Hello All. This will be my last posting for this year. It will be a few weeks into 2018 before I will do another update. At that time, I should have a good idea of what the plans will be for the remainder of the year, at least as far as travel goes. At this time, a trip back to Asia is in the early "thinking stage."
The one country that I have on my list from there is the Philippines, to which I have never been. The thinking was for June, but that is the beginning of the rainy season, so back to the planning.
A late winter trip over to Arizona is a possibility, but more on that later, also.
Before I departed Bangkok to return home, I and several friends were going to do a dinner at Baioke Tower, the highest building with restaurants on top, in Asia. We did not get to do this because one of the locals had not told the others that they were fearful of heights. After much discussion, we decided to go to a local steak house instead.
I go on line and read The Bangkok Post newspaper almost every evening. They are 12 hours ahead of us....exactly half way around the world. I read the other day that effective with the new year, (2061 in their calendar), all traffic tickets will be in both Thai and English. I only point this out, as an indication of how English is fast becoming more and more popular around the world. I have never had a problem in my travels, and my only contact with French was when I was in Krakow, Poland. I was touring a castle, and was stopped by a man from France who was , in broken English, looking for directions, of which I was able to help. When I told him I was from Canada, he told me, "don't waste your time learning French, it does me no good".!!!
I will close and wish everyone a safe and happy holiday season, and, all the very best for the new year.
Sunday 24 December 2017
Wednesday 13 December 2017
A lot Of Hot Air...Ottawa, December 13, 2017
When travelling, I tend to be a chatty type, and talk to anyone who looks interesting....or bored.
In doing so, I have met some great and wonderful people, usually with interesting stories to trade.
On December 7, in the Montreal terminal while awaiting my flight to Ottawa, (I had flown in from Bangkok via London), was such an experience.
When I got to my waiting area, B22 for the flight to Ottawa, there was one person already there, a lady with her Ipad type device. I was going to get a coffee, and asked her if she would like one also. She declined, but stated that her area was next down the hall, but this area was quieter. I soon found that this lady, Danielle, was a Pharmacist, on her way to Val D'or, in northern Quebec. While her home was in Montreal, she was going north to fill in for someone who would be away for a week or two. She told me that she was a hot air balloon pilot, and had just returned from Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa. She and her husband, along with three other couples, all balloonists, had rented balloons in France, had them shipped to Madagascar, and they then went there for five weeks.
Local people with pick-up trucks were hired to follow and help return the balloons when the days flights were over. In this way, they covered most of the non mountainous parts of the country, flying low level, and taking photos all the way; also mixing with the locals and the animals in some instances, particularly the Lemurs of which there are five varieties there....the home of the Lemur, and other exotic animals native to only there.
We spent the entire time awaiting our respective flights looking at the great assortment of photos that she had taken. This couple travel to different parts of the world and do hot air ballooning like the rest of us take trains or cars.Both are also pilots and fly fixed wing aircraft one of which they own.. They have taken rides in China, but mostly, they fly themselves, and have done so in places as diverse as Cambodia, and Mexico. To me, this was a grand way to complete my latest adventure by meeting someone else who has that explorers spirit. Way to go Danielle!!.
In doing so, I have met some great and wonderful people, usually with interesting stories to trade.
On December 7, in the Montreal terminal while awaiting my flight to Ottawa, (I had flown in from Bangkok via London), was such an experience.
When I got to my waiting area, B22 for the flight to Ottawa, there was one person already there, a lady with her Ipad type device. I was going to get a coffee, and asked her if she would like one also. She declined, but stated that her area was next down the hall, but this area was quieter. I soon found that this lady, Danielle, was a Pharmacist, on her way to Val D'or, in northern Quebec. While her home was in Montreal, she was going north to fill in for someone who would be away for a week or two. She told me that she was a hot air balloon pilot, and had just returned from Madagascar, off the east coast of Africa. She and her husband, along with three other couples, all balloonists, had rented balloons in France, had them shipped to Madagascar, and they then went there for five weeks.
Local people with pick-up trucks were hired to follow and help return the balloons when the days flights were over. In this way, they covered most of the non mountainous parts of the country, flying low level, and taking photos all the way; also mixing with the locals and the animals in some instances, particularly the Lemurs of which there are five varieties there....the home of the Lemur, and other exotic animals native to only there.
We spent the entire time awaiting our respective flights looking at the great assortment of photos that she had taken. This couple travel to different parts of the world and do hot air ballooning like the rest of us take trains or cars.Both are also pilots and fly fixed wing aircraft one of which they own.. They have taken rides in China, but mostly, they fly themselves, and have done so in places as diverse as Cambodia, and Mexico. To me, this was a grand way to complete my latest adventure by meeting someone else who has that explorers spirit. Way to go Danielle!!.
