Sunday, June 29, 2008
Friday, June 27, 2008
What is the surprise??
This was the only bottled water I could find. I never figured out what the Yellow surprise WAS though.... or how it was being exploited there in town.
Another street sign... Tachiliek, Myanmar
Burmese writing looks beautiful to me.... but is, of course, completely undecipherable.
Sunset, soccer, and the Shwedagon Pagoda... Tachiliek, Myanmar
Well, actually it is just a replica of the real Shwedagon Pagoda located in the capital of Yangon... the most famous and gold encrusted temple in the whole country. This Shwedagon is beautiful and imposing, if a bit out of place, in this sleepy little bumpkin town.
Main altar inside temple... Tachiliek
These photos give you a small idea of Burmese style versus Thai style, in terms of art, architecture and taste.
Rat Shrine ... an evening walk-about
Tachiliek is in a narrow piece of Myanmar, wedged between Thailand and China to the South and North, and barely grazing Laos in the East. Since it is also a border town, there is ALOT of trade going on here, and ALOT of Chinese influence, both culturally and politically. This shrine was Buddhists, but with Chinese flavor, acknowledging that 2008 is the year of the rat.
Accoutrements at the Arawan Hotel... Tachiliek's finest digs!
Yes, that is my pillow. No, I do not know what that says. I was hoping it said something like "Sweet Dreams" or "Free Burma". The whole hotel was very clean and comfortable with massive carved wooden furniture and art throughout.
Tachiliek... City of the Golden Triangle
This is the main intersection in town... not much too it really.
Border crossing... welcome to Myanmar!
ALMOST across the border bridge, headed from Mae Sai, Thailand to the border town of Tachiliek, Myanmar.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Leaving Thailand... entering Tachiliek, Myanmar
Once you cross the bridge heading North over the small river you are officially in Myanmar.
Traditional Thai Puppetry... Sunday market, Chiang Mai
I followed the sound of a beautiful Thai flute to a crowd of people surrounding these two performers... then I saw the puppets. It was a graceful and expressive performance.... the hand gestures of the puppets were the real beauty and art here.
Happy squids... Sunday market, Chiang Mai
Fresh, grilled squid.... a very Thai style snack. I'm told you're missing out if you don't try some. I'm still missing out......
Sad Cakes... Sunday Market, Chiang Mai
These cakes might look pretty, but after sitting out on that table from noon till 11pm, they are definitely now sad cakes.
Sunday Market vendors at Thae Pae Gate, Chiang Mai
These vendors were setting up early for the very large market held in the streets of old Chiang Mai every Sunday evening. A large segment of the old city closes it's streets to vehicle traffic for most of the day and night on Sundays. A few hundred vendors come and set up their stalls of handicrafts, souvenirs, delicious food/snacks and everything in between. The streets get packed, back to back, but unlike the nightly Night Bazaar on the other side of town, most of the shoppers at the Sunday market are Thai. Sunday Market is a very good time!!
Golden Buddha at Wat Pan On, Chiang Mai
This beautiful golden stupa and Buddha were surrounded by a large open courtyard with several dozen small tables. It was in this courtyard that my Thai language lessons were held. What an inspirational classroom!!
Sunset walk... Chiang Mai
Cherry trees in full bloom along the inner moat, in the old city of Chiang Mai.
Small Reclining Buddha... neighborhood wat, Chiang Mai
A smaller version of what lay inside the side chapel.
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
Neighborhood Wat, Chiang Mai... Altar
This little guy was in the very back of the complex under a group of trees. I've never seen anything that looks like this before, and I don't know the significance.... but it made me giggle!
A small neighborhood Wat with a BIG reclining Buddha
This wat was very small and tucked off a side street in old Chiang Mai. Though the main temple and the whole complex itself were very small, there was a large and impressive reclining Buddha statue housed in a side chapel. The statue itself was beautiful and covered in gold leaf. The chapel containing it was painted on the inside with dozens of murals depicting significant events in the life of Buddha. There was no one else around so I spent some time admiring....
Chiang Mai... small neighborhood Wat
A line of Buddhas along the wall of the main chapel, and the holy shrine at the base of the Wat's sacred Bodhi tree near the front gate.
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