Buddha's head wrapped up in the roots of the Bodhi tree.
Wat Maha That
Prang: towering phallic spire of Cambodian origin.
Meditating Buddha wrapped in a saffron robe.
The color saffron is Agni or fire (in Hindu and Buddhist culture) represents the Supreme Being.
Many headless Buddhas remain along the walls of the temples. The Burmese army fought with Thailand and cut-off the heads of the Buddhas.
Some parts of this wat was restored 3 times and is evident by the different types of brick used during each restoration period.
Can you find Thailand's Leaning Tower of Pisa?
Stupa or Chedi-a large bell-shaped tower that houses the relics of Buddha or a Thai king.
Huskies in Thailand???
Wat Ratchaburana
So if you go back a photo, you can see this detail is just above the entrance to the prang.
Chedi on the left and prang on the right.
Buddha multi-tasking...taming evil forces with the right hand and bestowing blessings with the left.
The ceiling inside one of the prangs.
Dor taking in the view of the temple grounds of Wat Ratchaburana.
A chedi built to house the remains of a prince.
Dor inside a vault...no gold here :(
A mural painted on the inside of the prang.
The narrow and steep stairwell we had to climb into to see the mural!
Time to make some ancient Thai medicine. Bergamot (green fruit) used for its essential oil and galangal (thai ginger).
Our classroom for learning about Thai medicine!
Sweets!
Making roti! But really thin like a crepe and then filled with a stringy sweet, kind of like cotton candy!
This Buddha got some BIG feet!
This reclining position of Buddha represents his dying moments as nirvana was attained.
Buddhists lighting candles and incense and offering flowers to Buddha.
These Buddhas seem kind of out of place?
Ganesh!
Here fishy, fishy, fishy!!!
This army of fish swim in the Chao Phraya River near one of the many temples.
Buddhists pay for saffron cloth to clothe the statue of Buddha.
Mosaic work on the rooftop of a temple.
Position of the right hand: Vitarka or Dhammachakka (exposition or turning of the wheel dharma) which evokes the first public discourse on Buddhist doctrine.
Bhumisparsa ('touching the earth')-In this classic mudra the right hand touches the ground while the left rests in the lap. This hand position symbolizes the point in the Buddha's legendary life story when he sat in meditation beneath the banyan tree in Bodh Gaya, India and vowed not to budge from the spot until he gained enlightenment. (www.yogabound.com)
Institute for Field Research Expedition volunteers and our teachers of Thai medicine.
Our teacher's baby!
Time for elephants!!!
Elephant ride only 300 baht!
Tanmay and Jessie.
Allen and myself!
Elephant ear!!!
Looks like a scene from Jumanji, huh?
Their "driver" decides to take a break!
View of one of the temples from atop an elephant!
We became very good friends...
The elephant's gettin a little frisky!
And finally I got smooched by the elephant!
The original wall of the Wat. See the narrow slits, those are the windows.
Structurally sound? I think not, anymore :(
Elaborately decorated golden Buddha.
This temple was untouched by the warfare between Burma and Thailand.
Wat Na Phramane. This Buddha is 1300 y/o and was brought from Sri Lanka to Ayuthaya, Thailand. This is a representation of Buddha as a prince before enlightenment. He sits 6 meters high and 4.4m wide.
Tanmay or Buddha?
Meditating.
...still meditating.
IFRE volunteers!
Time for a Thai oil massage with a hot compress...oh the life of a volunteer!
Nook and I. She is the hostess with the mostess!!!
Bang-Sai fishing village...lunch on the dock...literally!!!
There's the chef...
...cooking right out of his boat.
That's my bike I rode around in Bang-Sai!!
Sleeping quarters at Urai's homestay in Bang-Sai...the net did a great job keeping the mosquitoes out!!
Urai's kitchen.
Here's the wood-fired stove. It sits on a ledge just outside the door!!
Red curry anyone???
The view from Urai's dock!!
Urai's porch.
School kids in Bang-Sai village.
She's the only girl in the class...She's the smartest in the class...
Kids are hammin' it up for the camera!!
Little pimps!!!
The classroom.
Little girl playing outside the classroom.
Teacher, volunteers and students.
Urai and Tanmay.
Our boat driver. We were on our way to the temple.
Tanmay and Jessie riding in a tuk-tuk!