How Do You Like Your Eggs ---- December 13, 2017
For most of my life, I thought that rotten eggs were only good for throwing at Politicians. That idea changed greatly two weeks ago, while I was in Bangkok. My Thai family friends and I were back in the big city, and I was assisting them to take some items to their home. They lived about ten minutes from my apartment, by Skytrain, the Bangkok elevated high speed rail system. When we entered their home, one could smell the Sulphur-like aroma of rotten eggs. They went to a shelf, and retrieved a flat of about two dozen eggs. (These were not in the refrigerator). One said, "Oh, good, the eggs are ready"..... I had offered to take the eggs outside to the garbage....When I asked how long the eggs were on the shelf, I was informed that they were there since early August!....but, its ok Don, we use them now. A large electric Wok of water was started and when the water boiled, the eggs were put in it for about five minutes. Once boiled, there was no smell from the eggs. One member of the family ate one egg, pronounced it to be delicious, and ok to use. They were then taken to their places of work to share with the staff, a prized delicacy.
One sees these eggs being sold on the streets, and sometimes, as happened with me, these sellers come into restaurants and offer the eggs to customers as they wait for their orders. HOWEVER, the eggs offered this way often have an added touch. The chick is inside, well cooked. Seriously, this is true. A chicken egg takes about 21 days to hatch, while duck and geese eggs take 28 days on average. Asian folks use large incubators and set hundreds of eggs to the process; about one to two days before the scheduled hatch dates, the incubators are shut off, and all the eggs are put into boiling water where they stay for 30 minutes. Yummy!!! they say. NO I HAVE NOT, AND WILL NOT TRY THEM. I have seen these in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. About a year ago, I was sitting in the Tokyo airport between flights, and started chatting with a lady from Vietnam, on her way to California. After about half hour, she offered to share her lunch with me....but as it was sight unseen, I declined to do so, with thanks. She opened her bag and came out with several eggs, of which I still declined to take one. As she cracked the egg open...I saw it was full of feathers, etc, and I suddenly decided to go for a walk. They all say that it is good for your health. I will always just be the gracious guest and let someone else enjoy the offering.
One sees these eggs being sold on the streets, and sometimes, as happened with me, these sellers come into restaurants and offer the eggs to customers as they wait for their orders. HOWEVER, the eggs offered this way often have an added touch. The chick is inside, well cooked. Seriously, this is true. A chicken egg takes about 21 days to hatch, while duck and geese eggs take 28 days on average. Asian folks use large incubators and set hundreds of eggs to the process; about one to two days before the scheduled hatch dates, the incubators are shut off, and all the eggs are put into boiling water where they stay for 30 minutes. Yummy!!! they say. NO I HAVE NOT, AND WILL NOT TRY THEM. I have seen these in Vietnam, Laos, and Thailand. About a year ago, I was sitting in the Tokyo airport between flights, and started chatting with a lady from Vietnam, on her way to California. After about half hour, she offered to share her lunch with me....but as it was sight unseen, I declined to do so, with thanks. She opened her bag and came out with several eggs, of which I still declined to take one. As she cracked the egg open...I saw it was full of feathers, etc, and I suddenly decided to go for a walk. They all say that it is good for your health. I will always just be the gracious guest and let someone else enjoy the offering.
Sunday 10 December 2017
The Ladyboys of Thailand , December 10, 2017
Within Thailand, there are an estimated five hundred thousand so called, "Ladyboys", who were born male, and grew up normally as boys. As they reached their teens, they had developed facial features that made them look like young ladies. Many decided to become, in one way or another, a ladyboy, and underwent operations and took medicines to help with the development of the features they wanted. Many spend their entire salaries on these changes to their bodies. There are many clinics in Bangkok that do nothing other than surgeries for these people. I am told it is unique to Thailand.
I have seen newspaper stories and photos of "Ladyboy Beauty Contests", and it is impossible to tell(from the photos), that these people are men...or were. Many of these people work in "Massage" parlors catering to gay men.
I and some of my Thai family friends were having lunch, when Rose received a text message from her second eldest son, who is seventeen, and attends school at a temple in Northern Thailand, to be a monk. He informed his mother that he had decided to become a ladyboy. While some were in shock, Rose asked me what I thought she should do. It was my view that she should advise the other three boys that they were about to get a sister. Everyone had a good laugh; Rose sent a text to her son, telling him that he could do with his life as he pleased, just do not ask for financial help, because it would not happen.
I will probably do a final page towards next weekend, that will cover several other topics.
