Today we went to the movie, Real Steel. It was quite enjoyable. We also signed up with Skype so we can call any land line or cell phone. It costs about 2 1/2 cents per minute to call any number in the U.S. So, last night, to test it, we called our friends, Roy and Joanna. This was after Laura Skyped with her daughter, Tracy. Quite interesting to be talking to the computer here and having the person on the other end in the U.S. When we first started traveling you would be out of touch unless you could find a phone that made international calls, or waited for the mail. Quite a change.
We are going to miss Bangkok. This is the first time we have stayed here for any length of time. I know, we are repeating ourselves, but we are getting old and can do that. Bangkok, even with all the pollution and congestion is a fun city. And, we haven't even been to Pat-Pong, or any bar.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Sri Mahamariammam Temple & Fortune Tellers
After we picked up our Myanmar visas we were walked around the Indian Hindu Sri Mahamariammam Temple in the Silom area and discovered the streets were lined with fortune tellers. There were not only Indians wanting to know the future, but other Asians, who were probably Buddhists. The fortune tellers were reading large picture cards which were first placed face down then turned face up one at a time to reveal the future. The fortune tellers were aided with incense, braided small white flowers and many yellow marigolds, which are the same flowers that are placed before the gods in a Hindu temple. Some of the fortune tellers also had a photo of a religious leader to make them more credible. Laura was tempted to get her fortune told, but was not sure she wanted to know it, so she passed. 
Midge would have been in her element.
Midge would have been in her element.
Credit Card
The fraud division of our credit card company called our home and sent us an e-mail about possibly fraudulent credit card charges. So, we had to call them back. We discovered that Skype allows free calls to 800 numbers in the U.S., so Jim tried it. And, it worked. We talked with the credit card company and then, being on a roll, Jim called our auto insurance company to reduce our coverage while we are overseas. There we discovered a problem. We couldn't figure out how to press 1, or any other number. Pressing 1 on the computer had no effect on the voice asking you to press 1. So, we just waited until we were switched to a live human. The credit card company was no problem because you could either say or press the number.
Jim feels a little odd talking to the computer, but, it works! And, is free! Now, Jim is kicking himself for not bringing his headset with us.
Jim feels a little odd talking to the computer, but, it works! And, is free! Now, Jim is kicking himself for not bringing his headset with us.
Burma Visa, Day 2
Today we picked up our visas to Burma (Myanmar). Actually we picked up our passports with the visas placed in them. The embassy opened precisely at 3pm, the time they said to get there. There were no problems getting the visa, other than figuring out which line to stand in. They made an announcement about which line to stand in but it was so garbled, we couldn't even tell in which language the announcement was made. The visa even has our photo in it. Pretty neat. While standing in line we met a couple who said they were from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. They never said "Eh" so we think they were only pretending to be Canadians.
On the way back from picking up our visa Laura had an attack that called for American food, so we stopped at McDonald's. As we were sitting by the window we noticed all the sandbags were still piled up next to the window.
McDonald's had three types of sauces: American Ketchup, Tomato Sauce and Chili Sauce. We chose the ketchup. Jim had the grilled pork burger and Laura had the basic cheeseburger, fries and coke zero. A good American meal, with lots of fat and salt.
From McDonald's we walked to the subway and took the subway part way back to the hotel. When we got above ground from the subway we heard "The Mickey Mouse Club Song" being played.
We listened to them play other songs, but their best song was "The Mickey Mouse Club Song".
The mall where we got off the subway and heard the band playing is where we transfer from the subway to a bus to get to our hotel. So, after getting off the subway we decided to go to the bathroom, and discovered the most unique signs indicating which was men's and which was women's.
Laura managed to Skype with all her kids today, so she is really happy.
On the way back from picking up our visa Laura had an attack that called for American food, so we stopped at McDonald's. As we were sitting by the window we noticed all the sandbags were still piled up next to the window.
McDonald's had three types of sauces: American Ketchup, Tomato Sauce and Chili Sauce. We chose the ketchup. Jim had the grilled pork burger and Laura had the basic cheeseburger, fries and coke zero. A good American meal, with lots of fat and salt.
From McDonald's we walked to the subway and took the subway part way back to the hotel. When we got above ground from the subway we heard "The Mickey Mouse Club Song" being played.
The mall where we got off the subway and heard the band playing is where we transfer from the subway to a bus to get to our hotel. So, after getting off the subway we decided to go to the bathroom, and discovered the most unique signs indicating which was men's and which was women's.
