fried rice with eggs and chilies. Smoothies and fruit at 10 pm are the norm as I walk down the ever bustling street of Khao san road. Food over in Thailand is sort what you want, how you want it, whenever you want it.
Oh, I've also made a traveling buddy. His name is Dan and he's from London, England. He was walking down the street with his finger in a guide book with that "oh my god!" expression on his face I remember having just 9 days ago. I struck up a conversation and soon we were hanging out and grabbing a beer at the local pub. His friends come in tonight and I look forward to getting to know everyone. Well, that's about it for right now. I'll check in again soon and I hope everyone is well.
Namaste,
Adam
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Adam on Samui
Ok, it took me a while to figure out how to post since all the links are in Thai. It's Sunday here on the island of Samui and I've been having the most amazing experience getting to know the locals. I am currently staying in a village behind Wat Kunaram, which is the temple to a mummified monk. I am staying with Chang's brother Lek and his family (as well as most of the village since they all share so much). For those that don't know, Chang is Owen and Lucy's dad.
The night I arrived they came out and picked me up in front of the temple and drove me back to their mothers shop. No one spoke much English but "hungry?" was said and I agreed. Soon four different platters of food were brought out to me. Two kinds of fish in curry, a fried egg dish and something else. I have found over the course of a few days that if I don't know what something is, I will still generally like it. I was given a room to myself and fell asleep shortly. Cocka-doodle-doo!! I can't tell you how jarring the sound of a rooster right outside my window was at 5 am. The whole village wakes up and I have now found myself getting up naturally with the roosters.
The whole village is a friendly and open place. Doors are rarely locked and people travel in and out of each others house all the time. They stop by to say hi, watch t.v. or just look at the farang (that means foreigner and it refers to me). Everyone knows "hallo!" and I try my hand at Thai by replying "sawadii kap!"(also hello). The sense of community is astounding having come from a culture that really enjoys privacy. I have never felt this welcome even in my own neighborhood at home! In all honesty the only time I have felt this kind of openness has been at MKG over these last few years (YAAH! for MKG!).
I traveled with Lek and his son to the beach to pick clams for dinner and saw a few more temples yesterday. We stop every day for lunch at the noodle cart on the way back to the house. The food costs about 20-30 baht for the Thai's and that's about 75 cents to a dollar for us. I tried to buy some fruit for the family the other day and I thought I got a pretty good deal. I paid 115 baht for a large pineapple and watermelon. I gave it to the family and they asked how much I paid. I told them and they smiled int hat wonderful Thai way and said, "Good. Good. For farang." That night Lek's wife (I don't know how to spell her name, although it sounds like cop) made a meal for me using the fruit I bought. I've never had a fish meal using pineapple, watermelon and cucumber but I think it was one of the best I've had.
Well, I'm going back to the beach to swim for a while. The weather is clear and sunny and about 85-90 degrees. I hope everyone is well and I'll check in soon.
The night I arrived they came out and picked me up in front of the temple and drove me back to their mothers shop. No one spoke much English but "hungry?" was said and I agreed. Soon four different platters of food were brought out to me. Two kinds of fish in curry, a fried egg dish and something else. I have found over the course of a few days that if I don't know what something is, I will still generally like it. I was given a room to myself and fell asleep shortly. Cocka-doodle-doo!! I can't tell you how jarring the sound of a rooster right outside my window was at 5 am. The whole village wakes up and I have now found myself getting up naturally with the roosters.
The whole village is a friendly and open place. Doors are rarely locked and people travel in and out of each others house all the time. They stop by to say hi, watch t.v. or just look at the farang (that means foreigner and it refers to me). Everyone knows "hallo!" and I try my hand at Thai by replying "sawadii kap!"(also hello). The sense of community is astounding having come from a culture that really enjoys privacy. I have never felt this welcome even in my own neighborhood at home! In all honesty the only time I have felt this kind of openness has been at MKG over these last few years (YAAH! for MKG!).