Urai, me and Allen. A tuk-tuk is a pickup truck with benches in the back with an overhead covering...public transport.
Tricycle rickshaw driver.
Turtle at Bang-pa In Royal Palace
Bang-pa In Royal Palace (Summer Palace)
Summer Palace.
So since I had a sleeveless top and pants on I needed to don this lovely yellow-"We love the King" shirt and this pretty pink sarong...Yes I know I look good!
Sa wat dii kha!!
Riverbank houses on stilts.
The funniest T-shirt I've seen so far!!!
It's time to learn Thai!!!
That's my name in Thai on the left!!
Tanmay is studying hard!
Allen writing in English, Thai and Chinese.
Urai-our host and teacher!!! She's wonderful!!
Time to give alms to the monks.
630a Friday June 20th...awaiting the monk's arrival by boat!!
Urai's boat
Urai's neighbor waiting to give alms to the monk as well.
Backyard beauty!
The monk arrives.
Urai offers one dish.
Flowers are given as well...
Now it's my turn!!!
Tanmay takes a turn.
Off the monk goes to the next neighbor.
Urai and I!!
IFRE volunteers and Urai!!!
Cole and Priya!!!
My kiddos on their golfcart!
Photo-op in front of the house!!
Isn't she pretty!!
Cool Coley!!
Waiting on the swing at Crepes & Co.
Insanity that is Bangkok!!
At the Jim Thompson House.
Me at The Jim Thompson House.
And for the grand finale...VERTIGO!!!!
The view from the 64th floor!!!
The Westerman Four!!!
Bangkok's lighting up!!!
Another section of the restaurant, just a few steps higher.
Nisha and I break for a selfy!!!
The waiter loved Cole!!!
My Coley!!!
A little blurry but oh so cute!!!
Cole and Papa!!
Nisha and Dave awaiting cocktails in Chatachak Market!!
We're taking a break after our first hour of shopping!!!
Cocktails, anyone???
Cute little coffe shop in the heart of Chatachak Market.
Too bad I couldn't get any of this beautiful artwork home :(
The Beatles in Thailand!!
First day of volunteering at Wat Talad Kriab. Tanmay teaches English.
Awaiting the princess' arrival!
Students recieve flags.
Sitting on the roadside for the princess' drive by.
Music class.
My evening stop for a kiwi smoothie!!! Yummy!!!
Carmen, our waiter and me!!
Andrew and Maria...our new friends from ??? Ooops forgot that detail!
FRIENDS!!!
Chang gets two thumbs up!!!
VN Guesthouse in Kanchanaburi
Testing out the self-timer!
Breakfast with a view!
Time for another elephant ride!!
Effie and Leor!
Lee and Euan!
Rows of bamboo houses near elephant riding in Kanchanaburi.
Horsies at the elephant park!!
River Kwai
Euan and Lee taking a ride through the river.
An elephant's view!
Euan and Lee make it out safely!
Leor and Effie's turn!
Elephant ride #2!!!
Aren't we cute!!!
I'm sitting on the elephant's neck!!!
Giddie up boy...or girl!!!???
Alright go to get off...elephant tired :(
Elephant like banana!!!
Oh no two at a time!!!!
I had to be careful of the tusks!!!
Bamboo rafting!!
Our raft guide!
Leor and I!
The water just comes aboard and we still float!!
The River Kwai!
No worries they are okay!
Poor guide on the raft by himself :(
Row, row, row your raft...
Erawan Waterfalls!!!!
See the fishes!!!
Number ??? of seven tiers!!!
Selfy!!!
Postcard?? I think not.
Not sure of the meaning of this tree draped in material???
I made it to the seventh tier...what a trek!! Now it's time to swim!!!
Euan enjoying the waterfall!
Effie making his way onto the rock under the fall!!
Death Railway
Kra Sae Cave
Didn't get to do this. Maybe next time. The motorboat pulls you on the raft up river and then dumps you over and you float back down!!
All aboard!!!
Danika peaking out of the train!
It was crazy to know how close I was to the mountainside.
Danika, my new friend from Manitoba!
Thailand's countryside!!
Kids swinging on vines!!!
The Bridge over River Kwai
Floating restaurants!
Bridge pic!!
My guesthouse at sunset...oh I already miss that place!!
Hey dad!! Look it's your store!!!
Carmen's last night in Ayutthaya :(
Before the storm!!
Take the felly across the liver!!!
