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Category: Asian Holidays

My Resurrected Canon G12: SUNSETS IN PHUKET

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 4 Comments

May 13, 2013

The day my Canon G12 “died”, I was in high spirits literally “shooting the breeze” in Chamantad Viewpoint in Tinian Cliffs in Sabtang, Batanes. Standing by the promontory facing the Pacific Ocean, I let that breeze slap me in the face. I took in all the ocean spray as well. Refreshing. I took it all. And so did my Canon G12 which jammed soon after I took a video and more snapshots of the cliffs and the rocky coast. It “died”. I began to mourn its “demise” only when I reached chaotic Manila. Took me some days to bring the camera to the Canon Center for repairs. Sob 😦

My Canon G12…. a faithful companion in my travels.

The entire lens had to be replaced, costing 8,500 pesos. Luckily, the 3 year warranty is still good for a couple more months. When I picked up my cam, it was as good as new and didn’t cost me a cent. Just in time too for my recent unplanned, unscheduled trip to Phuket. Sunsets in Phuket every single day we were there never passed without my memory catcher getting into action. Though it is only a Point & Shoot cam, I fell in love with my Canon G12 again. What a lovely travel companion!

SPOTTED With My Canon G12: Bromance in Phuket Beach.

SPOTTED: Bromance in Phuket Beach. Thailand. May 2013

It is the same sun. But as a friend would say, sunsets melt your heart in different ways. In my case, I was only too happy my resurrected Canon G12 can capture these moments. For sure, there are better sunset shots. But I like mine, simply because they’re MINE. I alone captured the exact spot, the exact angle, at the exact moment, with the exact sentiment I felt on the exact second I pressed to take the exact shot! I owned that feeling. Does that make sense?

Sunsets are lovely. But I honestly love twilights more. TWILIGHT IN PHUKET BEACH. JW Marriott Resort and Spa

Just a manageable “crowd” in JW Marriott Resort and Spa. Phuket, Thailand.

In Phuket, we had the luxury of viewing the sunset without the crowd. That helps build up the mood, I guess. Calm, serene, quiet, almost sacred. As we headed back to our rooms, we caught a few more snapshots. It seemed the sunset shots were never enough. Truly, who can compete with Nature? The explosion of colors just as and as soon as the sun set was the highlight of our evenings here in Phuket. Thank God my good ol’ buddy is back in action. 🙂

A few more shots. Can’t seem to get enough of sunset and twilight shots here in Phuket, Thailand.

Just before going off to dinner. Can’t make that Pad Thai wait too long…..

View from the lobby of JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa

Tags: canon G12, Mai Khao, Phuket, Sunset, Thailand

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OH, SO CHICHI IN KOH PHI PHI

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 5 Comments

May 8, 2013

Thinking James Bond 007 this morning as we boarded our speedboat to the islands off Phuket. Phi Phi today. The Beach. Monkey Beach. Vikings Cave. But no time to do James Bond Island. Funny how some of these islands’ claim to fame is by way of the movies shot in their lovely shores. I’ve seen the movies. Enough to get me all excited. And thinking James Bond….. No ferries for old ladies. Let’s have the speedboat, no less!

Royal Phuket Marina where the speedboats are parked.

There’s our speedboat (bottom left) with 675 hp engines. We flew!

Oh, the kids would have loved this. Maybe next time. How I wish we have speedboats hopping from island to island in El Nido or Coron. Quite an adventure. Outside of that, I can’t say I’m really overwhelmed. The beauty of our own islands compare very well with the likes of Phi Phi. And it is just as hot and humid too. If it were cooler, I’d choose these tropical islands anytime of day, or year, over the Greek islands off the Aegean Sea. Just make it a tad cooler. Enough to make it bearable, but warm enough to still swim in its warm waters. Or maybe I complain too much. I must be SPOILED 😉

The monkeys in Monkey Island must have been waiting for boats to stop and throw ’em those bananas! Quite a show.

We had lunch here in Phi Phi Don. Calmer waters. Colorful boats. Relaxing.

