Erawan Shrine

The Erawan Shrine was just around the corner from our hotel, put in place in the 1950s when there were a string of accidents during the building of the hotel.  All was good after the shrine was built.  We got a glimpse of the dancers, but the rest of this tiny corner on a busy street was a mob-scene, so we decided to light our incense later.  There are temples and shrines everywhere.. so it's pretty easy to keep yourself in the good graces of the gods.

No durian on the train

One of the things that we loved about Bangkok was how easy it was to get around because of the trains.  Jakarta is working on their own system, but at the rate they are going, it could take another decade to get it in place.  The Thai trains were so clean and easy to use, and... umm.. not stinky!

Chatuchak Market

Chatuchak Market is a weekend market, and said to be the biggest market in the world. It was amazing!  http://www.bangkok.com/shopping-market/popular-markets.htm

We wandered and wandered.. there's a labyrinth inside and streets on the outside.  We found loads of handicrafts and decorations and clothes (thankfully, didn't find the animal market section).. and then found lunch.  Ahhhhh..

So great that you can eat the streetfood in Bangkok.. it's soooo good. 

truly, you could find ANYTHING in this market including more selfie-sticks than I've seen anywhere (and that's saying a lot given their popularity in Indonesia).  Jean shorts anyone?

We made a stop for traditional coconut ice cream with toppings that we didn't recognize.. lots of different kinds of beans for sure.

Yum!

And then we stopped for a 30-minute foot massage (at $5 per person).  Along with the ice cream, the perfect thing to keep us shopping!  This is Eben with Linda, who did his feet (while he drew her portrait).

Thai pillows

 

You know you're in a fancy hotel when you have a pillow menu.  We've never seen that before.

Grand Palace and the Emerald Buddha

In good tourist form, our first stop in Bangkok was the Grand Palace.  Bangkok is really hot this time of year, and the whole place was so SHINEY. "Too much gold," Eben said. It was spectacular, though..

The Palace compound was huge, and there was so much to look at.

And so many other tourists.. of all kinds ;)

Truth be told, it did get a bit overwhelming..

The Palace, and one of its guards (not too unlike the Greek one that wore a skirt)

In this same compound was the Emerald Buddha.  We were not allowed to take pictures inside, but there are a few here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wat_Phra_Kaew

 

The Emerald Buddha, a dark green statue, is in a standing form, about 66 centimetres (26 in) tall, carved from a single jade stone ("emerald" in Thai means deep green colour and not the specific stone). It is carved in the meditating posture in the style of the Lanna school of the northern Thailand. Except for the Thai King, no other person is allowed to touch the statue.

 

Before going in, you take off your shoes and give each other blessings with lotus flowers and holy water..

 

We took a few minutes inside to look at the beautiful decorations and the murals,

and we said prayers for everyone!

It's gonna be a good time

This is the first picture of Jaffa from our week-long vacation in Bangkok.  Still in the airport, she wanted this picture to be taken... perhaps a good omen? (yeah, like we're gonna spend lotsa THIS!)

Happy Chinese New Year!

Chinese New Year is a big deal in Indonesia, as they make up as much as six percent of the population.

 

At school, the combined the Carnival celebration with Chinese New Year.  It was a great day!  We wore our red and gold (OR our crazy costume), and the primary school classes had craft and cooking workshops.

 

The girls of CE2 (3rd grade)

 

CE1 (2nd grade)

 

In cooking, we made Yushen salad.. for good luck!  In the traditional version, there are 27 ingredients, each a symbol of something good for the new year.  For the students, we kept it simple:

• carrots - good luck
• sesame oil - flowing money
• plum sauce and honey - a sweet year
• crab meat - abundance
• sesame seeds - flourishing business
• wonton crackers - gold
• lime - good luck
• daikon/Asian pear - prosperity, eternal youth
• pomello - auspicious value

 

 

After assembling, you mix it with your chopsticks, throw it in the air (with your chopsticks) seven times, saying "Lo Hei" for good luck, then you eat it. 

The school also organized a traditional Chinese lion dance.  It was fantastic!!

The lions (two guys, front and back) did the traditional dance, which included jumping up onto the boxes and from one to the other "standing".  It was very cool! The costumes were great, the tails wagged and the eyelashes batted.  As a finale, they did Gangam style.. that was hilarious!!

 

At the end of the day, the kids did a parade for the parents to show off their outfits.  Very cute!

 

Overall, a terrific day! 

Gong Xi Fa Cai!