Shock of the Day: Food is Home

I am currently chatting with a friend in Thailand and I made a realization that the concept of home has changed for me now that we are moving all over the place.  We'll it's more like my concept of home has evolved over the years.

I indefinitely consider Hawaii home.  It's where I grew up and lived most of my life.  My family is there and I've got a lot of memories invested in that place.

What has changed is it seems that now a days, especially since I'm moving more often and not making a firm home base as I did in Hawaii, I may have added a new criteria to the list.

FOOD (and drinks)!

Good food that make me feel at home.

Yes, I am now using a food as a way to feel anchored to my location.  It sounds weird but it's true.  At the rate that we are going at traveling and seeing new things, I won't have a new home home for a while and that fine.  I've now found that food is my way to connect myself to a place because it's as close to a feeling of home as I'll get on my fleeting visits or stay.

My first ever Flat White in Western Samoa in an Italian Restaurant of all places!
Best Flat white so far but whenever I drink it (now available at Starbucks) it takes me back to Samoa.

I guess you can say it all started with basing a good trip on the best food we can find in the region, but now it's come to the point where I miss food just as I would miss my home.  I get HOME SICK for food.  I can care less about the place as I've enjoyed my visiting and seeing new sites but food and drinks are where it's at!

YES, of course, meeting great people and seeing beautiful scenery is great but that in itself is an added bonus on top of the food.  I know it sounds a bit fucked up, me putting food over more tangible things like people and actual places but hear me out.

I miss people and associations and I also miss and yearn for those good times that we've had with them more than anything.  In fact, I still pine over my times with friends and family in Hawaii, Thailand, Japan and California even.  My separation from those people were really tough but I think once I left Thailand the first time, I may have mentally prepared myself for not coming back in a way I never did before.

Yes, I knew I wasn't going back to my other homes, but my leaving for Taiwan was different.  I knew I was leaving Taiwan in two months and then going back to Thailand for a week before heading for China.  That may have steeled me from getting too attached to people and places as I've done in the past.

Don't get me wrong, I made some really great friends there but in the back of my mind, I always knew I would leave so I lived more in the moment there than I did in most other places before hand because of that very finite end in sight.  Hence, why I've invested more into food and less into everything else.

I think that's why I really honed in on my need for food as not just a emotional crutch -which it really is - but also a thing to keep me grounded in my lofty state of carpe diem as I flit around like a butterfly moving from place to place.  My attachment to the places and people were just as fleeting as my attachment to the food but while I had it, I'm totally committed.

Doesn't this look amazing? Taiwan's famous Manguo Bing!  It tastes as good as it looks.

Once it was gone, it was gone.

Maybe I associate food as comfort and a way to feel safe and just....GOOD.

I really don't know, honestly!

Back to the ranch...

Maybe it's also because I can associate good food with great memories as well.  The cake below is my absolute favorite for it's subtle flavors and overall scrumptiousness but....it may also be well loved because it was also the cake I chose to be my wedding cake.

Almond Teres Cake at my favorite baker in Hilo Hawaii (BI) at Moonstruck Patisserie

I just know that when I'm in Hawaii, I want good poke, kalua pig and go to my favorite Hilo dives to make me happy.  These foods reminds me of home and familiarity and brings me to my happy place.


I know that if I am in Thailand, I want to go to Salaya in Nakhon Pathom and eat at "Crazy Bird" - We named it that because I have NO IDEA what to call it and have my Tom Kha, Prikang, and Gai Pet Met Mamuang (I can't spell Thai stuff) and then go around the corner, get Cha Yen or Nam Manaow to drink or even eat Kao Soi Gai.  I love getting my fresh fruits and Mango with Jim Nam and oh, Muslim chicken.  These foods remind me of our time living in Thailand and how all I had to do was walk across the street from my old home to get great food and around the block to get everything else I'm hankering for.

