{"id":1495,"date":"2013-10-13T11:43:45","date_gmt":"2013-10-13T15:43:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/prstevens.stonehippo.com\/blog\/?page_id=1495"},"modified":"2014-10-25T11:52:02","modified_gmt":"2014-10-25T15:52:02","slug":"southeast-asia-with-peter-2013-page-01","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/prstevens.stonehippo.com\/blog\/southeast-asia-with-peter-2013-page-01\/","title":{"rendered":"Southeast Asia with Peter – Page 01"},"content":{"rendered":"

Greetings,<\/strong> friends, family, and fellow travelers.\u00a0\u00a0 Here we go again!<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n

Days 1, 2, and 3<\/strong><\/h1>\n

This is the blog of my Overseas Adventure Tour (OAT) 18 day trip to Southeast Asia with my brother Peter Stevens, from Cape Cod. We Left Thanksgiving Day (November 28, 2013). This is the chronicle our trip:<\/strong><\/p>\n

First, Peter flew from Cape Cod and I flew from Orlando to JFK in New York. We met there and we flew together to Narita (Tokyo, Japan) and then on to Bangkok where we met Ole (aka: Wichai O-Sathirakul).<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_1005<\/a>Here is a colorful map of the area (drawn by Ole, I think) we visited for 18 days. If you squint, you can see that we flew to Bangkok, Thailand, then flew to Luang Prabang, Laos, then flew to Vientiane, Laos,\u00a0 then flew to Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Vietnam, then bussed to Chau Bok, Vietnam, then boated to Phnom Penh, Cambodia, then bussed to Siem Reap, Cambodia, and then, finally, flew back to Bangkok for our return flight home.<\/strong><\/p>\n

7 Southeast Asian cities in 18 days. Whew!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4001\"<\/a>Here I am at 2 AM on Day 1 getting the van from our home in The Villages, FL to the Orlando airport. \u00a0Kind sleepy, but excited!\u00a0 Note my Travel Vest. \u00a0It carried my passport, camera, Nook, glasses, iPhone, cash, extra batteries, etc. I wore it for 18 days and I never lost a thing!<\/strong><\/p>\n

We had traveled for 32 hours (door-to-door) and were exactly 12 time zones from eastern USA. It was midnight here and noon back home. \u00a0We were very travel tired, but still excited!<\/strong>\"IMG_4010\"<\/a>Here is Peter and Ole at noon at the Bangkok airport. \u00a0Ole personally met\u00a0every<\/span>\u00a0one of our 12 other OAT fellow travelers. \u00a0That’s Gloria Jesaitis from New York standing in the background. She was lots of fun! \u00a0You’ll meet others in our group as we proceed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our 2nd day of the trip began at 7 AM. \u00a0We had very nice rooms at the Pantip Suites Hotel and enjoyed a fine buffet breakfast in the hotel dining room: Eggs to order and lots of tasty Asian fruits- mangos, dragon fruit, papaya and pineapple.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We first met with Ole and the others for a tour orientation and self introduction. He issued us all a name tag with the flags of the countries we’d visit.\u00a0 We were to have each Country Guide write our name. Ole started with “Phil” in English.
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_0002\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We then departed for a trip across town to the Grand Palace.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4015\"<\/a>Here is Ole’s sketch of the Grand Palace. \u00a0Ole is an artist as well as an excellent tour guide!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4018\"<\/a>We drove through China Town. \u00a0Notice that all the signs are in Chinese with some Thai “sub titles”. This was a busy, congested area. \u00a0It was also the setting for the blockbuster “buddy” movie “Hangover 2”. \u00a0I’m sure you all caught that one…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4020\"<\/a>We passed many sights on the way including the portrait of Queen\u00a0Sirikit Kitiyakara.\u00a0\u00a0She is the\u00a0queen consort<\/span><\/a>\u00a0of \u00a0King Ra<\/span><\/a>ma\u00a0IX of\u00a0T<\/span><\/a>hailand. As the consort of the king who is the\u00a0world’s<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/a>longest-reigning<\/span><\/a>\u00a0head of state<\/span><\/a>, she is also the world’s\u00a0longest-serving<\/i>\u00a0consort of a monarch.\u00a0<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4021\"<\/a><\/p>\n

