this is my world today

morning flower market with bicycle rickshaw and songtaew

Let me introduce you to some of the wonderful people that joined me on this Passage to Thailand: Cindy, Misti, Ashley and Minerva. They are travelers on my Thailand tour. Here to study Thai Massage and see as much of Thailand as they can: http://www.stressescapetours.com/ . We are playing Farkle (some sort of dice game) at a favorite haunt the girls found next to my antigue dealer/Burma runner-Pan. A list of 100 dishes in a soiled folder tempt us almost nightly at this dirt floored restuarant. We had fried morning glories, Khao soiy, yellow curry, red curry, pineapple fried rice, quawteeo nam and cocounut shakes. Meal cost about 40-50 baht here ($1.25-$1.75)
Eating remains one of most favorite activities here. Many of our familiar stalls have sifted into flourescent lit mimi malls, taking away the flare of smoking woks. To sasitate my taste buds, I venture to markets still boasting the traditional steaming pots of jok and Thai coffee. Of course I can always find a bowl of quaweto nam.
And today we ate to the chanting of novice moks in the underbelly of Talat Warowat (the biggest market in the city).

Sometimes I get jok for breakfast (a wonderful rice porriage with an egg broken into it and pork meatballs topped with slivers of ginger, chopped scallion, nam som (vinegar) and nam plaa (fish sauce and chili.

Amist the growing population of 7-Elevens, Starbucks, shopping plazas that were once home to a jumble of street vendors and 5 star hotels remains the outlines of a city caught between 2 worlds. Laudry is hung from windows, electric lines dangle to the ground.

I realized that for many years I passed by the magificant wats that hide behide white washed walls. the bill boards and vendors tend to draw one away fromthe spiritual essence of the Thai Buddhist culture. Stepping into the serene compounds I feel the smog lift. Saffroned robed monks sweep past on their way to a meditation hall. Time stops for just a minute.

Now that I can send photo's I feel like I have entire world to share with you!!!!!!!!!

Currently nestled in a plush cushioned arm chair, clanging coffie cups and the jingle of spoons mix with the rumbling traffic outside. Not only does this place offer excellent oatmeal cookies, and strong jo, but the toliets are clean, are sit down and always have TP. thanks for joinng me!

With many smiles and a just as many hugs-ciao- .b