Cooling off with Malaysia's version of shaved ice, Cendol

Unagi in Hiroshima or Miyajima Island on a nice rainy day

If I'm in Japan, I need to eat Matcha ANYTHING but I also want to eat Shabu Shabu, I love their bento boxes - don't judge me but I find bentos from the grocery store to be the best!  Buying sweets and getting just about anything from vending machines - I mainly LOVE cold season because then you can get hot cocoa in a can from vending machines.  Don't get me started on all-you-can-eat/drink buffets over there because the food is VERY good (nomi houdai and tabe houdai)!  These food remind me of the great time I've had in Japan and I can always aesthetically appreciate the presentation as well as the great taste.

When I'm in Taiwan, I want to eat Mango Bing, Niu Rou Mian, and drink Zhen Jiu Nai Cha and many other great street food delicacies at the night market.  I just think about the batered deep fried mushrooms, jipai, bacon wrapped grilled cheese, nai cha and so many more good foods!

Now here in China, I am associating Niu Rou Mian and Chou Doufu and Rou Jia Mo with Shaoxing.

I can be home everywhere and when I eat good food I can feel at home because it's like a security blanket.

The Golden Rule I did learn though, was not to eat a country's cuisine in another country.  If that Thai food isn't from Thailand (or in my case from a specific eatery within BKK) don't expect it to taste perfect because you'll most likely be disappointed.

It will NEVER be the SAME!

You're just setting yourself up for failure because you were jonesing for that perfect Prikang, well, save it for when you go back for a visit.  If you find something that is exact, you're VERY fortunate but honestly, the best way to feel at home in these new places is to find what food is their specialty and eat at that location.  It makes it a lot easier to transition to the new place you are visiting or living in by giving you something you can look forward to or rely on.

So instead of wishing to revisit that same exact experience, how about try something new until the next time you can say hello to that 'old friend' again in the future.

I promise it makes the wait that much more bearable. 

I'm in China!

Well, It's been a very exciting two week so far and I think my most interesting journey yet.

I am not based on the outskirts of a small town and by small I mean the population is in the millions.  The great thing is it doesn't feel like it though.  Everything is so wide spread, I can't really say what it feels like a city because it's so sprawling.

Some shocks of the Week:

Well, do you remember Red Lobster and how you used to be able to choose a lobster of choice if you at there.  Now a days, people don't want to see their food before they eat and a lot of places that had that as an option are gone in America.

NOT IN CHINA!

Not only are there fish, but there are shrimp, snakes and turtles.

NO, I didn't choose any of those foods nor would I want to.  I will eat fish and shrimp but I will NOT eat reptiles.  In fact, if I were to choose a turtle or snake, I would do so just to release it for merit - which I don't think they do here as they do in Thailand - into the nearest body of water.  Lucky for me, I am in a city of rivers and waterways so I would have my pick in releasing them.

My husband was pretty shocked about a lot of the things here as we forget how easy it and accessible things are in Thailand.

Sure, there are certain restrictions on basic amenities, but everything else was so easy to take care of.  Where we are now, it cannot be said.

Heck, getting decent internet is a pain in the ass, let alone having access to Facebook or anything google related.

I will say though, it's a bit liberating not having access to those things because it makes you realize how much time you actually spend on them but I definitely have more time on my hands.

Heck, I finished a book in less than a week - I'm a slow reader - when I haven't read a physical book in a year.  I don't miss it as much as I thought I would but I still want to share my experiences with people so I still take pictures and I still post blogs.  I may only do so once or twice a month rather than....all the time.

We've met some great people and look forward to making more friends.

It's been great learning about China and I can't wait to start traveling this huge country!

Shock of the Day: Memory Card DELETED!!

NOTHING is worse than finding out that you deleted all your pictures and videos from your memory card.

This is not the first time it's happened, but it still sucks.

