Thailand Visit

What an experience!  I was surprised that I loved the warm, humid weather. Your'e dripping sweat anytime your out day or night.   But my skin loved it, and my hangnails disapeared. We saw some Thunder showers that were incredible.  Splendid Lightening shows and sudden downpours that sent everyone running and turned footpaths and streets into rivers. 

  Here is a photo of shoes.  Everyone must take off shoes to enter a Buddhist temple.  Most homes are the same.

We saw the reclining Buddha at Wat Pho.  The real one is giant size.  This is a small replica. I said many a prayer to Buddha.

We really enjoyed a couple boat trips up the main river in Bangkok.  Even got to help rescue a man who was overboard in the river.  (although to our surprise he jumped back in?)


The infamous "tuk-tuk's" are everywhere.

Everyone ride motorcycles in Thailand.  This guy has his food vendor cart attached.

We took a trip to Koh Samet.  Quite an adventure to get there. Had to walk out the shakiest pier I've every seen, throw luggage ahead and jump into funky boats.  After our boat ride, here we are riding in a back of a truck to get to Hotel row.

We rented a bungalow on the beach.  This is our porch.  Rather primitive.  no hot water!  Oh, and the shower was in the toilet.  RV style.  I also used my first "hole in the ground " toilet while in Thailand.  Note to self:  remember to bring your own toilet paper.

We also visited Koh Samuii.  On our bus ride to the airport we passed this tourist bus that had crashed just hours before.  The driver fell asleep, 10 passengers killed.  Made me very leery of our bus trips we took. Found myself checking for alertness.

Out for a walk on Koh Samuii.  A tropical paradise.  I decided that tropical islands are the place for me. 

Uncle Bob McGuire and his girlfriend Aung.  She is a chef at a restaurant in Bangkok and really a sweet lady.

Koh Samuii.  One of many "big Buddhas" we visited.

The grand palace, Bangkok.  Overrated.  We actually enjoyed the smaller wats visited.  The best part was a textile museum providing history of the silk industry in Thailand.

EVERYONE rides motorbikes in Thailand.  Here is a family of 5 I caught.  The helmets are unusual.  The only riders required to wear a helmet are the motorcyle taxi drivers.  You usually see no one else wearing one. 

 

The meal of shame.  We sought out a Burger King.  At home I LOVE Thai food.  I thought I was an adventurous eater.....I found out I'm not.  I was so grossed out by the smell of Bangkok I could hardly eat the first couple days.  Jessica and I kept trying to sample local food throughout our visit.  WE TRIED!  It was awful.  Everything tasted wierd.  If you ordered seafood you got whole squids, tenticals, fish with eyeballs looking at you, crab with the shell all chopped up in it.  The Thai versions of western food were very interesting.  The good news is I think I lost 5 pounds just from sweating and hating the food.

Another shot on the river.  You have to watch yourself in Thailand.  Everything is not so safe and regulated like it is here in USA.  Jessica came within 6 inches of having her entire upper body crushed between two boats at the dock, except that I was watching and pulled her away from the side. 

It was the greatest to see Chuck, Ron, Bob, Sarah, Griffin, and Devon for Easter weekend. Good times lounging around the pool, spa, walks on the beach, and dinners on the town. Special thanks to Chuck for providing such fantastic surroundings. Mom and I both enjoyed it fully. Sorry you're crooked aunt chuck, couldn't fix it

Easter 2012

We had a really fun Easter weekend at the beach with Chuck, Ron, Sarah, Bob, Griffin, and his cousin Devin. Chuck got this interesting pic of me and mom. Rays from heaven?

Hi Quincy, we had another beautiful California Sunday. Matt and I found a new sculpture out in Borrego desert, a mysterious serpent swimming in the sand. Then we ended the day enjoying the full moon on our patio. I'm sure your day in Washington was full of fun also. Hope you had a great birthday! love you, Grandma

End of winter break

The last sweet days of winter break. I think it was about 83 degrees today. Went hiking in Elfin Forest today with Brady, Angelica, her son and friends. Brady, Angelica, and I have become quite the regular hiking partners.

It was a beautiful day, but all I have to say about these pictures is.....I have obviously not been missing any meals. Ah well, hiked 6 miles and still voluptuous!

Hi Everyone, we have had a great Christmas time. Many parties and meals with family. On Christmas day Matt and I rode the bike through 2 deserts, had dinner in the Joshua Tree Saloon with Jessica. We stayed in the Joshua Tree Inn which is a fun, funky place and had a beautiful ride back to Vista.

Matt finally finished Painting the house single-handedly! We also tore down the old patio cover. Someday I hope to send pictures of what is , not what is no longer. Happy New Year!

Hey there Quincy. I had a really fun weekend visiting your aunt Jessica in Joshua Tree. She lives up in the desert now. Your Uncle Gunnar went with me. We took a load of her stuff up since she has a new house now. It was very warm and at night the stars are sooooo bright! Jessica's boyfriend Dominique made a nice dinner for us. We danced all night at a wedding, and went hiking in the Joshua Tree park the next morning. Maybe you will be able to visit someday. Love Grandma

What a great summer it's been. I got to visit cicely, Dan, and quincy. Quincy and I visited the Burke museum in Seattle and Greenlake. Matt met me out on Olympic penninsula and we had a great time hiking/biking the area. One day we hiked to some hot springs and a deer was following us down the trail. Then I went back to North Bend where Cicely Dan, Quincy, and I walked through an old train tunnel in Snoqualamie Pass. The Olympic mountain range is unbelievable and Quincy is the best grandson ever! The day I returned home Ann and I attended a musical at the Old Globe Theater where we always have a marvelous time together. Back to school next week.

moving Brady

Hi Quincy, today I helped our friend Brady take a load of stuff out to her ranch where she is moving. The Braun's are our most special friends. They live on a big ranch with dogs, avocado and orange trees, a pond, a swimming pool, AND a cave with dinosaur bones! Maybe you will get to visit there someday, that would be really cool.

Marla came out with her two girls, Elle and Ruby. They are super smart, fun girls just like their mom and aunties. Marla made cake balls which are chocolately and good. Tomorrow is back to school after a long weekend. Have a great week! love grandma

Presidents' day weekend

Hi Quincy, just got back from visiting your aunt Jessica in Joshua Tree. They opened a new pizza place. Everyone in Joshua Tree is REALLY happy they are there and are buying lots of pizza. I got to wash some dishes and pretend like I was the boss. It was fun. Jessica came and stayed with me at the historical Joshua Tree Inn. It is decorated in 70's funk, the place where Gram Parsons stayed (and died). They're really milking that one. Our Innkeeper had dreadlocks down to his knees and served us Chai Lattes for breakfast. Very cool.

I explored the area. Here is the integratron, a place where aliens and geophysical forces help to make you a smarter stronger person? I'll get back to you on that one.

I did a bit of hiking around. There are a lot of rock climbers out in Joshua Tree National Park. I hope to see you soon. Love Grandma