in pictures

In the snow at Rotang Pass in Northern India


In a tuk tuk in Bangkok


Being hugged by an elephant in Pai


On the elephant

more cities we've been to

Vashisht, India - Vashisht was the first city that we settled into for a while. It's a neat little hill town in the North of India surrounded by the snow capped Himalayas. It's centered along one road which has shopping, hotels and restaurants. We had 2 favorite restaurants which served the usual tourist selection of foods from India, Israel, China, and Italy. Both restaurants showed movies in a living room setting while serving dinner.

Old Manali, India - Old Manali is across the Beas river from Vashisht. The restaurant food is better as is the shopping. The views of the mountains are not as good. Old Manali was definitely one of my favorite towns.

New Manali, India - We didn't stay overnight in Old Manali, but it's a town worth mentioning. It's a walk or rickshaw ride away from both Vashisht and Old Manali. This is where we did our banking, yarn shopping and ate more authentic Indian food.

We had a crazy travel day transitioning from India to Thailand. We took a 2 hour cab ride to Kullu and then a one hour helicopter ride (where they served lunch!) to Delhi. From Delhi, we took a quick cab ride from the domestic airport to the international airport and got on a plan to Bangkok.

Bangkok, Thailand - Bangkok is a wonderful city. The transportation system is well developed - there is a sky train, underground subway, water ferries, busses, taxis, and, of course, tuk tuks (auto rickshaw.) The shopping malls are wonderfully air conditioned - we mainly spent time in their food courts. Hopefully, we'll be able to explore Bangkok more at the end of our trip.

Chiang Mai, Thailand - We took an overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai which is another major city in Thailand. One of the big universities is in Chiang Mai. Educational opportunities for the traveller abound as well. There are courses in massage, yoga and cooking. Yesterday, I took a Vegetarian Thai Cooking class which I really enjoyed. Chiang Mai has a popular tourist night market which I wasn't wowed by. But, Scott found us the night market where the locals go to which was much better.

Pai, Thailand - Today, we arrived in Pai. It's about a 4 hour drive North of Chiang Mai. It feels like a relaxed hangout. I can envision us staying here for a while.

Thai Massages

Let me start with some American comparisons.

At manicure/pedicure places in the U.S., there are a bunch of chairs lined up; your service is done next to others having their services done. The clients sometimes talk amongst themselves - "that's a great polish color on you," or "I live right down the street from here." And, the providers talk to each other. Maybe they are gossiping about their clients or what they are having for dinner that night - I'm not sure.

In contrast, massages in the U.S. are done in private rooms with the client naked (or mostly naked). Quiet music is played and the massage therapist only talks to quietly say things like, "is this pressure OK?"

Getting a massage in Thailand is more like the experience of getting a mani/pedi in America. Massages are inexpensive and easily available. On street corners and in storefronts, rows of reclining chairs are set up next to each other. You tell them what service you want (hour long foot massage, head massage, back massage, or some combination), and they go to work on you while periodically talking to one another. During my massage today, my provider's cell phone rang; she answered the phone and continued to semi-massage me while briefly talking to her caller. Then she got back to giving me my wonderful foot massage.

some pictures we've taken along the way

Beautiful pool, beach and cliffs in Railay Bay


While trekking


In Mr. Singh's rickshaw in Delhi


In a yarn store in New Manali


Day Trek from Old Manali to Solang

Sunday Monday

After I came home from India 2 years ago, I was disappointed that I hadn't bought more clothes. Clothes here are inexpensive - some are also made of inexpensive materials and are put together badly, but others are of very good quality and many of the stores have tailors on hand to make any needed alterations or to quickly construct a completely new garment on request.

So, this time, I've been spending more time in the stores (more like roadside stalls than American stores), and have bought some dresses and shirts which will hopefully look as cute back home as they do here in the dusty mirrors which the store keeper holds up so I can see what the items look like on me.

A phrase that the sellers use is "Sunday Monday." It took me a while to figure this out, but it means that the item is reversible. You can show one side on Sunday and the other side on Monday. Today I bought a Sunday Monday purse.