The first time I had this happen to me was when I was in Singapore.  I didn't enjoy my trip too much but the highlight of my trip was going to a Louvre installation and taking enough pictures to fill a 1 GB (10 years ago, that was a LOT) card and video of the best flamboyant guide describing to high schoolers why the Greek sculptures of heros and men were not as "endowed" as one would expect.  I still remember it today, "If you look at some of the figures, you'll notice that the men are not as endowed because during this time and era, what was considered to be masculine differed to our own definition of beauty today."

Hilarious and educational.  I guess I don't need the video to remember thinking, how cool it is to video this tour and also take pictures of all this art because many places will not let you take pictures or video.

I'm just grateful that I loaded all my pictures onto Facebook before I made the mistake of deleting everything.

Lesson learned....again!

Shock of the Day: Week 2 Surprise

A few friends and I went to see the sights around Tainan this past weekend now that the Typhoon Nepartak have blown away.  Luckily it has left little damage in its wake on our side of the island, though the west side is not so fortunate.

Being cooped up in our rooms for so long, (a day and a half about), we decided to make a walking tour out of the next day to make up for the lack of activity from the previous day.  A few have already see some of the sights we were looking for but when we mentioned that we were going to the Confucius temple, a classmate mentioned that we needed to check out the Narrow Door Cafe.

Narrow Door Cafe, you say?

Why, yes, that is exactly what I did say.  How narrow you ask?  Well, let me show you!  (I know, I'll stop.)

Bear in mind, it has been raining for two days straight and so the small alleyway was flushing out everything out of the entrance and so we were all leery at first but curiosity got the better of us and we went in anyway!

We were not disappointed to say the least.  The entrance itself it worth checking out as it's funky, almost seedy but definitely cool.

Shock of the Day: Nepartak & Calm before the Storm

Thursday Week 2

Well, we have a Typhoon heading our way.

Not just any Typhoon, but Nepartak Super Typhoon Cat. 5 - Typhoon.  

I know this may sound cavalier of me but I don't really feel any which way about this typhoon as I'm waiting for it to come.  I remember when Iselle hit the Big Island 2 years ago and we played this same waiting game of "when is it coming?"  Last time we guesstimated it would be 12 hours late + change and it's the same this time around.  What was supposed to hit Taiwan at 12:00 July 7, 2016, is still not here as of 2:10am July 8th.  I originally speculated it would be 12 hours late again but I'll have to amend that statement and even go on a limb and tack on another 5 hours so...5am...?

The waiting is still a bit nerve-wracking but not as bad this time around despite this story being uber strong and Iselle actually downgrading to a tropical storm.  I guess rule of thumb for me is, if the locals are not as concerned, well, when in Rome...

I did however stock up on food and water for two days just in case we can't leave our dorm for any reason.  I honestly don't know what to expect for a storm like this but we'll just have to wait and see.

For now, I'll ride out this calm before the storm and drink my Suntory Chuhai when it finally hits as we did for Iselle.

I'll definitely follow up this blog with an update in a day or two depending if we have power or not.

Shock of the Day: Nepartak & Calm before the Storm

Thursday Week 2

Well, we have a Typhoon heading our way.

Not just any Typhoon, but Nepartak Super Typhoon Cat. 5 - Typhoon.  

I know this may sound cavalier of me but I don't really feel any which way about this typhoon as I'm waiting for it to come.  I remember when Iselle hit the Big Island 2 years ago and we played this same waiting game of "when is it coming?"  Last time we guesstimated it would be 12 hours late + change and it's the same this time around.  What was supposed to hit Taiwan at 12:00 July 7, 2016, is still not here as of 2:10am July 8th.  I originally speculated it would be 12 hours late again but I'll have to amend that statement and even go on a limb and tack on another 5 hours so...5am...?

The waiting is still a bit nerve-wracking but not as bad this time around despite this story being uber strong and Iselle actually downgrading to a tropical storm.  I guess rule of thumb for me is, if the locals are not as concerned, well, when in Rome...

