Monsoons In Veitnam

When I was in Saigon it rained and rained.  That did not stop me, off I went to a temple.  Really, the rain made water falls as you can see here and even on the upper steps.

Now this was the perfect photo op, as only I could see.

I handed my camera to a friend, and this is it

Now,

Do you get the picture,

The pink rain poncho looks my underwear

Look closely thru the rain drops

Are you laughing

Get the picture

Too much rain

and really water logged,

Now, I have your attention

OMG

This Chinese guy just jumped in beside me.....

Look closely, I am dying laughing at his sense of humor

Really, 

Am I peeing in my pants????

You know the old expression

Turn lemons to lemonade

Turn a rainy day 

to a day of laughs

Happy New Year

Doi Sethep

This was an adventure going up the mountain to this Buddha Temple.   It is the kind of thing, when you seen one you seen them all.

This ritual caught my eye.  As you enter the grounds of the temple, they are selling lotus flowers.  Now, that may have not been so usual, but each flower had a stick thru it. I stood and watched as they prayed, then lite a candle and placed the flowers on a pan between the two candle holders.  More and more people came and the flowers started to build up and up.

  Here come this little man all dressed in black and picked up all the flowers.  Look in the middle of this picture and you can make him out with a arm full of flowers.  He took them to the gate, but them in a bucket and sold them again.

These people really know how to make money
And the process starts over gain

This is the temple

Making Incense

 Traveling thru Vietnam,   I visited a market where they were making incense.  I was so interested in the lady rolling the sticks to the particular flavor.  After a while, I realized, she wa. s making each piece of incense by hand and making 100 per minute.  I was so amazed.

She got up and ask me, thru a sign language,  "You, try it".  So I sat down and tried my hand at making incense.  If you look closely to the right of my right hand, there is the blob of stuff that you roll as you roll the stick in my left hand, adding the flavor which is a powder that is lightly sprinkled on the surface.

After about one minute, I had one stick, about the size of milkshake straw, what a mess.  I was promptly asked to get up.  I am NOT a candidate for incense making.

The picture at the top is the lady that was training me,  she had the wrong candidate,  I am Not incense making employee.

I love getting involved and inter-reacting with the Vietnamese.  Just being kind and smiling and looking at their works, I am drawn into their daily lives.

I will not forget the expressions of this lady as she tried to help me make one stick of incense and maybe she will not forget me,

Happy New Year

Jeanne

Daily Market

 Each morning I take a walk to the local market.  These is a sense of organized ciaos.  There are vendors cooking any and everything that you could want.  These ladies are cooking a donut type pastry  This lady has sprinkled sesame seeds on these pastry above
 .

 This lady is cooking a coconut type pastry and then she folds it over and sells little tray of them.  I have not tried them yet,  Really trying to watch what I eat.  Or should I say watch what they cook and then eat it.

All of this happens right on the street, as you can see above, this guy is making the dough, rolling it our , cutting it into strips and little pieces and then to fry wok, and then to me.

I watch them with great interest and they love it and smile.  Even when I take the pictures and show it to them, they seems so pleased.

There are two of these markets within walking distance of Smith Suites, but you have to get there early, because this is the breakfast market and by 8 am, they are packing it up.  And the next crowd of vendors will be arriving.

I am trying to limit myself to eating "on the street", but as I discover something new and share it with the people I have met, they tell me about some kinda food I do not need to miss.

What a fun way to start the day......

Happy Holidays

Jeanne

Christmas in Thailand

Actually, I was able to find an English speaking church in Chiang Mai.  It was in the Chiang Mai Community School.  This was the scene at the front of the school.  The tree was in white tole with the star on top and the Thailand national flag.

The service was all in English and with the words of the songs projected on a screen.

I wore a sleeves outfit, bought from Marsh's cottage.  Oriental comes to South East Asia

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Jeanne

Oysters in Vietnam

OK, I was on a bus and got the driver to stop and I opened the oyster myself

This little lady could not believe it, nor could the people on the bus

Just too fun,

and I did not get sick

Respond

Worst Chef Ever

Ok I did not say I caught the place on fire

Use your imagination

and respond

Dragon Boat Adventure

I am now in Hue, Vietnam.  There are Dragon Boats all along the river.  In the morning I was to take a Dragon Boat ride up the river to visit a Kings temple and grave site.

It had been raining so much and the wind was up some.  When I arrived on the boat, all the window seats were take and I decided to go to the front of the boat where the captain was driving the boat.