We booked the tours via Asia Web. For 3,100 baht, you have the speedboat to island hop the whole day and a half-day tour of Phuket Island another day. The speedboat cruise includes lunch, unlimited drinks and fruits on the speedboat. You may choose to ride the ferry to see the same islands for far less (900 baht) but I’m telling you, the speedboat ride is an adventure by itself! Powered with 3 engines @225 hp for a combined power of 675 hp, we flew! In some of the islands, we were allowed to swim, snorkel, feed the fish ( I love this part best! ). In one spot, the current was so strong it was a struggle to swim back to the boat!

Snorkelers galore!

Hungry fish!

We saw the boat crew catch fish with their bare hands! It looked so easy as they grabbed the fish by the heads and threw them in a basket. We were kinda hoping that was lunch, but the tour operator had other ideas. Thai lunch was not bad, but it wasn’t spectacular. I wouldn’t trade our grilled seafood lunch in one of the El Nido islands. Neither was I overwhelmed with the sights. I prefer the beach, coves and seascapes of Palawan. But I’ve got to say the speedboats and the colorful traditional boats give the place tons of charm.

Off the boat for some siesta time in Rang Yai Island, nearer to Phuket.

Vikings Cave. Nothing spectacular but those birds’ nests fetch a hefty price!

And it sure helped a great deal that Hollywood movies were filmed here. The Beach starring Leonardo di Carpio was quite a hit — which explains the thick crowd when we visited Maya Cove. Personally, I prefer the more quiet beach of Rang Yai Island. The sands pale in comparison with Boracay and El Nido, but it attracted a more sober crowd.

The Beach. Thick crowd. Rowdy youngsters who got busy “throwing” their lady friends into the water. Boys will be boys!

This is more like it. Quiet. More serene. Huts around. Showers off one side with a pair of peacocks watching! This is Rang Yai Island, just a few minutes to Royal Phuket Marina.

But you’ve got to hand it to them Thais. They sure know their tourism industry. The tour was conducted systematically, the guides were very well-trained, you never grow hungry throughout the cruise, and there’s the element of “surprise” and personalized service the way the tour was handled. In particular, we were all pleasantly surprised to find exotic fruits on the boat — sliced pineapples, rose apples (macopa), local oranges, bananas — and to be offered local Popsicles at the last leg while viewing photos taken by the tour photographer. Nice touch. Everything was well thought-out!

Macopas is what we call them. Rose Apples to others.

BOND. JAMES BOND. Very chichi.

The marina looked very classy that one easily justifies the hefty price paid for this tour. Very charming. Very cleverly done. Indeed, it was so chichi in Koh Phi Phi! 😉

Tags: Koh Phi Phi, Marriott Vacation Club, Phi Phi, Phuket, Thailand, Villa Life

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Holy Cow, We’re in Mai Khao!

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 4 Comments

May 7, 2013

Monday delights. Left Manila at noon via Thai Airways, made a brief stop in Bangkok, then flew onwards to Phuket. It’s the biggest island in Thailand and we found our retreat here in Mai Khao. The beach resort is blessedly isolated and away from the tourist crowd. Very much self-contained with an option to do some retail therapy in the nearby TurtleVillage. But who wants to get out? A 2-room villa with its own plunge pool tempts you to stay in. In fact, we opted to dine in and used the well-appointed kitchen to cook our pasta pomodoro dinner to go with a bottle of good shiraz. L.U.X.U.R.Y. Pure luxury. This is the life! Happiness 🙂

JW Marriott Phuket

It is tempting to just stay IN in JW Marriott Phuket Resort and Spa

In the end, we decided to skip the shiraz. It can wait till tomorrow. We turned in early to prep for a whole day of activities tomorrow. The stroll around the lovely resort hotel can wait too….. and so with a dip in the plunge pool. It could have been perfect. Four friends around the pool, each holding a glass of wine, chatting like there’s no tomorrow, while keeping their heads dry and the rest soaking in the pool. Holy cow! We must be getting old. All we wanted to do after dinner is to climb into our heavenly beds.

One of 2 villa bedrooms in Marriott Vacation Club in Mai Khao, Phuket.

That’s the plunge pool right outside the room in Marriott Vacation Club

This is NOT an advert. But MARRIOTT VACATION CLUB in Mai Khao, Phuket is a lovely place to stay in. The 2 bedroom villa with a well-appointed kitchen is a sanctuary for weary bodies and tired souls. The plunge pool is a bonus. Easily, the villa can accommodate 6 pax. Maybe even 8 pax. Best for families or good friends. You can even choose to stay in, buy your supplies from the nearby Turtle Village, cook and dine in. Tonight, that’s exactly what we did. Tomorrow and days after, we’d be in serious search for Pad Thai and some curries. 🙂

Who’s cooking dinner tonight?

