post Thailand
Well, I have returned from Thailand...it was not too easy to do so as the temperature there was a balmy 30 degrees or more....hard to tell after 7 days of the heat...and I know that some of you are on the other end of the temperature scale....
Some time in your life, go to Thailand or southeast Asia....Cambodia.....Vietnam.....Korea...to get the sun and find out about life in another part of world...we had a very good time...right from the start...and I mean it...
We had to be bumped from Srilankan Airlines to Thai Airlines because they had overbooked and we were the last to be there to sign in soooooooooo...we were given business class seats on Thai air...which meant that they gave us a 60 rmb meal allowance to have something to eat prior to boarding.....then we were taken to the Royal Silk lounge where we could eat for free and drink if we wanted...and we did but just a little...another fellow and his girl friend took advantage of the opportunity.....then we boarded the plane...before all the others and were seated in spacious seats and then asked what we wanted to eat before the plane took off and then we were given champagne just after take off and wine (I had the champagne....). They just kept shovelling the food and drink on us all the flight there and we never once objected....I am kind of p'od at the...why can't the rest of the peasants have this kind of service...after all, the business men probably most of this deducted as a business expense and who ends up paying for it all anyways.....the taxpayer, you and me....but if I were to fly a long trip, I might just pay the extra to have the extra...maybe Chaplin Fabricating Limited would be able to spring for it....hey Jack???
So much for the poor start....stayed at a reasonable hotel in Bangkok with twin beds ( a platonic relationship as I said)...Merle noticed the 4 ladies in the lobby though...next morning we arrived in Phuket and took a ferry to Phi Phi Island and we got our accomodation squared away and then went exploring the village and bought some things....met Steve and Denise from Concord College there and had a drink with them...they were staying in the same area as us with bedbugs....we were much luckier, only outdoor geckoes....and crickets and a noisy fan....which was fixed the third day.....just relaxed the frist couple of days with a couple of Thai masssages and Merle tried scuba equipment and was ok for the first day in the pool but was apprehensive about going out to sea so I went on the scuba diving trip and she had a retail therapy (shopping) ...the scuba was good....even I was a little chicken on the first trip down but got over it and enjoyed the challenge and the thrill of seeing the undersea world....as I said at the first, you have to get over here to experience it...hell the water was 25-27 degrees and the divers thought it was cold.....they don't know "shrinkage" cold....
The next day we just relaxed on the beach close to the hotel...I actually tried to get a tan and Merle was able to tan her legs for the first time...I was trying to get her to go topless (hahahahahaha) like several other of the people there but that was not going to happen...needless to say, the weather was hot because people were taking their clothes off.....I'll try to include a picture to verify my observations....if I can figure out how to get my pictures off my camera again....don't hold your breath....
Next day we took what they called a sunset cruise where we left at about 3:00 and came back at about 7:00 after the sun went down....saw some beaches, the one where "the Beach" was filmed, did some snorkelling for about 1/2 an hour and then kayaked over to the rendezvous area....we had lunch and then watched the sun go down...it was different, but not as colourful as the Sask sunset.....hope to show it with pictures....Merle bought a dvd of the time and I hope to copy it and be able to show it to some of you....
Another day on another beach....then another day on the other side of the island that was hit hard by the tsunami....wonderful beaches.....white sand...warm water......umbrellas to sit under .....views of well you know what I mean..hell even was tempted to buy some Speedos...not......spent most of the evenings at some bars trying various concoctions..quite a different lifestyle there...also different speed of life. Got a chance to play some Sepak Takra with some local men outside our room....that was quite enjoyable.....went to see their school....not much of a facility and not many books or much equipment....starting to rebuild....
The last day we just lazed around. The next day we ferried to Phuket where we stayed close to the airport so that we could get there easily....had a great evening with a Sedish couple who were opening a bar at Nia Yang beach....they gave free first and third drinks....quite a nice place....lots of French and German and Swedish people there....Markos ( the owner said he didn't like Canadians becausw we always beat them playing hockey.....so we had so0me good discussions.....next day rented a motorscooter for an hour....for about $3.....and went around the place..lots of rebuilding and building and poverty and small shops...and lots of scooters....they also drive on the wrong side of the road....didn't see much of a sign of political upheaval... although had a good talk with a taxi driver the next night....
