Annie's Adventures

Went out for a bike ride today. There's a pagoda we've visited a few times (the golden one I posted a pic of), and we knew that nearby was another but we never bothered to look.

Well today we found it (thanks to hubby). We had to leave our bikes to walk up a very steep hill to get there, but it was worth it. What an amazing and beautiful place!! Being at the top of a hill it has a great view of the sea and of the mountains. It's a place I could hang out all day. Dozens of Buddha statues of all sizes, and peaceful places to sit. Next time I'm going to bring my 'real' camera.

It's called Rattanakosin Chedi (pagoda).

rattan19.jpg

rattan18.jpg

rattan17.jpg

rattan16.jpg

rattan15.jpg
 

Georgia, glad you enjoy the trip! I think the bowl is to put gifts of flowers or food. All the temples have boxes for donations though to help with upkeep and we always give something.
 
Thanks, Nona. I really loved the last one. A lovely place to sit and enjoy the Buddhas and the gorgeous views.
 
Pappy said:
The thing I notice is how clean all the statues are. No bird poop or do they look weathered. I wonder if someone is employed to maintain these idols?
Click to expand...

That's what the donation boxes are for - someone maintains these places and keeps them clean.
 
Customs:

•Thailand is a Buddhist country where Buddha images are held sacred. Sacrilegious acts are punishable by imprisonment even if committed by foreign visitors.
•Thai people hold their King and Queen and the Royal Family in great reverence, and so won't tolerate foreigners showing disrespect to them.
•Generally Thai women are conservative. So don't touch them without their consent.
•Dress properly when entering a Buddhist temple. Miniskirts and shorts are not allowed. Take your shoes off before going inside the hall of worship. Ladies must not on any account touch a Buddhist monk, give things direct to him or receive things direct from him.
•Intimacies between man and woman should not be shown in public. Sunbathing in the nude is prohibited.
•Call Thais their first names; use the title "Khun" for adults.
•Normally, Thai people address others by their first names and with the title 'khun'. So don't be surprised if you are addressed as 'Khun Mary' or 'Khun John' instead of by your surname.
•Traditionally, Thais greet each other with a wai (by pressing the palms together at the chest). If someone wais you, you should wai back (except wai-ed by a child).
•Thai people smile to express gladness and happiness, to thank for small services, to return the wai of children and inferior persons, and even to excuse small inconveniences.
•Don't touch a person's head, nor ruffle his hair. The head is the noblest part of the body. A sincere apology should be offered immediately if you touch someone's head unintentionally.
•Avoid placing your feet on the table while sitting. Never use your foot to point things out or to touch any part of the body of anyone, which is considered rude.
•Entering a Thai house, you're expected to remove your shoes.
 
Got goose bumps looking at today's picture, Annie. They are amazingly beautiful. As Georgia said...can hear the waves and smell the salt air. Thank you, thank you, thank you...for sharing with us ! ! !
 
Thanks ladies, my pleasure! Wish it wasn't so hot and humid though as it makes bicycling hard. But then the pool and sea wouldn't be warm so I won't complain. Love the sea breezes as well. Management of the community where we stay is putting on a new year's eve party. There are tons of parties all over the island but they will be loud with lots of drunk 20 somethings, so we'd rather avoid that.

Think we're going out today and I'll bring my real camera which has been in the closet all this time. Want to get more pics of that pagoda up the high hill. Told hubby no bike today - want to skip a day of drowning in my own sweat!
 
The community where we are staying had a new year's eve party for residents and staff. We thought it would just be snacks and drinks but was actually a huge buffet of many types of foods, even beer, wine and whisky. So before the party hubby and I went to dinner. Then with full bellies arrived at the party and realized we were expected to eat all this food! I managed to eat lots of cashews, some really moist homemade cake, spicy sausage, a bowl of soup because it was handed to me, a few beers. There was also king prawns, some BBQ'd fish, chicken, salad, Thai noodles and veg, etc etc. but I was too stuffed to eat any.

Thais are such lovely people. We discovered that the Canadians who were our next door neighbours last year have been coming to this community every winter for the past 9 years. A French couple has been coming for 14. Most of the staff seemed to be there. The Burmese cleaners who work as a team and do a great job cleaning our house were there and we discovered that 3 of them are sisters. They look extremely young - like 12 or 14 but are actually 15 and 17. The staff here are treated very well and all seem to be happy.

We were going to skip coming back next winter as we have some other trips planned and travel money is not unlimited. But hubby talked me into coming again. Our disagreement is whether it's for 2 months or 3. When a booking is made we can leave one large crate in storage here for no charge (as we did from last winter) and fairly small fees to leave more. So we'll have at least 2 crates, the boat and paddles, and two bicycles.
 
By the time you're hungry again, you'll be thinking about that marvelous buffet that you had to pass up! Love your pictures.

Where else are *we* going next year?
 
GeorgiaXplant said:
By the time you're hungry again, you'll be thinking about that marvelous buffet that you had to pass up! Love your pictures.

Where else are *we* going next year?
Click to expand...

2016 *we'll* be visiting my family in Michigan, and we'll have visitors from Australia.

2017 aside from coming back here *we* will be home in Scotland with my sister visiting and taking a river cruise down the Danube most likely. My granddaughter will visit us for a month, then the annual visit to Michigan. Then *we'll* possibly be going to a wedding in Uganda.

Sound okay to you Georgia? :D
 
Sounds pretty good. While *we* are in Michigan, would you mind awfully if I excuse myself for a couple of days to run up north and see my sisters and brothers?
 

Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top