Roundtrip to Paradise

Roundtrip to Paradise and points in between. Effective February 21 2010, we have combined all our Blogs under one heading - Life. After all - the road taken, the food eaten, the choices made on a daily basis all contribute to weave the wonderful fabric of life. Come on over and visit - Gerry is just back from Thailand and has some great stories to tell about Royal Barges, Grand Palaces, Emerald Buddhas, and close encounters with airline policies. Ah - and let's not forget Cobra a la mode!

Bangkok Snapshots

8 a.m. two Buddhist monks squatting on the sidewalk opposite the hotel, dirty robes, smoking and ogling the girls as they go by.

8:30 a.m. three young women - sparkly mini dresses, black leggings, gold sandals, jaded faces , old way beyond their years despite perfect cover-girl make-up. Black Mercedes draws up, hand out of the window. Girls reach into cleavage of dresses, pull out wads of money, without missing a step hand over to the hand. Keep on walking, link arms.

9:30 outpatient clinic at the hospital. 45 minutes and $75 dollars later have had thorough ear, nose, throat exam and prescription for two doses of ZPack to hit hard at the massive sinus infection I have plus an anti-inflammatory prescription. Last prescription alone, April 2009 in the US, after co-pay cost me $48.00. "We're not growing old" said the Thai physician I met, "we're growing up". This in reference to social services and medical delivery in Thailand. I left wondering if the US was perhaps growing old. This sinus infection is an annual event for me - my US GP has never once checked my ears - simply phoned in a prescription. Grand piano in the hospital lobby - drank my Starbucks doppio listening to Ba Ba Blacksheep followed by Moonlight Sonata.

4:00 p.m. Lumpini Park, heart of Bangkok. Bangkok National Orchestra is setting up for a free Concert in the Park. Opener is William Tell Overture - closing with Rock Around the Clock. Tanniini mats for rent. Picnics in full force.

Wander around the park and come across two aerobics/dance classes. Dozens of people moving to the music.



Giant Monitor Lizards on the edge of the pond - totally gross!

Bangkok - Wat Arun at Sunset

Well , week one in Thailand and it's been a week of sleep deprivation, cultural toe-dipping and fun.
We are certainly not in Kansas! Bangkok is a crowded, noisy, traffic-jammed city. Skyscrapers more in evidence than traditional buildings; taxis the transportation of choice (very inexpensive); Tuk-tuks the way to go if you can stick to back streets; train and river ferry equally inexpensive, more fun and easy to navigate. There's an inversion layer over the city - very obvious in the last two days and I have a sinus infection to show for it. Oh for some clean high- desert-country air!

First major exploration was via Skytrain to Pier 13 on the Chao Phraya and river ferry eight stops to the area around the Golden Temple. Our mission was a sunset dinner from a deck overlooking the river. We ended up at a restaurant called The Deck - mediocre food but directly opposite Wat Arun - a sort of missile shaped temple dedicated to the dawn. The spire, or Praang, is a distinctive landmark and spectacular as the western sun slips down behind it lighting up the glitter and gold on the facade.

Skytrain was a breeze to manage - clearly signed- orderly lines of people and far above the madding traffic jam below. Our stop was a minute walk from the pier and again the system for getting a ticket for the river ferry couldn't be easier. Your ticket is the color of the stern flag on the ferry that will take you where you plan on going. Our ten minute river "cruise" took us past the famed Oriental Hotel, shrines, humble abodes and mansions.

Venturing out of the hotel one morning I was assured by the charming concierge that I would not have any problems in Bangkok as "elders" are revered! hey - it works for me and Chris, the "other" G'ma. It would also appear that the blond Toto and her pregnant mom are also revered. Surprising and welcome manners in all public places - seats given up- doors opened. How refreshing.

After dinner we wandered around the walls of the vast Golden temple compound , saving entry for a full day and more decorous dress - long skirts and sleeves the order of the day in hallowed temple grounds. From our vantage point I was able to get glimpses of the ornate temple roof line and a visit is a must - I'm intrigued.


New baby, Finn, comes "home" today so Chris and I are on G'ma duty to take the Toto to the Gymarium - a toddler tumbling heaven in one of the swishest malls I've ever seen.
Gerry

G'Ma Hits the Road - Toto waits

G'Ma hits the road again - before dawn cracks on Friday morning. Hate those pre-dawn fumbles for lights; showers in an eerily quiet world; weighty questions along the lines of to shave or not to shave the legs.

I'm packed, pretty much organised too for my trip to Thailand. Son, daughter-in-law, the adorable Toto, Maxine, and brother - affectionately known as Rocket who is due to launch into this world any day now - have been in Bangkok for over a month, choosing to give birth there rather than in Ethiopia which has a very poor record on maternal health care and delivery.

I'm flying on AA miles and they have booked me on JAL - minor tizzy yesterday when a friend e-mailed to say "Hey - got contingency plans? JAL filing Chapter 11 this week!" Let the chips fall is my approach to these possible snafus to my well oiled plans.

Dog is already in a funk having noted dufflebag in den half-packed. He's set up camp next to it. What second-sense these animals have. I've only got to pull a particular weekend bag from the shelf and he turns inside out with joy because that bag signals "go to the cabin". This chunky duffle signals " she's going on holiday and I don't like it". He'll be staying with daughter-in-law's folks - and "batching" it - a life full of tummy rubs, treats and very leisurely walks as Jim is recovering from hip replacement surgery.

House demands certain "what, you're leaving me" procedures like filling the fountain, emptying fridge, stopping mail and so on. I have everything in the garden on carefully controlled drip systems so the only two items requiring care are indoor plants and a dear friend has offered to do the weekly watering. I have to take evasive action against a pack rat invasion. That means opening the hoods of the cars and strewing fabric softener sheets around the garage. Took a tip last year from someone who said put a string of Christmas lights under the cars - pack rats hate light! Did that and near burned the house down - fortunately my daughter came by, smelled "something" , opened the garage and discovered the string of lights smouldering under a car. Disaster averted and lesson learned.

I'm an easy traveller. No angst, no prima donna routine and no queue jumping. My carry-on bag is sub-regulation size. On long-haul flights I stay clear of alcohol except for a glass of wine with lunch or dinner; get up and move every hour or so (if I don't the knees seize up!) and for sipping on ask for a cup of hot water with a slice of lemon in it - soothing and far nicer than the stewed tea or coffee that makes the rounds. Always carry a couple of small apples (I have incredibly, crisp, tasty ones grown locally and picked up at St. Philip's Farmers' Market on Sunday), and I buy the kind of book I wouldn't be caught reading at home - yep, cheap, throwaway smut novels of the "best seller bodice ripper" gendre. True story - about five years ago was on a trans Atlantic flight and was reading Darwin's Origin of the Species". Seat mate - an intense, little tiny man with huge ego and foul breath proceeded to harass me the entire flight about evolution being a hoax! Smut from then on!

Thanks to the cyber age all that hassle about paying bills, keeping in touch is taken care of. My life is in my Mac. I'll keep in touch while away - heck, you won't even know I'm gone.
Gerry