Towel elephant on my dining table!

The Living Room. Marriott Vacation Club. Mai Khao, Phuket.

Tags: Asia, Mai Khao, Marriott, Marriott Vacation Club, Phuket, Thailand, TurtleVillage

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NO VISA, WILL TRAVEL

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Europe, Travel, travels — 4 Comments

February 26, 2013

About time we consider this listing. Makes life so much simpler.

Visa-Free Countries for Philippine Passport Holders:

ASIA
Brunei – Not Required for stay up to 14 days
Cambodia – Not Required for stay up to 21 days
Hong Kong – Not Required for stay up to 14 days
Indonesia – Not Required for stay up to 30 days
Israel – Not Required for stay up to 90 days
Laos – Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 30 days
Macau – Not Required for stay up to 30 days
Malaysia – Not Required for stay up to 30 days
Maldives – Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 30 days
Myanmar – Visa can be obtained upon arrival with pre-approval letter required
Nepal – Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 150 days
Palestine – Not Required for undefined number of days
Singapore – Not Required for stay up to 30 days
Sri Lanka – Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 30 days
Thailand – Not Required for stay up to 30 days
Timor Leste – Visa can be obtained upon arrival up-to 30 days
Vietnam – Not Required for stay up to 21 days

SOUTH AMERICA
Brazil – Not Required for stay up to 90 days
Bolivia – Not Required for stay up to 59 days
Colombia – Not Required for stay up to 180 days
Costa Rica – Not Required for stay up to 30 days
Ecuador – Not Required for stay up to 90 days
Grenada – Visa can be obtained upon arrival
Haiti – Not Required for stay up to 90 days
Montserrat – Not Required for stay up to 90 days
Peru – Not Required for stay up to 90 days
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines – Not Required for stay up to 30 days
Suriname – Not Required for stay up to 90 days

AFRICA
Cape Verde – Visa can be issued upon arrival
Central African Republic – Not Required for stay up to 7 days
Comoros – Visa can be obtained upon arrival
Djibouti – Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 1 month
Eritrea – Not Required for stay up to 30 days
Ethiopia – Visa can be issued upon arrival
Madagascar – Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 90 days
Mauritius – Not Required for stay up to 60 days
Morocco – Not Required for stay up to 90 days
Seychelles – Not Required for stay up to 30 days
Somalia – Not Required for stay up to 21 days
Togo – Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 10 days at Lome airport
Zambia – Visa can be obtained upon arrival

PACIFIC ISLANDS
Cook Islands – Not Required for stay up to 31 days
Fiji – Not Required for stay up to 120 days
Micronesia – Not Required for stay up to 30 days
Nauru – Visa can be obtained upon arrival
Nieu – Not Required for stay up to 30 days
Palau – Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 30 days
Pitcairn Islands – Not Required for stay up to 14 days
Samoa – Not Required for stay up to 60 days
Tuvalu – Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 30 days
Vanuatu – Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 30 days

EUROPE
Andorra – Not Required but only accessible via Spain or France that require visa.
Azerbaijan – Visa can be obtained upon arrival up to 30 days
Kosovo – Not Required for stay up to 90 days
Liechtenstein – Not Required for stay up to 90 days
San Marino – Not Required for stay up to 21 days

This data is updated as of February 2012. Visa requirements may change in the future so it is advisable to double check also before making your travel arrangements. You would also need to check whether a transit visa will be needed if you will travel through countries that require visas for Philippine passport holders. For those territories where you can get your visa upon arrival, make sure to check the required documents prior to arranging the trip.

HAPPY TRAVELS EVERYONE!!! 🙂

Tags: Travels, visa exemption, Visa-free for Filipinos

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A Phlog On The Mini-Monks and Children of Bhutan

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Phlog, Travel, travels — Leave a comment

February 4, 2013

It’s been a while since December 2011. I have longed to write about this but a few trips and blogposts got in the way.

Mini-monks. That’s what I call them. Without those robes though, they’re just kids goofing around!

And there were the young school boys. Don’t they look adorable wearing the “gho”?