Spent our last night in Bangkok, but we got there too late to see any of the touristy things...the trip in cost about 550 bhat(without the toll)....the Buddha and the palace, the floating market...but we did walk down the street and Merle had her eyes opened to the bars and the women there...we roamed for several hours and just took in the sights and had a drink and something to eat...had a swim at the top of our hotel overlooking the city...which is a little polluted....like Beijing....the taxi ride to the airport was 700 bhat (with the toll)....unfortunaletly our ride back was not in business class and not on a 747 jumbo jet whhic athe first one had been...quite a week though....we were tired and Eric (our taxi driver from TuanLi) forgot where he had parked his car. We plan to go into Beijing tomorrow...me to check out a rash that started about 1 week before I left, and Merle to bargain and shop....Hope to get the photos in and keep you up to date...
Still no progress on the photos...but you won't know that until you reach here. I will send this blog and then try to update it with some photos....
We did some heavy duty bargaining at the silk Market and also on the street...bought a couple more watches...but Merle had her taste of the silk market....she was truly amazed at the way that you get accosted by the vendors and finally got used to it. Got home late that evening after an eyeopening trip on the bus....we had a young lady talking English to us and she helped us a few times, and unexpectedly she was on the bus as it went back home...we got back in the dark. Went again the next day becasue I had forgot my passport and thought I needed it at the doctor's but didn't...didn't even need an appointment...was looked after in about 10 minutes and then saw a specialist in the afternoon about 2 hours later.....quite quick hey......turns out I have folliculitis..or something like that...an irritation of the hair follicles ....she didn't know what causes it...but gave me some pills and some calamine lotion to put on my back.....so that's that. The whole process took about 4 hours ( including a lunch break) and that is with the unadvanced medical system that they have here. I cost about $200 but I think I get that all reimbursed....we shall see. Don And Eve had a dentist appointment set up in two days and had some work done at about 1/4 the price....interesting. They are going to have their teeth cleaned just before leaving for home for good....take advantage of it while you can.
Have not made a decision about staying but am leaning towards another year here...
We went to Harbin..a northerly city of about 6 million people....you see the relativity of things....that would be a huge city in Canada but you scarcely notice it in China....we left by plane in the morning after sleeping in about 1/2 an hour. Got there in time though and made it ok....we had booked it through the Chinese Culture Club so they looked after all the arrangements...we were on a bus tour...the first day we saw snow sculpturing....and this was in a large scale......they had a Canadian theme as you will see once I get my camera figured out.....there were scenes of Quebec City and others....including a very large Niagara Falls scene and a scene from the West.....quite a show and lots of interesting features....including a dog sled ride, toboganning, chairs on ice...normally these sculptures last until the end of February however the weather has been unusually warm & some of them were melting enough to be falling/taken down....a couple of girls got lost in the park....one was Canadian....and I didn't give her a bad time..... hahahaha....had dinner and then we went to the Siberian Tiger park....it was started about 1995 with 30 tigers and now there are over 400...they will not be released into the wilds as they are not able to survive on their own...they do roam freely but one tiger usually has an area the size of Hong Kong as his territory...so they don't figure there is enough space to give these guys their space...besides, they would have to fight with the wild buggers for supremcacy and I don't think they would win...survival of the fittest and all....it was a bit of a gruesome tour as we were driven in smaller buses into their pens and then live chickens/turkeys were thrown out of a feeding truck...they snapped them up quite easily..they followed the truck around just like the cattle do with the hay feeding....then......a small truck came out with a calf in a chute on the back.....it was raised up and the live calf slid out onto the ground.....and here is the biggest difference, that I see in the wild and the caged....normally, as I understand it a tiger hunts and kills by himself...well, not so here....the calf didn't have much of a chance as there were about 8 cats on him before it could even get a running start.....I think death was swift but we were blocked out by a couple of other buses...they don't let them eat it but they take it out and chop it up and feed them the parts...maybe to prevent fights, as there were some that had their hair on their backs up while they were doing the fight on the calf.....I think a full sized Holstein bull would have taken a few of the tigers with him before he would have been killed.....but they are beautiful animals, these tigers.