Laura managed to Skype with all her kids today, so she is really happy.
Monday, December 26, 2011
JL Bangkok Hotel Musings
So far at our hotel we have only met two visiting professors. Malcolm, from England and a professor from the University of Texas @ Dallas, whose name we have forgotten. Both of these professors teach Information Technology. This is Christmas break so the students, and professors, are gone. this morning we had breakfast with a former Burmese M.D., who now lives in Australia, and concentrates on preventive health. There is also a small group of Philippine Americans who are in Bangkok attending a Peace Conference. They are only here for one night as overflow from their conference hotel.
While having breakfast here we have watched numerous Asians put chili sauce on their fried eggs. Never even thought of fixing them that way. And, they put, not a drop or two, but smother them in the chili sauce.
They have a television in the dining room that is usually on the Thai news during breakfast, from 6:30-10am. We watched a segment about PC Airline, a small carrier based in Bangkok. We then went on the internet to find the story. The story was that PC Air was the first airline in Thailand, and probably the world, to hire transgendered "ladyboy" flight attendants.
Jim has discovered a fondness for green noodles. We think they are made from mung beans. But, whatever they are made from, he really likes them, although the sight of green noodles is a little odd, although not any odder than the sight of green beans, which they resemble.
Jim has also discovered that each year more and more Asians, both men and women, are taller than he is. It's not only the Dutch, but also the Asians that are getting taller.
We found out why there were canvas rabbits all over King Rama 9 Park. They are there to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Rabbit, 2011. Next year, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon.
While on the bus yesterday we passed the "Anti Dirty 2 Car Wash". We thought that was a great name, and then wondered where was Anti Dirty 1 Car Wash? And, is there Anti Dirty 3 and beyond?
While having breakfast here we have watched numerous Asians put chili sauce on their fried eggs. Never even thought of fixing them that way. And, they put, not a drop or two, but smother them in the chili sauce.
They have a television in the dining room that is usually on the Thai news during breakfast, from 6:30-10am. We watched a segment about PC Airline, a small carrier based in Bangkok. We then went on the internet to find the story. The story was that PC Air was the first airline in Thailand, and probably the world, to hire transgendered "ladyboy" flight attendants.
Jim has discovered a fondness for green noodles. We think they are made from mung beans. But, whatever they are made from, he really likes them, although the sight of green noodles is a little odd, although not any odder than the sight of green beans, which they resemble.
Jim has also discovered that each year more and more Asians, both men and women, are taller than he is. It's not only the Dutch, but also the Asians that are getting taller.
We found out why there were canvas rabbits all over King Rama 9 Park. They are there to celebrate the Chinese Year of the Rabbit, 2011. Next year, 2012 is the Year of the Dragon.
While on the bus yesterday we passed the "Anti Dirty 2 Car Wash". We thought that was a great name, and then wondered where was Anti Dirty 1 Car Wash? And, is there Anti Dirty 3 and beyond?
Burma Visa, Day 1
Today we went to the Myanmar (Burma) embassy to get our visa to enter. I took about an hour to get our paperwork processed. We return on Wednesday to pick up our visa. It was not a very impressive looking embassy.
After leaving the embassy we went to the mall and ate at Mos Burger, which is a Japanese chain. The great thing about Mos Burger is that some of the sandwiches are served on pressed rice buns. We each ordered the BBQ pork which was served on such a rice bun.
The highlights of the trip were on the Skytrain platforms. First there was a dog that was casually wearing glasses while everyone was photographing him.
The other was a singing group that was performing. This is their lead singer.
It was a fun day.
After leaving the embassy we went to the mall and ate at Mos Burger, which is a Japanese chain. The great thing about Mos Burger is that some of the sandwiches are served on pressed rice buns. We each ordered the BBQ pork which was served on such a rice bun.
The highlights of the trip were on the Skytrain platforms. First there was a dog that was casually wearing glasses while everyone was photographing him.
It was a fun day.
Sunday, December 25, 2011
Christmas with Woody
We spent Christmas with Woody Allen, or at least with his movie "Midnight in Paris", which was excellent. We saw it in the theater here, even though it is out on DVD in the U.S. We went to the Siam Center to see the movie and the center was busier, on Christmas Day, than we had ever seen it. Looked like Christmas day was the biggest shopping day of the year. We even got caroled in the mall, in english.
It was a very nice Christmas.
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