Now, this was not the dragon boat like the one in Oriental.   This boat had two dragon forms on each side and there was roof covering the boat and there were roofs on top of the covering with all kinds of decorations point up and out.

Of, course I speak NO Vietnamese, so I nodded to the man running the boat.  He motioned he was staying to the side of the river, because of the swift currents.  Going up river we went under the first bridge.  I motion a sigh of relief that we made it under the bridge without hitting the bridge.

The "captain" laugh, motioning  no to worry......Going along the water got swifter and fast.....

The captain said the 3rd bridge was the one to be concerned about......now, you must remember the captain speaks no English and I do not speak Vietnamese.

As we entered the 3 bridge, we were scrapping the top of the dragon boat with the bottom the bridge.
The captain motioned for all the people to come to the front of the boat to lower the front of the boat. Now, here all all these people rushing to the front of the boat, as the scrapping got louder and louder as the captain was giving all the gas he could and the noise got so very loud.  And to make things more hectic, the train crossed the bridge above us.

I could see the roof of the boat crumbling and cracking.  At one point, I could see thru the cracked roof.

And it happened, the boat got stuck under the bridge, as it drew us all forward.   OMG, the boat was stuck and the captain threw the boat in reverse and the noise started again and all the little ornaments
were being bent down and the roof was being crumbled.

    Here is the boat hitting the bridge

 Here are the pictures of the boat getting stuck under the bridge.  Not to understand a word, I got it....we were not going to take the dragon boat to the temple.   The Vietnamese people do not give up, the captain finally maneuvered back and forth and got the boat out.  He banked the boat in the river brush, tied the boat to a tree, called our bus.

Now, here are all these people wadding through the brush, going thru a muddy park, crossing a busy highway to get on the bus.

Not to speak the language, I got it and so did the captain......

What an adventure

Enjoy

Notre Dame bride

Ok, this there a brides everywhere and this was photo-op in Saigon at Notre Dame.  This is a beautiful bride as men from everywhere had their turn to have their picture taken with her.  The groom stood by patiently.  Really, no one was paying any attention to him.   This would not do for me,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

I as I stood there and watched the bride getting all the attention, I noticed the groom just standing all alone as the photographer taking all the pictures as the men took their turn having their picture with the bride

Here is the groom, such great smile.  Now a little attention for the groom, so I started the commotion for him.  Then the photographer got into the action too.  The focus now off the bride to the groom

 Ok, this might not be your first kiss, but this kiss and all the attention, this groom will never forget.


Keep following my post and let me hear from on the comments or

justjeannec@gmail.com

Safe travels and health to you

Jeanne

Cooking class

I had the chance to go to an organic garden that was sponsored by a community.  There were little plots of all types of plants.  During the visit, I attended a cooking glass, so when I get home I can fix for all of you an organic meals that really taste good.  Instead of using flour, this class featured rice flour.   Sooooooo good

Here are the garden plots, so very neat and so very clean

US Embassy

I am now in Saigon.  We were free in the morning and the guide suggested that we go to the Bitexco Building for a view of the city, so a few of us walked there.  Really, such an interesting walk, with vendors all along the street and the motor cycles everywhere.

There were KFC and Starbucks and other familiar business.  The side walks were in need of repair and motor bikes parked all over the place.  Organized ciaos

I spent the afternoon on a city tour, and just by happen stance, the guide pointed out "To your right is where the US Embassy was during the war".

I rushed to the front of the bus and was able to take this picture.

Can we stop????

OH NO!!!!!!!

He explained no walking, no parking and no stopping....

As you can see, the area is so clean and well maintained, but off limits.

I was so sad, what a shame, I would have like to have had some time just to contemplate that time in my life and the significance of that was.

I am leaving early today for Ho Chi Min

Let me hear from you

at

justjeannec@gmail.com

Jeanne
 

 Finally, I got to load the pictures.  As you can see, now, this is denoting the entrance to the graveyard
There are no American soldiers buried here.  Although, there could be remains at the other site, where DNA testing is still in process

 Each grave has a foot stone and this graveyard is maintained constantly with fresh flowers.

 This is the site of the Bridge Kwai, which the railroad is still in use.  Japanese government rebuild the bridge.

 Here are some travelers waiting for the next train.

 You can walk across the bridge, providing a train is not coming

This is the size bomb that destroyed 2 concrete pilings

Bridge Over River Kwai

It is so great to have time to see something from a movie...... and today was that day in Thailand

I went to see the actual bridge from the movie BRIDGE OVER RIVER KWAI...

