THE 2024 CANADIAN ADVENTURE CONTINUES..…
WE TOURED THE CALGARY HERITAGE PARK IN THE AFTERNOON AND WANDERED AMONG THE LARGE DISPLAYS OF ANTIQUE CARS AND RESTORED GAS DISPENSING/PUMPS. THE PARK FOCUSES ON CANADAS HISTORY, THERE WAS A 1800’S SETTLEMENT AND EARLY TOWN INCLUDING A SALOON, A PRINTING PRESS AND A WORKING TELEPHONE SWITCHBOARD. WE RODE THE STEAM TRAIN AND A WORKING PADDLE-WHEEL BOAT.
THE 2024 CANADIAN EXPERIENCE CONTINUES……
ARRIVED IN VANCOUVER, COOL BREEZES, WOODED MOUNTAINS, TREES IN AND ON TOP OF BUILDINGS. OVERLOOKING THE HARBOR:CRUISE SHIPS, SEAPLANES, CONSTRUCTION AND PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. WE FEASTED ON A FOODIE TOUR OF GRANVILLE ISLAND MARKET. SAMPLED FOODS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD. FAVORITE? MAPLE SUGAR SMOKED SALMON! NOTICE HOW THEY STACK THE STRAWBERRIES. WE NEVER SAW ONE ROLL OFF. IN THE AFTERNOON WE HIKED STANLEY PARK AND TOURED THE AQUARIUM.
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES……
WE’RE STARTING THIS CHAPTER VISITING GOOD FRIENDS AND OLD NEIGHBORS JERE & BILL LEISTRITZ IN ANACORTES. THIS IS A GENTRIFIED SEAFARING TOWN LOCATED NORTH OF SEATTLE. ONCE A YEAR THE TOWN HOSTS A GIANT CRAFT/RUMMAGE SALE THAT TAKES OVER THE DOWNTOWN STREETS.
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES…..
THIS ADVENTURE WAS NEARING IT’S END. WE POSTPONED OUR VISIT TO KOREA DUE TO THE COLD AND WET WEATHER FORECAST. NEXT YEAR?
WHAT TO DO? SHOPPING! SIAM PARAGON MALL WAS THE LARGEST AND FANCIEST SHOPPING MALL UNTIL THE NEW ICON SIAM OPENED IN 2023. WE SPENT THE MORNING AND EARLY AFTERNOON IN THIS 8 STORY COMPLEX WITH OVER 4000 STORES. THE TECHNOLOGY FLOOR AMAZING WITH THE NEWEST AND FANCIEST COMPUTERS, MONITORS AND ELECTRONICS. SAMSUNG WAS DEMONSTRATING MINI MOBILITY CARTS.
VALENTINE’S DAY IS A BIG EVENT IN BANGKOK. THERE WERE FLOWERS AND HEARTS EVERY WHERE. IT WAS STRAWBERRY SEASON. WE ATE SO MANY DIFFERENT AND GOOD FOODS. .
BANGKOK IS VERY SPECIAL
BANGKOK OFFERS MANY THINGS FOR VISITORS. YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM VISITING TEMPLES AND SHRINES OR WATS TO THE ROYAL PALACE, FLOATING MARKETS OR EVEN EXTREME SHOPPING.
LONG TAIL BOATS CRUISE THE RIVER AND CANALS. THE CANOE STYLE BOAT IS DRIVEN BY A SMAL AUTO ENGINE CONNECTED TO A LONG DRIVE SHAFT TO THE PROPELLER. THE DRIVERS OBJECTIVE IS ‘GO FAST’!
AFTER DARK WE CHOSE A FOODIE TRIP TO EXPLORE AND SAMPLE BANGKOKS STREET FOOD. BOARDING A TUT-TUT WE TOOK OFF TO ‘EAT LIKE A LOCAL’. SITTING IN BACK OF A DECORATED 3 WHEEL MOTORCYCLE CART WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE EVENINGS’ CHAOTIC RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WITH TRUCKS, CARS, MOTOR CYCLES, SCOOTERS AND OTHER TUT-TUTS. SEAT BELTS? WE STOPPED AND SAMPLED A VARIETY OF RESTAURANTS WHILE STANDING OR OCCASIONALLY SITTING ON THE SIDEWALK. THE FOOD WAS AMAZING!
THE EVENING ENDED WITH A TOUR AROUND THE CITY. WITH THE LIGHTS AGLOW.
BANGKOK VERY SPECIAL!