I did however stock up on food and water for two days just in case we can't leave our dorm for any reason.  I honestly don't know what to expect for a storm like this but we'll just have to wait and see.

For now, I'll ride out this calm before the storm and drink my Suntory Chuhai when it finally hits as we did for Iselle.

I'll definitely follow up this blog with an update in a day or two depending if we have power or not.

Shock of the Day for Thailand

So, I didn't see this but I'm getting it second hand from my husband in Thailand and I'm both shocked yet not so shocked when I see this.

Courtesy of Rico Tumin

How AWESOME - and yes, I'm using this word in two senses.  The original senses that it's Awe-inspiring as well as being AMAZING in the current sense.  

If you can't tell what that is, it's a guy with beehives stuck on his motorcycle.  Well, more accurately, large honeycombs he harvested on his motorcycle as if it an actual beehive, there would definitely be more been around the dude. 

He's selling bottles of honey he harvested but Thailand is the only place that I know where people will ride around on their motorcy with honeycombs still popping out bees as it rides around.

And that, folks, is my Shock of the Day!

Shock of the Day: 7

Generational gaps don't usually bug me but when I'm going back to school or at least in this program it seems like I am, I can really feel the difference in age at times.  I'm not judging them because I remember being their age exactly and having different priorities.

My shock of the day is realizing that my priorities have definitely changed from that of an early 20's.  I like to socialize and meet and talk to new people and for the most part I can blend in with the younger bunch but I wasn't as obvious as it was going on our field trip yesterday.

Talking about majors and career and whatnot, I remember that struggle.  Heck I was still having that same struggle a few years ago, but it's funny how different one acts from those that are single and those that are married.

I call my state of mind, DGAFF.  My husband likes to call it DILLIGAFF, but that's just too long for my taste.

I make myself look nice and presentable because I don't want to be frumpy - well not all the time - but when I hear single girls talk about how particular they are about their clothes and whatnot I can't help but laugh with my DGAFF attitude.  I like to say, I'm married so I don't give a fuck, and at times I do, but when I think about how much time I used to preen and choose clothes and whatnot - do get me wrong I have my moments every now and again, especially with interviews - but now it's for a different reason.

Same kinda goes with what I say and I realize I may say things that may shock others, but at the end of the day, my DGAFF kicks in and I could care less.  I have a lot of depreciating humor and I also think that sometimes certain terms that are complete no nos to sensitive people will cringe at or be offended by it.

I don't mean to offend and I know I do at times but again...DGAFF.

I think I made two such comments and realized it as I said it and didn't apologize for it but did recognize for future reference.  I joke around with my family and friends and we call each other 'a retard' because it was a term that we used as kids and when it wasn't such a PC issue - well maybe it was but not to the point that everything is now.  

Now don't get me wrong, I think being PC has its place but why are other people in general at any given point getting offended for every little thing.  Being offended is such a subjective thing and as such, is also subject to change with people and places.  Well, I remember using the term laughing like a retard because I kinda was and realized, Oh, I'm not at home where I am free to say stuff like that, but I was referring to myself and again, referring to that time as a kid when we used to say it nonchalantly.   

Louis CK said it the best with this clip:

It would be different if I was calling someone all the derogatory terms to hurt or demean others.  Heck, people can use very ordinary, common terms for innuendos or because they are hateful and don't want to get caught saying something they shouldn't.  The word "tool" and the like.  Louis CK even talked about people using the phrase, "the N-Word"  and how it's bad because it makes you subconsciously say the word in your head and supplement the rest of the word!

Anyhoo, back on the ranch, I just want to say, I may say things but the main thing is I'm not malicious and I'm not hateful, but if I say something that others may be offended or embarrassed by...Not my problem. 

Shock of the Day

This is for yesterday, June 27, Day One

Well, it's not surprise that lugging around heave luggage is more than cumbersome.  What I didn't anticipate was the fact that I wouldn't have a place to put them.  My suitcase and backpack are substantially big and I was hoping to do as we did in Japan - place it in a locker for a day and forget about it.  

