I made it back over here basically ok but somewhat worse for wear…the trip was 31 hours—air and airport layovers—and I’m still shaking off jet lag on Wednesday. The Conrad Hotel here is probably the best I’ve ever stayed at…..compliments of the U.S. State Department and the toilet seats may have actually cost $250 at this place. The class is going ok with some major language problems but good students. Three are from Thailand, one is from Hong Kong and the fifth is from East Timor and none really speak English very well.
I’m really comfortable riding the overhead transit system here and have been going out every
evening to find a place to eat. This afternoon I went over to a nearby area and visited the Erawan Shrine which isn’t very large or impressive but is one of the oldest “spirit houses” in Bangkok. Located in the banking district and surrounded by towering chrome and glass skyscrapers, it looks so out of place but is very important to the Thai people. A Hindu shrine, it is also worshiped by Buddhists and tradition has it that the shrine should be respected by dancers and worshipers around the clock so there will always be a small dancing group there. In the early morning hours it might only be a single dancer but somebody will always be there. These are not professional dancers or musicians—they are volunteers and while the quality may not be that great the tradition of 24/7 is something very unusual and today I shot a short video clip. Click twice on the triangle in the lower left corner—the volume may be high but can be adjusted on the right lower corner. I haven’t figured out yet how to reduce the volume on my camera.
The Thais are normally a very laid back, peaceful people but they take their king and their religion very seriously. A couple of years a man thought to have been mentally deranged attacked the shrine with a hammer and the crowd stomped him to death before the police could get there.
I also visited the Victory Monument located in the middle of a huge traffic circle right at rush hour so I didn’t get very close but it represents a past victory over Cambodia and is obviously very important to the Thais.
This weekend I travel to Chon Buri to the south of Bangkon on the seacoast for two days work with a transport company then travel even further south to a village called Rayong to work with Bangkok Industrial Gas. So far it’s been a typically great Thailand trip……
I’m really comfortable riding the overhead transit system here and have been going out every
evening to find a place to eat. This afternoon I went over to a nearby area and visited the Erawan Shrine which isn’t very large or impressive but is one of the oldest “spirit houses” in Bangkok. Located in the banking district and surrounded by towering chrome and glass skyscrapers, it looks so out of place but is very important to the Thai people. A Hindu shrine, it is also worshiped by Buddhists and tradition has it that the shrine should be respected by dancers and worshipers around the clock so there will always be a small dancing group there. In the early morning hours it might only be a single dancer but somebody will always be there. These are not professional dancers or musicians—they are volunteers and while the quality may not be that great the tradition of 24/7 is something very unusual and today I shot a short video clip. Click twice on the triangle in the lower left corner—the volume may be high but can be adjusted on the right lower corner. I haven’t figured out yet how to reduce the volume on my camera.The Thais are normally a very laid back, peaceful people but they take their king and their religion very seriously. A couple of years a man thought to have been mentally deranged attacked the shrine with a hammer and the crowd stomped him to death before the police could get there.
I also visited the Victory Monument located in the middle of a huge traffic circle right at rush hour so I didn’t get very close but it represents a past victory over Cambodia and is obviously very important to the Thais.This weekend I travel to Chon Buri to the south of Bangkon on the seacoast for two days work with a transport company then travel even further south to a village called Rayong to work with Bangkok Industrial Gas. So far it’s been a typically great Thailand trip……
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