One Month in Thailand

Today marks our one month living in Thailand, and we have served in the temple for three weeks.

Since the temple is closed for its six month cleaning, we're taking it easy, just like this lizard below, who is enjoying the sun.

 

The temple gardens are well taken care of. This lizard has taken up residency on the grounds, a sanctuary in the big city.

Cakes are decorated beautifully here, but by American standards they are about half as sweet. It's always surprising to bite into a cake, expecting one taste but getting another.

We took a three hour bus tour of Bangkok, riding through historical areas, narrated in English. Here's one of the more strange things we saw.

Our tour took us through China Town--many interesting sights. This is Jumama, Bird Nest & Dessert Restaurant.

Bird's nest for dinner?

This sign is seen often in Thailand of the king. Some places still have photos of the last king, his father, but all have a picture to show their loyalty.

The previous king, who was dearly loved, passed away in 2016.

One of the many beautiful Buddhist temples on our route.

A typical street scene. Most neighborhood stores have a roll-up garage door front, with living quarters on the upper floors. I'd regret to see regulations put on these sellers, as we have in the USA. Again, the free enterprise.

These people are waiting for the mall to open, particularly for a certain bakery that sells durian cheesecake. They come hours early to get a place in line. I was tempted to get in line so I could find out why they thought it was delicious enough to go to all this trouble!

Durian is a very stinky fruit. There are signs in the subway saying there are fines if you bring it into the terminal. Thais either love it or hate the fruit.

We've had a lot of rain lately. It's nothing like an Arizona drizzle, it is a downpour! When it starts raining, ponchos and umbrellas magically appear out of nowhere.

Our lunch--

cheesy dumplings --more like a soi jow filled with chicken and smothered in cheese. It was delicious.

An example of strange English grammar so common on t-shirts. Dennis thinks perhaps this is quoting lyrics to a song. It says, "It's 'happened to be' a closet." We ate the other day at a restaurant titled "Eat Am Are." That one still plays with my brain.

Having a great time on the tour.

We miss serving in the temple. These two weeks off will give us time to relax. We will go to Khang Kan for the weekend where Dennis served the last few months of his youth mission.

We have greatly enjoyed being here and serving in the temple.