I traveled with Lek and his son to the beach to pick clams for dinner and saw a few more temples yesterday. We stop every day for lunch at the noodle cart on the way back to the house. The food costs about 20-30 baht for the Thai's and that's about 75 cents to a dollar for us. I tried to buy some fruit for the family the other day and I thought I got a pretty good deal. I paid 115 baht for a large pineapple and watermelon. I gave it to the family and they asked how much I paid. I told them and they smiled int hat wonderful Thai way and said, "Good. Good. For farang." That night Lek's wife (I don't know how to spell her name, although it sounds like cop) made a meal for me using the fruit I bought. I've never had a fish meal using pineapple, watermelon and cucumber but I think it was one of the best I've had.
Well, I'm going back to the beach to swim for a while. The weather is clear and sunny and about 85-90 degrees. I hope everyone is well and I'll check in soon.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Insomnia and pad thai
Well, it's Wednesday the 18th at about 11 am. I got into Thailand at 10 am yesterday and slept from about 10pm until 2 am. When I say sleep I mean that I laid with my eyes closed pretending I wasn't dying from the heat and humidity. It's about 90 degrees, overcast and nearly 100% humidity. I take a shower and dry off only to find out I'm still soaked.
I wanted to post some pictures to show what I've been doing but I'll need to figure that feature out first. Anyway, I love it here and the culture shock comes in ever decreasing waves. Most people are very nice and I haven't really had a problem with anything. A few conmen have tried to grift me but I'm catching on quick to their scams. "the temples are all closed today but if you go to this place (suit shop, secluded temple, "massage parlor") you will have a good time. " These guys speak english too darn well and that's pretty much the tip off.
I love riding in the tuk-tuks, which are open air motorcycles with a back seat. They just zip in and out of traffic and it's a lot like a roller coaster, except no safety features and the operaters probably on amphetamines. Oh yeah, the Pad thai!! I wasn't able to eat yesterday because of jet lag so I finally ate around 10 today. I went to a cart on the side of the road and ordered pad thai (rice noodles, egg, beansprouts, etc) and it cost me 25 baht. That's about 75 cents in U.S. currency. It was probably the best food I've ever had. i may head back for more after I finish this post.
Anyway, I'm off to meet up with Jim (Max Perry's uncle) to go hang out with his adult students learning english. He told me to get ready to be given the Thai third degree: where are you from? how long are you here? have you been to (x) yet? Do you have a girlfriend? Do you want one? (just kidding on that one... I think). I'll post again soon and get pictures up.
Miss you all,
Sifu Adam
I wanted to post some pictures to show what I've been doing but I'll need to figure that feature out first. Anyway, I love it here and the culture shock comes in ever decreasing waves. Most people are very nice and I haven't really had a problem with anything. A few conmen have tried to grift me but I'm catching on quick to their scams. "the temples are all closed today but if you go to this place (suit shop, secluded temple, "massage parlor") you will have a good time. " These guys speak english too darn well and that's pretty much the tip off.
I love riding in the tuk-tuks, which are open air motorcycles with a back seat. They just zip in and out of traffic and it's a lot like a roller coaster, except no safety features and the operaters probably on amphetamines. Oh yeah, the Pad thai!! I wasn't able to eat yesterday because of jet lag so I finally ate around 10 today. I went to a cart on the side of the road and ordered pad thai (rice noodles, egg, beansprouts, etc) and it cost me 25 baht. That's about 75 cents in U.S. currency. It was probably the best food I've ever had. i may head back for more after I finish this post.
Anyway, I'm off to meet up with Jim (Max Perry's uncle) to go hang out with his adult students learning english. He told me to get ready to be given the Thai third degree: where are you from? how long are you here? have you been to (x) yet? Do you have a girlfriend? Do you want one? (just kidding on that one... I think). I'll post again soon and get pictures up.
Miss you all,
Sifu Adam
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Waiting for the plane
I'm sitting in a really amazing lounge at Cathay Pacific airlines waiting for my plane at one in the morning. i never realized the difference between people in coach and those in business and first class. I came into a marble foyer with a beautiful hostess in red silk who welcomed me to the lounge. The chairs are all comfortable and they have free computers with internet. A door leading to the first class lounge is restricted to me and my mind boggles to think of what they're enjoying over there. Lobster? Massages? Anyway, I finally made my blog (obviously, since I'm writing in it. :-P) and i will post pictures of thailand as I travel. My email is Abshilling@gmail.com for anyone who wants to say hi. I'm gonna go back and get pampered some more now. Goodnight.
Adam
Adam
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
