Thailand-the final day

This is what it looked like before the monsoon returned

It rained the whole day before we finally got on the plane for Singapore

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We were throughly wet by the time we got to breakfast that last day. We had been hoping to get in some last minute pool time. It was not to be. The water was up to my ankles. We hung around at breakfast for awhile hoping it would stop. No way. So we had to go back and pack our suitcases. We were taken from the hotel to the airport in a van and got our last chance to look at Thailand and the island of Phuket. It was beautiful, even in the rain. All the rubber trees in a row, the oil palms, and the pineapple gardens. Then we were at the tiny airport and delayed for a half hour. We ate at Burger King (because they couldn't screw that up) and got on the plane. It was half empty. I read the Sinagpore paper most of the way there (1:35 minutes is all it takes) and then we were back.

Mounds of laundry awaited me the next week. I got to tell all my adventures to the staff, my neighbor Tammy, and the doctor who had to treat me for a bacterial/fungi infection soon after I returned. I've returned for a second round of anti-biotics. There were changes around the apartments while I was gone. The Head Boss here is still in the hospital after an operation. The pool got new chairs and tables, they are painting, they fixed my livingroom light and the leak in my shower, the oven fan. The pool has once again been fogged for mosquitoes. So all is right in the world once again.

I braved the people at Orchard Towers to find the Cambodia Embassy. Unlike the Chinese embassy which is heavily guarded and heavy-handedly managed, the Cambodia embassy was easy. There was a girl at the desk that spoke English, had you fill out two applications, gave you glue to glue your picture on, and one fellow who read over your application (and pointed out your mistakes) and took the 36 dollars needed. That was it. Why is the Cambodia embassy located in a whore house? I guess it's cheap and convenient.

That's all from this side of the world (it's still raining). Donna

This is our anniversary dinner at the hotel restaurant.

This in the Thai Ronald McDonald giving the traditional Buddhist welcome

These are the taxis-tiny trucks

Elephant Palace where we saw a great show

Thai Disney World (Fantasea)

Parasailing on the beach. They did this all over the beach-you pay and they came to you.

Steve really enjoys the beach

The jellyfish there were very big and poisonous. I only saw one in the water. I couldn't tell the jellyfish from the trash floating in the water.

Here I am. Alot of the beach is rocky and scenic. there are piles of trash on both sides of me that you can't see.

On Sunday, the third day of our holiday, I called the desk and had them transport us to breakfast because my legs were giving out. The sky was black and threatening rain. You could see sheets of rain moving over the sea. We had the same conversation with the non-English speaking chef and the buffet was the same. That morning we enjoyed watching a Japanese woman and two males at the table next to us. The yellow cat appeared for his usual morning begging but one of the males was very put out. I think he was allergic. That made him more attractive to the cat. When the cat wouldn't leave him alone, he finally moved to anothe table. The cat followed him. Finally a waitress shooed him away. We were all laughing!

We took the shuttle down to ther beach again. Our 'man' saw us coming and set up our umbellas. He watched our stuff when we walked down the beach. we got caught in a rain shower and he rushed over and covered up our stuff. It sprinkled on and off. There were very few tourist on the beach that day so we were bothered extra hard by people selling stuff. For lunch we decided to walk downtown and discovered a nice, clean Mcdonalds. The workers loved to practice their English with us and their faces were all painted with soccer country flags to show team spirit. After lunch we found some postcards. When we discovered there was no toilet paper in the public beach bathroom, we decided to return to the hotel because the clouds had set in. We found a red taxi near by and rode back to the hotel. Then the hotel took us up to our room. We spent a hour in the hotel pool outside our room-private almost. For dinner we went to the Thai restaurant at the bottom of the hill. Steve's food lit him on fire but I had the American version .

That was the end of our third day. Donna

Thailand Laid Bare, part II

We'd been told the beach was the best,

So blue, so clear, better than the rest

But when I arrived, all my hopes were dashed

Because we were ankle deep in plastic trash

Dear Readers,

On the second day of our trip to Thailand (Saturday), we treked the 93 steps straight up to the top level of the hotel where our free breakfast awaited. On the way I passed turned off water fountains that now had frogs in them. Interesting. Then there was a spa and yeah-they wanted to give us a massage. That is the national occupation in Thailand. We hoofed it upstairs. The restaurant is open with fans. It's hot in Thailand but not as hot as Singapore. You can definitely tell the difference in the humidity. The clouds up here were breath-taking, big and fluffy. I swore I saw Honey the elephant float by!

