Thursday, 29 November 2012

DAY 2 : THAILAND : BANGKOK

Weather : showers - fine at night : 30+o

 
Out and about in central Bangkok
 
Elderly buskers
 
 
Lunch at food stalls at a local market
 
Today is the lunar festival of Loy Krathong
(Floating Boat festival). The staff at the embassy
brought individual offerings to float on the
compound pond.
 
Anita made her own floating boat.
Buddhists believe that you send
all your stress and problems away
by floating this offering.
 
Many of the bases are made of
bread and were devoured by the
huge goldfish in the pond.
 
Mark and I decided to join in the city's celebration
of the festival down by the river. We took the
skytrain to the river and availed ourselves of the
free hotel ferry service to the Mandarin Oriental
Hotel to get a good view.
 
We were unaware that the hotel had their own
cultural celebration and we were able to
purchase tickets for the buffet meal and
evening of traditional music and dance.
 
Tables and stage by the river.
Balmy night with entertainment by local regional
groups and activity along the river.
 
 
Each department of the hotel had made their
own (massive) floating offering, which were
launched into the hotel pool, where the buffet
was served.
 
Hotel staff in traditional costume.
 
 
Dancing and music from various regions
 
A very special celebration for the last night
of our holiday.
 
Fireworks to end the evening.
 
 
 
 
Thank you all for sharing our journey! It certainly has been diverse and extremely satisfying.
Our next adventure is to Northern India and Nepal, where we will walk the Anapuna Circuit (23 days) in March/ April next year. Let us know if you are interested in joining us - we begin walking on Aprl 1st. www.nirekaadventures.com
If we can get wifi we will resurrect the blog to share our experiences again.
 
Best wishes,
Meg and Mark
 
28/11/12
 
Our email : mm_smith@bigpond.net.au

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Tuesday, 27 November 2012

DAY 1 : THAILAND : BANGKOK

Weather : humid, hot : 33o

On Sunday we flew from Lisbon to Madrid
and then to Bangkok.
 
We are staying with our friends the Wises,
who are living in the Australian Embassy
residence in central Bangkok.
 
The residence is a beautiful building designed
by the Melbourne architect, Ken Woolley.
 
It featured in the October edition of Elle
 Decoration magazine.
 
Breakfast on the terrace with Anita, who had
just flown in from New York.
 
Teresa is presently taking a full-
time Cordon Bleu course. No
doubt we will all benefit from this
when she returns home.
 
We planned a sight-seeing day.
First we took a tuk-tuk to the river.
 
 
Unexpectedly we didn't arrive at the ferry
terminal but the more expensive individual
tour! We are gradually discovering that
everyone is in collusion (in this case to our
benefit)!
 
The tour included a river and klong trip,
which we found fascinating. We enjoyed
seeing the klong communities in action.
Washing has been such a continual feature
of this holiday - here we have klong style!
 
 
Satays, anyone?
 
 
Some huge water monitors resting.
 
We stopped at the Wat Arun - a large
Buddhist temple complex.
 
Detail on wat exterior
 
Much of the tile work on the structure was
created from plates and porcelain.
 
Another temple adjoining the complex.
Notice the attractive tile work.
 
We visited Jim Thompson's House. He was
an American who re-invented theThai silk
industry in the 1950s. He was an architect
who created his own compound by combining
6 traditional teak houses, decorated them
with antiques from China, Burma and Thailand.
Since his death it has become a museum, shop
and show piece of Thai design.
 
The Jim Thompson restaurant has an extensive
 menu and delicious food and drinks. I had
a lychee,lime and mint drink - so refreshing.
 
Having been dumped by our tuk-tuk
driver  in the city (somewhere?) - we weren't
 interested  in investing in his friends'
businesses (buying shirts, souvenirs etc)
 - we  eventually found  the very efficient
and modern Skytrain.
 
We weren't brave enough to take the maverick
 motor bike taxis - they look like a Ninja brigade.
 