Well, it didn't quite work out that way and I was hauling all my crap with me everywhere I went.  I still hate looking extremely out of place, i.e. walking into a mall with huge bags that weigh a ton!  

....So, I didn't.

I had 3-4 hours to kill at me meeting point with my couch surfers and I stayed there and just waited.  It brought me back to the time when I was CSing in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and I had to do the same thing only...all day long.  That wait back then was brutal but I didn't mind.  I did a lot of people watching and sat waiting for my host.  This time around was a piece of cake and I also had my computer but didn't really use it.  

I met my host and then they were nice enough to drive me back to their place and we chatted, ate and I walked around trying Chinese Pancake - I can't remember how to say it - but it was delicious!  I need to start taking pictures of these things.

Shock of the day:  Taiwan is like Japan...only with Mandarin and Taiwanese language :P

It's immaculate and orderly and clean.

OH!  And they drive on the same side of the road as we do in the US.  Everything is so orderly and nice that even I - I don't enjoy driving like I used to - would feel comfortable jumping in a car and driving.  Hooray!

Had a great time see new things and meeting my hosts.  I stay with them again this evening and then head to Tainan.  

I'll keep you posted!

Preparing for Two Months of Exchange in Taiwan

I'll be leaving for Taiwan on Monday and it's funny, even though it's only two months, I'm more nervous about this temporary displacement when compared to my first international move from US to Thailand and even my upcoming move from Thailand to China.

Granted there are a few uncertainties with this move, finance - not having income or a job for the time being, so I have to budget well - new setting, new language and new set of friends to make on my own.

Probably the aspect of being on my own for the first time in a long time with out a network of people I've never met is a bit daunting but I guess it will be the first time since I was on my own in 2007-08 when I was in Japan.

I'm also preparing to move out of the apartment since we will be staying with friends when we move from Thailand to China so packing has also become a purge of sorts.  Luckily we live in a tiny apartment and I've only been here 6 months so I haven't really had the chance to really hoard many things.

Thailand's cost of living is rather cheap, and apparently so is Taiwan but seeing as I don't have any steady income, I'll have to budget and really plan out the next two months.  Maybe I'll be fine after the first week, but I'll be curious to see if I'm still pretty nervous about the situation or not after that point.

I do look forward to seeing a new country and location but at the moment, it's not at the forefront of my mind and once I get over the initial shock of being on my own (sorta), I'll should be fine.

For the time being, I will try and do what I did during my last trip of posting shocks of the day in Taiwan because I realize it's a great gauge on my own expectations as well as how my view of living and culture around me may change over time.

Until next week when I post my first shock of the day, I'll be posting from Taipei and hosted by a couch surfer.

See ya then!

Shock of the Day: Sonkran is like a water Fire Fight

Songkran is the time of year for Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries to celebrate New Years on the Buddhist Calendar.

It's 12:29 (after midnight) April 13 (now) and people are starting the cleansing of the new year.

From what I gather, they target Farangs or Foreigners, with icy cold water and aiming for specific parts of your body to get a reaction.  They usually try and get girls more and aim for their breasts and bum, but guys have their junk as the main target.  Not really my idea of fun, but our friends wanted to see it so we're down here for their benefit.

I've seen footage and video of how crazy it can get for Songkran, but my husband left to hotel earlier today, officially a day before festivities and apparently they already started.  He described it as, "Boondock Saint's Fire Fight!"

I tend to think he exagerates but seeing as I've seen his start up footage of it as well as various youtube videos, I think he made a great comparison.  I see it as a Cancun meets water fight on crack and nationwide.
The crazy thing is that this celbration last for a few days from the 13-15 this year and the most car accidents occure duing this time of year.  Accidents are 9x worse this time of year than any other and they offer special Songkran accident insurance for that purpose.  Not only that, nothing is open during Songkran so good luck getting to stores and getting food or necessities before hand if you haven't already and live in a small area - like we do.

