Letter 8 (Dave)

Hi All,

Got a break in the schedule giving us an opportunity to check e-mail after only one day. recall, tonight is the night was take the overnight train to Bangkok. Then the next day on to Vietnam.

On the other-hand, not a lot to report since #7.

We did walk another market last night. Mostly just looked but picked up a few little things. Then took a tuk-tuk back to the hotel. That's a cycle with two seats on the behind. They move pretty fast weaving in and out of traffic.

Thailand is really far more modern than was my image. It appears to be a well run country with a functioning infrastructure. The disaster impact clearly has had no effect where we are traveling.

It is also a place to see a good number of antibush cartoons and statements; nothing positive. The feelings are pretty clear. I would assume that we are traveling with a very pro-Bush group, with one exception. Our guide stays neutral on political conversations which is wise. His response to the statement that Bush has certainly alienated the international community did get a quick nod of agreement.

Did have five rolls of film processed by the local Fuji Frontier machine. The pics lack solid color saturation and all tend to be on the dark side. So, the rest go back through the maze of x-ray machines -- I hope not. if they had been done well, I could have given them a lot of business. I will have some of the photos reprinted that are most important to me.

It was frustrating, however, because in every-way it was an extensive photography center. Lots of cameras I could have looked like the Nikon D70 and the new Minolta. But a quick look at the prices discouraged further looking.

This morning we did take part in a traditional Thai massage for almost two hours. I've had several on the trip, and this one was the best so far. Very professional. Those from the group who participated were in one room and most of the massage seemed to be orchestrated at the same time. There was some variation, however, for Mom who had some special treatment to her knees.

We'll soon be off to our train, so uncertain when the next epistle will take place.

Letter 7 (Ann)

Hi,



In case you are interested :>) I have been up at 5:30 A.M. several mornings and it is really nice and cool then. But I have been getting to bed at 10:00 or 10:30.



I have been in a pool most afternoons and am surprised how cold they are.  I would guess the temp. is 65 degrees.  But I do about 1/2 hour of exercise anyway.



Tonight is a home hosted meal where our whole group of 15 goes to a home to meet the family and they will prepare dinner for us.  We have seen so many Buddhist temples.  They are beautiful but I am about templed out.  This a.m. we were on the street b y 6:00 a.m. and bought food to give to the monks.   They begin their soliciting food for the day then and everyone usually gives them rice, a vegetable and a dessert and a glass of water in the bowl or bag they carry.  They take it all back to the temple and eat two meals before noon and from that food and then no more the rest of the day.



Today we had a "monk" chat and it was very interesting.  With an older monk who is a professor in the university.  Then we went to a temple and kneeled in front of a monk who was seated.  He "blessed" us and sprinkled us with water using a long bamboo tube.   The men in our group each had string tied around their wrist by the monk, by he threw the women's at them since no monk can even touch a woman.  When Dave and I had our picture taken with the monk at the monk chat, I had to be reminded not to get too close to him.  



It is almost impossible for me to kneel on my knees now.  I really need to do something about them when I get back.  And every time we go into a temple we are supposed to kneel if we present the Buddha with flowers or incense. 



Yesterday we visited 4 factories.  They were all different and very interesting.  My favorite one was the parasol factory, because at the end of the explanation we could have one of the parasol painters paint a piece of clothing, hat, camera bag, etc. for us.  So I took off my new photo vest ($8.00 by the way and so many pockets I can never find anything!) and had her put a butterfly and flowers on the back.  Guess what color!  PURPLE.  It is beautiful.



Today we visited a Jade factory.  I felt sorry for the little lady who took us around.  She is, of course, supposed to follow us all over and "help" us with any questions we may have.  We had no intentions of buying anything jade so I walked away from her and went back into the workshop we had just come from (and had been told we could return later).  She followed Dad around until he finally decided to go to the restroom and then she found me and waited for me to come out of the workshop area.  We finally went outside and ate their cookies, drank ginger tea and talked with others from our group that were not buying.



We are going to walk the night market tonight after dinner which is in about 25 min.



Love,



Mom

Letter 7 (Dave)

Dave & Ann: Southeast Asia 2005
Hi,

Another quick update.

Yesterday was elephant day. Mom and I rode atop a large elephant making our way across rivers, forest trails, occasionally refueling the animal with purchased sugar cane and bananas. It was a fun ride. A more traditional elephant show followed with the elephants painting pictures, ducking baskets in basketball, kicking soccer balls through the goal posts, dancing, working logs, etc. It is a herd owned for several generations to raise and train elephants. But watch out if you don't feed them fast enough. They can get pushy which is no small matter for several tons of beast!

All this was followed by a pleasant rafting trip down the river. It was hardly white water stuff though like Costa Rica, but was relaxing.

What followed in the p.m. was a series of visits at various factories where they made and worked with silver, gem stones, laquerware, etc. Well, let's put it this way, it really was more interesting than I thought it would be. Of course, the opportunity to make a purchase was always there.

Also a brief visit at a butterfly and orchid garden. Now why did I leave my closeup lens back in the hotel? Lots of color.

In the evening, we went out and presented gifts of incense, flowers and gold leaf to the Buddha in a worship setting.

This a.m., Tuesday, we got up at 5:30 to watch and respond to the Buddhist monks on the rounds seeking food donations. They do not beg, but will only respond when invited. We had plates of food which we placed in their buckets. Then we received a chanted blessing. It is in this way they receive alms for their support. In Myanmar the monks aggressively beg for money because of the poverty there. But in Thailand, the response is natural and not pushed in any way. People gather early to greet the oranged robed monks, some children novices as well, to make their donations.

Later in the morning, we gathered with a learned professor who was a monk. He had lectured and traveled to the US at various times and knew all the football teams represented by the various states in our group. He shared some of the Buddhist history and philosophy and responded to questions. It was an interesting time. He didn't answer my question too well though in how the Buddhists feel about persons of other faiths such as Abraham, Jesus and Mohammed.

Then a drive up a steep road took us to another massive temple. It was built centuries ago at the place where a special white elephant stopped. The elephant could have picked a more convenient spot, but 300 steps just made it more interesting.

While there we shook a canister of sticks and when one fell out, the number on it corresponded with a statement of the future for the person. I'll let Mom report on hers! To give a hint, mine was quite positive.

We than approached a monk who gave each of us a blessing which included the sprinkling of water on each of us. Then we approached and a cord was placed on our wrist. He tied the one on the males, but since they can have no physical contact with females, he simply placed in their hand.

Perhaps you can tell by now, that when you have a cultural tour of Thailand, it is impossible to separate it from Buddhism. It is a way of life. Yet, it is done in a gentle way where there is not attempt to convert or evangelize. That is not their style.

I just looked over and see Mom writing to you concurrent with this, from what I see there, I won't try to duplicate what she is writing

This will be our last night in Chaing Mei and tomorrow we return to Bangkok via an all night train ride. Then the next day, we leave for Vietnam. I have no idea of the Internet connections there.

Oops, off to supper in 20 minutes and we have to return to the hotel.

love dad