madkhemist
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Grand Palace - Bangkok
Tuk-tuk to the Grand Palace, kind of reminds me of the Disney cartoon, Mr Toad's Wild Ride.
madkhemist
madkhemist
Okay, yeah another picture of a bottle of beer, but this was really cool where we had it. At sunset the resteraunts but out straw mats pillows and low tables and serve meals on the beach. It is a wonderful way to eat and it would never work here in the states. Too many health and other regualtions.
madkhemist
madkhemist
On the way to Koh Samed
This is Samet our driver. Poor man had to leave us in Chaing Mai four days before and drive 8 hours home so that he could take his granddaughter to the doctor. His sons are worthless drunks and his wife is ill. To make things worse his van breaks down on our way from the airport in Bangkok to the coast for our trip to Koh Samed. It wasn't anything he could have prevented, a seal went on the water pump. These things happen.
madkhemist
madkhemist
Food & Drink
My favorite Thai food at home is Pad Thai and this was the BEST I had while in Thailand. The food in Thai restaurants here in South Florida is very much like what you get in Thailand.
madkhemist
madkhemist
I think I drank my weight in these things while I was there. A large Beer Chang, 1000 ml or about a quart, cost between 30 and 60 baht. It a good brew and I would recommend it. Chang is the beer of choice for the younger crowd. The older generations prefer Singha. If you buy a Thai beer here in the states most likely it will be a Singha.
madkhemist
madkhemist
River rafting
These are the type of bamboo raft we took down a portion of the river we hiked along on our way to the Karen village. It was a beautiful experience; well for most of us. John took a tumble off the back of his raft about two minutes into the ride. Fortunately the water is only at the deepest 3 feet. Beer warned d us that it was a possibility that this could happen so we had left our cameras with the driver. Too bad it would have been worth the risk to take the camera.
madkhemist
madkhemist
The Karen
These are some of the women of the village. The Karen are an ethnic group in Thailand. They are further separated into The Red Karen, White Karen, and Black Karen. Other than small differences in the language they speak, the only difference is the color unmarried women wear (red, black or white).
madkhemist
madkhemist
This is the typical Karen house. Because of the money brought in by tourism the houses are being upgraded. Walls made of flattened bamboos is being replaced with boards and thatched roofs are giving way to tin. The government has also provided photovoltaic panels so the villages can run some lights an a community television at night. There is running water; most days. But hot water is not for bathing. When we arrived the water was not working. If you wanted to get clean you took a rinse off using water from the cistern in the outhouse.
madkhemist
madkhemist
Monete
This is our trek guide, Monete, a very successful man inspite of being a Karen. This is hem cooking us supper over an open fire. They use what look like old clay pots like you would use for plants as stoves. The meal was great, chicken in green curry (very hot and spicey), grilled vegatables, and thom yam soup. The only thing that bothered me about him was that he was a christian that had no tolerance for those that still held onto their Buddhist beliefs. It was a little uncomfortable for us to sit and listen to him talk badly about Buddhism while Beer, our guide who is Buddhist, sat there and did not say a thing.
madkhemist
madkhemist
Christianity
Why must christens convert everyone? Isn't believing in God or a God good enough? Isn't being a good human and doing no harm all that is needed to get into heaven? If not I guess heaven will be a lonely place...
madkhemist
At the falls
These are the huts that are near the fall. They are used as changing houses and as sleeping huts. To the right of the photo you can see the outhouse. In it was the type of toilet we referred to as a "romper stomper". It was a porcelain bowl low to the ground (about 3 in) with foot pads on either side. TO do your "business" was a bit of an adventure and a little uncomfortable for those of us more accustomed to western toilets.
madkhemist
madkhemist
This is the fall that we rested at for about an hour. You can walk behind the fall and then slowly move yourself under the fall. That was one of the most intense things I have ever done. Hundreds of pounds of water falling 20 feet onto your head and back. If your suit was a little loose you'd loose it, Jeff, John, and I went in first and learned the hard way. Being the gentalmen we are we were kind enough to ware Ilean and Janet to "hold on".
madkhemist
madkhemist
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