Oh, and they tend to like to get buckets and tubs of icy cold water and dump it on bystanders like a ALS Challenge on meth.

I'll let you know what my shocks are as I've holed myself in the hotel until it's officially April 13 and I'm well and prepared for the water war going on outside.

Shock of the Day: Sick and Stairs do NOT mix well...and Monkeys are still Assholes!

Sorry folks, I've been out of commission for the past few days because I've had a nasty stomach bug and I'm finally starting to feel better.  This Shock of the Day is a bit of a rant, so like previous rants, if you don't want to read my swearing for no reason, stop reading now.

Yesterday, I felt better than I have since I contracted the stomach bug but...it was probably too soon to tackle something like Tham Seua.  Just to give you an idea of how many steps there are to get up there, there is the sign.

So the trek starts behind the sign and it goes up....and Up....and UP!  Well, I probably shouldn't have gone and done those stairs to say the least but another shock of the day came in the form of monkeys - another bane of my existance.  (rant starts here)

Not this guy or his band of furry friends but up top, there are some mean mother fuckers as my next shock of the day: Uberly agressive monkeys.  We met a very nice Indian couple and their young daughter towards the top.  Then went on ahead of us but we then heard some shouts and the little girl crying and so we ran to see if everything was alright.  We arrive at the scene with the dominant male on the father's backpack clawing and scratching.  Both mother and father were trying to protect their daughter from the monkey and so we grabbed sticks and banged on the blue railing to get the attention away from them and scare them off.

We asked if they were okay and if anyone was hurt but the father had aquired a few new scratches from the male monkey - hope he got that cleaned and checked out.  They said they were only walking by them when the monkeys came and pulled at their bags trying to steal shit, and a water bottle got lost in the mix of everything but for no apprent reason, the dominant male monkey started to pull on the little girls arm.

She, nor her parents did nothing to provoke that action and so they swarmed around her to try and protect her from the male monkey but he was being a little demon.  We were warned that the monkeys on top stole stuff but this is unreal.  We've encountered monkeys at Batu Caves in Malaysia and at other spots of Thailand but nothing this agressive!  Well, we had scared off the very teritorial and agressive male and escorted the family to the top and it seems they made it down fine, otherwise we would have heard them from the top.  This whole experience just solidified that I hate monkeys and self rightous hippies - some dumbass decided to add his two cents of "you're just making them angry".

No, dipshit, they were already fuckin' angry and I could careless if they are angry because they are attacking a fucking little girl!  If it was just an adult putting up with an asshole monkey, fine!  But she was defenseless and her parents were at a loss as to what should be done other than protect their child, so yeah, I'll fuckin' wave a stick at fuckin' monkey because fuck them once they start attacking, I'll fight back!

Fuck you, monkey and Fuck you ignorant hippie!

This was our view and very much worth it.  I'm feeling it in my quads and some parts of my calves but after all those steps, I'm shocked I'm not in more pain.

At the TOP! 

Yeah, it was pretty high up, but for me, this climb was pretty intense with my lack of energy from being sick all those days and also the heat was miserable!  The first time I climed Tham Seau, I was 21 and arrived two hours before sunset, rather than 9:00am.  It took me 1.5 hours to get up to the top and it was a struggle as my heartrate became rapid easily with the combination of me being sick, too much heat, sweating all my electrolytes and just plain exhaustion.  Yeah, I probably should have sat this one out but this was something I wanted to do again and experience with my husband so I was determined.

When those monkeys went apeshit - HA! - adrenaline quickly masqued my exhaustion and once I was on top of the mountain again, I was able to rest for another hour before making that trek down.



I can honestly say the trek down was a lot easier but still difficult with my exhaustion but we made it down in 40 mins including all my rest stops to catch my breath.  I don't think I want to do that anytime soon, but I can't believe there are monks that climb this bitch of a hill everyday!

