Hi everyone!!! I’m sure you are chomping at the bit to see the tigers and we have a cellphone full of pix for you that simply aren’t going through. This happened early in the trip so I think it will fix itself eventually. In the meantime we will tell you what we have done the past couple days.
Yesterday was the Floating Market, Tiger Temple, the Siamese cat palace and a few other items on our itinerary. It was a ten hour day with our private guide Pook who was incredible!!!! The tigers were unbelievable as were the other animals at the temple complex. We got to play with 4 week old baby tigers and have lots of pix to show for it.
The floating market was a sight to behold. So much color and interaction and lots of delicious food. Our breakfast consisted of noodles and fresh veggies prepared on a small flat row boat with dozens of other vendor and passenger boats bumping up against it. It was a wild time and we would do it again in heartbeat.
Today was our tour of the Grand Palace in Bangkok with our second private guide Tom. Another awesome experience as he was well educated in the history of the country and city. The reclining Buddha followed then off to the klongs which are the canals that wind their way through the city of Bangkok. They are lined with modest homes full of life and color ..we even saw a water monitor ( massive lizard Liz) laying on someones porch. Now off to the Fishermans Village!!!
I’m not sure where to start of this one. It’s like trying to describe the surface of the moon from standing on my front lawn in Portland. There are no words that can plant a picture in your head of what we experienced. One cool moment was watching an older woman with a blue plastic pan pulling “cockles” from the silt of the ocean backwater. She sat on a board with the water up to her chest. We got super pix of her.
Now you won’t believe the wild monkeys we got to feed. Tom brought a bunch of tiny bananas with and as Diana threw them on the banks of the canal, I snapped hundreds of photos of hundreds of monkeys. One mama was even nursing her baby!!!! They swam in the water to get to the goodies and caught a couple mid air as Diana tossed them.
We ended the day with yours truly doing an “Amazing Race”style stunt to get to her dinner which was up in a hut built of bamboo…on stilts..at least 15 feet above the water. The “ladder” was made of round branches which we had to climb from the small boat,…hand over hand to the top (and back down!!)
The meal awaiting us was a feast of giant tiger prawns, sea catfish , sea bass and crab. Our hostess practically fed us with a spoon as she boned the fish, cracked the crab, shelled the shrimp and ladled our soup for us. What a meal. Steve you would have been in heaven. We DID think of you !!!!!
Stunning images from today to come….we promise!!!!
Tomorrow is chill out day. No real plans but we do intend to take the sky train (like a overhead subway) and stop on EVERY stop and get out and scope out the areas. This is chilling out for us..lol!
Well had probably better run for now. Happy Valentines Day everyone!!!! We will write tomorrow!!
Luv Sandra and Diana
Jan Lockhart says
February 14, 2008 at 6:26 amHi Girls!!! Sounds like you are having a great time!!! I was read your blog entry to my Tom, who spent a lot of time in the Bangkok area. When I was reading about your visit to the floating market, he said, “Oh yeah…that’s where I was bitten by that monkey…I bought a banana, peeled it and held it out to the monkey, and the *@^# thing grabbed onto my arm and bit me!” Then when I got to the part about you buying bananas to feed the wild monkeys, he really went off!!!! He considers you lucky to have escaped with your lives! We had a good laugh. It goes without saying I am green with envy! Love you both!
Jan
Billie says
February 14, 2008 at 7:13 amI can’t wait for the photos. I can imagion some of it as I have seen the floating market on TV and think it would be an awesome place in person. Wish I could have shared your yummy dinner with you.
Hugs to you both.
Billie
Pat Pearson says
February 14, 2008 at 7:14 amHey there! What a fabulous 10-hour day the two of you had!!! However, like Jan’s Tom, the monkeys wouldn’t have been my favorite part of the journey since I was bitten on the leg by one of those nasty little fellows when I was about 8.
Am bathing a couple of the “Vinnies” today since Nan & Terry are coming out tomorrow to bring Austin, Abby & Noelle to stay for the weekend while they take Breaker & Ellie to a show in San Marcos. Sure would be thrilled if all the males show up & Breaker could take Breed over the special & get one of his majors……would be really, really thrilled if he could win BOTH days. Just dawned on me that I’ll have 6 Vincent kids & 2 granddaughters under my roof this weekend. Now, that’s really nice!!!
Gotta get started on my day…….Luv you both…….Pat
elise says
February 14, 2008 at 7:21 amOh my gosh, I am so torn… I am so happy for you but so DARNED jealous as well! LOL
Your trip sounds absolutely incredible. Petting 4 wk old tigers… feeding wild monkeys… the food and adventures… talk about living vicariously thru another. 😉
Keep on having fun my friend and can’t wait for the next installment and the pics.
Send some of that warm weather here tho please. ‘-)
Nan McGee says
February 14, 2008 at 7:45 amWhat an amazing adventure to experience their culture and wild life!!! I can’t wait for the pictures, and Happy valentines day to both of you too!! Love, NM
Catherine says
February 14, 2008 at 7:47 amWow, it sounds like you’ve had an amazing couple of days! I can’t wait to see some pics. Have fun exploring!
Lots of love
Sherrie says
February 14, 2008 at 7:54 amHI !!!!!
Happy Valentines Day!!!! Oh my your vacations sounds so exciting. I cant wait to see pictures…Its BRRRR cold here this AM, so enjoy your nice warm weather… We had a monitor lizard when I was growing up, it got HUGE, I cant wait to see pictures!!!!
Take Care, and have an awesome stay!!!!
Ciao,
Sherrie
Bonnie Young says
February 14, 2008 at 9:11 amHappy Valentines Day girls!!!!
I gave Ikie a big hug and kiss from you this morning before I left.
here was a photo in the Atlanta paper yesterday of Mei Ling who is now 15 months old and they are just weaning her from her mother. She is cute as can be. I need to go see her in person. Of course I immediately thought of the two of you when I read the article. I am so jealous of your trip!! I hope you have the very best time and just like everyone else I can’t wait to see the photos!
All my love,
Bonnie
Jan Bruton says
February 14, 2008 at 9:29 amHi Sandy and Diana,
Such graphic descriptions – I don’t even need the photos! Love, Jan
Eunice Messer says
February 14, 2008 at 11:36 amReally sounds exciting!!Hope you get your cell fixed. Pretty sunny day today and it snowed last nite. Happy Valentines Day. Love Mom
sandra and diana says
February 14, 2008 at 6:14 pmOh boy!!!!! We have friends!!!!!!!!!! So many awesome comments and we treasure each and everyone one of them!!! I wish i COULD COMMENT ON EACH POST BUT THE INTERNET IS EXPENSIVE HERE. Believe me we are thrilled to see you all here. Happy Valentines Day everyone.
We are heading out now to ride the sky train and stop at EVERY stop…get off and wander…board again when we get hot then off to the next stop. Will fill you in later today..Lots of VTD hugs smooches and panda kisses too..Sandy and Diana