The very late dinners on this trip were not healthy for Art who suffers from a form GERD (acid reflux). We discovered that another tour friend had the same problem.
Yae! Pho! I love pho for breakfast! You could choose your ingredients and the cooks would prepare it just the way you like it.
Ummmmmmmmmm........ yes.... I confess. I had some pastry too.
We had a stop at a handicraft store and I bought a pair of silver earrings that I HOPE were truly solid silver.
Yup! This is the silver shop. They said it was 92.5 silver.
I did see elsewhere that it could be 92.5 PLATED silver too. But how can you know for sure?
Souann posed for Art next to a spirit house. We saw these spirit houses everywhere in Cambodia.
A spirit house is a shrine to the protective spirit of a place that are found in the Southeast Asian countries of Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. Most houses and businesses have a spirit house placed in an auspicious spot, most often in a corner of the property. The location may be chosen after consultation with a Brahmin priest. The spirit house is normally in the form of a miniature house or temple, and is mounted on a pillar or on a dais.
The house is intended to provide a shelter for spirits which could cause problems for the people if not appeased. The shrines often include images of people and animals. Votive offerings are left at the house to propitiate the spirits. --Wikipedia
Our box lunch in Cambodia was marginal, I'm afraid, but we weren't afraid of starving.
Because Jane, our tour person had gone home to Hawaii with the two couples, the rest of us were left to fend for ourselves.
We managed it OK, but there was quite a bit of confusion and upset as we tried to make sure no one was lost or forgotten. #1 and #2 were now combined into a larger, slightly more unwieldy travel group. I loved it that we could now finally spend more time with the wonderful people in Group #2 as well.
We went from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Bangkok, Thailand where we transferred planes to go to Chiang Mai, Thailand.
At last, our travel to Thailand was accomplished and we were happily ensconced at Maninarakorn Hotel.
We met Dare, our new tour guide who kept us constantly entertained with non-stop jokes and interesting information.
Dare told us that Chiang Mai means "new city" and was so-named because it was the new capital, founded in 1296 It succeeded Chiang Rai (founded 1262). Thailand means "Land of Freedom" and was once called Siam. I'm sure everybody remembers the musical King and I.
Half of our tour groups had gotten either intestinal or respiratory ailments. I was keeping my fingers crossed that we would stay healthy for Bangladesh.
Ummmmmmmmmm........ yes.... I confess. I had some pastry too.
Yup! This is the silver shop. They said it was 92.5 silver.
I did see elsewhere that it could be 92.5 PLATED silver too. But how can you know for sure?
Souann posed for Art next to a spirit house. We saw these spirit houses everywhere in Cambodia.
A spirit house is a shrine to the protective spirit of a place that are found in the Southeast Asian countries of Burma, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand. Most houses and businesses have a spirit house placed in an auspicious spot, most often in a corner of the property. The location may be chosen after consultation with a Brahmin priest. The spirit house is normally in the form of a miniature house or temple, and is mounted on a pillar or on a dais.
The house is intended to provide a shelter for spirits which could cause problems for the people if not appeased. The shrines often include images of people and animals. Votive offerings are left at the house to propitiate the spirits. --Wikipedia
Our box lunch in Cambodia was marginal, I'm afraid, but we weren't afraid of starving.
Because Jane, our tour person had gone home to Hawaii with the two couples, the rest of us were left to fend for ourselves.
We managed it OK, but there was quite a bit of confusion and upset as we tried to make sure no one was lost or forgotten. #1 and #2 were now combined into a larger, slightly more unwieldy travel group. I loved it that we could now finally spend more time with the wonderful people in Group #2 as well.
We went from Siem Reap, Cambodia to Bangkok, Thailand where we transferred planes to go to Chiang Mai, Thailand.
At last, our travel to Thailand was accomplished and we were happily ensconced at Maninarakorn Hotel.
We met Dare, our new tour guide who kept us constantly entertained with non-stop jokes and interesting information.
Dare told us that Chiang Mai means "new city" and was so-named because it was the new capital, founded in 1296 It succeeded Chiang Rai (founded 1262). Thailand means "Land of Freedom" and was once called Siam. I'm sure everybody remembers the musical King and I.