Carmen!!!
Tanmay!!!
Chang, anyone???
Let the Changover begin!!!
That's how much Carmen had to drink...yeah right!!!
Tanmay all smiles!!!
See I told you she had more!!
Little brother and big sister!!
Carmen's trying to get a free foot massage!!!
Siblings crackin' up!!!
David and Carmen 'avin' a laugh!!
David, Nang and Carmen!!
These two own a great little bar and restaurant that was frequented often by all of us!!!
Nang is having a boy!!!
Carmen and I and our last night in Ayutthaya together :(
Carmen and her school kids!!
Teacha teacha!!!
Tears are beginning to flow.
Last hugs from Carmen's students...:(
Saying goodbye.
Johnathan and Carmen...last hugs.
Okay one more hug for us!!!
Bye bye Carmen...Thailand loves you!!!
Three Kings Monument in Chiang Mai
Three Kings
Chedi at sunset
Entrance to Tamarind Hotel...didn't stay here :(
Phra Jedee Sareerikathadsirilak. A very chill place to just sit and read.
Phra Jedee Sareerikathadsirilak grounds.
Phra Jedee Sareerikathadsirilak door.
Main road around the moat in Chiang Mai.
Pratu Tha Phae (East Gate)
Would've been a nicer pic without the power lines.
I met up with Maria and Andrew!!
Noam, B and me at THC!!
Peace!!
John and Maria
The lovely German couple I met Sonja and Marc!
Kris...too much Singha!!
They are fabulous!!!
Hugs!!
Dancin' the night away at Spicy!!
Gettin' crazy!!!
Sweet smile from Sonja!
Marc took my camera for a while!!
I have no idea who this guy is?? He threw'em up and so did I!!
Marc gettin' friendly hugs from the Thais!!
My view on the way to Doi Inthanon from the back of the public bus!
That's the red bench you sit on after climbing in through the back! It's quite a nice way to travel.
Wat Phra That Si Chom Thong
Inside the wat an array of golden Buddhas.
Lotus flower and tiers of Buddhas
Artwork over the entrance way.
The branches of this tree needed some support!
This is the first truck I hitched a ride in to Doi Inthanon!
When I finally reach the top of Doi Inthanon my eyes behold this beautiful white statue of Buddha!
That's Thom! The guy who I hitched a ride with and showed me around the temple and grounds! A really nice man!
Stone wall carving.
Mosaic tile work displaying the story of Buddha.
Ceiling
Just amazing colors!!
Flowers placed at the base of the white Buddha statue.
Tile work on the outside of the temple.
A misty day on Doi Inthanon!
Garden
Sorry don't know the name of this pretty little flower!
See the stone path looks like leaves!
And now my ride back down the mountain.
Dad of the two kids in the front seat.
No child safety laws in Thailand.
Leaving Doi Inthanon :(
Kao Sou...curry with soft and crispy noodles and veggies galore!!! YUM!!
Doi Suthep
Jackfruit tree.
Jackfruit
Little Thai just hangin' out on the steps!
Each Buddha represents one day of the week plus a Wednesday night.
Emerald Buddha
White marble Buddha.
Row of bells
View of Chiang Mai from Doi Suthep.
Base of a light post.
Aon Muang Vihara
The white elephant that carried relics of Buddha to this mountain.
306 steps to the top of the temple!
Dressed in white for meditation class.
Sala tree.
One of four ornamental umbrellas at the temple.
Wat Lokmoli
Built in the 1300's
Shiny!
Woodwork!
Wait for the next pic to see the scale of this temple!
People look like ants compared to this temple!!
Buddhists lighting candles and incense.
Wat Phra Singh, established in 1345
Golden durian
Artwork on the door of Wat Phra Singh
Emerald buddha
Mural on the wall of Wat Phra Singh
"Silence...cat sleeping."
Noina!!! The health center I volunteer at.
Nurses at the Center.
Government funded health center.
Happy, friendly nurses!!
Noi getting ready to do a physical.
No HIPAA violations here...it's all in Thai.
Exam room #1
Every Wed the MD examines patients. Every Fri baby vaccinations/immunizations!
Getting ready to close the gate for lunch time!
My favorite stop for lunch! Vegetable stir-fry with white rice.
This chef worked in Holland for 30 years!! He's got the best food in Ayutthaya!!
Noina and I!!!