These regal royal white\u00a0elephant\u00a0statues are in the middle of an intersection in Bangkok. \u00a0The royal white\u00a0elephant\u00a0has been considered to be a sacred creature in Thailand for centuries. As a symbol of fertility and success &. It was believed that young kings would’ve long and prosperous reigns if they kept several white\u00a0elephants\u00a0in their stables.<\/strong><\/p>\n

These\u00a0elephants\u00a0were themselves treated like royalty, they weren’t subject to any of the duties that normal\u00a0working elephants\u00a0would face, were cared for by a royal veterinarian. Fed only the best foods, as the death of one would signal disaster for the kingdom!.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4022\"<\/a>We finally arrive at the Grand Palace. \u00a0Here is a map of the Palace. \u00a0It covers over 53 acres near the Chao Phray<\/span><\/a>a\u00a0<\/span>River<\/span><\/a><\/span>.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0If there is one must-see sight that without which no visit to Bangkok would be complete. it’s the dazzling, spectacular Grand Palace, undoubtedly the city’s most famous landmark. Built in 1782 – and for 150 years the home of the Thai King, the Royal court and the administrative seat of government.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Grand Palace of Bangkok is a grand old dame indeed, that continues to have visitors in awe with its beautiful architecture and intricate detail, all of which is a proud salute to the creativity and craftsmanship of Thai people. Within its walls were also the Thai war ministry, state departments, and even the mint. Today, the complex remains the spiritual heart of the Thai Kingdom.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Below are some pictures I took of the Temple area that’s in the left corner of the above map:<\/strong>\"IMG_4025\"<\/a>The 5 women with the bucket hats are in our group (names and faces later).<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4033\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4040\"<\/a>Note the curly things at the peak of the roof and along the eaves. \u00a0These are “Nagas”. \u00a0More on this later. \u00a0This guy is posing as a Demon. \u00a0He must be a Demon because he is wearing shoes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4039\"<\/a>This guy (on the right) is a statue of a Temple Monkey. \u00a0Temple Monkeys are good guys. \u00a0They defend the temple and the King from the Demons. \u00a0You can tell them because they don’t have the Demon’s pointy toed shoes.<\/strong><\/p>\n

More on Temple monkeys later…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4026\"<\/a>Here is “The Emerald Buddha”. It’s\u00a0\u00a0made of green nephrite<\/span><\/a>[<\/span><\/a><\/sup>. \u00a0According to the legend, the Emerald Buddha was created in India<\/span><\/a> in 43 BC in the city of Pataliputra (today’s Patna<\/span><\/a>). The legends state that after remaining in Pataliputra for three hundred years, it was taken to Sri Lanka<\/span><\/a> to save it from a civil war. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In 457, King Anuruth of Burma<\/span><\/a> sent a mission to Ceylon to ask for Buddhist scriptures<\/span><\/a> and the Emerald Buddha, in order to support Buddhism<\/span><\/a> in his country. These requests were granted, but the ship lost its way in a storm during the return voyage and landed in Cambodia<\/span><\/a>\u00a0instead of Burma. <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

When the Thais captured Angkor<\/span><\/a>\u00a0in Cambodia in 1432, the Emerald Buddha was taken to \u00a0Laos and finally <\/span>Chiang Rai<\/span><\/a><\/span>\u00a0in<\/span>\u00a0Thailand where the rulers of the city hid it. For over 400 years the statue was moved between several cities in Thailand and Laos.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