At the very beginning of this adventure, the English speaking guide told us, that it is not

KWI WITH A LONG I, AS I AM LEAVING,  it KWA , a long A,   and all this time I have been saying it wrong.

The Museum of Kwai is located beside the grave yard of marked soldiers, there is second graveyard of unmarked soldiers.  The second graveyard has research of DNA to identify the remains.

As you enter the museum, I was told no phones, so from my memory.......

The train was to be a vital link for Japan going west to conquer more countries and building this railway was to take 3 years by engineers..............no thought the Japanese Army, so they bought in in over 90,000 prisoners of war to expedite the process.  

I was amazed to learn, there were less than 700 American POWs.

The statues and the actual photos were so moving.   What conditions.......

In the middle of the exhibit, there were interviews of actual prisoners, who now are dead.   The British soldier told of whistling the famous tune portrayed in the movie......he just laughed as he explained it was the POWs way, to stay be strong, we will do this, we will survive, as a rallying
hymn.

He explained, how the Japanese soldiers like the whistling and wanted to hear it more and who the POWs would rally with their little strength left from very little food and water.

The museum took about 2 hours to go thru, but really one could have been there longer......

There was information booth leaving the museum where I asked the lady to let me know the sites of any American soldiers that where there.   She explained when the remains were identified as Americans, the families were notified and then they were sent back to American.

After time in the grave site, it was a short walk to the bridge.....GOSH, what a sight, there were booths and people everywhere, what a carnival atmosphere

The King is death, and the Thai people were celebrating that the King instrumental in restoring the bridge and other contributions to preserve this sight.   And for the next 10 days, there would light shows and many reenactments at the bridge.

Not what I expected, but I did somewhat understand.

The Kings death is a real BIG thing here........I am even wearing a black ribbon.  This is given to us each day by the hotel personnel.

The Guadalupe Wine Valley

When my niece, Amie and I decided to come early to Southern California, I suggested we go to Mexico.  This was to be a short drive from San Diego to the border , where we explore, although we had room reservations.   Oh, what could go wrong, just cross the board and as I remembered to show proof of car insurance, as in the past this is a MUST.

From memory, as you cross to the Mexican side, there was a large sign where you could buy insurance or show proof of insurance.  Crossing took maybe 30 minutes, and then WHERE WAS THE INSURANCE PLACE.    And heck, there was NO where to pull of or make a U TURN.

Finally, we stopped and Amie had some info about the insurance place, which was now on the US side.  Turning around, and OMG, the traffic going to the US was about 1 1/2 wait.

Now, you could shop from car, buy drink concoction, food of all typed.  Now really, did you want this 1 foot statue of hands holding the Nativity Scene.   Ok, how about a blanket of your favorite NFL team.    I was not too sure of their spelling of the teams, but I am not the best speller myself.    How about a hat, a sombrero or poncho.   At least we were being entertained.

As were we 15 cars from the border guard, you held your drivers license up to a camera, I was not too sure for what reason.  Although, there was an US border guard standing there, or was he standing there asleep.  Oh, well, I asked him about the insurance office and then Amie said,"Where is the Visa office?"  Why??????he said.  Amie told him we turned around for the insurance and visa.  He shook his head, motioning no need for either, and it was too late now.

As we approached the border guard in the car, she could not believe that we had be Mexico for 2 hours and 1 1/2 hrs in line.  Did we have anything to DECLARE??????????I declare that Trump needs to drive across this border and see how hard these people are working.  Really, we need this spirit of working hard in the hot sun, find a talent to get some to give you money.   If all Americans worked this hard for little, we would be ahead of the game.

Now, you can argue with me, I am not there...................................

I do not have an pictures of this, but really what an experience.    It was a really long time to go only a little way, but it was so worth it......

What fun, not a repeat....



We arrived in La Masion, where we had a room?????Cottage????From Penny, an American retired in Mexico.  The road to the place was alot to be desired, we had to drive so slow because of the rocks in the road.  It was getting so dark and cold.  I really did not pack for cold weather.  After getting fire wood for the fire place, we went to the local tienda, grocery store.  We had nothing and there a kitchenette area.

