Thailand - Day 1

 I have entitled this post "Day 1" but, truth be told I have no idea what day it is or how many time zones I have crossed.

I left Edmonton for a 1 hour flight to Vancouver.

I am flying business class for this trip. Big splurge, but I wanted to get as much out of this experience as possible. That meant I could enjoy the hospitality of the Air Canada airport lounges in both Edmonton and Vancouver. We all met up at the departure gate.....a group from Ottawa including Mark and Emma and Nic and Dave flying in from Toronto. The only ones missing were John and Karen from the UK who arrived in Bangkok a day before us.

I have often envied those people who get to lie down on long flights and it really is lovely having space to spread out your things, a chair that reclines into a bed and a large TV screen.

I was able to sleep for about 7 hours (off and on and dozzing) and at one point when I got up to go to the washroom, I saw Tokyo out the window. We were at 40,000 feet and it stretched as far as I could see...Huge city. The total flight time was 16hours.

Meals were served with a table cloth on the tray table, cloth napkin, china plates and real cutlery. This was breakfast. The food was really good.

We breezed through customs and were met by representatives from GAdventures (our tour company) and transported to the hotel. My room mate and I settled in to our room and then went for a swim before heading to the hotel restaurant for the, included, breakfast.

I was feeling energetic and decided to use the energy while I had it. Across the street from the hotel is a temple complex and I wandered. Wat Tri Thotsathep Worawihan was the name on the sign

I just walked around the buildings, stopping, looking, taking pictures. We will be going into temples on the tour so all I wanted this time was just to see it at my own pace.

I could smell her food before I rounded the corner, plates displayed on a folding table, propane canister to cook with.

I could hear chanting coming from inside and later, when I was sitting on some steps to paint, the monks came out, in their orange robes, smiling at me sitting there.

I love the roof ornamentation and thought it might be easier than the other, more ornate, architecture, to paint.

It wasn't. As usual, my first sketch or painting on a trip doesn't go well, but I want to continue to work at using the medium and getting quick sketches done.

I may tire of the temple architecture

and not need to take photos

of every part

and from every angle

but this was my first

and I was in awe.

Windows and

doors were

etched and

trimmed.

Further into the complex was an older looking building, still ornate

but not as well cared for.

Back here there was a courtyard, shaded by umbrellas

and people creating flower arrangements for the temple.

It smelled lovely and they carried on with their work while I took pictures

and sniffed at the completed arrangements.

They were only working with white flowers

But as I walked away a man passed me delivering more flower stands and bunches of deep purple flowers.

A grouping beside one of the doors, a shrine? offerings?

Beside the temple complex was a school, perhaps affiliated.

I was getting hot and running out of water but could see that just a little way down the street the road went over a bridge, so I went to see.

It was a small canal

murky and just a little smelly.

With its fair share

of giant lizards,

Water Monitors.

The Asian water monitor (Varanus salvator) is a large varanid lizard native to South and Southeast Asia. It is widely considered to be the second-largest lizard species, after the Komodo dragon. It is distributed from eastern and northeastern India and Bangladesh, the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, through southern China and Hainan Island in the east to mainland Southeast Asia and the islands of Sumatra, Borneo, Java, Lombok, the Riau Archipelago, Sulawesi. It is one of the most widespread monitor lizards.

The Asian water monitor has a natural affinity towards water, inhabiting the surroundings of lakes, rivers, ponds, swamps and various riparian habitats, including sewers, city parks, and urban waterways. It is an excellent swimmer and hunts fish, frogs, invertebrates, water birds, and other types of aquatic and amphibious prey. Due to its apparently large, stable population, it is currently listed as Least Concern on to the IUCN Red List. From Wikipedia.

I walked down the path beside the canal, stepping out of the way of cyclists

and peering into homes, businesses and small restaurants.

Little shrines

appear to be placed randomly but I am sure they are not.

A laundry?

I was not fast enough to get any photos

of the Tuk Tuks as they zip through traffic, so settled for parked ones.

I probably wandered for a couple of hours. Hot, tired and out of water, I decided not to join the others who were just settling out to explore when I returned. We plan to go out to eat together tonight.