I have seen newspaper stories and photos of "Ladyboy Beauty Contests", and it is impossible to tell(from the photos), that these people are men...or were. Many of these people work in "Massage" parlors catering to gay men.
I and some of my Thai family friends were having lunch, when Rose received a text message from her second eldest son, who is seventeen, and attends school at a temple in Northern Thailand, to be a monk. He informed his mother that he had decided to become a ladyboy. While some were in shock, Rose asked me what I thought she should do. It was my view that she should advise the other three boys that they were about to get a sister. Everyone had a good laugh; Rose sent a text to her son, telling him that he could do with his life as he pleased, just do not ask for financial help, because it would not happen.
I will probably do a final page towards next weekend, that will cover several other topics.
More Thai Information; December 10, 2017
The following information is what I understand to be the practices within Thailand of the Monk hood.
Of a population of about sixty million, Thais, 85 percent are Buddhist, the others are a wide assortment of faiths and religions. Every male must train and learn the Buddhist teachings for a minimum two years in their lifetime. In many families, mainly the poorer families, the boys are sent to the local temple during their school holidays. Over their ten to 12 years at school, they attain their credits, and do not need to work further at this study.
Monks are supposedly to be poor and have no wealth; study and teach, but own only their clothes and simple needs. They live in the temples, of which Thailand has around 38 thousand...easy walking distance for all. The monks eat one meal a day, usually just before 11 A.M., from food that is obtained by doing a daily walk in the local area where the people put food in their bowls. Some also put small amounts of money in the collection of food, most of which is in plastic bags. Women must never touch a monk, and men usually just do the wie, a hand motion with hands together, and a slight nod or bow. The Thai culture because of this life style is one of honesty and peacefulness. If someone does a crime, unless serious, the police make an appointment for the culprit to come to the station for a chat....no cuff and ride to the local police station. That may be two weeks away...everyone trusts everyone . Some people head to the temple if they get into trouble, and put on the saffron robes, and the police wait a year or two until they come back to society. If serious, they do issue arrest warrants and the head monk defrocks the person, or he disrobes voluntarily. Women cannot be monks.
However, last week, the police charged 95 senior monks with all sorts of crimes, five for being married, many others for fraud, corruption, and on it goes. They feel that there will be hundreds more before the situation is cleared up. Last year, one monk felt the heat from police...maybe tipped off, and was flown to California in his"private jet", that was "given to him". He was shipped back to Bangkok, under arrest, without the jet this spring.
Acts of disrespect are frowned upon, by Thais, and the penalties are usually high if one is caught.
Two weeks ago, two gay, married men from California were travelling to very religious and important sites in Bangkok. They were removing their shorts and taking "selfies", and posting them on a gay website they created called,"Butts Travel". They were nabbed at the airport, as they waited to fly over to Cambodia. They told the police that they could not arrest them, "they were American".
They were taken to jail, and faced up to seven years in jail and severe fines. Today, they were released, deported and banned from ever going back to Thailand. What an ass-inine thing to do!.
Of a population of about sixty million, Thais, 85 percent are Buddhist, the others are a wide assortment of faiths and religions. Every male must train and learn the Buddhist teachings for a minimum two years in their lifetime. In many families, mainly the poorer families, the boys are sent to the local temple during their school holidays. Over their ten to 12 years at school, they attain their credits, and do not need to work further at this study.
Monks are supposedly to be poor and have no wealth; study and teach, but own only their clothes and simple needs. They live in the temples, of which Thailand has around 38 thousand...easy walking distance for all. The monks eat one meal a day, usually just before 11 A.M., from food that is obtained by doing a daily walk in the local area where the people put food in their bowls. Some also put small amounts of money in the collection of food, most of which is in plastic bags. Women must never touch a monk, and men usually just do the wie, a hand motion with hands together, and a slight nod or bow. The Thai culture because of this life style is one of honesty and peacefulness. If someone does a crime, unless serious, the police make an appointment for the culprit to come to the station for a chat....no cuff and ride to the local police station. That may be two weeks away...everyone trusts everyone . Some people head to the temple if they get into trouble, and put on the saffron robes, and the police wait a year or two until they come back to society. If serious, they do issue arrest warrants and the head monk defrocks the person, or he disrobes voluntarily. Women cannot be monks.
However, last week, the police charged 95 senior monks with all sorts of crimes, five for being married, many others for fraud, corruption, and on it goes. They feel that there will be hundreds more before the situation is cleared up. Last year, one monk felt the heat from police...maybe tipped off, and was flown to California in his"private jet", that was "given to him". He was shipped back to Bangkok, under arrest, without the jet this spring.
Acts of disrespect are frowned upon, by Thais, and the penalties are usually high if one is caught.