We went to the Ice City towards the evening and this is what make Harbin famous....in the winter.....it was spectacular and stunning and colourful and intricate.....the Ice carvings were monstrous and were of all sorts of buildings this year.....the Eiffel tower, the Acropolis, Noah's Ark, The Summer Palace, Big Ben, etc and they were all lit up with flourescent lights of all colours ......the size is immense....and of course all sorts of vendors were around....we went on a sleigh ride with a Mongolian driver with the hat and coat and the language that we could not understand...... but we sure talked up a storm as he drove us around looking at the whole scene....as I said before, it has been unbelievably warm here this year and the sculptures were really showing signs of melting....even though the evening is quite cool....we had the same two of our group get lost again....well...they almost got a standing ovation when they returned with the tour guide....hahahaha....
Had a drink at a Russian restaurant with 7 other people and had a good conversation with the group....you meet all sorts on the trip...
Next day we went to a building that used to house Unit 731 of the Japanese army...it was the one that did all sorts of experiments with biological, chemical and thermal experimentation with the Chinese population.....it was outrageous what was done...and the coverup... and the big shots who got away with it..they would be the Saddam Husseins of the modern world and they should have been tried but of course they weren't...the US was even in on the amnesty and lack of prosecution....quite a sobering time for the trip....
The afternoon we went to see some crazy people who swim in the river in the winter...actually they are not crazy but it sure helps.....the temp was about -15 with the wind and they were diving into the river and swimming lengths of the "pool"...most of them were older but apparently there is some pride in doing this and only a certain number can belong to the club so they don't easily give up their membership....the oldest male is 81 and the oldest female is 77. We went back to the bus early because it was a little too chilly just standing around...I got to visit for about 1/2 hour with one of my students who lives in Harbin..it was great to see her and we had a good chat....would have liked to stay there and visit and perhaps meet her parents or others on a more informal basis but time would not allow that.....our plane return was delayed for about 1 hour so we got back a little late but our taxi driver Eric was waiting for us.... and so ended out trip to Harbin....
I am going to post this and then start another one....stay tuned...
Some time in your life, go to Thailand or southeast Asia....Cambodia.....Vietnam.....Korea...to get the sun and find out about life in another part of world...we had a very good time...right from the start...and I mean it...
We had to be bumped from Srilankan Airlines to Thai Airlines because they had overbooked and we were the last to be there to sign in soooooooooo...we were given business class seats on Thai air...which meant that they gave us a 60 rmb meal allowance to have something to eat prior to boarding.....then we were taken to the Royal Silk lounge where we could eat for free and drink if we wanted...and we did but just a little...another fellow and his girl friend took advantage of the opportunity.....then we boarded the plane...before all the others and were seated in spacious seats and then asked what we wanted to eat before the plane took off and then we were given champagne just after take off and wine (I had the champagne....). They just kept shovelling the food and drink on us all the flight there and we never once objected....I am kind of p'od at the...why can't the rest of the peasants have this kind of service...after all, the business men probably most of this deducted as a business expense and who ends up paying for it all anyways.....the taxpayer, you and me....but if I were to fly a long trip, I might just pay the extra to have the extra...maybe Chaplin Fabricating Limited would be able to spring for it....hey Jack???
So much for the poor start....stayed at a reasonable hotel in Bangkok with twin beds ( a platonic relationship as I said)...Merle noticed the 4 ladies in the lobby though...next morning we arrived in Phuket and took a ferry to Phi Phi Island and we got our accomodation squared away and then went exploring the village and bought some things....met Steve and Denise from Concord College there and had a drink with them...they were staying in the same area as us with bedbugs....we were much luckier, only outdoor geckoes....and crickets and a noisy fan....which was fixed the third day.....just relaxed the frist couple of days with a couple of Thai masssages and Merle tried scuba equipment and was ok for the first day in the pool but was apprehensive about going out to sea so I went on the scuba diving trip and she had a retail therapy (shopping) ...the scuba was good....even I was a little chicken on the first trip down but got over it and enjoyed the challenge and the thrill of seeing the undersea world....as I said at the first, you have to get over here to experience it...hell the water was 25-27 degrees and the divers thought it was cold.....they don't know "shrinkage" cold....
