These fifteen-foot tall warriors guard each gate into the Royal Palace grounds in Bangkok, Thailand
You can see the colorful supporters from page 44 of my journal at the base of the gold tower to the right. They are apparently holding the tower up. Royal Palace, Bangkok, Thailand
Worshipers anoint themselves with holy water using lotus blossoms. This is done just outside the entrance to the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. You can see two girls anointing a friend just outside the frame to the right. This was very unusual. Most do it for themselves like the girl on the left. Royal Palace, Bangkok, Thailand
This is the poolside service I mentioned seeing at the Shangra La Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.
This is a prime example of the offering flowers used at Hindu shrines. These flowers are hanging from a modern statue in the Lobby of the Shangra La Hotel. Bangkok, Thailand
Mary Ann, Bill and Diana in the Lobby of the Shangra La Hotel. One thing about Thai hotels, they all have beautiful, large orchid displays. Bangkok, Thailand
Here's a closeup of the wax pen I described in my journal. They use it to outline the batik designs prior to painting. Hot wax is put in the top and it only comes out when they touch the cloth. Thailand
These wax outlines are then hand painted and the cloth is boiled to remove the wax. The lightweight, breathable batik fabric is ideal for the hot, humid climate of Thailand.
You cannot say that Hindu temples are drab. This one in Kuantan, Indonesia certainly isn't.
The mosque in Kuantan is much less colorful, but much larger. Indonesia
This charming fellow is Sri Muruga, Lord of War in the Hindu pantheon. He resides in the Sri Mariamman Temple in Singapore.
This is the Raffles Hotel, Singapore. The hotel opened in 1887 and was totally renovate in 1991. The 'Singapore Sling' was invented in the hotel in the 'Long Bar'. The Long Bar is still there and a Singapore Sling can be purchased for the princely sum of $18 US.
Many movie stars have had a drink at this outdoor bar, both on and off screen. Raffles Hotel, Singapore
This is a closer shot of the Wat Tham Suwan Kuha Cave Temple entrance. If you click to make it larger you can find four monkeys climbing on it. Thailand
This is the view back towards the entrance from as far as I could go without a flashlight. The small flash on my new camera did a pretty good job of illuminating the monument at the back of the large room. Wat Tham Suwan Kuha Cave Temple, Thailand
This in Panyee Village on Phang Nga Bay in Thailand. The granite rock here are so sheer to the water that over 95% of the village is built on stilts. From this view all the buildings you see are on them.
As you can see, even this little fishing village has a Mosque at it's center. Panyee, Thailand
These colorful dancers welcomed us to Chennai (Madras), India
This temple is the Nakula Ratha, one of the five Rathas, in Mamallapuram, India. It's carved from one block of granite. Check the people in the lower right side of the picture for scale.
The stone carvers here in Mamallapuram produce some wonderful carving using only hand tools and traditional techniques. Most are too large and heavy to get home but I did buy a small set of three elephants as a momento.
This is the tea served to us in Sri Lanka on the Victorian era Viceroy Train from Kandi to Colombo. Sri Lankan tea is very good.
To see the next page of pictures click this 'Older Posts' at the bottom right.
(c) Rod Longenberger - 2005
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