Wanderlust; My sis is stuck in Thailand! (wish I were there)
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Never mind the possible coup. I am experiencing serious wanderlust envy.
My sis and her husband left for their travels throughout SE Asia just in time to get hopelessly stuck in Bangkok. The airports have been seized by the People’s Alliance for Democracy (PAD), and are closed indefinitely. The incumbent government is scrambling to avoid a coup. But, I’m not concerned about their safety-  and my sis is a retired nursing director and a capable triage nurse in any case. Uprisings in Thailand tend to be fairly well contained and relatively peaceful. If they stay away from the protest areas they will be safe. The protest is not targeting tourists,  only the airports and the government. Travelers  just can’t go anywhere.  I’ve been getting regular SMS and email updates from my sis, and so far they seem to be having the time of their lives.
A few days ago they visited Wat Phra Kaew  (The temple of the Emerald Buddha) . Wat Phra Kaew is perhaps one of the most beautiful and intricate Wats in all of Thailand. In a future Wanderlust I plan to cover it in more detail, but for now I have included some photos that I took during my 2005 visit to the temple. These photos highlight the extraordinary Ramakian mural, which is housed under a portico that completely encloses Wat Phra Kaew. These images are just a few of the hundreds of scenes depicting this most beloved Thai epic.
I wish I were there. Really - potential coup and all! There is no better place to be stuck than Thailand. Thai massage is heavenly.  The food is unbelievable. EVERYTHING is cheap.  There are hundreds of Wats, (temples) and each one is a unique treasure. The water taxi is exhilarating. The open air markets are extraordinary. The people of Thailand are perhaps the best treasure of all. Never have I been anywhere with more genuinely warm and welcoming people. The country is predominantly Buddhist and at some point in their life, every Thai male spends time as a Theravada Buddhist monk - whatever amount of time they deem appropriate.
In Bangkok, countless Thais approached me in the streets to offer a hello, a piece of history, or advice on what to see or do. One fellow even showed me which types tuk tuk ( 3 wheeled motor bikes) drivers to avoid, and then he  proceeded to flag one down, negotiate a price that I could never have managed, and then mark a map for the driver. He sent me to some very special and  obscure Wats rarely seen by Westerners. And, at each one of the Wats I met even more people who were happy to talk about their home, their work, their lives. Concerned that I was traveling alone, I was given countless business cards with the express instruction that I should call immediately if I found myself in any difficulty.
So, no, I’m not worried. My sis and her husband are far from the hot spots. Their hotel reservation expired and their travel organization moved them to a large apartment with a kitchen. They will be well taken care of.
From her latest email; “I have been for a ride on a Elephant & fed him.  I have held a snake & bought clothes including 2 prs of thai wrap pants. The weather is cool and we need a light cover by night.  We went about an hour out of Bangkok to the floating market which was beautiful.  We went to a cultural center & saw a show that was very nice & I fed a water Buffalo….”
I wish I were there. Â Sigh.
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