We have returned ... well Ted, never really left but I on the other hand went home for a few months.  Flooding in Bangkok in the months of October, November and December  was a tragedy for the Thai people.  Many lifes were lost, homes destroyed, crops ruined and some industries out of work for months.  The people are resilient, smiles are still on many faces.  Our neighbourhood was spared, but others areas of Bangkok are still affected.

  



Preparing for floods in our area.



We lost a very special member of our family in the Fall, Uncle Rod Wright.  Uncle Rod will always be remembered for that little tinkle in his eye.  The farm won't be the same without him, but for all he has taught Ted over the years the farms will prosper.    His favourite oak tree will be well taken care of.  He always spoke of the times he spent under that tree as a youngster, relaxing after a hard day's work.  He will be missed!

We also gained a wonderful bundle of joy to our family, Benjamin James Bowman.  Ben was born a little early (3.5 weeks) on November 15, 2011.  He is a beautiful little boy, who is currently keeping his parents awake at night, that too will pass.  His Uncle Tyler and Aunt Kimberly are watching over this little guy!

Ben and his beautiful Mom, Bethany.

We arrived back in Bangkok after Christmas 2011.  Spent New Year's Eve watching the fireworks in Bangkok, what a display.

We are lucky enough to have visited Singapore and Bali since our return.  We attended a beautiful wedding here in Bangkok and had dinner with retired U.S. Senator, Kit Bond, of Missouri.  I guess if I had a bucket list, I could strike that one out!  Senator Bond, even though a Republican, is a humanitarian (I would call him a socialist, but that might be pushing it a bit).    He has worked with the people of Indonesia for the past 30 years, encouraging trade and interaction with the U.S.  The Canadian government could learn a lot from this gentleman.

Beautfil bride, Primporn and her Groom, Natee

Senator Kit Bond

Singapore `The Lion City`` is a beautiful, clean City State approximately 1800 km south of Thailand.  It is very different from any other place I have visited in Southeast Asia.  It is very advanced, however, very strict with their citizens.  Imagine a $70,000 Cdn. charge just for the pleasure of driving ... expiring every 10 years.  This isn't your registration for a license, it a certificate for the privilege of driving!  4,900 skyscrapers in a city of 2.5 million people.   I did enjoy my very first Singapore Sling, where they were invented The Raffles Hotel.

Bali, Indonesia is 3,000 km south of Thailand and very close to the equator, the furthest south I have ever been in the world.  With a population of 245 million people, Indonesia is growing at 5% per year!  Indonesia has been ruled by the Portugese, the Dutch, the Japanese, the Dutch again, communists and then came Suharto.   The people are wonderful, caring and very sincere.  The poverty is astonishing, with an average income of $3,000 (for a family of four), the luxuries in life are not available to most Balinese people.  On the island of Bali, we stayed in the capital city, Denpasar, in a community called Nusa Dua.  We travelled the island with a private tour guide, thank you Wholley (Ted's country manager in Indonesia).  We visited an area called Kintamani, a volcanic area which last erupted in 1976.  We also visited Ubud (the movie Eat, Pray, Love was filmed here) and an area called Kuta.   It was interesting when we stopped at a local coffee shop.  It was a quick walk through a forested area, where cocco beans, coffee beans and  vanilla beans were growing.  Luwak coffee is  their specialty.  What is Luwak coffee you ask?  Well a Luwak is a nocturnal animal (somewhat like a raccoon), they feed this animal coffee beans.  The Luwak poops out the beans, they are washed and roasted .... there you have Luwak coffee.  Did not try ... thanks!

Luwak enjoying some coffee beans ....

Chinese New Year is upon us.  The year of the dragon is one of prosperity and wealth for all.  With the rain in Bali, it only added to the luck of the dragon year.  Bangkok hospital maternity wards are booked solid through to September with all the 2012 babys due this lucky year.

I have attached a few photos fòr your viewing pleasure :-)  Enjoy!  Happy New Year.

