Cannot Brain, I Have teh Dumb

Not much to say today, really, and no new pictures. I wandered the streets of Chonburi again for a bit, picking up the last few little things to give to people. Tomorrow, I am spending three hours at the ocean - frolicking as Julie puts it - so there will be pictures then. And after that, early to bed and far too early to rise and off I go back home. :)

Mountains and Molehills

I have only two days left in beautiful Thailand.

This thought brings with it both joy - at going home, sleeping in my own bed, being with my friends in Austin, playing with Eliot - and sadness - at saying goodbye to such a beautiful land. I definitely will need to come back to this part of the world again at some point, because there is so much that I know I have missed seeing.

I do plan to thoroughly enjoy the next two days, however!

More Errands and Thoughts

So, today was errand day in Bangkok. I was reminded how much I love the colors here in Thailand - pinks, purples, blues, greens, yellows, oranges, reds, and combinations of all of those, and that's just the taxis! It amazes me how something so ordinary and blah in the states can be made to look so beautiful with a splash of paint and a trip halfway around the world.

Another thing that surprises me is the juxtapositions that exist everywhere. Out my hotel window alone I can see a series of slum style buildings, a new high rise being built, and a beautiful temple. It isn't something that would be expected in the US at all. Sometimes, you even get contrasts within a single building:



So many things that are beautiful and old and slightly sad all while still smiling.

And, because I am a forensics geek:

Colorful Metaphors Float Through the Air

So, the hotel is just off one of the longest and busiest roads in Thailand - Sukhumvit Road. It runs from the center of Bangkok all the way down to the southern end of Pattaya. There are no crosswalks and very few street lights. Instead, for the safety and edification of the pedestrians, they Thai people provide bridges across the street. They are tall enough that double-decker buses can pass under them without trouble and wide enough for three people to stand abreast. They also afford one of the most interesting views of daily life in Chonburi.









People and cars and dogs and carts and scooters and motorcycles and mountains, oh my!

My Head is Hung in Tasty, Tasty Shame

Today, I became THAT tourist. We all know who THAT tourist is. They go to a foreign country and eat only what they are used to eating - hamburgers, hotdogs, etc. I have made a conscious effort to avoid being THAT tourist during my first trip away from North America. But today I buckled.

I had to walk to the Post Office today - not a horrid walk, if a bit long to undertake in the heat of the afternoon - in order to mail postcards off. On my way there, I passed the Pizza Hut. Again. And on the way back, the familiar smell hit me and I just had to go in. I ordered a Hawaiian pizza and paid about the equivalent of $3.50 for a small. It was SO worth it, though.

Nom. *in shame*

If it is Sunday, This Must be Christ Church, Bangkok

There is something comforting about being a member of the Anglican community. Wherever you go in the world, you can find a family ready to welcome you.

There are two reasons why I think that my father (Hi, Daddy!) would like Christ Church. First of all, the service was full of music and congregational involvement and wonderment. Second, they seem quite attached to the animals of Bangkok.

I was late arriving to church - only by a few minutes, but that was enough to make sure that the only seats available were near the front. (For my non-Anglican readers, the back pews of the church always fill up first, perhaps so that the priest can't see people when they nap during the sermon.) I was able to sit near a window and was distracted by a little cat sitting under a bush, hot and apparently paw-sore. One of the greeters had noticed her as well, it seems, and was soon next to her with a cup of milk. (NOTE: I know that cat's are lactose intolerant; this is not the point of the story. ;) ) He put the cup down and waggled his fingers at the cat, trying to get her attention. She was meowing loudly enough that I could hear her in the church. He moved the cup closer and waggled again, but she kept meowing. When she tried to get up, it was obvious that her paws hurt. So this wonderful, kind, elderly gentleman - a stranger in a strange land if ever there was one - poured some milk into his hand and held it out to her. She lapped it up gratefully, and then it was time for another song so I had to look away. When I looked back, both man and cat were gone, with the cup being the only evidence they had ever been there at all.







The pictures are a touch blurry, perhaps, but give you an idea of how lovely the church is. And her people were doubly so! Thank you all, congregants of Christ Church, for opening your worship to me!

Every Cat has her Day

I figured out what was lacking in my Thai adventure last night - cats. I had seen plenty of friendly dogs wandering the street, but there was nary a feline in sight. Well, last night coming back to the hotel at the magic dusk hour, I saw many! They had spent the heat of the day sleeping, as anyone wise would do, and then came out to bask in the last of the sun before beginning their prowl. Sadly, I did not have my camera with me, so I cannot share them with you now. However, there will be more chances! :)

I do, however, have an amusing dinner picture from last night. This was my meal, thanks to 7-11 and a street vendor. And all of this for only about the equivalent of $1.25 US:



Today, I woke up far too early - which is when I've been waking up anyway, so *shrug* - and Headed out to the Khao Keeow Open Zoo. It should be mentioned that this is the second largest zoo in the world, with only San Diego being bigger. The morning, however, was dedicated to a zipline tour of the jungle around the zoo. After getting geared up:



we trekked out into the jungle. For me, this was the most strenuous portion of the morning fun. There were way to many steep portions of hill side for my comfort. Still, the views of the trees along the way were well worth it:



Once up into the trees, the fun really began! The group I was with was mostly composed of Russian tourists, but they were a fun group and really threw themselves into the experience:



And, just to prove that I really was up there, flying with the gibbons:



You can't see it, but there was a huge grin on my face the entire time. (More pictures may follow later, but this post is getting heavy already and I haven't even started in on the zoo yet!) One of the zip line guides decided that I was "very beautiful" and spent the entire time hitting on me and taking my picture. He also gave me his number, which was flattering and amusing all at once.

After we were back on solid ground again and had a light lunch, I set off on my own to explore the zoo. There was an awful lot of walking to do, but it was well worth it! Of course, not everyone agreed that the zoo was fascinating:



One of my favorite parts of the zoo was that most of the - non-predatory - animals were easy to get close to and see. Some even were available to touch - although, not being an animal lover on this trip (stupid rabies), I didn't touch. This elephant had a new calf and both were on display so that they could meet their public:



Me being me, I had to see the tigers as quickly as possible. I got to see two lovely beasts, but both were asleep. One reminded me very much of Eliot, who often sleeps with his tongue out as well:



Many vendors offer snake beans to feed to the various herbivores. The hippos, especially, seemed to love them:



On my way out, I stopped into the visitors center to ask about getting a taxi back to Chonburi. Naturally, there were even more animals there:







I asked at the information desk about getting a taxi and the gentleman there - Eddie - said that he would drive me back himself. I got into his very large truck - !! - and he brought me back to the hotel. He also gave me his card and said I should call him before I leave Thailand.

Apparently they like big white girls here. ;)