Jaisalmer Shopping

From my Journey in India
Jaisalmer, January, 2007

After a good sleep in in Jaisalmer Fort, we head out to do some shopping. There are many shops inside the walls of the fort itself.

This is Mr. Yogi. He buys patches from gypsies and then makes them into these pieces. I think he was selling this wall-hanging for about 500 rupees ($13 Canadian). He has travelled all over the world and lived in Europe for many years. I really like the Camel bags. The workmanship is very nice. I bought one myself. It cost 550 rupees ($15 CAD). This is the man who makes them. Here's a little trivia about camels. They are worth the same alive as dead. You can buy a camel at the auction for about $300 CAD. Our friend here owns a great second hand book shop. He was playing some modern Hindu music when we walked in. Aw loved it and he burned a CD of the music for her as a gift. I mention this because it is so refreshing to meet someone here who does something without expecting anything in return. We spend a lot of energy every day just watching out for the people who are always trying to sell us things so this bookstore was an oasis for us. The other thing I really like, is how Aw has a magical way with so many people she meets. They just take an instant liking to her. Even though she is from another country, she fits in very well here.

Vietnam Welcome

Saigon, Vietnam, March 17, 2006

I actually tried 8 different times to get to Vietnam during this trip to Asia.

I really think that I needed to wait until now so that I would be on the right flight with the right person.

I was talking with a Vietnamese man in the seat ahead of me. I was asking for advice for finding a guest house. Bill spoke up and offered to help.

Bill is married to this lovely woman from Saigon.
'Lien' is a very sweet energetic woman. They live in Cranbrook B.C. Canada and travel often to Vietnam.

They found me a place to stay and took me under their wing. First, we went out for a traditional Vietnamese meal of fish and 'Pho' or Soup and other delicacies.

Bill says he's planning to take this Vietnamese 'Snake Whiskey' home as a souvenir but he thinks I should bring it back to my dear sister instead. Wouldn't that look wonderful in your living room, Melbah?

I am very surprised by Saigon. My buddy Ted was just here and he described Saigon as a dirty noisy city. Okay, it kind of is, but it's so friendly. And it's very organized. I thought it would be a place where I would be accosted at every street corner by people wanting my money. What I find instead is a very sincere beautiful people who are genuinely happy to meet me.
Now, this woman was here to sell me something, and I did buy a calculator and some disposable razors, but it was fun. But just for the record, I would put the Vietnamese against any people in the World when it comes to hard negotiating. Just look at her eyes...

Bill and Lien have really made the introduction to Vietnam such a pleasure though. Right from the start they tied me into the culture and helped me get my bearings. Thank you very much you two!

Satun, On the Planet Earth

I'm hanging out here in Satun, on the border of Malaysia, until tomorrow. Here are some hi-lights from the last couple of days...

I left my Hotel after several relaxing days in Songkhla. 79.3 kg (Now I only look 2 months pregnant.)

Major Chit took me to a beautiful resort just outside Satun. This place is famous for it's birds. My Mom was asking why I go to places with so many birds and not include photos in my Blog. See all these birds? That's why. It's a skill I haven't quite mastered.

Early Sunday morning, we visited a famous market that is right on the border between Malaysia and Thailand. It stretches 2km along this stretch of highway.

This is actually Malaysia. You can see the same kinds of Mountainous features in the background as you find in Krabi or Phattalung.

There are a majority of Moslem people here in the border towns. Malaysia is a predominantly Moslem Country.

Then we had a wonderful Thai meal. Chit just assumed we have this creature in Canada. It did look very familiar to me but then I realized it looks just like the monsters from the Movie; 'Alien' ("In outer space they can't hear you scream".)

Here's what it looks like from underneath. (I have alerted NASA.)

It's actually a Horseshoe Crab. What you see here is the Crab pulled open to expose the eggs, which you eat with the Thai salad that is packed between the layers of the shell. Sort of tastes like chewy walnuts. I kept smiling and saying 'aroi, aroi' so they just kept giving me more. The things I do for my Country...

Today was a struggle at first. I headed out at 8am to find a travel agent to arrange a tour of the Islands. But almost no one speaks English here. Finally, this beautiful woman saved my life. She is Prapapan and she arranged all my tickets as well as giving me some great tips on how to get the most out of my journey. It's probably impolite, but I ask many Thais their age. I was wrong by ten years with Prapapan. Kopt khun krup for all your help! Next stop: Koh Turutao.

Ayako Sees Vancouver

Vancouver, BC, Canada, October 11, 2005

I asked Ayako san to write an article about her adventures in Vancouver.

Vancouver trip
First day
I went to Vancouver from Calgary by bus .And I met Millie in bus stop.

