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