Back down the rocky road to the main road.  There were no street lights, really very remote area.  The store had light bulbs hanging from the ceiling.  Ok, what to get, coffee and beer.....I was hesitate about the food and the milk.  Oh, then there was a guy which brought in fresh made pastries, OK this was the ticket......Now, I had only dollars$$$$$, an learning experience for Amie........The owner a lady rang it all up and showed me the total, OH Goodness......it was in Pecos.....can you tell me dollars???She had a calculator and started to punch in the figures and turned it to me........Hell, I had been to Mexico in years....$1.47, I mean a pound of coffee and beer and two pastries....What a bargain...

After returning back to Penny's and opening the gate with my name on it and locking the gate, we built a fire and took" partial drunk", sleep came easy.

The next morning we were off early and the adventure continued with going to the wine valley, really we did not see any where to eat or really anything at for the longest time, only because we in the mountains following a bunch of bikers, I mean on bicycles.   Then, we started to vineyards, really looked so pitiful, really where the vine and not mention the grapes and the vineyards were closed.

Finally, we saw a truck going to vineyard and we followed it and stopped and asked the people about where was a place to eat.  Now, these must have thought we were crazy, or just did not want to talk to us or we were robbers.......they could have been from Mars and us from who knows where....they pointed to keep going.   There was vineyard, but a fence, or should I say, wire on sticks closing the entrance......so we decide to go in the construction entrance.  I saw a lady dressed nice and asked her where to eat???????and she motioned us to follow us and she took us to vineyard, the back way and they were just opening.

Now, this was not I had in mind, I wanted breakfast from a typical Mexican place.  This was 5 *****
Linens and a fireplace and the service.   The menu was in Spanish, but I know food, but the Pecos...
OMG, the food was great, with muffins to die for, great coffee and the Mexican breakfast.   Oh, I was stuffed and it was about time when the buses from the cruise ship showed up.

Ok, the check............in Pecos  and then dollars........$15.00....this was great!!!!! So, I asked the waiter, if there was a place to stay on this vineyard???????Now, he was clueless, so he brought over Oscar....
He explained there were few places to stay in the valley and they book quickly, but hopefully in the next year, they want to 22 rooms....

Now, really this place is unbelievable....It is what I remembered about Mexico...Great Views, and the Wine is really up and coming....and the prices are the best

And they want you there and so glad you came, ate, spent money.......

So, planning a place to go for a bargain and good food and good drinks, here it is

Guadalupe Wine Valley, Mexico

 



 

Flying 25 hours

Today is Monday,  I am finally in Thailand.  I arrived here yesterday about noon.   After checking in 4 hours before my flight in LA, and a 15 1/2 hour flight to China, a 3 hour lay over and 3 more hours to Bangkok.  I am here, but I have to tell you, I was exhausted.  I wanted check in the room, get a shower and find something to eat and TAKE A NAP.  

The shower was a easy fix......But I wanted to eat on the street, but I had not Thai Bak, that is there money..so the lady at the desk, changed money for me......I gave $5 and she gave me $154 TB.  

I left the hotel, turned left, the way the taxi brought me and there places all along the way to eat on the street, and I mean on the street,  Table and chairs on the side walk as woks were firing up all kinds of concoctions.   I had been wanting the noodles in soup.  It is so great you can view the food before it cook and look around at what others are eating.....

I settled on soup with noodles, eggs, heart and tongue.  Now, to easy your mind, I did take the hep A and B before... and if I was going to get food poison,  it could be now.  I figured after flying for over 25 hours and eaten Chinese airplane found with no gastric movements, this could do the trick.

You know, it is amazing how there is a language barrier, but "How Much?" is so universal.  Of course, I did not understand the answer.  And no matter where I have been there is always someone to come to my rescue.....$50 BK.  of well, I did have that hundred.   I sat down right at the stove with others on these little plastic stools, as the lady started to prepare my meal.  I was so amazed, she was cutting the hard boiled eggs with dental floss.  

Oh, the meal included tea.  Really, this tea was so organic, you could taste the dirt in it.....but for the soup, it was so good and hot with all that meat, no food police here.

Right back to the hotel, and the bell men bow as you enter... and told me about a market that opens at 6pm tonight.... and being on 3 o'clock and taking a nap, of yea, be here and do what the locals do.

It took and act of congress to figure out how to turn the lights of......Arthur, the bell came to my room to help me

And off to sleep.......now honestly when I put on my PJ's I felt like pig and looked like an elephant.  I felt like the large green ball in Tina'a exercise class.  My angles were so huge.  I needed a laxative and some major liposuction. 

The sleep was so deep, I dreamed and slept like someone had drudged me.

