Sol: 183
We have left Thailand, however, we spent a lot of time there and our memories are full of colorful images. Our time took us to the Gulf of Thailand and to the Northern mountains. The people were very helpful and, as they say, it is a smiling culture. You find a lot of smiles.
A selection of 18 things we noticed while in Thailand. Some of these observances happen in other SE Asian countries, however, they are very Thai in their own way too. Enjoy.
A google search without my VPN on.
1- SIRI confusing the Thai street names. Driving with SIRI is hilarious and annoying at the same time. 
Because we are using an English language version. Siri would often just opt out in pronouncing names. So, you would be told to, ‘Turn left on ____ in 200 meters’. Or try a Google Search without using a VPN in an English speaking country.
2 – Men working on construction wear face coverings that look like bank robber masks. It was startling to see at first and then the idea of how incredibility hot it has to be in those masks all day really struck me as well.
3 – It is Illegal to talk badly about the King in Thailand. Thailand just completed a year of mourning for their beloved King who passed in the autumn of 2016. The new King is his son and is not not quite as popular. 
The elder King was reknown for his kindness and the way he helped people in all corners of the country. He was in power for over 70 years.
PD with her spoonful of rice and a chili!
4 – Spicy means a whole different thing here. I thought I was one who liked spicy food. Eating Thai food in the States has always been a milder experience for me. 25 years ago I visited Thailand and I had clearly forgotten how incredibly spicy the food can be. Our friend PD in Chiang Mai would put chilis in her individual bites.
5 – Elephant is the National animal of Thailand. You probably knew that but, it is profoundly touching and incredible to see the tributes to 
Elephants in everyday life including temples at the side of the road
6 – The National Anthem plays twice a day at 8am and 6pm. The Thai people will literally stop in their tracks to pay homage to their country and their King. It is impressive and powerful to see a bustling train station stock still for the anthem. Also, there is often a loud speaker near you where ever you are to remind you that it is time to stand.Video of Bangkok Train Station at 8am
7 – The King’s name takes 24 seconds to say. If you are from an age and from the States you might remember a song you sang to remember all the States in the Union. In Thailand, they have an equivalent song to teach school kids on how to say the King’s name.
Also, Bangkok’s original name was so long it took 20 seconds to say as well and it got shortened. Otherwise, these would be very wordy maps! Have a listen above.
8 – There are geckos everywhere. This is pretty much anywhere in warm SE Asia but, I found them fascinating. I was also incredibly grateful for them as I knew they were eating some of the other insects that would normally be gnawing on us. To see more on this check out my husband Kelvin’s blog about all the insects we have seen at Degrees of Kelvin PS. Read at your own risk.
9 – Everyone is on a phone or device. Even dental assistant while working on my son was watching her show while guiding the dental equipment. Also, little tiny kids will also have their parent’s phone in action. People often take their kids to work so, this seems to be the easiest form of distraction. We even had a Grab driver (like Uber) who had her 4 year old daughter in the front seat helping with directions.
Statues of passed on monks
10 – Shoes off before homes and some businesses. Take clean socks without holes or get used to flip flops because you will be taking your shoes on and off several times a day.
11 – Some monks are like rock stars. Meaning they are famous and honored and yet, they can sit still like a statue for hours. 
During one of visits to a Wat in Northern Thailand our friend PD said she got goosebumps because the Monk that started that Wat was there in person. We also saw some monks that were nearly indistinguishable from the statues next to them as they did not move for the entire time we were there. Many monks will have a likeness them made into a statue after they pass so they are always present.
12 – There is a mandatory monk service for all males in Thailand. The timing varies but, it is a family honor. Also, each male family member needs to ‘help’ family members pass on so, they will be made monks for hours or even days to help with this process. They can do this three times in their lives. If you have a girl heavy family. It is harder to do this as females cannot do this process. It is a great honor and responsibility.
13 – Street food is a normal everyday choice for everyday Thais. People eat on the streets or ‘out’ frequently for one if not two of their meals a day.
Here is a sampling of the delights.
Banana pancakes!!!
Sometimes the food will walk up and find you!
Packing up rice to go. Most to go orders are in these plastic bags tied together with a rubber band.
Pad Thai on the streets of Bangkok. I promise that beer was mine, not his!
Curry and vegetables.
Incredible fruits and vegetables at the market. I know that fruits will never taste the same when we return to the states. These tropical flavors were heavenly.
Pick your saute’ and they will grill it for you. Eight sticks of this cost about $2.50
Mini donuts for your morning commute!
