Thailand After Dark

The daytime temperatures in Chiang Mai reach a balmy 100 degrees as the midday sun blurs the colorful landscape.  But as the daylight fades and cooler evening breezes approach, the town comes to life.

The night bazaar provides something for everyone.  While the offerings of printed tee-shirts, sunglasses, and bric-à-brac are similar to many open-air markets, unique items are also encountered.  You spot a sign advertising custom tailored Thai suits in your choice of fabrics and color.  Can't decide between classy blue and neon green?  Mull it over during an enticingly affordable massage from the spa located next door. If you've worked up an appetite, visit the long row of food stalls and pair your soup or noodle bowl with the refreshing water from a fine young coconut.

After-hours exploration in Chiang Mai presents a unique opportunity to stroll to, and through, the many centuries-old Buddhist temples known locally as “Wats”.  The uncrowded courtyards host well lit, ornate structures adorned with gold-leaf alongside impressive statues.  You enjoy a leisurely walk between sites while developing an extensive collection of Wat-related puns:  Wat a beautiful archway!  Wat should we do next?

You wrap up the night with a round or two of cold Chang or Singha beer before heading back to your hotel.  It will be a hot one tomorrow...May as well sleep late!

I Don't Want To Work, I Just Want To Bang On the Drums All Day!

While visiting Chiang Mai Thailand, we decided to see a show and were under the impression that we had stumbled upon hard-to-find tickets to see Todd Rundgren in concert.  We greatly anticipated a fine reprisal of his classic lyrics, "I don't want to work, I just want to bang on the drum all day".  To our surprise, we had actually scored tickets to the Nong Pa Khrang traditional Thai cultural show, where coincidentally, they did indeed bang on the drums. 

PS:  We think that the drummers at Nong Pa Khrang may have been part of a Todd Rundgren cover band - Try singing his lyrics while listening to the Thai drumbeats!

Big Buddha Visitors’ Guide, Lantau Island, Hong Kong

Lovely Big Buddha

One of the popular sites to visit while in Hong Kong is the Big Buddha statue.  It stands (well, technically it sits) over 100 feet tall, is made of bronze, and weighs more than 250 tons.

Getting to the statue is relatively straightforward.  A few train changes on the subway system and a 30 minute gondola ride up a scenic mountain delivers you to a somewhat touristy fishing village named Ngong Ping.  Head past the restaurants and souvenir stores towards the Po Lin Monastery and you’ll soon find yourself at the base of the 200+ steps leading up to the statue.

While approaching the Buddha, quietly consider karma or at least fondly recall a few memorable episodes of the classic comedy sitcom, My Name is Earl.  Either approach should help remind you that putting good into the universe leads to good coming back to you in the future.

After visiting the Buddha stop by the monastery you passed on your way in.  Sit in the courtyard, contemplate your quiet surroundings, and partake in a refreshing beverage or ice cream cone.  Notice the resident dogs, but don’t pet them because they bite and enlightenment is rarely reached through rabies treatment.

The gondola ride down will likely be calm and quiet.  Use this opportunity for introspection to consider what the Big Buddha has shared with you.  If you are fortunate, you will leave with more than a few nice snapshots and a new travel blog entry.  Namasté.

Not Nearly Enough - Sydney, Australia

We have successfully booked our final few flights in Asia, the last of which will bring us home to Denver for a quick break before hitting the road again this summer.  We are amazed at how quickly these recent four months have passed.  There are many places we didn’t visit along with others where we’d like to return…Soon.  Australia is one of those places.

We spent only five days in Sydney, a hip, modern, waterfront city reminiscent of San Francisco.  The weather wasn’t cooperative; another cyclone followed us, bringing with it several days of rain.  We didn’t let the inclement weather dampen our plans with one notable exception:  We skipped an outdoor performance of the opera Madame Butterfly which would have surely been a unique experience.

We explored the city on foot visiting the botanic gardens, the opera house, the many wharfs, and when the rain worsened, we ducked into diverse local restaurants and cafes.  The people were very welcoming and we left with a wish to return when we could dedicate sufficient time to better explore this far-reaching and diverse country.

The Weird and Wild Landscape (Final) - Wai-O-Tapu Mud Pools

The third and final entry in New Zealand's Weird and Wild Landscape feature submits a constantly evolving lake-sized cauldron, percolating with plops, fizzes, and plenty of steam.  While the embedded video reflects a relatively calm bubbly mud bath, we were fortunate witnesses to a few impressive eruptions that launched hot viscous muck high into the air like a spectacular fountain.  We resisted the urge to chuck in some local coins and submit wishes for consideration by Rūaumoko, the Maori volcano god.