Breakfast was a buffet. The egg cook didn't speak English so a waiter translated-scrambled, omelet, cooked egg, or boiled. There was pineapple and passion fruit. I had plenty to eat. It was fun to see who was there-Australians, Muslim couples, Chinese people, Japanese tourists, and us. We westerns are huge compared to the rest of the world. I have to admit the menu was a bit on the Asia bias-rice, different rice, and other rice. There were potatoes, ham, a toast machine, and juices.

After breakfast, we hoofed it back to our room-the maid had already changed the bed and mopped the floor. This happened everyday and I became suspicious that there was a camera in my room. The minute we left, they came everyday. Then we hoofed another 92 steps back to the lobby where we got on the free shuttle. The road to the beach is one way so we got to drive through town and see the other hotels (some good, some bad) and look for eating places. No luck. We were dropped off at the middle of Patong Beach Road and then the real assaults took place-my umbrellas are the best, give a taxi ride (but we just got here), massage, fruit, you name it. We walked down toward the hotel and a guy approached with a deal on umbrellas and chairs. We took him up on it, got two plastic chairs, two umbrellas that he set up to block the sun, two hangers to hang our shirts on, bottled water, and a small table to put our stuff on. We were all fixed.

Then we saw the beach. Not exactly like the postcard. There was a line of plastic trash on beach as far as the eye could see. It was up to my ankles in plastic bottles, bags, nylon ropes, cups, buckets, etc. When you went into the water, it wrapped around your legs. Gross! Someone is dumping trash into the ocean. Is it the Thais or is it ships in the ocean or both? The poor guy with the umbrellas tried to rake it up in front of his stretch of beach to attract more people to his piece of sand.

We played in the surf anyway. After all, we were there. Then came lunch time and we walked down the beach to a place that said "Pizza" in big red letters. This was evidently a family affair as a woman with two kids acted as a waitress. The little boy delivered the drinks to his Mom from somewhere else (all the little restaurants were run by the family). They would just go to the pizza cubicle and turn on the oven. The drinks were somewhere else and the chicken sandwich I ordered must have come from around the corner. I was never sure. The little boy with a tiger drawn on his chest danced around with the mop and followed his Mom around trying to help like his older brother. A cat joined us and later a dog came in and looked around. Did you know rabies is the number one problem in Thailand? Too many loose animals. I noticed that.

We walked back to our hotel in order to get cleaned up and ready for the shuttle bus to a dinner and show called the Fanstasea. Our tour guide said it was a lady man show. I wasn't sure what that meant at first but then I guessed he was talking about transvestites. When we arrived with the other tourist, I thought we were in Disney Land Hell. There were large statues of Thai Gods in gaudy colors everywhere, games, tourist traps, and elephant rides. We were put in a large and beautiful hall where a Thai and Japanese buffet was set up. The food was good and different. I stuck with the fried chicken.

The show was held in a beautiful 'Elephant Palace' made to look like a temple ruin. The show was a story of Thai myth (boy wants girl, boy loses girl, boy fights demons, boy captures the fancy of the gods, boy gets girl, people cheer). The stage was great, fireworks and mist, even a rainstorm took place. There was a magic show inside the story and animal tricks (goats, chickens, and elephants). Overhead there were acrobats. I was very impressed-didn't really notice who was a lady man or not.

We got home tired and found out our TV was busted. The next day it was fixed. They take soccer seriously. Donna

Thailand pictures for Part I Blog

Dear Readers,

I have added the pictures for my previous post. It was difficult but I did it.

Shoreline below the Hotel

Downtown Phuket. They will try to sell you anything and everything.

Buddhist Shrine outside the Hotel Lobby. Everyone has one!

Here I am with Honey, the Poo Poo Elephant. I fed her sugar cane with ants (tasty!)

This is the elephant village where Honey's driver lives with the other elephant caretakers on the back of the farm.

Here is the Poo Poo trail through the natural fertilizer farm. Watch out for the organic chickens!

Blue Marine Resort Lobby, open air, 92 steps

from my room.

The view from our room. Patong Beach is on the Andaman Sea (Indian Ocean).