We walked through some villages and met many young boys. More boys than girls, actually. This one’s a charmer. Took many shots of him as he willingly posed for the cam.

Met a few girls. Just a few….. Cuties. Now, why do little girls love wearing pink?

Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living. – Miriam Beard

Tags: Bhutan, Buddhist Monks, Mini-Monks, Phlog, photo blog

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TRAVELING LIGHT WITH MY CANON G12 and iPHONE

Filed under: Asian Holidays, Europe, Food Trip, Spain, Travel, travels — 12 Comments

July 22, 2012

My Canon G12 packs well in my handbag! Have you read my earlier blog on my non-DSLR cam-toting travels around the country? Well, the same P&S traveled with me and i adore it!

The lovely temple in Punakha, Bhutan housing over 600 monks and where 2 rivers merge and then flow as one.

Parque Maria Luisa in Sevilla, Spain

Even if I wanted to, I can’t hold a heavy cam well. No worries. My Canon G12 suits me well. And hey, this is not a paid advert. Just happy with my P & S. I don’t even need to lug it inside a backpack. My small handbag will do. When in a crowded place, I hang it around my neck and zip up my jacket to hide it….. Only to bring it out for a few seconds to snap a shot. I call it “no frills” photography. 🙂

Ton Le Sap Lake filled with water……..emptying out as Siem Reap’s dry season approaches.

Imagine Lara Croft lurking somewhere here in Ta Phrom, Siem Reap, Cambodia

Neither is it a demanding camera. It thinks on its own. I have experimented with the settings but really, it is simply a memory catcher for me. Memories captured to be revisited at some future time. Available for easy review. I need not be too technical about it. 😉

Yummy Vietnamese snacks!

So colorful in Wat Po, Bangkok, Thailand!

Freson Con Nata is the specialty snack here in Aranjuez, Spain. That’s strawberry with real fresh cream for you and moi!

So there. And my G12 has a lovely travel buddy. My iPhone takes pretty good photos too. Yes, it’s good for those days you want to just step out with a fancy belt bag, or no bag. Tucked inside my pocket, I’m able to step out with a few bills and my iPhone. Loving it!

Oh, ok. The iPhone is likewise handy for a few stolen museum shots. (Mi apologia. No flash, of course)

My handbag easily fits a Canon G12, my iPhone, a bottle of water, a chocolate bar, wallet, brush, powder, lipstick, some snacks and a book!

Tags: Camera, Canon, canon G12, Digicams, Point and Shoot, Traveling Light

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A Real Tongue Twister In Four Countries in Four Months

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Filed under: Asian Holidays, Food Trip, Spain, Travel, travels — Leave a comment

May 30, 2012

Four months. Four Countries. November 2011 through February 2012. Extended till May 2012. Vietnam . Thailand . Bhutan . Spain. Each country a delight to visit. Each country with its own distinct, unique cuisine. The languages compete with the culinary delights to render you “tongue-twisted”.

It lasted about a week each in Vietnam and Bhutan. And some 4 nights in Bangkok, Thailand. Then all of 10 weeks in Spain. My taste buds were never as confused as they were in the last 4-6 months. But if this is what confusion means, I wouldn’t mind being in that state for a prolonged period. 😊😍😘

Vietnamese cuisine tastes “clean” and subtle. Happily combining Asian flavors with French mastery of the kitchen, the dishes are beautifully plated even if purchased off a corner stall in the market. Besides, Vietnamese dishes are more veggies than meats which lessen one’s guilt but not the pleasure. The same aesthetic value can be said of Thai dishes. The vibrant colors combine so well in every single plate or tray whether they are vegetables, fruits or meats. And the sauces! Each single dish presents a variety of options by way of sauces. Major decisions!

The food in Bhutan is an altogether different story. There isn’t much by way of meat choices unless you are craving for yak burgers. Vegetarians would have a field day here in this Himalayan kingdom but the spices are just too much for my liking. But I like their mountain rice and the simplicity of their vegetable dumplings and soups.

Aroused by the flavors of the Orient , my taste buds were ready to be assaulted by the varied, meaty, cheesy, olive-oily dishes of Spain. From the very beginning, I knew 10 weeks won’t be long enough to try all 500 or so bacalao dishes. But really, I can’t complain.