But late night,We went to Millie's house soon.Millie living with 10 people now! Very nice house, nice day, I thought "I want to live here!"
second day

First we were went to Millie's university. Because she had a class .But class was canceled. So we were went to Shopping.Very big shopping mall.We went to Millie's favorite shops.And we went to meet her mother ,Meg.Vancouver is like Tokyo.But I think Vancouver is more beautiful than Tokyo.So,Millie and I were played"Japanese hunting" in the Vancouver.It's like a this..."first we sea ch Japanese .And if we get someone, Millie talk with someone .[konnichiwa!ogennkidesuka?- talk in English -] and last Millie say "anata eigo cho-umai!(your English is very well.)".We tried this ,1,2times.It's very funny and I want to try more with Millie.After hunting,we had a dinner in Meg's house.We had a great dinner and music.Then I bought Meg's CD"Driving with you."I like it very much.And now,I listen always.And after dinner ,we went Millie's friend's home.They are very kindly.When I go to Vancouver again(maybe next year) I want to meet that family.Next, We went to "taicondou(sorry Millie I forgot this spell...) "It's very hard but very cool! I want to try in Japan ,but I can't find this class yet.

And after sport, we went to "dancing club "with Millie's friends; Cory, Kevin, Tara and Samien. It's very cool and Millie's friends are very nice guys.I want to go club with this number again next year! We did dancing dancing dancing and drinking drinking! (Millie didn't drink at all..)We are young!!!!

Ayako Shares Thanksgiving

On Sunday, I asked Ayako what she would like to see in Calgary; The Calgary Zoo? or perhaps Heritage Park? Her answer was:
"I want go Grocery Store!" So I took her to 'Canada Superstore'.

We did the low tech version of an amusement park. I know this is no Calgary Stampede, but she still had her chance to ride a horse.

Halloween is a special celebration we have in Canada. We carve faces in pumpkins like this one and put them in our windows to attract children dressed up in costumes.

Ayako san was delighted to find this costume. Pickachu is a very popular cartoon in Canada and in Japan.

After our Supermarket adventure, we headed to Geeta's for a Thanksgiving celebration. Geeta put on a wonderful feast of Curries, Chicken breasts and Lamb, with lots of vegetables and sauces. Everyone contributed something. Her children even made the place settings for the table.

What really made it so magical on this night though, was the company. The women in the front row are: Judy, Judy's mother; Margaret, and Marjory. Margaret is a War Bride from London. She told us amazing stories of her trek across Canada to arrive at her new home. Marjory is Geeta's next door neighbor. She is from Scotland and has also travelled extensively.

Geeta's family has Hindu roots in India but she is from Kenya. This is what I call a proper Canadian Thanksgiving Celebration. So many cultures sharing the best of Ourselves with each
other.

This morning, Ted and I got up at 5am to take Ayako san to the Bus Depot.

She will travel today, through the mountains of Alberta and British Columbia. Then she will she the Okanogan Valley, where some of our best Wines come from. Finally, at the end of her 15 hour journey, she will be met by my niece; Millie; who is the same age as Ayako. They will hang out together in Vancouver until Thursday, when Ayako san will fly back to Calgary for a final night in Canada before returning to Japan.

I got a very nice email from Ayako's father, last night. He said: "Dear steeeve. Today I see your Blog. I find Ayako enjoying travel. Pig cake , Nice friend ,and BIg Turtle , Every Picture Ayako show amusing face. I see her amusing fece after a long time. She looks like in junior school child. Thank you your kindness. cheers; Yosihiro."
It is our pleasure to have Ayako san here in Canada. You and your wife must be very special people to have raised such a yasashii daughter. Arigotto, Yashihiro san.

Ayako Explores Calgary

After Ayako san had a well-deserved sleep, I picked her up at Geeta's and we took the LRT (Light Rail Transit) to Calgary's city centre.

Even though Calgary has had some cold weather lately, we managed to find some flowers still in bloom.

I took Ayako to the Calgary Tower so she could get a view of the whole city at once.

We both had the 'Tower Club Sandwich' in the revolving restaurant. Just after we sat down, Ayako san asked: "Is room moving?" When I affirmed that it was she looked very relieved. "Oh, I thought maybe just still too tired from flight."

I have noticed a special glow about Ayako since she's been in Canada, and now I think I know why. I think she's in love. I caught her with her arm around one of our favorite Canadians, the Beaver. Ayako's father would approve I think. He's a dentist. Just look at that tooth!

While we were touring the City, I got a call from my old friend Malcome. He had a car for sale at a great price. So the next thing we knew, we were whisked away to get a safety inspection. So here I am with my new car. It's a 1985 Lincoln Town Car. It runs great.