The next day we just relaxed on the beach close to the hotel...I actually tried to get a tan and Merle was able to tan her legs for the first time...I was trying to get her to go topless (hahahahahaha) like several other of the people there but that was not going to happen...needless to say, the weather was hot because people were taking their clothes off.....I'll try to include a picture to verify my observations....if I can figure out how to get my pictures off my camera again....don't hold your breath....
Next day we took what they called a sunset cruise where we left at about 3:00 and came back at about 7:00 after the sun went down....saw some beaches, the one where "the Beach" was filmed, did some snorkelling for about 1/2 an hour and then kayaked over to the rendezvous area....we had lunch and then watched the sun go down...it was different, but not as colourful as the Sask sunset.....hope to show it with pictures....Merle bought a dvd of the time and I hope to copy it and be able to show it to some of you....
Another day on another beach....then another day on the other side of the island that was hit hard by the tsunami....wonderful beaches.....white sand...warm water......umbrellas to sit under .....views of well you know what I mean..hell even was tempted to buy some Speedos...not......spent most of the evenings at some bars trying various concoctions..quite a different lifestyle there...also different speed of life. Got a chance to play some Sepak Takra with some local men outside our room....that was quite enjoyable.....went to see their school....not much of a facility and not many books or much equipment....starting to rebuild....
The last day we just lazed around. The next day we ferried to Phuket where we stayed close to the airport so that we could get there easily....had a great evening with a Sedish couple who were opening a bar at Nia Yang beach....they gave free first and third drinks....quite a nice place....lots of French and German and Swedish people there....Markos ( the owner said he didn't like Canadians becausw we always beat them playing hockey.....so we had so0me good discussions.....next day rented a motorscooter for an hour....for about $3.....and went around the place..lots of rebuilding and building and poverty and small shops...and lots of scooters....they also drive on the wrong side of the road....didn't see much of a sign of political upheaval... although had a good talk with a taxi driver the next night....
Spent our last night in Bangkok, but we got there too late to see any of the touristy things...the trip in cost about 550 bhat(without the toll)....the Buddha and the palace, the floating market...but we did walk down the street and Merle had her eyes opened to the bars and the women there...we roamed for several hours and just took in the sights and had a drink and something to eat...had a swim at the top of our hotel overlooking the city...which is a little polluted....like Beijing....the taxi ride to the airport was 700 bhat (with the toll)....unfortunaletly our ride back was not in business class and not on a 747 jumbo jet whhic athe first one had been...quite a week though....we were tired and Eric (our taxi driver from TuanLi) forgot where he had parked his car. We plan to go into Beijing tomorrow...me to check out a rash that started about 1 week before I left, and Merle to bargain and shop....Hope to get the photos in and keep you up to date...
Still no progress on the photos...but you won't know that until you reach here. I will send this blog and then try to update it with some photos....
We did some heavy duty bargaining at the silk Market and also on the street...bought a couple more watches...but Merle had her taste of the silk market....she was truly amazed at the way that you get accosted by the vendors and finally got used to it. Got home late that evening after an eyeopening trip on the bus....we had a young lady talking English to us and she helped us a few times, and unexpectedly she was on the bus as it went back home...we got back in the dark. Went again the next day becasue I had forgot my passport and thought I needed it at the doctor's but didn't...didn't even need an appointment...was looked after in about 10 minutes and then saw a specialist in the afternoon about 2 hours later.....quite quick hey......turns out I have folliculitis..or something like that...an irritation of the hair follicles ....she didn't know what causes it...but gave me some pills and some calamine lotion to put on my back.....so that's that. The whole process took about 4 hours ( including a lunch break) and that is with the unadvanced medical system that they have here. I cost about $200 but I think I get that all reimbursed....we shall see. Don And Eve had a dentist appointment set up in two days and had some work done at about 1/4 the price....interesting. They are going to have their teeth cleaned just before leaving for home for good....take advantage of it while you can.
Have not made a decision about staying but am leaning towards another year here...