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES…..
OFF THE SHIP AND IT’S TIME TO EXPLORE BANGKOK.
OUR BEAUTIFUL HOTEL IS ON THE RIVER. THERE IS CONSTANT TRAFFIC.
ADMIRING THE SCENERY WE DECIDED TO TAKE A BOAT TAXI, COST 8 BAHT TO CROSS THE RIVER TO A NEW SHOPPING COMPLEX. ICOMSIAM IS AN ASSULT ON ONE’S SENSES! THERE ARE 8 FLOORS WITH EVERY IMAGINAL RESTAURANT AND FOODS BEING SERVED. THERE WAS A COLLEGE COMMENCEMENT EVENT BEING HELD IN THE COMPLEX. A 3 STORY CIRCULAR WATERFALL IS HIGHLIGHTED WITH LASERS. THERE WERE 2 AUTO DISPLAYS – PORSCHE AND GEM. THERE WAS THE LARGEST APPLE STORE WE HAVE EVER BEEN IN. THREE FLOORS HAVE LOCAL ARTISIAN CRAFTS FOR SALE.
AFTER DARK THE RIVER COMES ALIVE WITH ELABORATE TOURISTS BOATS WITH LIGHTS AND MUSIC.
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES…..
OUR BEAUTIFUL SHIP DOCKED IN THE BUSY BANGKOK PORT. AFTER 2 WEEKS OF BEING PAMPERED WE’RE GOING THROUGH HARD TIMES.
THE LAST DAY WAS A TOUR OF ‘ANCIENT BANGKOK’. WE VISITED AN SPECTACULAR BUDIST TEMPLE. OUT OF RESPECT REMOVE YOUR SHOES
TRAFFIC IN BANGKOK IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT. THE ROADS ARE CROWDED SO THEY BUILT ELEVATED SKYWAYS. THEY’RE CROWDED SO THEY BUILT A SKYTRAIN CONNECTING THE AIRPORT TO DOWNTOWN. IT’S STILL SLOW.
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES…….
MORNING TOUR VISITED 2 BUDIST TEMPLES (WATS) LEARNED MONKS EAT ONLY 2 MEALS ADAY.
WE MADE A SHORT VISIT TO A BUSY MARKET, NEED ANOTHER SUITCASE!
THE CITY IS ALONG A LONG SANDY BEACH. WE VISITED AND ENJOYED. HOWEVER WITH THE LUNAR NEW YEAR MOST CHINESE MERCHANTS STORES WERE CLOSED
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES…….HO CHI MINH CITY
EARLY MORNING CITY TOUR. IT’S CHINESE LUNAR NEW YEAR AND TRADITIONALLY CHINESE FAMILIES WILL RETURN TO THEIR ANCESTRAL HOME. WE FOUND MANY SHOPS CLOSED FOR THE HOLIDAY.
CITY TOUR VISITED THE HISTORIC PRESIDENTIAL PALACE THE FAMOUS SITE WHERE WORLD AND STATE OCCASIONS ARE HELD.
OUR TOUR LED US TO A MARKET NEAR THE FAMOUS POST OFFICE.
THE ADVENTURE CONTINUES…. SAIGON ~ HO CHI MINH CITY
THE TOUR TODAY WAS ‘LIFE ON THE MEKONG RIVER’. THIS RIVER STARTS IN NEPAL AND FLOWS THROUGH THE INDOCHINA COUNTRIES TO DISCHARGE INTO THE SOUTH CHINA SEA. IT REMAINS THE MAJOR TRAFFIC THOROUGHFARE FOR BARGE AND COMMERCE. IT’S TIDAL AND PROVIDES FRESH WATER FOR THE RICE FIELDS.
A GUIDED BOAT TRIP TOOK US TO A FAMILY RUN RESTAURANT ALONG THE RIVER. THE TOUR CONTINUED ON WITH KAYAKS.
DUE TO CONGESTION THE GOVERNMENT WANTS PEOPLE TO USE MOTORCYCLES OR SCOOTERS. EVERY ROADWAY AND INTERSECTION IS CROWDED WITH 2 WHEEL VEHICLES. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN THEY START WITH SOME DEGREE OF ORDER AND CHAOS WHICH IS DIFFICULT FOR AMERICANS TO UNDERSTAND AND FOLLOW. NOTE THE TRAFFIC COP IN THE PHOTO. IF INTERESTED I FILMED A NUMBER OF VIDEOS OF THE TRAFFIC FLOW.
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