I did wake up around 6 pm and decided to go the market going the opposite way.  OMG, there were rides for the kids, even you could drive a transformer......... and shops for ever and the food.....I could not eat thing,

Now, it is hot, about 80 degrees.  I just walked and walked.  I did buy some water.  I still had money,

$5 US is really going far, but enough.....trying to get on this time zone and walking back to the hotel,  the "call" came to me and thank heavens the hotel, and then my room and the bathroom where close, but those lights......finding the toilet in the dark was a challenge.....I MADE IT

This morning, I got up went to the gem and took an aerobic class and then breakfast of fruit, and sushi....it is Thailand.

I am on my way to the temple and some emerald thing....

OK no pictures, yet, I am on the learning curve

Jeanne

Wedding Crashers

Do you know where the first Margarita was made,  well it was Hussons  in Ensinada Mexico.  This was on the must do list and it was a short walk to this local bar from our hotel.  Oh, you have to go thru the street shopping.  Really, I did not need anything, although we did find a couple of most haves''

After a so called 5 minute walk, we arrived.  OMG there was a wedding reception at bar and we were invited.  It was a cash bar, oh yea, 2 for 1.  And let the good times roll, and indeed they did.  I danced with the bride, the groom was older and did not participate.  Amie and I meet these 2 cousins of the bride and started the English - Spanish conversations.    Now our drinks in the typical bar glass were about gone, when the waiter showed up with 2 more margaritas in little champagne glasses..........Amie was motioning and saying OH NO, we did not need any more to drink.   The waiter looked at us with this astonishment on his face and as he said in Spanish, these are for the guys and NOT US.......................Here were these 2 macho guys drinking out of the dainty glasses as 2 American "chix" were slamming down drinks in huge bar glasses.

Now, it was off to dinner, were I danced with the kids at the table next to ours,  I mean ever mariachi
was following me around.  Too fun, now as the night went on, I really can not remember details so clearly, but the next day it came to me, I did end up at the bar at my hotel where I ate popcorn with hot sauce on it, because there was hot sauce on my shirt that reminded me.

Really, being with my niece and going to Mexico is so fun  

A Long Day

As things start in Oriental, get up early to leave for the New Bern Airport.  And as usual it was cold, so I was in my "sausage" pants and the rescued coat from Chicago.  Susan picked me up, as things have it the luggage grew and it seemed I was moving and not just going on a trip.

And that New Bern Airport, closing security 30 minutes early.  And as luck has it I was pulled aside for a security check.  Oh heck, I forgot to pull my liquids out of the bag, but the good news was I had TSA pre check and did not have to take off my shoes. (Did I have my shoes?????) And off to Charlotte, and with my new credit cards, I had privileges at THE ADMIRALS CLUB.  Honestly, I looked like a bag lady, but what the heck, I did not know anyone, although they always ask for my ID.

I had to fly to Fort Worth and then to San Diego.  I think it took me 16 hours and by now I did look like a haggered bag lady, so you can imagine what they thought when I arrived at "Torrey Pines Hilton.

DO YOU, do YOU have a reservation and I did with my points,  This is quite the place and it was so cold, so the "sausage" pants and rescued coat became the dress of the day and the next day and the next day.   Well, they know who I was and everyone called me by name, maybe they discussed my "uniform"

What the heck, I was there to see my niece and her husband, Alan.  Alan is a NEW professor in research in San Diego State University.

Amy came and got me on Thanksgiving morning and we were going on a walk, while Alan prepared the traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Now my niece Amie has an issue with time and distance.  The walk was  on Cowell's mountain.  As she parked the car, I looked up and saw little tiny people way up on this so called mountain.  "Are we going up there?????"  Oh NO Aunt Jeanne, that is another trail, we are going on the other trail.  About one hour later, we had gone up and then down and up again, and now we were the little tiny people.  The water bottle we had taken was almost gone and it was hot, really hot, about a 25 degrees warmer.  There was no where to sit and there was NO shade and to top it off, a swarm of bees came over the top of the mountain.  Now, if think I was tired, you should have seen me run.  That was all I needed to get bee stings before the adventure had really started.

We made out OK and the going down was for the better.

Alan is quite the chef and what a spread and everything was homemade, even the yeast rolls.

After several cinnamon Blue Moons, I was ready to return to Torrey Pines.   They hardly knew who I was in the short sausage pants and that yellow top that all of you know so well.........

A hot shower, totally filled to the "gills" NO ONE had to rock me asleep