14 – Thai tea and coffee are legendary and deservedly so. There are so many flavor combinations and the cup is pretty important too!
Sweet flavors are in high demand. So, if you want carmel corn in your iced coffee. You can have it!
15 – Train travel in Thailand is an amazing way to see the country and the overnight
trains are rather nice.
All the berths are ready for sleeping! Curtains into place.
Before the transitions to beds.
Day travel to the north.
16 – The 7/11 stores are the best place to buy whatever you need. I loved going through the aisles to see all the packages of goodies that you didn’t know you might need. As long you you’re not trying to buy alcohol before 11am or between 2-5pm (national law) you can buy nearly everything there. You can even buy toothpaste that is flavored ‘herb salt’. I kid you not!
17 – It is the year 2561 in Thailand! I mentioned this before but, wanted to share some photos showing how that date shows up. Amazing!
18 – There are some very imformative signs in Thailand to guide you.
These are some of the amazing things we learned while in Thailand. We have such gratitude for our rich experience there. To date, we spent more time in Thailand than any other country, over 50 days and everyone was truly royal. Thank you Thailand!
Bangkok is the most popular place in the world for 
wonder that there are a zillion of blogs and suggestions of places to go there.
In our journey there we found joy in the 
Our host PD (her name is moon in Thai) was amazed to see the main monk there. She said she had goose bumps on her arm as if seeing a favorite movie star.
Delightful paper umbrellas were on display and joyously celebrated throughout the weekend. We were there for the afternoon and part of the Umbrella parade. Try riding your bike while holding an umbrella!
Pretty amazing experience. I can now say I have had my hand inside an elephants mouth. 
While feeding them many bananas. Pretty big tongue!
It stands over 8400 feet and it was blissfully cooler or the first time in weeks. 
I know that sounds a bit annoying to anyone who has been in the cold blasts that have been experienced in the States over the last weeks but, it was truly refreshing for us. It was also fascinating to see folks getting their selfies with the sign on top. This is a very serious business in Asia.
We also experienced some amazing waterfalls on the way back down.
We became fast friends with our hosts who are sisters. There are three and their names translate to Moon, Star and Sky.
This bowl of egg noodles with meat, spicy broth topped with lime, pickled cabbage and crispy noodles is quite seriously, a bowl for the soul. I am wondering if there is a food cart back in Portland that has it…otherwise, we need to build it.
Our last full day we awoke at 4am to get a ride then climb to the top of Doi Suthrup and the Temple on top that was first built in 1383. 
Did you catch that? 1383….and it still operates today as a Monastery and has several temples to visit. After calling the boys class back in Portland at the bottom of the stairs, we climbed 309 stairs to the top and found ourselves with only three other people that weren’t monks there.
After the sun came up, we saw loads and loads of buses and songthaew with visitors streaming out as we departed. I’m glad we had our quiet, peaceful visit.
education of our kids. I was really, really concerned that we would mess them up or get them really behind. I’ve expressed this on this blog and the sentiment takes up entirely too much space in my head.
Then add in the schooling and it is a whole new role. Yes, we have been teaching them since birth but, the structured approach of making sure the boys are ‘on track’ has been an interesting one.
With Kelvin and I, it doesn’t always work out as we are the only adults around to care for the kids but, that it is another post altogether.
Oakley’ Stats for 2017
I had been struggling with some physical ailments (back pain, sleep issues, digestive challenges) Then I got pretty ill. Headache, fever, chills, throat pain. You know that feeling that you’ve swallowed broken glass? I was there. I was going through Ricolas like cigarettes for a heavy smoker.
We landed in Bangkok. Nothing like a city of over 8 million, humidity, a smaller hostel room for four to emphasize your discomfort. For our entire time in Bangkok’s Chinatown (where our hostel was) I saw the inside of a hospital (twice) and a 7/11 (they are everywhere in SE Asia) to get supplies.
I gotta throw out the biggest kudos to 
luxorious and grounding.
We are in a beautiful place in warm weather. The dream of many folks, especially with all those winter storms happening in the States at the moment. Yet, I am feeling a bit rudderless. I think this is the longest place we have stayed in the last 4+ months of travel.
I think we pulled it off as we were able to find strands of Twinkly lights to put up where we were, found a Star Wars Lego Advent calendar which can do wonders for little boys psyches. We even found a 5 ft plastic tree for $10. 
A bargain!
You even get an ice drink made from ice and get to gleefully throw it against an ice wall as you depart. How very satisfying!
We spent about 25 minutes inside (they have a requisite three minute acclimation period going in and out of each side). Many people spent more time in the acclimation room than in the actual ice room.
