Location, Location, Location!

Our flight to Chiang Mai was great and we have had a great time here the last two days. The temperature today is suppose to go up to 39C and it is a mixture of sun and clouds. It sounds like the weather is very different at home! Hope Spring returns before we return home. As I write this post I am sitting in the "Lucky Cafe" finishing my second mango frappe while looking at the busy street outside! The shake is one of the best shakes I have ever drank in my life, hence I am just finishing my second one! Just sitting here waiting for my laundry to be finished at the laundromat next door. Thomas just left for a walk and will be back shortly. 
We are pleased with our hotel but wish that it was located elsewhere. Little did I know that the one I selected was directly beside the "Red Light District". Thomas told Nancy and I on the first day that he suspected it but we did not think much about the idea. When we returned home around 9:00 p.m. that evening, it was evident that he was correct. We had to walk by all the hookers and interested gentlemen who were looking for a happy ending to get to the one entrance of our hotel. That was definitely a new experience for me. Yesterday I heard a girl call out to Thomas as he walked by her! LOL!! Another great memory for us to take forward! I always research hotels before booking them and I never read anything about our hotel being so close to this busy, popular section of town! Also, the "Lucky Cafe" I am sitting in right now has nothing to do with prostitution!
It has been wonderful to have our good friend Nancy with us for the last few days. She is back at the hotel right now and is leaving early this afternoon for Bangkok as she is back at work tomorrow. Her birthday was yesterday and we had a great dinner and day at the Maetang Elephant Park to celebrate it. I absolutely loved my time with the elephants and you will love the photos that I will be posting. A few of the elephants could draw and even print their name. Some of the elephants at the park spent their earlier years in the logging industry while others came from the street where they were used for begging. Many were born at the park. The park we visited has a Zero Tolerance policy towards animal cruelty and the elephants we saw were healthy and happy! Here is a link about the park http://www.chiangmaielephants.asia/ I am sure that not all elephants are as lucky as the ones that we met!
Today is the last day of a two week school break in Thailand and I am sure that Chiang Mai will be a quieter place tomorrow. This afternoon will probably be a pool and spa day for us as there is a lovely pool at the hotel and a spa facility on the top floor. Guests can actually schedule two hour head, back and shoulder massages, cannot wait!
Next week we plan to visit some temples in the old city of Chiang Mai and Thomas has been looking into golf. Tours are easy to book at the last minute at our hotel and we plan to go on another tour to a beautiful temple up in the hills near Chiang Mai. The temple is suppose to have an incredible view of the city and there will lots of opportunities to walk which is great! I plan to post 2 photo albums later. The Internet did not work for me this morning so I am behind with everything. As soon as Thomas touched the computer it worked!! Technology and I do not always get along! Take care my friends! 

Back in Bangkok!

Our flights were uneventful but seemed like they lasted forever. Both Thomas and I found it a challenge to sit for the 15 hour flight. Our butts, knees and backs were numb and aching by the time we landed in Hong Kong. When we were younger we did not notice the aches and pains and did not feel like we would need a wheelchair when we got off the plane. The woes of aging!! Long distance travel is easier on a young body! We were fortunate that no one sat in the seat between us on the 15 hr flight. That extra space gave us some elbow and stretch room. Thomas and I do not usually sit beside each other when we fly. When possible he sits near the aisle for extra leg room and I sit by the window. We usually have a stranger sitting between us which can be a good or bad experience.

Cathay Pacific was a good carrier but we were not impressed at all with their food. Our expectations for food on a plane are never high but we have had better. The food that would have been loaded in Toronto was worse than the food we got in Hong Kong. The noodle soup was okay but that was so loaded with salt that all I tasted for the rest of the trip was salt. We did not eat much of what we were served and were both starving by the time we landed in Bangkok. It has been a challenge to find a reasonably priced cold beer for Thomas. At 7-Eleven they would not sell him any beer until after 5 pm. We paid $10.00 for a beer and water at our hotel just because we wanted something to drink.

We are pleased with our room and the weather here is hot and humid. Yesterday it was around 32C and today it is suppose to go up to 36C. It is really easy to get around Bangkok with their great subway system. Yesterday we did lots of walking and subwaying! Thomas's special GPS or "the force" was warming up and did not work that well and I helped to get us lost. At one point we were walking in the opposite direction of where we even wanted to go. However, we did reach all destination but just put on more miles than we planned to. We walked a total of 21337 steps or 14.55 km yesterday. Thomas's feet are sore and tired today and mine are just a little stiff. I wear a little computer called a Fitbit One which tracks my movements all the time and have tried to walk 10000 steps a day since Jan 1, 2013 so I am use to walking more than Thomas.
Since we arrived we have visited the Siam Mall, Lampini Park, Jim Thompson's House & Museum and explored the area around our hotel. I really enjoyed the Thompson house and recommend it, if you visit Bangkok. http://www.jimthompsonhouse.com/  Today we plan to get feet massages and return to Thanon Sukhumvit where we know we can find cold beer if Thomas desires one and browse to our hearts content. Also, we had dinner at a fabulous restaurant called Cabbages and Condoms where the restaurant is decorated with statues made from coloured condoms. http://www.pda.or.th/restaurant/ We took a few photos of the statues and will post later. When we spent 8 days in Bangkok on our last trip we saw the UNESCO sites and some of the many beautiful temples and palaces, so we do not have many photos to post of the incredible culture around us. You can view my old Bangkok photos at my Ultimate Journey blog http://thomasanddebbie.blogspot.ca/
Leave for Chiang Mai tomorrow and are staying at the Raming Lodge Hotel and Spa. http://www.raminglodge.com/ Our flight leaves Bangkok at 1:05 p.m. and arrives in Chiang Mai at 2:15 p.m. Easy on the bum and legs! Talk later!

Heaven's Newest Angel

Yesterday on April 13th we lost our cherished friend, Scott Legault. He fought a challenging battle against his cancer and is now in a better place where he is free of pain and suffering. He was taken from us before his time, loved by many and will be greatly missed by family and friends. 

I know that God has an incredible plan in place for his newest angel and Scott will be in our hearts forever. The photo I have posted of him was taken when we spent time with him and his wife, Melissa in Cinque Terre, Italy during our Ultimate Journey, September 2011. We will always cherish the memories from that experience and our friendship. 

Now that Scott has passed on to an even greater purpose we will pray for him, Melissa and their families and celebrate his life on April 19, the day of his funeral, at a temple in Chiang Mai. When we are flying it will be comforting to know that we will be as close to Heaven and Scott as we could ever be. 

The following poem by David Harkins says it all. We are very sad that we will not be at home to support Melissa and both families but we will be there for them when we return home in May.

  

He is Gone

You can shed tears that he is gone,

or you can smile because he has lived.

You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back,

or you can open your eyes and see all that he's left.

Your heart can be empty because you can't see him,

or you can be full of the love you shared.

You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday,

or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday.

You can remember him only that he is gone,

or you can cherish his memory and let it live on.

You can cry and close you mind,

be empty and turn your back.

Or you can do what he'd want:

smile, open you eyes, love and go on."

Until we meet again my friend, love you forever!

Thomas, Debbie &Sebastian 
xoxo