Kudos to them!

And if you doubt how nasty these little shits can be when they decide to be territorial, just watch this video.  I'm not gonna lie, I laughed my ass watching this because in the back of my mind, I knew that monkey on the stairs could have been this crazy too, except we'd be falling down a fuckin' mountain if it decided to attack.  I'll just leave you with this footage, good or bad.

 

Shock of the Day: Giraffes have Tongues like Cats

Today, we started early to get to a temple I've been wanting to see for years now and boy did we get there early!  Well, I looked on the website and it said the temple opens at 6:30.  Well, we get there at 6:30 and the sign says 8.  Shock of the Day, not really.  It's Thailand.

We actually ended up taking tons of pictures of the place before it was swarming with people and I actually noticed that some of the hands in the sculpture were creative additions like Wolverine and others.

Have a look:

Shock of the day, Wolverine's hand is in there

We then went to Singha Park, we not only rode bikes to get around the park but we went to the petting zoo and fed giraffes, zebras and long horn steer.  Giraffes have tongues that are rough like cats but if I remember correctly, it's also rough so they can eat the thorny acacia leaves.

Shock of the Day: Bugs are like beer food...ish

Short one today since we were mainly in transit.

We getting a ticket to catch an early bus to Chiang Rai but unfortunately it was sold out.  Well, it turns out that was the best thing to happen because we ended up going to a temple that I missed the first time I was in Chiang Mai and it was absolutely gorgeous.  (I'll add pictures on the next blog)

So I didn't know you can get blessings at these temples and I just watched two families kowtow into the temple and kneel at the monk to bless them.  He only blessed males and young girls because they aren't allowed to touch women otherwise they have to go through a long cleansing process for a month.  Needless to say, I stood behind as everyone else got a blessing and went to get my blessed bracelet from his assistant.

Cool Experience.

So my shock of the day is Chiang Rai has a nice night bizarre with many things you can buy.  Well, it turns out you can buy at the food court fried buggies. Yuuuummy~

So we ate bugs.  Yup, they were like triple fried or whatnot.  It was extra crispy and honestly tasted a bit like chips.  The one I could stomach the most was silkworms, then grasshoppers but not a huge fan of the fat grubs mainly because of the texture.

Would I eat it again....sure, but let me just say, it's not my first go to as far as bar food or munchies.

At least I can say I tried it.

Shock of the Day: Reflex Test

Today brought us to a lovely canyon in Pha Chor but our shock of the day is brought to you, ladies and gentlemen, by Tiger Kingdom.

We also visited PooPooPaper, which I love.

Now, before you harp into me for going to see Tigers in captivity, let me just point out that A) Tigers are going extinct at an alarming rate and if it weren't for establishments like these, they would have all died out by now. B) they were NOT drugged or sedated - that was the mother fuckin' heat of Thailand making them drowsy because let me tell you they are alert - which brings up to the topic. C) They were hand reared and are used to human.  Yes it's not the most ideal of situations but until the outside world can get their shit together and stop kill and illegally trading Tigers, Elephants, Rhinos and other creatures, establishments like these and the like are these animals only hope for survival.

(getting off my soapbox)

SO, as I was saying, we go and pet tigers and discover 3 things about them (and us in the process)

1.  They are SOFT! ...or at least the 18 month - 3 year tigers were.  Not only that, they LOVE belly rubs!

 2) They have cute paws...even though they can maul you like confetti...and these big guys were only the medium sized tigers.  After seeing the X-LG cats, I can now see how they can easily take down a man.

3) I now know my reflexes are still pretty good.

So, we are petting Andy, our buddy here when he decides to stir up shit with his sleeping buddy see above.

Sleeping buddy DID NOT like Andy biting his ass and told his so in this pic.  You've never seen me and my husband get up so fast as soon as his buddy woke up, sat up and growled at Andy with a FU look as seen above and blow.

