Thailand Day 4: Sightseeing

Our final day in Thailand found us awaking to a downpour! The veranda of the hotel was flooded and instead of cooking omelets the staff was squeegeeing floors and laying sandbags around the elevator. But, they promised us that the rest of the city would also still be running. Not wanting to miss our only chance to see the Grand Palace, we grabbed umbrellas and hailed a taxi. Below is snippets from our day -- in no particular order and unfortunately with few comments since half the time, we, also, didn't really know what we were seeing!

Grand Palace

Sarah found another tiger!
(or is it a lion?)

Palace Guards

Fruit stall!
(As yummy as it looked, we avoided it just to be safe)

Outdoor restaurant
(We avoided it too)

Tuk-tuks
(The traditional Thai taxi)

Giant Gold Buddha for which Thai is famous

He was giant!!

Close-up of the inlay in his feet

Hmm... This sign really made us wonder!
(it kind of contradicted all the guide books)

We found a Pizza Hut for Lunch!!!!

And a Subway for Dinner!
(and I am modeling my new super-cheap haircut!)

Thailand Day 3: Pampering

Day Three found us exhausted and sore, but we were ready to spend the day shopping! During a break from attacking three (or was it four malls??) we tried the Thai version of tacos - some kind of crunchy base with soft meringue and shredded dried egg. It was...umm... interesting, to say the least!



That evening we headed to a Thai spa recommended by Charlie. First, we tried the fish bath where the fishies nibbled our toesies! It was...ummm...ticklish to say the least!

Then we headed upstairs for a Thai massage, where the masseuses used all parts of their bodies to bend ours into crazy postures. After being walked on, it was...ummm...painfully relaxing, to say the least!

We ended with manicures and pedicures...

...and a photo of deep fried crickets (which looked...ummm...disgusting, to say the least!)

Thailand Day 2 (Part 4): Monkey Temple

After our bath with the elephants, Charlie took us to a monkey temple on the way to lunch. Unfortunately, both Sarah's and my camera were quickly running out of battery and memory so I didn't get a picture of the actual temple (but if you have ever seen Jungle Book -- imagine it). I did get a couple photos with the cute monkeys though -- cute until they decided to attack me because I tried to take away their papaya fruit! As hard as we tried, we couldn't get a picture of the one who enjoyed catching the fruit that I tossed into the tree.




After saying goodbye to the monkeys, it was off to the most amazing Thai food that I have ever eaten. Charlie took us to a little "hole-in-the-wall" outside restaurant in the middle of nowhere where our camera batteries officially died. Thus ending the day's fabulous adventures...

...that was until our driver stopped and bought us deep-fried bananas!

Thailand Day 2 (Part 3): WATERFIGHT!! (Thai-style!)

Thailand Day 2 (Part 2): Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My!

After the Bridge, we headed to the biggest highlight of our entire trip -- The Tiger Temple!! Now, before I proceed, I should give you some background information about this temple. About twenty or so years ago some local Thai people found a sick wild pig and gave it to a group of Buddhist monks. They successfully nursed it back to health and because of it, their temple became a haven for sick, injured and orphaned animals including baby tigers whose mothers were killed/captured by poachers. Twenty years later, the monks take care of around 80 tigers, from newborns (the tigers are so happy there that they are having babies of their own) to adults. The tigers have never tasted blood -- they eat only cooked chicken -- so they are quite tame. Because all the tigers have been hand-raised by humans, they have been imprinted and thus cannot survive in the wild but they are perfectly content to have company! And I honestly have to say, I have never seen such happy and well-loved animals... Basically, our trip to the Tiger Temple was a chance to be a tiger trainer for a morning. We fed, washed, played with and walked the tigers. It was wonderful!!!


Part of the fee for entering the Tiger Temple was bringing rations for the monks' once-daily meal. Special Agent Charlie promised that he would pack appropriate food. Sarah and I joked that it was probably good we weren't responsible for food shopping because we would probably buy the monks sandwiches and cake. After all, what do you buy for a monk?

us in front of the food

Come to find out, cake and cookies are appropriate! Charlie said he always brings sweets because they love them. So, while other guests were passing out bags of rice, chicken, veggies and such, we were handing out red-bean filled pancakes and iced bread. The trick though was to not make eye contact, not touch the monk (girls can't touch them), and remember to bow in Thai-style greeting all while balancing on one's shoes.

While the monks ate their breakfast, we fed the babies bottles and then it was our turn to eat. That cup of coffee I was hoping for never appeared but the 7:30 am SUPER SPICY chicken did the trick!


As for the tigers, I guess you might want to see a few. In an attempt to show as many as possible (we had over 300 photos each by the end of the day) in as short of a period of time I made a video.

(And yes, I am very aware and that tigers and lions aren't the same thing. The song just seemed the most appropriate ;-)

Don't you want one???

Other animals at the temple (though perhaps not as exciting!)

the resident Asian Black Bear

a cow

deer

wild squeally pigs

And because I can't end this post with pigs, here are two of my favorite shots from the day!

Thailand Day 2 (Part1): The Bridge Over the River Kwai

Day Two found us sleepily stumbling to the hotel lobby at 5 am for the beginning of our greatest adventure in Thailand. Our tour guide, Special Agent Charlie (yep, that was really his title as he had previously worked for the FBI) and driver were waiting for us. Three hours later, we found ourselves at the Bridge over the River Kwai -- a historic WWII monument (and yes, the one in the 1957 movie). Unfortunately, I was too sleepy to remember all of the historical information that SA Charlie told us, but I snapped lots of pictures anyways!

a WWII Train

another train (younger?)

monks on their way to find breakfast
(But more on monk breakfasts later)

the beginning of the bridge

in front of a WWII monument
(I am looking all bright-eyed and bushy tailed, eh?)

on the bridge

another great wide-awake photo!!

the bridge

gorgeous scenery

a Thai house with a really big garden gnome (maybe?)

we arrived right as the sun was rising

Yeah for sunlight -- now where is the coffee??

