Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

12 July 2010

From mountaintops...

I celebrated my 30th birthday in grand style.. by rewarding myself with a ten-day vacation in a whole other continent with a girlfriend. And reminded myself that I'm still young, healthy, strong, and loving life by climbing up Egypt's highest peak, Mount Katherine.


And, boy, was I hurting up there! By the last bit of the ascent, I could barely keep up with my 61 year-old guide who probably weighed 95 pounds soaking wet and whose soles were about to fall off his ancient shoes.

The view was absolutely gorgeous. No green, but the variation of stone, terrain colors, lava rock, made it all awesome when looking from the top. This self-pic is just beyond cool. I didn't expect to capture so much detail. 
Posted by Jane at 16:03 0 comments
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21 April 2010

Chinatown

"Hey Ma! I went to Chinatown today!"
"Huh? I thought you said you're going to China, not Chinatown?"
"I did! And I went to Chinatown."
"In China?"
"Yep! Chinatown in China."

I spent Chinese New Year (February 18) in Shanghai. It's my first trip back to China in over a decade. I was excited to see China's most metropolitan and international city. My favourite part was the Ancient Chinese City. There are many translated names for this section of the city. Ancient City. Old Chinese Settlement. Old Chinese City. Shanghai Old City. Shanghai Ancient Town. You get the general idea.

And the general theme. It's the old China Town! After all, Shanghai has historically been carved into neighborhoods based on the expatriate or diplomatic presence- the French Concession, the International Settlement (comprised of the former American and British Concessions), and the Jewish ghetto. Shanghai's architecture was anything but Chinese.

Except in the old part of the city. The first thought that hit me once I found the area was "Ahh! Finally, Chinatown." It even had an arch over the street leading into the heart of the neighbourhood. The irony struck me. I had to search for a Chinatown in a Chinese city!
Posted by Jane at 14:00 0 comments
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16 April 2010

Happy Songkran

Well, I didn't really partake in the water fights. I left Bangkok. While the official festivities in Bangkok were canceled, the government really can't stop kids from having a water fight. Still, we opted for three days away from the protests and drove up to Khao Yai National Park, Thailand's version of Yellowstone Park.

What I didn't realise when I chose our destination was that it was also the home of the fledgling Thai wine industry. We sampled the ones near us.

Granmonte Winery: Our first stop for both a taste and a meal. The Italian villa style was charming. The reds, quite foul. I confess, though, I never really like shiraz reds from anywhere. But the whites surprisingly robust and dry. The restaurant offered classic Italian dishes with a subtle "I can't give up all my Thai habits" nuance.. such as the hot peppers in my spaghetti.

PB Valley Khao Yai Winery: One of the most established wineries in the country. We took a tour which, while simple, was excellent. Harvest time is Feb-March, for those who may have the fortune of scheduling their visits. So all we saw were bare vines, but a large acreage of them. We sampled four wines, two whites and two reds. I rather liked the Tempranillo. I've never had one before so I guess I ought to buy a Spanish bottle before comparing. Chenin Blanc is the standard white in the region, based on PB's "extensive testing and analysis."

For me, the visits were fun. A little peek into how yuppification has spread to Thailand.

Perhaps, most amusing of our trip, was our foray into Primo Posto, a personal recommendation by the PB Valley tour guide. More on that later.
Posted by Jane at 13:59 0 comments
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03 August 2009

The one time in my life I truly really really screamed

Just to remind you all that, while I tend to be a more serious and reserved person, I do have a sense of adventure and a healthy dose of spunk.

My philosophy in travel lately has been to do things instead of regretting that I didn't do them later. When I found myself in the birthplace of the bungy (note, Americans, it's spelt "bungy" not "bungee") in Queenstown, New Zealand, I knew I had to do the jump even though just before ever going to NZ I had been adamant that any sort of jumping- off a bridge, out of a plane, off a ski ramp- is something I would never get myself into. My verdict? Outrageously expensive for an extremely short split second, but, damn, it sure comes with some awesome bragging rights. And I will never ever ever do it again.
Posted by Jane at 18:43 0 comments
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24 July 2009

Er, is the world spinning around me?

I recently spent a week's holiday in New Zealand, primarily to ski.

After one long day off from the slopes to go horse riding, sightseeing, jumping, and wine tasting, I settled back into my room for the night. Spread across the bed with brochures and reading materials, I thought I felt some rumbling. Looking up, I would have sworn the clothes and laundry bag hanging off hangers were swinging. Damn, that must have been some potent pinot noir I had.