Half of our tour groups had gotten either intestinal or respiratory ailments. I was keeping my fingers crossed that we would stay healthy for Bangladesh.
i hope you two can avoid any ailments. my husband would be green by this point!
ReplyDeleteI really like the wall with the design, I sure hope you stayed well,
ReplyDeleteWould you believe that's not a wall design, but a wooden cut-out partition? We could put our suitcases on the other side of that partition.
Deleteon to Bangladesh...what an adventure!
ReplyDeleteNot yet... Thailand first.
DeleteI remember those spirit houses when I was in Thailand. I think I have a picture somewhere of me standing next to one. I had forgotten! :-)
ReplyDeleteIt sure seemed like every house (especially businesses) had one some place on their property.
DeleteI gotta say that pastry looks amazing. Wow following your travel adventures on here always amazes me. You are taking us all over the world with you!
ReplyDeleteThanks Kay for a wonderful trip report. You look truly happy in all your pics.
ReplyDeleteL...w
I actually know Chaing Mai. Not from visiting but from a friend who had a mission there to rescue women from the brothels and retrain them. there was a time, back in the late 80s/early 90s when I was sending packages to her on a regular basis. She is now in the Netherlands working with agencies around the world on human trafficking. She has been spotlighted on 60 Minutes and in Time Magazine.
ReplyDeleteSince coming home, I've been hearing more and more about the difficult conditions in many areas of southeast Asia. Obviously, tour groups don't take you there; just as Hawaii tours don't take tourists to where the homeless live.
DeleteEven tho I have difficulty leaving a message, I am enjoying your travels.
DeleteI'm so glad, Dianne. Thank you for continuing to try because you know how I love hearing from you.
DeleteAnother fascinating day! So glad you haven't gotten sick.
ReplyDeleteAnd here I have a son in law in Barcelona that can't find a decent croisant in the whole city. He needs to eat a bowl of Pho. I like that stuff too. No MSG tho.
ReplyDeleteSan Diego tours do pass by the homeless. The new ballpark is right next to the biggest homeless incampment.
I hope as enamored as you are with Pho that you learned to create it on your own. Hope the earrings are silver but even if they aren't. if you really like them, they will be worth it.
ReplyDeleteI tried pho here in Hawaii last week and you know... it just wasn't as good as what we had in Vietnam and Thailand. If somebody in Hawaii knows a good place for pho, I hope they'll let me know.
DeleteI need a spirit house if it contains problems that could bother humans. Lucky you haven't gotten sick. DrumMajor
ReplyDeleteThe spirit houses are to appease the land spirits who might cause you problems. I think that's what Souann told us.
DeleteI never tested any precious metals, but I had gotten Daisy a promise ring in our first year of dating that said had diamond in it. Had Kay Jewelers use that thing for it and it was real.
ReplyDeleteI wish there was some way to test these things before you buy them on travel. As a rule, I don't spend a lot of money when overseas.
DeleteAnother interesting day. I hope art wasn't too uncomfortable with his digestive issues. And I hope you stayed well!
ReplyDeleteActually it wasn't digestive. It was more esophageal, I think. I thought he had a cold for sure because he had a runny nose and sore throat, but he insisted it was that acid reflux type thing.
DeleteI'm hanging fire to find out what happened next!
ReplyDeleteSuspense! Interesting travels. Hope Art's back to normal. Can't wait to see what;s next
ReplyDeleteALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^=
Hi Kay! How are you now with all the travelling? Does Art suffer from a kind of heartburn? I suffered from it until I got really good medicines, which I take daily. It helps.I hope you'll all get home in good health!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Wil
The dessert was so huge but it looked delicious
ReplyDeleteI stayed in the same hotel as you in Chiangmai. The cut out trees were white then (2007) now painted yellow. I can't wear silver items as they quickly turn black on me.
ReplyDeleteGregg loved his trip to Thailand, and he and I have enjoyed every post on your travels. Marvelous, absolutely marvelous!
ReplyDeleteI like thinking about this spirit house practice. Hmm . . .
ReplyDelete