Thailand Day 1: I stepped off the plane...

...the air was warm and smelled of spices. It enveloped me completely. It was going to be a wonderful trip. I just knew it!

And so the adventure began...

Finally arriving at our hotel around midnight, we were each greeted with our own rooms twice the size of our Japanese apartments complete with a mini kitchen and king-sized bed. Mine also had an extra bonus of a gecko! They told me he was harmless -- I slept with a bowl beside my bed anyhow just in case I needed to capture him.

The next morning we discovered all-you-could-eat pancakes on the veranda! Pancakes -- the food of the Thai gods (unfortunately not the Japanese ones though :-( These two westerners were in heaven!!

Then it was time to explore Bangkok and its colorful public transportation system. On a side note, Bangkok has a monorail kind of like Disney's! (no photo -- sorry!)

We successfully made it to the miles and miles of the Chatuchak weekend market (but once again completely forgot to take pictures)!! Our morning was spent navigating through stall after stall of goods. The buy of the day? My $10 suit coat with long enough sleeves!!

In the afternoon, we met Danny Keasler (a former Stetson and FSU colleague, who is now a viola professor at a local Thai music school) for lunch.

The afternoon delicacies included a coconut shake and curried chicken rice in a pineapple.




Afterward, we continued to explore the market and the surrounding city where we happened upon many street restaurants. Its hard to see in the picture, but the ladies are doing the dishes in the buckets. Needless to say we didn't eat here (or any other place that maintained similar practices)
Each of the tables were covered with huge plates of vegetables. I think it was kind of like the Thai-version of Roadhouse Grill in the States except instead of eating peanuts out of buckets you could eat cucumbers and cabbage.


When the heat finally sapped all the energy from us, we discovered Swensen's ice cream. (Oh, how I love big cities that support western restaurant practices!!!!) As you can see, Sarah needed a chocolate/coffee fix! (Yes, she ordered and ate both -- she is just about as bad as me sometimes when it comes to ice cream)


I, on the other hand, discovered what happens when you order a sundae with bananas and rainbow sprinkles in Thailand. You get a sundae and bananas and sprinkles!

It was delicious, but kind of puny in comparison with Sarah's so I ordered a milkshake too! Thai prices made it all possible!! Its a good thing I don't live here permanently. I could get used to $0.60 ice creams!

My religious faith teaches me that I am just as safe in an earthquake and nuclear meltdown as in bed

I figured I should actually write something to update you on what's going on here (at least from my perspective). I'm sorry I haven't written earlier -- writing isn't usually my "go to method" when dealing with things (calling home is instead ;-) Thank you all for your calls, notes of concerns and prayers. I have really appreciated the outpouring of support!

First and foremost, I should say that I am safe (as noted in my title's parody of Stonewall Jackson's famous quote). For your reference, I have included a map to show you my location (blue dot) versus the nuclear plants (green pin). I am honestly very far away which is a blessing (sorry its in km I couldn't figure out how to create the map into miles)! However, this past week has definitely been a roller coaster of emotions. Not only have there been quite a few after-shocks, but also this past Wednesday there was another earthquake. Although it wasn't quite as strong (and only caused minimal damage) it was closer and so I felt the effects more than the first one (even more so since I live on the third floor!) As for the nuclear reactor stuff, it almost seems as if everyone is reporting something different. Because the American news is notorious for exaggerating the truth and the Japanese for not always telling the whole truth (or at least in a direct manner), its hard to know who to believe. However, today all throughout Japan the radiation levels were posted. My prefecture, Shizuoka, is currently (and expected to maintain) in the "safe" levels.

While the USA is assisting people in leaving the country, at this point I don't feel that I need to go. While saying this, I and my family are still closely monitoring all that's going on. Tomorrow, Sarah and I leave for a five day (pre-planned) trip to Thailand. I am grateful for this chance to have a little spring vacation (and pet a tiger, bathe an elephant, and be away from the media). However, I am aware that things in Japan might change and I am preparing my departure with this in mind.

I especially ask for your prayers at this time. As I have said before to my family, I just don't feel that my time her in Japan is over. I believe God has more things for me to do in this dark country. However, if it is His will for me to depart, I will accept it knowing that His plan is perfect. He has never failed me during the past 27 years of my life and I know for certain that He never will.

I can sleep at night for this very reason and because of this I feel that my adopted country needs more prayers than I do. They don't have the same comfort and peace. They desperately need God!!! Thus, I urge you to join in prayer with my three-year-old niece Clara who announced yesterday in Chick-fil-A "we need to pray for the people in Japan" and right then and there did so! Please pray for them, especially my teachers (some of whom have been directly affected by the tragedies of this past week). Pray from me, that I will be renewed and refreshed in Thailand and that I can make wise decisions regarding my return. Pray for my family -- these past few weeks have been a roller coaster for them too!

In Him Who Is All-Powerful,
Emily

Earthquake!

Just to let you know, I am safe after today's earthquake - considered to be the worst in the past 140 years. There were a lot of tremors today at school with the entire building swaying at times, but there wasn't any damage. Currently, cellphone service is down (but the internet works!) Please pray for the people in Tokyo. There has been a lot of devastation there!