We tried and compared the churros con chocolate from Chocolateria De San Gines and Valor, we sampled the croquetas and quezos in Mercado de San Miguel, we dined in 101 Tapas in Andalucia, traveled to Valencia for their authentic and original paella, ate not once but twice in Segovia for that cochinillo we’ve dreamed about, relished the morcilla from Burgos and the Leche flan and crema de Catalan of Barcelona.

So, after 4-6 months….. What do you think am I craving for? Sure I miss those Vietnamese rolls, the pad Thai, momos, Jamon y Quezos . But nothing beats food from home. I shamelessly requested a good friend to cook my favorite pancit, ordered halo-halo in the middle of a board meeting, drove all the way to Binondo for my lumpia and quikiam fix, waited mornings for the taho vendor, emptied my dish of dinuguan and puto in record time, and to this day, still dreaming of bibingka with kesong Puti and my favorite seagrapes (Lato) salad. Pinoy food rocks! 😝

Tags: Bhutan, bhutanese food, food porn, Spain, Spanish food, Thai food, Thailand, Viet food, vietnam

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Around The World at Terminal 21 (Bangkok)

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Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 3 Comments

February 2, 2012

Bangkok. Think Grand Palace. Wat Po. Vimanmek Palace. Chao Phraya River. Floating Market. MBK. Jim Thomson. Oriental Hotel. Wat Arun. Pat Pong. Khao San. Chatuchak.

Wat Po. Just one temple this time. We skipped the rest!

After as many as 7 trips or so here, I have yet to venture out of the capital. Well, I have visited Ayutthaya if that counts. But that was just a day trip from the city. I’m thinking Chiang Mai. Or even Phuket. Ko Phi Phi. Hua Hin. Kanchanaburi. Chiang Rai. Not this time. Another time, is what I keep repeating to myself.

Golden Gate Bridge Crossing Terminal 21's Atrium : Impressive!

Inside Terminal 21

So what else is new in Bangkok? Stuck in the city, we checked out the newest shopping mall in the capital. (Thanks to Bing who brought us here) Terminal 21. No, it is not within the airport complex. But it does look like one. Located at Sukhumvit 21 (hence, Terminal 21) this shopping mall is connected with the BTS Asoke and MRT Sukhumvit Stations.

Carribean-themed floor is all about the beach and lighthouse!

Working on the theme of travel, Terminal 21 allows you to “travel” from San Francisco, USA to Istanbul, which is just an escalator away. As we entered the complex, we were greeted by this red and white lighthouse right smack in the middle of the atrium. This ground floor is where the supermarket is, replete with its Carribean beach decor. The signature shops are largely on the Paris and Rome-themed floors. Higher up, one finds the London-themed floor. You can’t mistake it, what with the lifesize red bus parked at some corner there. The Tokyo section is also quite popular. Many ladies had fun posing beside the sumo wrestler statues you find on that floor. 😉

A London Bus Parked in Terminal 21?

And then there’s Istanbul. And the fancy restrooms! No visit is complete without stopping by the modern restrooms. Think bidet, heated seat cover, air blower, etc. Cool! What’s more, there’s wifi all around the complex. So bring your laptop and check out the many food outlets here. Grab some lunch. Just take time to decide what to have. With all these different themes, it can be a chore choosing what to have for lunch. Happy time, happy thoughts to all!

Be warned. Old hags can have fun too!

An Array of Dining Choices Inside Terminal 21

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Tags: Bangkok, Shopping, Terminal 21, Thailand

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The 108 Stupas @Dochula Pass in Bhutan

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Filed under: Asian Holidays, Travel, travels — 2 Comments

January 26, 2012

Just an hour away from Thimpu. We passed this site and drove another 1 .5 hours to reach Punakha just a couple of days before. No chance to get off the car to count the stupas. But you can bet your bottom ngultrum (Bhutanese currency) that they do number 108. No more, No less.

There you go. All 108 Chortens.

Dochula Pass sits right along the road on the way to Punakha from Thimpu. It was built to honor the casualties of a recent war resulting from a conflict with rebels from the South who wanted to secede. The King himself personally led an army of about 7,000 volunteers to drive out tens of thousands of rebels. Not one to glorify war nor their victory, the King had this monument built instead to honor both the dead soldiers and dead rebels from the conflict.

