Our time in Thailand is coming to an end. We have been here for three months and the time has flown by. Our dear friends, Karen and Tim visited us here and a good time was had by all. There is a very big world out there and we want to see it while we are still healthy enough to travel so we may not be coming back to Thailand for some time.
For those of you who read our New Year 2009 blog entry, you know that we have made close ties with the family who runs the restaurant in the condo where we live. Sarinya has fixed me the most imaginary, tasty meals using my limited list of ingredients. Every day she surprises me with a different dish--it's like having my own private cook. I have had soups, rice dishes, noodle dishes, fish and calamari,and chicken prepared in a dozen ways, from salads to spring rolls and every way in between. She has put everything in the meal that is possible: fresh Thai basil, pumpkin, ginger, garlic, cauliflower, various root vegetables that I've never seen before, broccoli, carrot, tomato, kidney beans, pineapple, barley--it all seems to blend together and taste great. I have gained 5 pounds at least and it's been worth it.
We attended one big event last week that is the subject of this blog. Before we attended, I thought that this would be a tiny parade--maybe the pickup trucks would be decorated with flowers and there would be a few bands and beautiful Thai ladies in the parade. Boy, was I wrong! This parade was a world class event. The floats were gorgeous, the bands were excellent and the Thai men and women were wearing their most beautiful Thai sarongs. There were also many hill tribe people in native costume in the parade. I have never been to the Rose Bowl Parade but I have to think that these floats rival the floats in that parade. We were lucky enough to be invited to sit in front of the shop where we purchased a Buddha--every year the parade passes her shop. We sat in comfortable chairs and had ginger tea and cold water served to us. She even invited us to a spaghetti lunch. After the parade, everyone went to the booths that were set up at the parade's end. The riverbank was transformed into garden shops selling every variety of orchid imaginable and other plants and flowers. Of course, Thai food was everywhere and so were booths selling everything anyone might want. We had quite a time walking around. Enjoy the pictures and let me know how you like them. Eleanor
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the first thing I thought was that you probably had been to the Rose Bowl parade and now the Chiang Mai Parade. but this looks absolutely amazing!! And you were a VIP. of course we all know that, but now the Thais do as well.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to hear all about it from you in person. Enjoy the rest of the time there, and you will always have your friends to return to here and there. much love, m.