It is completely different when you cannot leave your kids by themselves. Kelvin and I haven’t had awake time alone in months, especially in daylight. 
I am enjoying not thinking about when we eat next, what to do next, thinking about how everyone might react to the next choice.
announcing what they are selling and will play it over and over while driving around. You can flag them down and buy whatever it is they have. Usually, it is some meal. The scooter may even have a glowing hot oven on the side.
They are consistently told they are ‘so handsome’! People (usually a woman) will drop whatever she is doing and come over to touch their cheeks.
somewhere. It never ends. Never, ever, ever.
They certainly give Starbucks a run for their money.
country but, remember when you see the political posters everywhere, very little advertising (except outside a local cafe) and handing over your passports every time you stay somewhere new.
plenty of reminders of this intense history. Yet, for the Vietnamese it is a blip on their several 1000 year old history. There seems to be no hard feelings about the war.
the rainy season.
I cringingly found out, sometimes a rat will be getting his take on the trash as it sits there.
The mini baguette is a staple for 
many breakfasts with eggs and are sooooo airy inside and crunchy on the outside. Delightful.
mistook for a tarantula) and many, many in our train carriage, a super fat rat (my phobia) munching on our buildings refuse pile, the praying mantis that guarded our bathroom for a week and would leap on your feet when the water flowed (to have a drink?), beautiful butterflies, dragon flies and your requisite flies, ants and mosquitos that come around pretty frequently.
(smart phones everywhere, apps on tablets to order drinks or check you into your berth on the train) is fascinating to observe.
Even in the markets the granola bars or bottled water will change prices depending on who is working, what is going on with the weather.
with your loved ones. With parents to children it is okay but, a very, very big no no to kiss or canoodle in public.
to drink from the tap. We are in the habit of going to the bathroom with a bottle of water to brush our teeth and if water is set on the table while we are out, the boys immediately ask what source it came from. Don’t take your clean, tap water for granted!
The tailor work is impeccable and remarkable. You dream it, they will sew it.
Shoes, coats, backpacks are all really marked up when they leave the country.
Yet, there are a number of Christian charities that operate cafes hiring people with disabilities. People practice any number of various religions including Buddhism, Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Taoism, Confucianism to name a few.
In the 1990s, I worked for a short time in Hong Kong for a colleague of my Dad’s. It was an interesting time and experience.
While most of it is under re-construction, it held an air of prestige with high ceilings, white columns, giant billiard tables and support staff dressed as Raj royalty. It felt a little rich for my blood but, I did love being there and smiling up at my mom.
The food areas in Chinatown and the Golden Mile were well worth a visit. 
Sumptuous food for really fraction of that cocktail! Such a wide array of foods; Indian, Malay, Chinese, Thai, even Italian, English and American among others.
I didn’t have any cash on me. He directed towards an ATM several blocks away.
We decided to stay at the Legoland Hotel which has themed rooms with scavenger hunts, Lego characters walking around, life-size Lego mini figures, characters walking around and LEGOS everywhere to play with. Big blocks and little blocks.
It was so sweet to see joy on so many faces. Not just ours but, the plenitude of families from all over. There were families there from India, China, and all over SE Asia. We were definitely the minority as we would nod hello to another ‘Western” family from time to time.
French Pastries with Chinese Congee porridge with dried fish on top? Or a traditionally poured spiced chai, watermelon juice, white coffee or full cream milk?
Asia are constructed to impressive, minute detail. Even the scooter accidents with media and police presence on the street. I could have spent hours here. It was super hot so, we melted as we perused even with the welcome mister machines nearby.
A BALANCE OF TRAVEL AND FAMILY 
So, we were at the Brisbane airport Jetstar check in counter (for the first time) and I hurriedly bought four tickets on a ferry to Singapore. I was punching the details of all our passports into my iPhone screen hoping that the credit card I am using would work to buy the tickets. And what’s more, that we will be able to use them.
In Bali, tourism accounts for about a third of the economy so, there is always someone to help you with your questions, desires or plans. That is certainly the case in Ubud.
amusement park of 
This is out of the ordinary for us but, one turning 10 is a pretty big deal too.
For an eight year old and newly minted ten-year old it was the ‘bees knees’. My words, not theirs. Theirs included ‘This is sick!’ and ‘What the ‘bleep’ (yes, they say actual word bleep).
Which was good as Oakley had a fever the first day and he and I hung out at the house with the dogs for the day while Kelvin and Canyon adventured.
Southern Hemisphere. It was a great way to get some perspective when getting ready to leave an area.