Elephant Fountain at Hotel

Sunset at the Beach

Journey to Thailand Part I

Dear Readers,

There I was high in the sky
Holding on for dear life as most riders do
Then the elephant stopped suddenly
And the driver explained-Poo Poo

It was not enough to be living on the island of Singapore. Last Friday my husband and I departed for another island, Phuket, in Thailand for our 29th wedding anniversary. I had been left to handle the details of our arrival and plans. As the day approached I became more and more anxious because every visa site gave a different amount, gave different requirements, told stories of encounters with the police. The day before we left, it rained so hard that all of Orchard road was flooded. The new Wendys I was going to visit that very night was completely destroyed by the water. Seems that the amount of rain Singapore receives in June fell that morning and a drain was backed up. Pocketbooks and mannequins floated down the street.

Anyway, I waded down there that night as the trucks were sucking up the water in order to change American money to Thai Baht. The man I was supposed to see had his establishment in the basement of Lucky Plaza now Soaky Plaza. I managed to change 300 dollars to 9600 Baht and got wet shoes for the effort. The next morning bright and early we headed out from Terminal 2 and in only an hour and a half, I was in a different country.

Now I was standing in front of a sour puss Thai policewoman asking for my passport. I hand it over and smile. I have my Singapore green card, picture for the visa (looks like I'm on crack), and my 1000 baht. She stamps the paper, shoves it into the passport, and gives me the get the hell out of here sign. I go, wondering if this country is aware of its own website or so called procedures for visa on arrival.

We collect our one bag and head out into the throng of taxi drivers to search for our David Best Tour guy who is supposed to have a sign. He is no where to be found. Now I am in panic mode. Steve asks a taxi driver where is David Best tour. Ah, they say, we know him. Everyone looks around and lo and behold and guy who obviously just woke up steps up with his sign. Whoo!
He addresses Steve as "Boss" and me as Madam. Boss I think in Thai means Western white SOB. I saw it later on a T shirt. Madam reminds me of grandma. Ah, but I wasn't in a position to complain. He led us to a van where he said it was ten o'clock and the hotel check in wasn't until 2 so his job was to keep us busy.

The first thing was to drive to a jewelry center. I encountered this before in Shanghai. It's a tourist trap and sure enough there were many Japanese/chinese tour buses there. I enjoyed the ride, however, because I got to see where the real people live (tin shacks) and all the Buddhist shrines outside each home and business. They take Buddhism very seriously there. In fact, it's the only SE Asia country where it stuck. We were in Southern Thailand, land that had previous belonged to Muslim Malays and so there were lots of Muslim people and Mosques. I understand that is strain on the society. The Muslims want to be part of Malaysia.

A lady was assigned to follow us and suggest this and that. There was a dazzling display of rubies, sapphires and pearls. I settled on a pearl necklace of black and pink pearls with a gold chain. An anniversary gift. Since we bought something, we got a free coke. Then our guy said lets ride an elephant. Okay I said. The elephant is really big here and they are out of work because of the bulldozers and etc. We drove a short ways to an farm of sorts. Here you got on an elephant named Honey and squeezed into the seat perched on its head. The driver (never got his name) was a 26 year old who had left the unemployment of the north for the south so he could send money back to his mummy and daddy. He showed us the farm-organic fertilizer (mounds of elephant "poo poo" (he called it), sugar cane for the elephants, corn for free range chickens (or just loose because the chicken house fell down), pineapples, and some rubber trees. Later Honey demonstrated the art of poo poo and we had to wait in the hot sun and mosquitoes while she enriched the farm.Then he took us on a tour of where he lived. In the back of the farm was a 'village" sort of made of metal doors, tin shacks, and litter. He pointed out which abode was his and how he lived simply so he could send his money back home. We gave him a big tip of course-for his mummy and daddy and I got to feed the elephant sugar cane. At last we were headed to our hotel.

Phuket Beach was not exactly like the postcards. The mountains come right up to the sea and our hotel was built into the side of a cliff. No joke. Our room was in the middle. It was 92 steps down to the lobby and 93 three steps straight up to breakfast and the main pool. You called the main desk and a truck took you from the lobby to the room and from the room to the breakfast restaurant on the top of the cliff. Thais don't believe in elevators. This was the rainy season and most of the hotel was empty. Almost deserted it seemed like. We had a whole pool to ourselves (just like home!). Our room was large and airy with marble floors, shower, and tub. There was a sign in English that said don't mess with the toilet and that rarity in Asia-toilet paper.

