BROKEN DISHES AND A COOKING LESSON

In a continuation of yesterday's blog, we left the market place and loaded into a colorful canopied passenger boat into the canal. Again, the contrasts of beautiful teak wood homes built next to tin shacks struck us. The monitor lizard above sunned himself in front of a rich "politicians" house. Panu told us they eat rats. All on the boat agreed the monitor choose the right house. The Thais feel the same way about their politicians as we do, it seems. The canal was built to help prevent flooding. Below we que-ed up to pass through the locks on our way to our home cooked lunch.

Meet Toon, a retired government employee who lives in an expanding compound of family residences and entertains tourists such as we with her engaging personality and authentic Thai cooking. We were introduced to the main herbs and spices used in Thai cooking.
Here fellow travelers, Phyllis Saul and Roberta Berman pound the chilies in a mortar. The dried chilies were soaked for several hours to soften them before grinding.
Then Mason and I were enlisted to grind lemon grass, ginger, shallots, Kaffir lime skin and corriander root into the chili paste.

Sy Shames stirred the paste with oil, then garlic, shrimp paste and chicken broth before the long beans were added. The final seasong Kaffir lime leaf, fish sauce, and sugar. One of the best meals we had on the trip. Fresh, home cooked on an outdoor gas fired wok.


Our next stop was the broken dishes temple. Well, The Temple of Dawn is the correct name. It seems a merchant ordered a load of ceramic dishes from China. When the boat arrived, the load had shifted and much of the order was broken. He sought permission of the king to return the load without payment. The king, before the word public relations was coined, decided it would make everyone unhappy, after all the work and a long journey. The King decided to buy the broken dishes and use them to decorate an old temple that was in need of renovation. I truly love the peaceable philosophy of the Thai. The results below.


Our next stop on the canal was the Royal Barge Museum. These awesome barges are used on cermonial days or any special event. They carry the King, the family or any special dignitary. At one time a new barge was built for every major event. Now, to reduce costs, the barges are used over and over again. Like the temple they are encrusted with broken pieces of glass to add shine along with the gold paint that is typical of temples, gates and anything royal. Beautiful. The prow figures all have special meaning and in olden times were meant to intimidate their enemies in time of war.

Our last stop of the day was the Tailor shop. Here the proprietor shows a sample of a silk jacket. They can be special ordered, measured to fit properly at a reasonable cost. One traveler order two jackets and three pairs of pants. Lovely stuff.
After dinner, our troop visited theBangkok night market. Mason and I were weary and hit the mattress.
The menu and recipe for the Long Bean and Tofu.
Cucumber Soup, Chicken Salad, Stir fried young lufa with egg, Stir fried Chili Paste with Long Bean and Tofu.
5 pieces Dried Chili, 2 Tspns sliced Galangal Ginger,2 Tspns, sliced lemon grass, 1 Tspn Kaffir Lime Skin, 1 Tspn Coriander root, 2 Tspn sliced shallots, 3 Tspn sliced garlic, 1 tsp shrimp aste, 2 Tspns Kaffir Lime Leaf. Follow the directions above and flavor with 2 Tspns fish sauce and 2 Tspns sugar. Add stir fried tofu and serve. Yum.

EXCITING, PULSING BANGKOK

Do I even recognize the 14 year old I took with me to Thailand? After 16 days of a venerable, ancient, culture we were both changed. Mason, above, is my grandson and traveling partner. We squeezed in a lot of life during our 16 days. He is holding Flat Stanley against a waterfall in the Tawana Hotel, Bangkok on our first day. (I'll explain Flat Stanley later.)

From our hotel, we set out for the flower and produce markets. We viewed the miasma of traffic, strange vehicles slipping past our bus window. Life swirls through the streets, shopping stalls crowd man and beast and machine for space. Its vibrant, exciting and such a contrast to suburban and big city USA.

We found Thai people, happy, friendly, clean, and a fascinating mix of old culture and new democracy. Third world, no doubt, but life is lived in the streets. Families run their shopping stalls, kids play around the street markets when not in school. Vendors eat on the street, socialize and nap in their stalls.


The snarl of wiring above this street reminds me a bit of India, yet you could plug in your computer, or phone chargers in any of our hotels.

Thai people love their flowers and you see them gracing their motorcycles, boats, buses, houses, temples-everything.

Fruits and vegetables and flowers are part of every celebration in Thailand. It was love at first sight.

BACK ON THE ROAD.

Tomorrow, Jim leaves for Yuma in the Motor Home. I remain in Murphys until Dec. 16th, when I fly to Thailand with my grandson,, Mason. I'll be unable to blog from then until I return on Jan. 2nd, 2010. Egads! A new year and Christmas spent in Thailand. Should be interesting. I'll have lots of pictures and stories to share when I return.
Jim has been busily charting the first leg of our travels.
He'll spend Christmas in Yuma. From Yuma to Tuscon where I will fly to meet him on January 9th.
Tuscon to visit old friend Sandee Voges. Then on to Chiracaua National Monument Southeastern AZ.
Demming, New Mexico to visit Jim's Spanish Teacher.
Then Columbus, New Mexico- the only place that Pancho Villa invaded the U.S. and killed American's there.
To El Paso, Texas and down to Big Ben National Park. We travel East across Texas to New Orleans by February 5th for Mardi Gras and other attractions. We expect to spend a month in Louisiana because there is so much to see and do.
From there we'll post another itinerary.

KEEPING IN TOUCH WITH YOUTH

We love the verve of youth and I found this guy on http://freeflowingtempo.blogspot.com.
Pretty cool lookin' cat, huh! Check him out. I looked at his content and realized he knows more about musical instruments than I know about raising kids. His music is stuff I never heard of and if I'm to keep up with the world and understand where its going, I'd better get with it and tune into youth. Obama is leading the way. So, I joined facebook, twitter, plax-something-or-other, but blogging has become my passion. It is an outlet for a writer like no other. It keeps me in touch with the world of senior citizens, working people, activism, social movements and youth alike.
I particularly like this guy, though. His name is Mason Matzek. I guess its no coincidence that my name is Matzek, too. I'm so proud to have a grandson that is wholesome, intelligent, interested in music, and fun to be with. He and I will be vacationing in Thailand in December. When we return, we can both share our experiences with everyone via this amazing tool.