A twilight walk in Lumpini Park with all the
Thai fitness fanatics - tai-chi, zumba, runners,
walkers, weights etc. Music playing, lots of
activity.Suddenly the Thai anthem
 came on the  loudspeaker  everyone
 stood still for the duration and then carried
on with their exercise as if nothing had
intervened.
 
SIGNS FOR THE DAY
 
I think everyone would agree with this!
 
I thought this was an interesting stereotype
of teenagers!
Notice electrical wiring!
  
 
Loving the warmth, the chili, fresh fruit and vegetables, yet another culture ... and surviving the whims of tuk-tuk drivers!
 
 
 
M&M
17/11/2012
Our email : mm_smith@bigpond.net.au
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saturday, 24 November 2012

DAY 10 : PORTUGAL : LISBON

Weather : raining : 16o

LAST DAY IN LISBON

 
Very wet day from the outset today. Fortunately we planned to have a relaxing day - as a walking tour was out of the question. We headed towards the main shopping area, Baixa. Footpaths are all tiled, reflecting the nature of the area.
 
 
Rain persisted so we sought refuge in a local cafe - they were trying to attract customers despite the uncomfortable conditions. Portuguese tarts are delicious in any weather.
 
 
Many tourists attracted to riding one of the 4 ornamental  elevators for a view of the city.
This one in Baixa is called 'Elevator of Carmo', built by a protege of Gustave Eiffel to connect downtown to Bairro Alto, the highest point of the city in the early 20th century.


 
A light lunch in the city. We inadvertantly selected a very expensive restaurant - so we
made some guarded choices. It was beautifully presented. I had grilled cod - the national specialty - not particularly tasty - structure of the cod not unlike salmon. Mark had sardines. We have just discovered that unlike France and Spain where bread is included in the overall price (and house wine in some cases), in Portugal small entrees are placed on the table and if you eat them you pay but if you don't, you don't. It can really add substance to the bill if you are not careful.
 
 
Ceramic nativity scenes amid Christmas decorations in stores.
 
 
Lots of traditional colour for the festive season.
 
 
Window shopping in the rain.
 
 
First prize for the smiliest nativity scene, compliments of our local $2 shop.
 
 
 
 
Farewell, Lisbon!
 
 
 
M&M
24/11/12
 
 

Friday, 23 November 2012

DAY 9 : PORTUGAL : SINTRA AND CASCAIS

Weather : cool, misty, overcast, windy : 12o

SINTRA
 
 
Today we booked on a small group tour to Sintra and Cascais. Sintra is a hill district about an hour north of LIsbon. There are 4 palaces and a Moorish castle spread amongst the hills and natural forest. We visited the Palace of Pena - a palace built in 1839 by King Fernando and Queen Maria in Romantic architecture on the original site of a 16th century Franciscan hermitage. We drove home via the western coast and along the River Teja.
 
A tiled representation of the Sintra hill district

 
The entrance gate to Palace of Pena
 
Entering the palace grounds
 
Francisco, our excellent guide and
driver, and other members of the
8 member group.
 
 
The palace is considered to be created in
the Romantic style with 3 influences -
neo-Arabic, neo-classic and neo-Gothic.
 
   
A courtyard in the Moorish style
 
Highly decorated rooms with
tiles and colours
 
Tiles floor to ceiling and ornate furniture to match.
 
Palace of Monserrate built in 1856 by
Sir Francis Cook, an Englishman.
 
DRIVE ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST
 
 
First stop Cabo da Roca considered to be
the most westerly point in Europe.
 
 
Cascais - a popular summer beach, fishing
port and sailing centre.
 
Sand castle art - even on a windy, cloudy
November day.
 
One of the many forts along the coastline
built to resist Napoleon.
 
We arrived back in Lisbon after 5 and walked
home via the Chiado precinct.
Click on arrow to experience Friday evening end-
of-week activity in the city.
 
 We discovered a great tapas place tonight
run by young chefs - with waiting list board.
The restaurant is Petiscaria Ideal - close to
where we are staying.
 
Stand out dish for us was grilled cuttlefish,
with shellfish and parsleyed potato.
 
 
 
M&M
23/11/12
Our email : mm_smith@bigpond.net.au