That's me saying YIKES as I see the tiger getting annoyed at Andy.

...And we're up while Andy is still being annoying to his bud.

Thanks Andy for the mild heart attack.  At least we know that our sympathetic response of fight or flight still has its edge to it.

Shock of the Day: Fish Manicure

Well, day three of traveling didn't bring as many delights as day two.  Speaking of which, I forgot to mention one event for day two.  So we were talking the water boat taxi and it's on a very polluted river: really disgusting.  We sat in the front so there would be less motion sickness and that logic worked pretty well.  Unfortunately, sitting in the front also means you are susceptible to river mist all over.

River Mist.
"Don't breathe that in."

Today was mainly a day of transit from BKK to Chiang Mai.  Not much to really go and write home about but we did see fish-manicure places.  If anyone of you read my husband's blog, you'll know how much he HATED doing that because it felt funny but because his best friend wanted to try it they did.  The first five minutes, there wasn't much action going on there but they then moved to a bigger tank where the fishes were HANGRY!

Both guys were laughing aloud at the weird sensation but it was definitely worth the try!

Shock of the Day: Raining?

So, if you've been reading, you know that we have guest at the house at the moment experiencing Thailand for the first time.

First we go to Buddhamonthon to check out the huge Buddha and when we get to the top of the stairs, to be respectful, we took off our shoes.

It was mutha fuckin' HOT!

Trying to light our candles but epically failing.

Like, we would have gotten blisters hot as we stood there, but a worker came up to use and said that shoes were okay.

You didn't have to tell us twice.

We then grabbed the wrong amount of offerings and the same worker went back down and got two more incense for use - you need three total - for offering.

We watched as a lady lit her candel on a huge flame, dripped wax on a the platform and stuck her candle on the wax and proceeded to light her incense.

Well, we tried to do that but as soon as we stuck our candle, it blew out with the strong wind - someone was having a good laugh - and we tried to light them again but the wind was not liking us today.

Okay, so we opted to light our incense and light our candle that way and...that worked out just fine.  We kneeled and then waied and prayed and was on our way.

Our next shock of the day was feeding the catfish.  Okay, sure there isn't that much to the fish feed but they love bread....like really LOVE it!

Posted by Richard Tumin on Sunday, April 3, 2016

Not only that, they are pretty fearless.  Not that they are brave or anything, it's more like they don't know any better.  It's a Buddhist park so no killing of fish means no fishing.  So, when I hold out bread for them to eat, with a bit of it in the water, they just open their huge mouths and grab it.  We were essentially hand feeding the fish!  It was fun and absolutely cute.

You eat that good merit, you dirty, dirty fish!

So we take them to Yaowarat and have a fun time exploring but then we go into a dingy alleyway and to say it looks 'sketch as hell' is a bit of an understatement.  It felt like I had to hold on to my kidneys and liver in fear that I may wake up in a dingy room to find that I've newly stitched and without one or all of the aforementioned organs.  It was pretty bad.  Well, halfway down the alley there were 'raindrops' that sprinkled on us.

Lived to tell the tale with all organs intact...?
Achievement! 

'Why is it raining...?' was on my mind instantly as I knew that day to be hot and clear but the defense mechanism of my mind was kicked and said, 'NOPE!  Don't think about it." and we moved on.  Apparently, my friend and I missed a rat the size of a cat that scurried down the alley and into a styrofoam cooler that probably had food to be served at the connecting restaurant to unsuspecting tourist.

Just sayin'.

On the bright side, we ended up in a street that we were looking for and found the food place that we were sure we wouldn't find.  Happy times, right?

Oh, and we came home and asked one another about the "rain" and had a good laugh about what we thought it was.  Answers ranged from "gutter water", to "pee", "poop", you name it.  I'll maintain it was gutter water and leave it at that because that 'gutter water' sprayed on my head!