Then I realise the rumbling wasn't my imagination. As it dawned on me, I glanced incredulously at the table where a gallon-jug partial filled with water sat. I just needed to make sure the water was swinging with everything else. Because I think I have found myself in one heck of an earthquake. A long one, too, over a minute.

Following news would announce it was a 7.8 earthquake off the coast of South Island. The magnitude of the earthquake prompted a tsunami warning.. An alarming 8-inch wave did occur, roughly around the same time worrisome Dad sent a panicky email saying "Watch out for the avalanche!!!"

I'm not surprised that there are earthquakes in New Zealand. I just didn't expect the first one I consciously experience to be there! As I looked up the details this evening, I'm stunned to realize the last thirty in New Zealand all occurred within the past two weeks.

As of 24 July 09:
Posted by Jane at 17:37 0 comments
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08 May 2009

Thai holiday: Visaka Bucha Day



Also known as Buddha Day.

This week has been scattered with holidays. Thai Labour Day was last Friday, though we did not have it off. Our local staff were a bit surly, having to work, but given that they have both American as well as most Thai holidays, it is hard to sympathise. Tuesday this week was Coronation Day, during which the country's ailing king did make an appearance. Today, Buddha. Perhaps an equivalent of your Easter.

Many Buddhists visit the wats today, making their prayers, and the monks doing their rites in honour of Buddha.

As one whose family practised a mix of Taoist, Buddhist, and Confuscian religions, the Buddhism in Thailand wasn't as exotic as it probably would be to others. However, the Buddhism I'm more familiar with is a different school of Buddhism- Mahayana - one that in my perhaps prejudiced mind is less elaborate and traditional and more adaptive. Theravada Buddhism, on the other hand, is core to the Thai region and laden with very old ways of thinking.

Although even the Buddha statues are different, I can recognise and relate to a lot of structures, layouts, practices.. but I have yet, for the life of me, figure out why such an ugly pressence has to be labeled "Mom."

Posted by Jane at 06:41 0 comments
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05 December 2008

Happy Birthday, Your Majesty

Today marks the 81st birthday of the world's current longest reigning monarch, King Bhumibol of Thailand.

The King has established a routine of addressing the nation in a radio speech the night before his birthday. Sometimes it reads like a State of the Union. Sometimes it reads like a personal letter. Last night, probably when the Thai population needed an address the most, the King was unable to deliver one. His son and daughter revealed the fact that was long suspected- His Majesty is ill.

The exact words were "mildly ill." Which, when describing an elderly 81 year old, really can mean anything.

It didn't strike many as a surprise. His appearance in his sister's cremation ceremony showed a frail aging man. His lack of public appearances other than that event, added to the suspicion that his condition may be worse than publicly acknowledged.

But the reality did hit the citizens. Their reverence for the king is unlike anything I've seen... especially when bestowed on a mortal human being. Mondays are officially the days to wear yellow, in honour of the King, who was born on a Monday. Every Monday, streets would be swarmed with yellow. Except this past Monday when the protesters, who chose yellow as their official colour, occupied the airports.

It will be interesting.. with Thailand in a political crossroads, with an aging king, what happens from here remains unpredictable.
Posted by Jane at 04:31 0 comments
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11 August 2008

Mother's Day

Happy Birthday, Your Majesty, the Queen of Thailand.

August 12th marks the Queen's birthday, and the national holiday of Mother's Day in her honour.

The Thais have a deep reverence for the royal family that is unparalleled in the first world countries.

The portraits of the queen started coming up a week ago all over the city. In her youth, she was a stunningly beautiful woman.

Above her beauty, though, are her accomplishments. As a promoter of religious tolerance and a major patroness of silk arts, she had played an influential role in reviving the art of silk weaving in Thailand.

She turns 76 tomorrow. The television stations are devotely following her activities the past few days. Ever major building, evening MBK, has a portrait of her. The smallest such portrait could not have been less than 15 feet tall.

Now, that's a whole definition of larger than life.

In the meantime, while the rest of you in the States are dragging your feet to work, I'll say "Happy Mother's Day" enjoying the freedom of my first Thai holiday off.

Photo from Wikipedia.com.

To exemplify how the Thais feel about their royal family, says Thailand's gold medalist Prapawadee Jaroenrattanatarakoon in women's weightlifting: I did it. This gold medal is for all Thais. I’ll present it to Her Majesty the Queen when I return home on the occasion of Mother’s Day.
Posted by Jane at 16:42 0 comments
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