Kobkunka, Donna and Ted



Ted and I at wedding, Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok

Waterfall at Ginger Garden, Singapore

That is one big cake ... and real!



Beach in Bali, Grand Hyatt Hotel, Nusa Dua



Beautiful dancer at show in Bali




Snake skin fruit ... combination of apple and pineapple taste ... interesting.

Oh, you crazy monkey!  Did I mention I hate monkeys, just in case you forgot.



Thailand .... the King of the Fruits

Someone said to me today, "Thailand is the King of  Fruits, actually the Queen and King of the Fruit".  When you are here, you understand what he was talking about.  I like fruit and would prefer it over chocolate or ice cream anytime, unlike Ted who would prefer ice cream over life itself.  We have found some wonderful fruit and some not so wonderful fruit that I would like to share with you.  Fruit is everywhere ... the grocery stores, street side vendor and floating markets traveling up and down the river here in Banglok  It's one thing I do not mind buying from street vendors, take it home, wash it up and enjoy!  We have not been brave enough to buy "street meat", I think I will leave that for the natives and another time!  Here are a few photos of some of the fruit I have found, that I have come to really enjoy.

I was not allowed to bring home a durian.  A durian can only be described as the most disgusting fruit known to man.  It's not allowed in our condo building or in hotels/guests houses.  The smell is pungent ... if you smell it once, you will never forget it.  A friend of ours says "smells like shit, tastes like heaven".  I think I will pass.

I am now going to enjoy the fruit salad I made after taking all these shots!  ENJOY at little taste of Thailand.

Mangosten .... hard shelled, beautiful dark purple little beauties.

Inside the mangosten ... white flesh wedges.

Delicious taste.

Rambutan.

In the lychee family ... but a little different taste.

The little fruit inside, a lot of work, a little bland tasting.

The pomello .... something like a grapefruit, but not at all sour, a bit of a bite but it's fantastic.  Little fact:  1/4 cup is 193% of your daily Vitamin C requirements.  Only 72 calories in one cup! 

Mini pineapple ... just pick it up and eat like an apple, ynmmy!

Kiwi - right?

Yellow fleshed Kiwi ... actually grown in New Zealand imported to Thailand.  Very sweet version of the original kiwi.

Yellow kiwi.

My beloved Dragon Fruit ... simply the best.

Amazing, fresh taste.

All ready for breakfast.

Durian ... the stinky fruit!

Talk about discrimination!!

Vietnam ... not sure where to start!!!

Ted and I visited Vietnam last week, we stayed in Ho Che Minh City, formerly Siagon.  It is a thriving city, even with communism (aka "socialism" as the Vietnamese call it).  People are trying to earn a good living by opening businesses, literally everywhere .... alleys, sidewalks, roadways, you name it, they have a business
set up.

We stayed at the famous Rex Hotel in HOCM.  It was headquarters for the CIA and U.S. army during the Vietnam war.  The army brass and  media would meet at the rooftop restaurant each night for the "5:00 o'clock  follies".  It was named the follies because most of the information was propaganda.

Crossing the street in HOMC is going against everything you learned as a child ... check both ways before you cross the road and when it's clear cross the road, right?  Not here, it's ... okay step out into traffic (four/five lanes) and keep walking ... taxis, motorcycles, bikes, buses will go around you!!!  Only 9,205 traffic deaths a year in Vietnam (about 25 per day ... probably all tourists  trying to cross the street to get the best deal on a straw hat). 

Vietnam is also the home of the best fake merchandise I have seen yet.  They rank it A, B or C and the price goes up according to the quality.  Market stall owners hide the good stuff and if you ask for better quality goods they will dig through their hundreds of bags and find it for you ... it's awesome.  I think some Louis Vitton trucks are missing some cargo!

We went on a dinner cruise on a Vietnamese Junk (traditional wooden boat).  It was a great cruise, traditional dancers, food, etc.  We got talking to the manager, Audrey, who is an expat from Austria.  Audrey invited us to the owner's private bar on the boat, we looked around, took some photos and had a drink with her.