We walked (that's how I knew there were 93 steps) to the restaurant on the top floor and had our first meal in Thailand. The place is open to the air and next to the largest pool (they have three). While we were eating, a cat wandered in and begged food from another couple that was there. I soon found out that that cat was regular.In fact cats and dogs wandered in and out of all the places we went. The clouds and scenery was breath taking. Later we traveled down the hill and out on the road. Immediately we were assaulted by people wanting us to get a massage (hookers?) and buy something. We got away and across the road where the sea met a small beach. Alot of Thai families were sitting there enjoying the sun set. The beach was covered with trash-plastic cups, bags, plastic everything you could think of. That was disappointing. Still, I thought the first day in Thailand was a success. Donna

Surprise, Surprise!

The sky blackened and the palm leaves waved,
I went down to Boat Quay just for the day
The restaurants were many, the decision was tossed.
I do declare there's a lizard in my red Thai sauce

We had an eventful weekend. I had fixed an egg casserole for breakfast. Often on weekends, we sleep in till nine (usually up by 5:30 am). By getting up at nine, your days seems half over already. But nothing opens here until ten (and that's just a number painted on the door). Nothing really gets going until eleven. They like to party late-that's when the business happens. I happen to be a morning person or was until I left the States. Now I have nothing to do from 5:30-11. So I've started the habit of going back to bed after my poor husband leaves for work. I was so late getting up this morning that when I opened the bathroom door, the maids were making up the bed. Surprise, surprise! They did let me get dressed. I could manage that without their help.
They washed the dishes, emptied the trash, and commented on my knitting and quilting. I told them I must have something to do. Tammy (my neighbor) and I think we should become maids ourselves. Just to fill up our spare time. The apartments here are short on help.

The Weekend. After breakfast, we headed down to the MRT (Subway) where I saw a freshly hung poster on people stealing wallets and purses. Has crime sneaked into this paradise? Anyway, we headed to the Indian section of town. Sweating like pigs in the 105 deegree weather with 100 per cent humidity, we quickly found the Buddhist temple I was looking for. It was large for Singapore standards with a large ceramic Buddha that was two stories high. We took off our shoes and wandered in as tourists. I am always struck by the irony of the Buddhist religion. It never took off here in this part of Asia because Islam subplanted it. Worse, the Chinese influx brought in a form of taoism that combines mixed up forms of Chinese gods and Hindu gods plus a great dose of astrology and whatever came their way. In this temple, there was a list of the eightfold path and four laws of suffering. On the other side there was a wheel of fortune that had lucky numbers on it and so for 50 cents could tell your fortune. We watched as a lady paid for an oil ointment, was sprayed by God knows what, and had a bell rang for her. Then she touched the finger of the large Buddha. In the background I could see Hindu idols.

You see, Buddhaism is all about ceasing to desire things so the suffering ends. Chinese religion is all about getting everything material you can. Lucky this or that. Luck flows to you if you set up the right statues, give the offering, burn your prayers (for millions of dollars) to the heavens.

Then we went to another temple that had a jade buddha. There were lots of offerings all around, candy (Buddha has a sweet tooth) fruit, rice, etc. A monk wandered out, collected the goodies on a tray, and disappeared in the back. Time for breakfast!

I must admit that I am confused by this type of religion. I pointed out that the Jews also made sacrifices (meat) and then the priests ate it. After Jesus, no sacrifices were needed. He was the ultimate one. That's how the Christians look at it. I also realize this religion is thousands and thousands of years old (speaking of the Hindu gods here) and the Chinese mish mash. But I find it hard to take in that the elephant god is still active in the world. That luck flows like wind. That someone is keeping score on how many oranges are sitting on a plate.

That night, after soaking our feet and everrything else in the pool, we went to Boat Quay to look at the scenic river and get something to eat. There are rows and rows of eating places there. Every five feet we were stopped by a person (physically putting their hand on you to stop you) raving about the food in a certain booth. Free beer! Free Wine! 30% off. We were finally pushed into a Chinese place overlooking the river to eat lemon chicken and pepper beef. We had enough left over for another meal. The wine was cheap and a very small glass (Chinese Gallo). We were lucky to escape with our lives. Steve said he could sell alot more Lycra if that guy selling the food was his employee. I thought he could sell alot of cars. The biggest selling point-the place was next to a bar where all the prostitutes hang out looking for Westerners. We enjoyed watching their business techniques. As quick as we could, we escaped to the othe side of the river where they asked you if you had reservations. If you didn't, you were scum. I think scum is better.

