Thailand with Andea

Andea arrived in Korea on December 24th and we headed to Bangkok then Krabi then to Ko Lanta Island. Here's a few pics in no certain order!

I loved the colors of Thailand. The bright whimsical nature of the Thai people is a total contrast to South Koreans
Here are the tuk-tuks lined up at our hotel on the island of Ko Lanta ready to take us to town for a couple of bucks. These are actually pretty safe compared to the scooters!

Fresh coconuts everywhere. 

This is  a popular salad with shredded green papaya before it ripens. Thai food has a artful balance of sweet, spicy, salty, sour components that make it light and refreshing.

OMG I was so happy to see this tub in our hotel room in Bangkok. It is rare to have a tub in a Korea. That's another reason the Korean spas (jimjilbangs) are so popular. 

Andea outside of the Marriott in Bangkok. 

This is a stall at the weekend marketplace, one of 1300 stalls selling food, clothing, arts and crafts. The fruit is so fresh so ripe, so delicious and cheap! Blenders are  ready to make whip up any combination you can think of!

The king. They love their king. You'll see his photos and the royal family all over town.  Did you know it is illegal to say anything bad about the king?

Lots and lots and lots of prawns. I could at them day and night! 

Infinity pool at out hotel overlooking part of downtown Bangkok. It's pretty cool to be in the middle of a city and feel like you're at a beach!

This is an internationally famous  and most unique restaurant named Cabbages and Condoms. It was conceptualized to promote safe sex and  family planning and to generate income to support community development. Yes, everything you see on these mannequins is a condom!! The food is fantastic!

This is the outdoor dining area of Cabbages and Condoms.

At the overground subway caught in a rain/wind storm, but not deterred from finding a frozen yogurt place!

A trip to the Grand Palace which was the home of the royal family from 1782-1925. Official ceremonies are still held here amongst numerous temples and buildings and courtyards. Tens of thousands of tourists visit daily. It is truly breathtaking.

Between the ferry and the Grand Palace are a number of cafes side by side. We had to try the phad thai and it was yummy!

This is on Krabi Province.  We took an excursion to several islands.

These are called longtail boats.

The ideal is to have this place to yourself!

Yeah, their friggin' everywhere in every language. I don't get the appeal.

Arriving on the island of Ko Lanta. Our hotel, Twin Lotus, was on the beach. 

Our beach stretched for a good half mile and had little shops and currency exchange places and even pharmacies. 

One minute they're splashing around and the next minute they become my dinner!

Yeah, this is our infinity pool on the beach on the island in Thailand with waiters delivering fruit kabobs and cocktails!
It's so nice to get to a place that exceeds your expectations! No children allowed. So quiet. Acres of lush tropical plants and pools and bridges and every need and desire is met!

In the little town, choose from a myriad of stalls with the food cooked on site. If it's made by Mama, you know it's good!

Massages for $6  an hour, no kidding.  Lots of these places and right on the beach  :) HEAVEN!!

Moran Outdoor Market

This is the quintessential Korean outdoor market. There are 1200 stalls under tents and down alley ways. What is really surprising is that here is absolutely no odor emitted from all the meat and fish that is displayed. As usual I have not seen another American at the market! Here we go:

Handmade noodles, regular or buckwheat. I make chicken soup every week. 

Fish, fish and more fish. 

Whole deep fried chicken. $10

You can find handbags and clothing and baskets and hardware too. 

We don't see cut flowers often here because they are so expensive, but plants are reasonable. 

You can buy a bird or a chicken or a puppy at this market.

Lots of candy in wrappers.

I buy the freshly made mandu-pork or shrimp dumplings with veg.

Puffed rice with nuts and seeds and honey--great snack.

Lots of rice, mostly short grain, peanuts in front.

Plenty of ginger, garlic and onions, their trinity.

Barrels of red peppers are used to make the national dish, kimchi.

And more fish!

Clams, mussels and snails are abundant.

The eels and fish in the tubs splash and squirm not knowing their fate!

Kimchi close-up. There are many varieties.

They love their pork here as you can see in the foreground.

On the grill  is a mung bean pancake with veggies. And octopus is plentiful.

Fresh figs and Asian pears.

Heaps of garlic, I buy it shelled in baggies.

Wish I knew what all these bean things were! 

Here's your pork vendor. They don't trim the fat because they eat it.

S

Cucumbers, sweet potatoes, mushrooms and squash.

$25 for a box of strawberries that are hand-turned every day to face the sun. I hear they are incredible.

Lots of stalls make their own beer.

Persimmons are in season!

A heart made of leaves.

More Templestay Pics

Traditional tea service.

Monks have four bowls and robes/shoes and that is all that belongs to them.
Talk about nonattachment!

Meditation and a Q and A session with the monk.

A big hike with the monks. Ten thousand people did the same hike that day up uneven stones for two hours to the top of the mountain. Hiking is a very popular weekend activity. You don't exactly get that harmony with nature feeling when you're surrounded by other hikers!

Breakfast is apples, rice, soup, squash and more veggies. Natalie is from Russia but has been working as a banker in London, After ten years she quit her job and is traveling the world. She is now in Thailand for a month of meditation and yoga. We went to a Korean spa and out for a Korean BBQ dinner after the templestay. 

Nummy noodle soup with mushrooms and other veggies.

A few cats live here too.

Making lotus lanterns with my new friend from Sweden.

My First Temple Stay

The first thing they give you is a pair of shoes and pants/vest. 

A Temple Stay is a cultural-experience program designed to help people understand Korean Buddhism better. Temple stays offer various kinds of practicing methods such as ceremonial service involving chanting, Zen sitting/walking meditation, tea ceremony, lotus lantern craft, 108 prostrations, communal Buddhist meal service and communal work.  Participants like me can find their 'true self' amongst the harmony of nature while staying at a temple. This is a very popular weekend experience among both local Koreans and tourists. There are sixteen temples throughout the country that have English speaking monks/nuns and/or translators. Korean Buddhism has been practiced here for more than fifteen hundred year years. I chose a temple at the base of a mountain just 20 minutes outside of downtown Seoul. They usually take about 25 participants for a 24 hour period on weekends. There was just one male in our group (from Jordan) and about 22 women (half Korean/half European/Asian), I was the only American. It was a wonderful experience and I have already planned my next temple stay in Busan.  I will take the bullet train to the second largest city on the coast and go to Beomeosa Temple which is located at the edge of Mt. Geumjeongsan, a famous mountain in Busan. It was constructed About 1,300 years ago. That is my plan for Thanksgiving.