Bangkok, October 19, 2015

Today started with a bus ride around Bangkok. Not expecting too much, but it turned out to be quite fascinating. Their was a neighborhood for each type of shopping.  This picture shows part of the area for food.  

We stopped to visit the reclining Buddha.  zone the way in, we passes this tree.  It is the source of our cork.  Viva the cork.  Let's have wine!

This little girl collected our tickets as we walked into the reclining buddahs area. She was very careful to be polite and efficient

There are rules of behavior when being in Thailand. We needed to read the rules so we didn't get too silly. 

This is the head of the Buddha. He is at least 100 feet long

We had to take off our shoes and carry them around in a bag while visiting the Buddha. 

This line of bowls is for making offerings. These boys put a coin in each bowl

I the afternoon betsy and I took the shuttle boat to the train station which was near Robinsons department store where we decided o have lunch. Our boat had to push a raft of water weeds out of the way so we could make our way.

To buy lunch at the food court we had to first get a cash card to pay with

Later in the afternoon we needed coffee.  At black canyon coffee we ordered a cup of coffee.  It comes with a little paper cup of alphabet cookies and a shot of hot green tea to use as a chaser

The coffee shop crew.

We're in Bangkok now! Wow!, Sunday, October 18, 2015

View of agricultural land near Bangkok.  It was gorgeous

As we descended into Bangkok, this is the view we got on the screen in front of us.  One of the features of this China Airlines plane is a camera under the belly of the plane. So that we could view what was under the plane.  It was pretty cool except that it shut off before landing.  I wanted to see us hit the runway from that view.  The terraine was beautiful with lots of color and cool shapes.  Many fields were flooded.  Should find out more today about what's in the fields and when they harvest.

This river runs along side our hotel.  It is very busy. The floating greens are lily pads dislodged from the river bottom

  This boat is like a taxi.  We saw many of them.  The Hugh motor you see at the back of the boat looks like an oversized truck engine the projection going out behind the boat serves two purposes.  First it has a rudder to steer the boat and there is also a rather small propeller.  They go really fast for the the size of the propeller.

Each hotel in the area had their own shuttle boat to transport it's guest to other stops along the river.  Basically they went downstream to the train.

We walked into another the Shangrila Hotel. The area and found this display of orchids.  Orchids are everywhere and very plentiful

This bowl of lotus blossoms was on a table in the hotel lobby.

Another bouquet of orchids

On one ride on our shuttle we went quite a bit further downstream to the gas station for an end of the day fillup. Note the cute uniform on the mate.

About 5:30 we walked to the night market abut 8 blocks from our hotel.  We were already exhausted, but thought it would be a good idea to go out for dinner and try to stay up till at least nine.  This was the day to deal with the jet lag from our 12 hour time change.  We ate in a small cafe in the market and each had the 3 part special.  This was mine. Noodles, curried chicken (forgot it's real name) and little fried bits of chicken.  The food was very good, but HOT.  The orchid was the garnish.

My big score was at a silk stall we came to right after dinner.  After much dealing, I ended up with 5 gorgeous pieces of silk.  I must photograph them.  One of my goals while here was to buy some Thai silk.  If I don't find any more, I will be happy with the pieces I got.

I think the evening market we were at was the one that was bombed about a month ago.  As we entered it we had to pass through a security check.  It wasn't too sophisticated as I walked through and my hip did not even result in the smallest beep.  This morning we first meet with our guide and I will ask him if this was the market that was bombed. I remember hearing that it was near the city center and hotels. 

OMG. We're in Taipei, Taiwan, October 17&18, 2015

Breakfast on China Airlines. Pork and noodles, steamed roll, fruit and yogurt

Betsy and I are now in the Taipai airport with one hour before our flight to Bangkok.  Im Pretty high on China Airlines.  Our plane had 3-4-3 seating and was full.  They load back to front as opposed to the American way.  Loading was very efficient. Yesterday betsy and I spent a good portion of the day at a harvest festival near her house and last night went to a middle eastern restaurant with service like Subway and Chipolte.  Great favors.

At 10:30 last night chambers took us to the airport in SF. Our flight was scheduled for 1:40 am and left on time.  We were seated in a section of three seats  with a VietNam gentleman we first named pink pants guy. During the flight we talked with him a lot.  He then became our new best friend Dong.  He left Vietnam in 1975 at age 18. He described himself as a boat person because that was how he fled.  He was rescued by a Norwegian ship so lived in Norway for 10 years.  While there he became an architect.  He then lived in Seattle for some time and now lives in San Jose making computer chips. He was going to Saigon to visit his 85 year old mother who is quite ill.  We learned how to air drop pictures from him.  Our maps show Ho Chi Mihn city.  It is still Saigon to Dong.  

Our seats were upgraded to ones with foot rests---heaven. 

Second breakfast!  Aboard flight from Taipai to Bangkok we got chicken and rice and a tea egg.  That's the brown thing. Must learn how to make that.  This flight is way undersold. I am now sitting in the center section of the plane using three seats with my feet up. Quite the change from earlier flights.

Welcome to the Taipei airport

This is our new friend Dong.

We both took advantage of the open seats on Angkor flight. This is betsy using 4 seats in the center section for a nap.  I used the four seats in front of her.

Timber Wolf Lodge

Sunday July 5, 2015

Herb, Riley, Andrew and I headed north to try our luck our resort was only an hour past Fort Francis. It was an ok spot, but lake had been taken over by small mouth bass. I wanted walleye


This is our cabin. We had two bedrooms and a bath complete with shower and flush TOILET


One day on a neighboring lake we packed a lunch.


Our first day fishing was a bit chilly, but it warmed up later. Andrew and Riley had one boat, Herb and I another


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Location:Ontario, Canada

Edinburgh to Stratford

A very polite reminder posted behind the toilet. & we complied.



Shopping at the Edinburgh 'WalMart' with shelia



We had help selecting beer at the Walmart. Didn't let him help with the tasting, tho.



A lip-smackin party in our room. Opener, compliments of the kindness of a stranger.



The North Sea south of Edinburgh




Hadrian's wall. Now a pile or rubble


In the city of Richmond. This town looked like Doc Martins village. Actually was home of All Creatures Great and Small.








Walking the Shambles in York. Not a straight line here.


With all the sheep, there has to be yarn


Food we could have eaten






The way to Richmond castle, as directed to by our very own Ancient Monument.


We walked around the castle in Richmond and found this lovely view








A bit of lunch on the street. Mine was pork & Stilton.


.They knew we were coming! Priced a bit low, I think.


A bike on the shambles


Entry into York. Hugh Yorkminster cathedral in the distance


In Stratford upon Avon. We took Shelia to see Shakespeare's grave. Pinched our mums from a dust bin. (Finally got one, Steve.)


Billy's grave in a small cathedral

Location:UK