Arriving in Thailand

I don’t do winters, so I always try to go to a warm place. 

The last winter I went to South East Asia.

As I was looking for flights, it was difficult to find something direct, so I booked with Egypt Air, from Budapest, Hungary, to Bangkok, Thailand, via Cairo, Egypt.

Usually when the flights have stopovers I like to stay in transit for a few days. However, I already been to Cairo a few times, so I decided to keep on going. Anyway, it was a very nice comfortable flight. The food is airplane food, however, it was not that bad.

A few days before my flight, the King died.

When I heard that King Bhumibol Adulyadej passed away and that the country was going to be in mourning for one year, I did not know if I should go anyway. But I already had my ticket and my mind was set on going, so I did.

And I am so glad I did.

I knew it was going to be a culture shock, and it was. Very different way of life, traditions, customs, and food to what I am used to. But that it’s the best part of traveling, learn different things.

Well, first thing you notice after arrival, it the chaos in the streets. There are cars, bikes, buses, tuck tucks and people all over the place.

So here I commence a new experience.

  

Traffic in one of the main streeet

public bus

electric wiring

laundromat 

grandmaswanderlust: Cookie tins

grandmaswanderlust: Cookie tins: Who doesn’t love cookie tins? Let’s face it we all do. And it has been a long time since I have seen so many cookie tins all over the...

Cookie tins

Who doesn’t love cookie tins?

Let’s face it we all do. And it has been a long time since I have seen so many cookie tins all over the place.

First time I went to a supermarket in Thailand, I was mesmerized by the quantity and the beauty of them. Same thing in Laos and Vietnam.

Soon I realized that the humongous quantity is due to the Chinese New Year.

Nevertheless, there still are many beautiful big tins year round.

Things like this make me wish I had a home, so I can have cookie tins!!!

And speaking about the Chinese New Year, here they celebrate for a whole week. Most of the business are close for the week, as people go to the paternal house to celebrate with their families and friends.

They usually have big barbecues, with chicken and pork, no beef.

And let us not forget the fireworks that people do every night for the whole week…

The traveling grandmamma: Treated as family

The traveling grandmamma: Treated as family: Sometimes I am so thick that I amaze myself. There are many says that I don’t understand. I really don’t. One of them is: “I was tr...

Treated as family

Sometimes I am so thick that I amaze myself.

There are many says that I don’t understand. I really don’t.

One of them is: “I was treated like family”.

We all know that all families are different.

Some are wonderful, other ones they kill (literally) each other.

Most families fall in between these two extremes, and let’s face it, most families are dysfunctional. Some more than others, but most of them are to some degree.

Many families are very nice. They like each other, they respect and trust each other. They meet regularly, they talk all the time, and they enjoy each other company. They might disagree here and there, but they still respect the other’s person believes, ideas, or outlook on life. They are family, so even when they disagree they will support each other, because that is what families do.

Other families don’t get along. They don’t talk with each other and they don’t respect the individuals, their ideas, or way of life. Needless to say, they don’t trust each other. They might even stop talking to you permanently if you disagree with their ideas or believes. It happens more often than you know.  Sometimes a little misunderstanding divides families beyond repair.

Many families like some of their relatives but not all of them. They gossip and talk behind their backs while smiling to their faces. Whether we want to or not, we all know families like this.

Some families are abusive, whether physically, sexually, or both.

So I will ask again, why people imply they were treated wonderfully when they say: I was treated as family, when most of the time family don’t treat each other right?

Beats me.