HOCM is divided into 24 districts (12 numbered and 12 named), we went to the Che Chu district where the tunnels were built by Vietchong.  These were tunnels used to transport people, weapons, food, etc. during the Vietnam war.  One section of the tunnel was a medical clinic, set up for treating the wounded.  Part of this tunnel system was built under a U.S. army base.   The tunnel system was 250 km in length, on three different levels.  Guess who crawled through some of the tunnel system?  No, not Ted ... me, it was terrifying.  Something I would never do again ... see the photos.  The traps they had for the U.S. troops were brutal ... what a terrible war that must have been, sad for everyone involved.

All in all it was a nice trip and a real eye opener.  We had a great time and even celebrated our anniversary there.

I have attached photos of the live market and other shots from around HOCM.  The tunnels are fascinating, but like I said before, I will never do again.  We are back in Bangkok now, next trip is to Chang Mai, a city in Northern Thailand, people tell us it's a little cooler than Bangkok, we can only hope!  Enjoy the photos!



Bangkok traffic



Four to a motorcycle (baby under the blanket)

Little ones on the street with their Mom.

This little piggy went to market ... and lost his feet!

This little piggy went to market and lost her boobies.



This little piggy went to market and lost his brain.



Audrey and I in owner's bar on the Junk.



Private bar on the Junk.

Junk Boat



Man entering tunnel system



Swing trap used to kill U.S. soldiers during Vietnam war, filled with bamboo spikes, ouch!

Bamboo spikes




Tunnel system below



Coming out of the tunnels .... oh yeah, forgot to tell you about the scorpions and snakes that like the tunnels to keep cool .. great, thanks!

I think the look says it all ... get me out of here, no more photos!!!

How to feel welcome in a strange land.

Ted and I visited the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok this week.  It was a great learning experience.  I have never felt so unwelcomed by my country.  A country that we have paid taxes in for the past 30 or more years.  A country that is supposed to be known as friendly ... well, just come to Bangkok and see how you are treated.  Ted and I went to get some information for his work, volunteer opportunities, registration with the embassy in case of an emergency ... after being searched, scanned and interviewed we were allowed to enter the sanctuary of the embassy.  Not one person could help us .... "please visit our website" was what we heard over and over again.  If there is a website that can answer our questions, why are we paying salaries of the approximately 20 - 30 people that work there?  I guess if you need a stolen passport replaced then this is the place ... it could be done at a corner shop for a fraction the cost.  The best part was the issue of voting ... voting was cut off 9 days prior to the election because the staff couldn't promise our votes would arrive on time.  Have you ever heard of technology ... you can vote on what your favourite donut from Tim Hortons is but you can't vote in your own election (personally I would rather vote for the donut ... I miss donuts).

I can only imagine now what it's like for people entering our country from other world areas.  It must be scary for them to arrive in a country that insists you visit their webside for service.   I GIVE UP.

P.S.  We haven't seen Jack Layton in any of the massage parlours around the city.  I am sure he would enjoy them ... especially Nice Girls, near our place!

Grand Palace (p.s. don't visit on a Saturday in April .... tourists & hot, hot, hot)

Quiet week (with the exception of Ted's visit to hospital), definitely the hot as heck season.  It rained today and the humidity dropped to 100%!!!  Visited the Grand Palace today, saw the beautiful Jade Budda that is over 700 years old.  Riverboats to Grand Palace where fascinating, but we weren't brave enough to give them a try.  We took a cab to the palace and skytrain home.

For those who complain about their Roger's or any cable/satellite provider ... you should live here.  True Vision is our provider ... they just cut off the satellite for days at a time and no one informs you what is happening.  The headlines in the paper on Friday read  "True Vision satellite unavailable due to coup attempt", surprise to us because we haven't seen anything going on in that way.

Here are some photos from the palace visit today:

All in all, life is good.  We are full of noodles and seafood.  We wish everyone a vey Hoppy Easter!!!