In 1779, the Thai General Chao Phraya Chakri<\/span><\/a> put down an insurrection, captured Vientiane, Laos and returned the Emerald Buddha to Siam (Thailand). After he became King Rama I<\/span><\/a> of Thailand, he moved the Emerald Buddha with great ceremony to its current home in T<\/span><\/a>he Grand Palace in \u00a01784. It is now kept in the main building of the temple of the Grand Palace.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4032\"<\/a>The Emerald Buddha<\/span><\/a>\u00a0is adorned with garments made of gold. There are three different sets of gold clothing, which are changed by the\u00a0King of Thailand<\/span><\/a>\u00a0or a liaison in a ceremony at the changing of the seasons. \u00a0The three sets of gold garments correspond to Thailand’s summer season, rainy season, and cool season. Ole described this to us with this picture. I guess we’re in the rainy season now, but we didn’t have a drop of rain in 18 days!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4037\"<\/a>Peter and I had to do a bit of mugging…<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4042\"<\/a>One final Palace picture: \u00a0This small (3 feet tall) Buddha statue is being covered with gold leaf. \u00a0You can buy a piece of gold leaf (about the size of a stamp) and stick it to the statue. Your money is a donation and eventually the statue will be fully covered and smoothed. The water bottle gives an indication of size.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After a nice lunch of Pad Thai (what else?) we went to the “Gem Factory”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_0020\"<\/a>The “Gem factory” is the type of place that OAT likes to takes groups (think kick back?). \u00a0It is a combination of an educational and buying experience. \u00a0Here we see gem cutters demonstrating their skills and in the background we see lovely sales ladies preparing to demonstrate their selling skills in the adjacent retail room. \u00a0The gem cutting was interesting: Rubies and sapphires were their specialties as well as gold work.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_0030\"<\/a>The sales room has subdued lighting and glittering counters filled with all kinds rings, bracelets, necklaces and other beautiful jewelry. \u00a0There is lots of individual attention and adjustments can be made on the spot.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Peter bought a pretty sapphire ring as a surprise for his wife, Margo, but his credit card company spilled the beans and notified Margo of a large purchase made in a foreign country. Pete had called the bank before he left, but they called Margo anyway. \u00a0It took a while and several overseas calls before it got straightened out, but, alas, the beans were spilled!<\/strong><\/p>\n

After that adventure, we returned to our hotel and had an early dinner at the nearby “Just One” restaurant. After \u00a0dinner we hit the hay to try to continue adjusting to SE Asia time and recuperate from the long flight. \u00a0OAT nicely gave Peter and I separate rooms. \u00a0One of our group couldn’t make it (illness) so there was a extra room booked. \u00a0It was a good thing because we both snore and we didn’t bring our CPAP machines.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The next day (Day 3) many of our group took an “optional” (read Extra Cost) trip to the city of Ayutthaya in the north. \u00a0Pete and I decided to stay in Bangkok and tour on our own. I had visited Bangkok on business 17 years ago andI \u00a0remembered a bit about the city.<\/strong>\"IMG_0040\"<\/a>I knew about the Jim Thompson silk store\/museum and we thought it might be a nice place to shop so we took the Metro and found the store.<\/strong>\"IMG_4052\"<\/a>Pete liked the silk stuff and bought a few things for his family. I skipped this activity because I had bought a nice mirror\/compact for Mary Ann in ’96 . \u00a0She still has it!\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4054\"<\/a>\u00a0He also liked the outside display of silk worm cocoons and dyed silk fibers.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We then spent a good bit of time in the Bangkok Siam Center shopping district looking for a phone for Pete. \u00a0He wanted to make overseas calls back to Cape Cod so he bought a phone at the BHK Mall that was supposed to be able to do that. \u00a0There was a lot of time spent trying to get it set up, but the phone never worked right during the trip.<\/strong><\/p>\n

We then started walking along a busy main street and encountered this demonstration.<\/strong>\"IMG_4055\"<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0Where we were, the \u00a0demonstration\u00a0was a peaceful, but noisy. \u00a0The sound truck would blare a few words and the crowd would erupt with whistles, clappers, and shouts. They would quiet down and start again.<\/strong>\"IMG_0004\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The politics of Thailand are too complex for me to truly describe, but the gist of it is that the former Prime Minister “Thaksin” and his “Red Shirts” want \u00a0his sister, Yingluck Shinawatra, who is now prime minister, who\u00a0failed an attempt to pass a bill\u00a0that could have granted amnesty to Thaksin and others so they could to form a new government and kick out the entrenched politicians who are\u00a0the “YellowShirts” because that is the color of Monday, the birth day of the highly revered Thai King, His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej.., I think.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Anyway, we got back on the Metro and went to the river to eat the lunches that we made at breakfast at the hotel that morning.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