Two weeks ago, two gay, married men from California were travelling to very religious and important sites in Bangkok. They were removing their shorts and taking "selfies", and posting them on a gay website they created called,"Butts Travel". They were nabbed at the airport, as they waited to fly over to Cambodia. They told the police that they could not arrest them, "they were American".
They were taken to jail, and faced up to seven years in jail and severe fines. Today, they were released, deported and banned from ever going back to Thailand. What an ass-inine thing to do!.
Saturday 9 December 2017
Ottawa, December 9, 2017
I arrived home at about eight in the evening on Thursday, 07 December. All flights were on time, and the entire trip was without problems except for the internet. The Thai government has been a military dictatorship style for the last four years, and they have a military unit that controls the internet..speed, etc. Google, which we all use is required to have its servers in Thailand so the brass can sensor what is said about the military and the government. Twice, while on the internet, I was asked in a drop down message, "Google Thailand would like to know your location. Release, (and) or Block." Both times, I blocked it. Since second time, was unable to get on internet, with my computer. I went to an internet cafe...so called, but not a cafe, just computers for rent. I went on and had no problems. When I tried to get my emails, Google detected another computer, and asked me to confirm it was me; they , while I on line were going to send phone message to Canada, at my cost , to give a code, so I could get online. I shut down. When I got home, there was an email from Google, giving the I.P. number of the computer I had used, and stated that, "Someone tried to get into my email".
I had the final dental work done in Bangkok. My total bill for four fillings, two being major, and the other work was 152 Canadian dollars; Quote here was over two thousand....no wonder many hundreds go to Portugal, etc for this work.
My Thai family consists of the granny of the kids, who had three sons and one daughter. Each of these also had four children, plus cousins and etc. They are very strong Buddhist in faith.
The kids that I do things with are two of the youngest of the daughter, just mentioned....they are 11 and 13. Two others 17 and 19 are in other cities. The grandfather of these kids has never been mentioned to me....until this trip. When I was at So Phisai, I stayed in a cabin, as noted in an earlier blog. This was about two kilometers from the main family home and cost me twelve dollars Canadian a day. So Phisai is about ten thousand, in my estimate. A small town. I was the only non Asian there for a week. One day, I asked the boy's mother why they were now calling me "Poppa Don". Before, it was "Uncle Don". She said that she would explain tomorrow. The next day, she picked me up and told me that "Today, I will introduce you to a monk". She had picked up some food, and we went the two kilometers to a small temple, where four monks lived, each in their own small cabin. I was introduced, and we did the hand together wie motions..never touching hands. The one monk ate the food, which must be done before 1100 A.M. We sat with him, no one speaking. After his lunch, he said a blessing to her, and we went back to town for lunch in a small cafe. There, she (Rose), said to me; "The monk you just met was my father...seven or eight years ago, he gave my mother the farm, house and everything, and became a monk....this the boys do not know".
The kids are taking English at school, so they now know, in English, family positions and relationships. Since the square for grampa was vacant, they put me there.
I will do another page tomorrow, if time allows, and will talk more about monks then.
I had the final dental work done in Bangkok. My total bill for four fillings, two being major, and the other work was 152 Canadian dollars; Quote here was over two thousand....no wonder many hundreds go to Portugal, etc for this work.
My Thai family consists of the granny of the kids, who had three sons and one daughter. Each of these also had four children, plus cousins and etc. They are very strong Buddhist in faith.
The kids that I do things with are two of the youngest of the daughter, just mentioned....they are 11 and 13. Two others 17 and 19 are in other cities. The grandfather of these kids has never been mentioned to me....until this trip. When I was at So Phisai, I stayed in a cabin, as noted in an earlier blog. This was about two kilometers from the main family home and cost me twelve dollars Canadian a day. So Phisai is about ten thousand, in my estimate. A small town. I was the only non Asian there for a week. One day, I asked the boy's mother why they were now calling me "Poppa Don". Before, it was "Uncle Don". She said that she would explain tomorrow. The next day, she picked me up and told me that "Today, I will introduce you to a monk". She had picked up some food, and we went the two kilometers to a small temple, where four monks lived, each in their own small cabin. I was introduced, and we did the hand together wie motions..never touching hands. The one monk ate the food, which must be done before 1100 A.M. We sat with him, no one speaking. After his lunch, he said a blessing to her, and we went back to town for lunch in a small cafe. There, she (Rose), said to me; "The monk you just met was my father...seven or eight years ago, he gave my mother the farm, house and everything, and became a monk....this the boys do not know".
The kids are taking English at school, so they now know, in English, family positions and relationships. Since the square for grampa was vacant, they put me there.
I will do another page tomorrow, if time allows, and will talk more about monks then.
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