Then it was a trip to the Supermarket so Ayako could get some treats for her friends and family. She was very excited to find that Safeway carries 'Hamutaro' spaghetti. He's a very popular cartoon character in Japan.

Perhaps the real reason for Ayako to be looking so happy here, is this Thai amulet. My very dear friend Jookie sent me some special amulets for Thailand, a few weeks ago. They have been blessed by the monks. I gave this one to Ayako san to give her the luck of the Buddha and to keep her safe in her travels. This amulet will have been all around the world by the time she returns to Japan.

Bangkok: April Fools Day

April Fools Day is a very special day to me. I asked a beautiful woman to marry me that day. But she later said no.

So I decided to book a trip to one place in Thailand that would help me to forget the disaster from this date last year...Phuket.

So now I'm booked to leave Bangkok Sunday night on the train to Phuket. (Please remember that day. It will be very important later) 'At' suggests I take the water ferry back to Kao San Road, and so for 10 baht I take a great ride back to my hotel. The ferry is a very fast boat and when it stops at the pier, run, don't walk to get on because it stops for only a few seconds before taking off again at a very good clip.

And it just so happens that there is a special Buddhist festival that night, right outside my hotel, so I attend.

A stage is set up on my street with Thai dancers and a young girl singing. When I looked closer I found that the costumes are actually very modest. The women wear what seem like white bathing suits under their costumes.

Kao san seems like a smaller version of Las Vegas. It was a festive night. I went to a bar and had a couple of drinks and some great Thai food and headed home.

The next day I went to the Weekend Market. It's called 'JJ Market' and you get there by taking the Sky Train. It is one of the biggest markets in the entire world.

They sell mostly clothing, Buddhist art and lots and lots of food. This little girl was looking at the Thai version of a pet shop (petting, not eating!!) Bangkok was sweltering hot this weekend. It was 40 degrees Celsius and I spent a lot of time running from to any place that had even a hint of air conditioning. What was I thinking! By the way, you notice I am still looking for those flip flops for you Sarah. Hey Rachael, let me know your size too! I hope you're size 6. These Thais really have small feet!

Fitting For Bangkok

I'm here at my old haunt, the Four Son's Village Guesthouse. The most difficult task I have had to do so far is to make a local call. I was trying to reach Santa Dennis but his phone didn't work. So then I called "Monkey" (one of his Thai ladies) and she said to try his number again. I kept getting cut off or running out of change.

So then I braved the forty degree Bangkok heat in a tuk-tuk. I called my buddy Joe, but he just never arrived.

I went to a Jewelry store to buy special gifts for Sarah and her sister, who I refer to as Cara-Rae, in honor of her favorite character in literature. I hope you two like these gifts. The jewels are very special in Thailand. These are the saleswomen who helped me; Flower and Apple (I think those are their stage names).

This is the reclining Buddha. He is the largest statue in any of the Temples. I didn't really get any kind of special feeling here though. It was just a fun tourist place.

You can get some idea of the size from this picture.

These Japanese school children came rushing up to me collecting names and countries. I traded them for a picture of themselves. They ran away giggling with my cards. Oneecheewah, if you see this my young friends!

I'm not sure who this guy is but he just looks so familiar I had to snap a shot.

This is Maureen and her daughter Anita, from Coventry England. They showed up and sat beside me so we started talking. The curator of this Temple handed us those same Dragon sticks that you showed me Vivyan. They are like tongue depressors inside a cylindrical box. You rotate the box until one stick falls out. I got number 26 and so did Anita. The fortune paper for #26 says: "Just like a dying tree in a dry land, suddenly refreshed and soaked with rain, reviving back to life. Strengthening and brightening up required. In order to achieve common targets, compromise and discussions recommended. Patient recovering. Lost persons will be found. Mismatch is likely. A good luck coming your way."

I mentioned to Maureen and Anita that my Mother has decided to do the Garden Tour of England in May. She said that is a wonderful time to go because everything is coming into bloom. This is the swirl of Life here as I travel. Strangers are dear friends for a moment and then they move off into the swirl. This is when I realize how we are all connected.

Somsoc, I took this picture for you. You mentioned a dream about something like this. It also has a good tie in with the book 'The Da Vinci Code'. By the way, thanks again Vivyan for that book. I have run into a tremendous number of people who are reading it right now.

I had my final fitting for my suit today. It's an Armani cashmere dark pinstripe suit with a silk lining and three custom shirts, light blue, ivory and white and second pair of slacks; 16000 baht. When I come back in early April I will pick out the ties. The only problem is that I don't like the way the suit looks with my sandals. And what's the dress code on socks?