We went to Harbin..a northerly city of about 6 million people....you see the relativity of things....that would be a huge city in Canada but you scarcely notice it in China....we left by plane in the morning after sleeping in about 1/2 an hour. Got there in time though and made it ok....we had booked it through the Chinese Culture Club so they looked after all the arrangements...we were on a bus tour...the first day we saw snow sculpturing....and this was in a large scale......they had a Canadian theme as you will see once I get my camera figured out.....there were scenes of Quebec City and others....including a very large Niagara Falls scene and a scene from the West.....quite a show and lots of interesting features....including a dog sled ride, toboganning, chairs on ice...normally these sculptures last until the end of February however the weather has been unusually warm & some of them were melting enough to be falling/taken down....a couple of girls got lost in the park....one was Canadian....and I didn't give her a bad time..... hahahaha....had dinner and then we went to the Siberian Tiger park....it was started about 1995 with 30 tigers and now there are over 400...they will not be released into the wilds as they are not able to survive on their own...they do roam freely but one tiger usually has an area the size of Hong Kong as his territory...so they don't figure there is enough space to give these guys their space...besides, they would have to fight with the wild buggers for supremcacy and I don't think they would win...survival of the fittest and all....it was a bit of a gruesome tour as we were driven in smaller buses into their pens and then live chickens/turkeys were thrown out of a feeding truck...they snapped them up quite easily..they followed the truck around just like the cattle do with the hay feeding....then......a small truck came out with a calf in a chute on the back.....it was raised up and the live calf slid out onto the ground.....and here is the biggest difference, that I see in the wild and the caged....normally, as I understand it a tiger hunts and kills by himself...well, not so here....the calf didn't have much of a chance as there were about 8 cats on him before it could even get a running start.....I think death was swift but we were blocked out by a couple of other buses...they don't let them eat it but they take it out and chop it up and feed them the parts...maybe to prevent fights, as there were some that had their hair on their backs up while they were doing the fight on the calf.....I think a full sized Holstein bull would have taken a few of the tigers with him before he would have been killed.....but they are beautiful animals, these tigers.
We went to the Ice City towards the evening and this is what make Harbin famous....in the winter.....it was spectacular and stunning and colourful and intricate.....the Ice carvings were monstrous and were of all sorts of buildings this year.....the Eiffel tower, the Acropolis, Noah's Ark, The Summer Palace, Big Ben, etc and they were all lit up with flourescent lights of all colours ......the size is immense....and of course all sorts of vendors were around....we went on a sleigh ride with a Mongolian driver with the hat and coat and the language that we could not understand...... but we sure talked up a storm as he drove us around looking at the whole scene....as I said before, it has been unbelievably warm here this year and the sculptures were really showing signs of melting....even though the evening is quite cool....we had the same two of our group get lost again....well...they almost got a standing ovation when they returned with the tour guide....hahahaha....
Had a drink at a Russian restaurant with 7 other people and had a good conversation with the group....you meet all sorts on the trip...
Next day we went to a building that used to house Unit 731 of the Japanese army...it was the one that did all sorts of experiments with biological, chemical and thermal experimentation with the Chinese population.....it was outrageous what was done...and the coverup... and the big shots who got away with it..they would be the Saddam Husseins of the modern world and they should have been tried but of course they weren't...the US was even in on the amnesty and lack of prosecution....quite a sobering time for the trip....
The afternoon we went to see some crazy people who swim in the river in the winter...actually they are not crazy but it sure helps.....the temp was about -15 with the wind and they were diving into the river and swimming lengths of the "pool"...most of them were older but apparently there is some pride in doing this and only a certain number can belong to the club so they don't easily give up their membership....the oldest male is 81 and the oldest female is 77. We went back to the bus early because it was a little too chilly just standing around...I got to visit for about 1/2 hour with one of my students who lives in Harbin..it was great to see her and we had a good chat....would have liked to stay there and visit and perhaps meet her parents or others on a more informal basis but time would not allow that.....our plane return was delayed for about 1 hour so we got back a little late but our taxi driver Eric was waiting for us.... and so ended out trip to Harbin....
I am going to post this and then start another one....stay tuned...
posted by 12thhobo | 6:38 AM
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