I had hoped to arrange a visit for today with my niece Elizabeth, teaching English here in Thailand. It didn’t happen. \u00a0It got too tricky. \u00a0Sorry Elizabeth!<\/strong>!<\/p>\n

\"IMG_4061\"<\/a>\"IMG_4062\"<\/a>\"IMG_4064\"<\/a>Here are some of the boats we saw on the\u00a0Chao Phray<\/span><\/a>a\u00a0River<\/span><\/a>: A tour boat, a rice barge converted into a dinner boat, and a “long tail” boat which is a long narrow boat driven by a big automobile engine with the prop on a looong drive shaft. \u00a0Those boats could scream!!<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4068\"<\/a><\/p>\n

We settled for a river tour boat that made many stops along the Bangkok stretch of the river. \u00a0Notice the guy jumping. \u00a0You had to be fast because the boat only stopped for a minute.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4075\"<\/a>We stopped at “The Reclining Buddha” where we learned that if the Buddha is resting his head on his right hand he is asleep. \u00a0If his head is on his left hand he is dead. He is 50 yards long and 50 feet high and plated in gold.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4077\"<\/a>Good advice!!<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4083\"<\/a>\"IMG_4084\"<\/a>This is a tasty SE Asian fruit called a “Dragon Fruit”. \u00a0It has a mild flavor and is like a firm watermelon with lots of very tiny seeds. \u00a0They are colorful and I like ’em! They can occasionally be bought in the US.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4088\"<\/a>\"IMG_4094\"<\/a>\"IMG_4095\"<\/a>Here are the before, during and after pictures of Pete getting a tattoo in the Patpong “Night Market”. \u00a0I gave him my best counseling and advised him against it, but he did it anyway. It’s Yin and Yang.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4098\"<\/a>\"IMG_4099\"<\/a>We did wander around a while and peeked into one of the sex shows but beat a hasty retreat. \u00a0If you want to know what goes on there,\u00a0check out\u00a0http:\/\/www.patpong.org\/.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4101\"<\/a><\/p>\n

After Patpong, we took a “Tuk Tuk” back to the hotel. \u00a0Tuk Tuks are a major form of in-town transportation in much of SE Asia. \u00a0When I was here \u00a0years ago, they had smelly 2 cycle engines that belched out blue clouds of exhaust. \u00a0The air pollution in Bangkok was like Beijing today. \u00a0The old Tuk Tuks are now gone – replaced by 4 cycle engines that are more environmental friendly. \u00a0 They have improved the engines, but not the passenger comfort: There is still minimal foot and leg room, but they’re cheap, so what the hell??<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4103\"<\/a>We got to the hotel and decided that we had time for a massage. \u00a0Massages are quite popular in all the cities we visited. \u00a0I only had this one and I felt like I was beaten up by a football team. \u00a0There was a lot of punching, twisting, and kneading and I was left sore all over. \u00a0It only cost 3 dollars, so what the hell??<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"IMG_4104\"<\/a>Here is my room at the Pantip Suites. \u00a0It was clean and comfortable and the A\/C worked great and there was a nice view of the city.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0That’s it for days 2 and 3. \u00a0Tomorrow we head for Luang Prabang,\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Go to Page 02<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Greetings, friends, family, and fellow travelers.\u00a0\u00a0 Here we go again! Days 1, 2, and 3 This is the blog of my Overseas Adventure Tour (OAT) 18 day trip to Southeast Asia with my brother Peter Stevens, from Cape Cod. We … Continue reading →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1495","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/prstevens.stonehippo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/prstevens.stonehippo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/prstevens.stonehippo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prstevens.stonehippo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/prstevens.stonehippo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1495"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/prstevens.stonehippo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1495\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2415,"href":"https:\/\/prstevens.stonehippo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1495\/revisions\/2415"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/prstevens.stonehippo.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}