This experience is getting us ready to go to Thailand this weekend, Bali next month, and finally Cambodia where I read in the paper they are so aggressive they open your wallet for you. I bought a fanny pack this weekend to keep the purse at home. Got to go watch it rain. Bye. Donna

Singapore Blues

Dear Readers,

The white wall of rain moved across the land
I stood still, face pressed against the glass
Willing the rain to stop, pounding with my hand
Till the sun finally poked through and I was in the pool at last

There was some good news today. No, it's still raining. Yes, there's still a drought in Thailand and they are predicting both water and rice shortages there (I go next week). Yes, they are installing singtel cable box next week so I can watch world cup soccer. Like I would!

No, the good news I wish to share is that Wendys has come to Orchard Road. I was very sad when they closed down our favorite Burger King across from the Orchrd MRT. Today I was glad to see that it had been replaced by WENDYS. Baked potato and chicken nuggets here I come. Now I won't have to go all the way across town to get a Wendys fix. I am surprised it wasn't in the paper instead of all that world cup soccer stuff.

I cleaned my window so there is no trace of snails. I felt sorry for the old maid that offered to do it. I couldn't even imagine her up in a chair. So I did it (just like I would have if I'd been home). She helped me get the mold off the drainboard. It was a group effort. As an American, I feel guilty using a maid. In the newspaper today is the amazing story of how a maid kept a westerner child from being abducted by a chinese woman who came up to them and said she had come to pick up the child for his mother. The maid refused to let the child go and got into a taxi with him. Then she called the police. The police are shocked that someone is thinking of kidnapping western children for a ranson here. There's a big canning coming for these people! Anyway, I wonder if my maid would stick up for me in a crisis. Anyone that knows what your underwear looks like and cleans your bathroom should be part of your family. Tammy, the spy from next door, told me Mary (a maid) sat in my apartment and read her book while I was gone home for a couple weeks. So, me casa es su casa I guess. I am glad they have a place to go to avoid working. Does the Prime Minister know about this?

Well, I'd better get something accomplished today. It's still raining. One of these days the sun is bound to some out. Donna

The Rain in Singapore Falls Mainly on the Plain

Dear Readers,

I am trapped in a foreign land for an unspecified amount of time. Since it has been raining almost every day and sometimes for the entire day, I have plenty of time to do nothing. Nothing leads to thinking and so my children thought I should blog to relieve some of the boredom. They also think I tell funny stories. But I say life is just that way. Humor is everywhere, just like tragedy.
I prefer to laugh.

I am 51 years old and enjoy a variety of illnesses-fibromyagia, heart problems, sciatiac pain in the legs, and now menopause. Currently I am going through a rash of heat flashes that strike day and night. This leads me to suddenly and without warning strip off all my clothes and parade around the apartment naked. "Stay away from the windows!" my husband yells. I doubt that anyone can see up this far and would take the time to peer inside my specific window to see me naked while driving down a main road. A part of me would like to think they would, that I am still worth looking at. Ha! I have received no complaints, however, from the management.

I thought Singapore was the land of the rising sun. No, that's Japan. The sun hasn't come here for awhile. It continues to rain. Although beautiful, I am hoping for more sun. See, I have a tan I must maintain. Oddly enough, tans are not wanted here in this society. Asians view tans as a sign of lower class. Only people with the lowest status have to work outside and thus sport a tan. They spend millions on whitening cream. So I am enjoying my low status as I do as little work as possible.

I also enjoy reading about how strict things are here. But I say a little strictness is needed in this world. So what if gum is outlawed. To compensate, there's a restaurant on every corner. Fill your mouth with food! So what if you're not allowed to litter. Don't you have better things to do with your time? Jay walking? It's dangerous. You could get hurt. I like the strictness. It gives order to society. Crime? Seems only foreigners commit crimes here-like littering, jay walking, and bringing in that awful gum. I even observed an individual spitting on the sidewalk. That carries a fine too. Where was the undercover policeman when I saw that? Instead I gave the man a stern frown. I am sure he was ashamed of his actions.

I have recently been on a quest to find chicken noodle soup. Once abundant in this land of plenty, it has now disappeared completely. I have searched several grocery stores for this staple of life and have come up empty. I have discovered lots of other things while looking-curry soup, potato and leek soup in a can, and bento box lunches for carry out. It occured to me that I could make my own from scratch. Other people do it. But then, when would I maintain my tan? Got to go.