I can sit here all day. But do throw me a blanket!

At 3,150 meters above sea level, you can ID a number of mountains from the Himalayan Range on a clear day. But I’m telling you……… even on a cloudy day, it is still a worthwhile trip to make it high up here. Just a short walk from the Pass, have a cup of steaming coffee or tea at the Dochula Cafeteria. In our case, we had lunch. I am not exactly a big fan of Bhutanese cuisine, but one thing’s for sure. They grow their vegetables and grains organically. The mountain rice tastes better. The dumplings filled with cabbage and cheese dipped in some spicy sauce called MOMOS are so simply made, and tastes “healthy”. I passed on the fish, knowing that Bhutan is landlocked and assuming that the fish must have been transported all the way from India. The vegetables were cooked just as simply. Nothing fancy, really. But no worries. Altitude has a way of making you feel funny. It also affects one’s appetite, so I hardly complained.

Just a short walk to watch a cultural performance.

Just a few hundred meters from the Pass, we walked along a dirt path lined with prayer flags to watch a cultural performance. Since the dance routines have not been watched by the King yet, no photographs were allowed. Such is the rule in this land. Seated in an open-air site in 6 Celsius temp, we watched in amazement how some half-naked dancers can stand the cold. Mind you, the performance lasted well over an hour! I am borrowing some photographs here to give you an idea of Bhutanese dance routines.

Where's the BLANKET????

Tags: Asia, Bhutan, Dochula Pass

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Food Porn in Bangkok

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Filed under: Asian Holidays, Food Trip, Travel, travels — 10 Comments

January 19, 2012

Following a week in Bhutan, we chose to spend 3 nights in Bangkok. Stubborn us, we were hoping to visit Ayutthaya. No luck. After the floods, we decided against it and instead concentrated on this lively city. And its food 😉

I can't get enough of this mango salad!

Served at Novotel's Airport Hotel.

I’ve been to Bangkok several times in the past when I was still working. I have been to Ayutthaya myself, not too long ago. But my friend is visiting for the first time and she longed to see the old capital. Perhaps another time. After Bhutan, we were just too happy (and tired?) to be with old friends to relax and indulge ourselves. And how we did! On our way to Bhutan, we slept a night at Novotel Airport Hotel as we needed to be up early for the next day’s flight to Shangrila. Homeward bound, we broke our journey with 3 nights at the Pullman Hotel where we found our Manila travel buddies waiting for us.

With good old and not so old friends 😉

Reunited with Old Friends, Meeting New Ones

Our couple-friends and a niece with her 3 friends from Manila joined up with us in Bangkok. An ex-secretary now based in Bangkok hooked up with us too. The ex-sec I haven’t seen in over 20 years! Happy to see her after all this time. And very proud of her too!

Hot Pot Dinner With Fellow TravelBloggers Peter and Mari

It was also a chance to meet up with fellow bloggers Peter and Mari from my TravelBlog community. Peter and I are both Moderators in TravelBlog and feel we’re “old friends” after reading so much into our lives and the adventures we blogged about.

Those Thais Truly Excel in Food Presentation, don't they?

The Fish Is A Pretense At Eating Healthy 😉

Food Pornography

What a party. Which makes dining such serious business for this group. After all, Bhutanese cuisine pales miserably in comparison with Thai food. Well, come to think of it, I never complained about food in Bhutan — perhaps I even found it insignificant to deserve any mention — and that’s saying a lot coming from me. Looking back, my friend and I survived on mountain rice, Emma datse (chilis cooked with cheese, very spicy!) and momos or dumplings with cabbage and cheese fillings. I surprised myself (and my friend) when I ordered a burger and pasta at our hotel on the eve of our departure from Bhutan. You can guess what happened to that plate of spaghetti, right?

Bhutan's Momos or Dumplings Filled with Cabbage and Cheese Dipped in Chili Sauce! We survived on these!

Having convinced ourselves that we were “starved” in Bhutan, we looked at every Thai dish on the table as our well-deserved reward. Let the photos speak for themselves. But really, more than that, this last leg of my recent rip was a celebration of friendship.

You may also want to check out our visit of the famous Oriental Hotel by the banks of the Chao Phraya River where we tried Pierce Brosnan’s favorite Thaijito. Just click on this link.