Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Temples, shirts and Phuket Brewery
I will start my blog now, but may have to finish later.
We are going out to celebrate Bill's birthday in about half an hour.
This morning saw the delivery of a table and chairs in teak to be used outside under the main awning by the front door.
Then Jamie took us out to visit 2 temples. Buddhist temples include many of the same features and the styles are very similar and yet they each have something individual and unique of their own.
The first had a reclining big golden Buddha on the roof - a flat roof, which we could walk up to.
The second was more of a centre of pilgrimage and the Buddha statue was half buried (so it is said) and based on a folk tale of long ago.
This temple welcomed visitors inside to pray and meditate and light candles, incense sticks and add gold leaf to any of the other holy statues. Each statue represented a holy person who concentrated on each day of the week. The gifts that one might receive by praying at the feet of that holy one were outlined in Thai and English. I chose Friday because it was the day of my birth. I will have to see the photo to remember just what I can hope for, but I know it included long life.
Then we went to a museum of Thai/Chinese life which included all sorts of household effects even very up to date things like electrical goods and phones.
A notice specifically forbade photography and we were closely attended by a museum employee - so none were taken.
There was much Chinese pottery - Chinese in style that is.
I looked at some and commented that it wouldn't surprise me to see Johnson Bros, England on the bottom.
Jamie bent down and craned his neck to look through the glass shelf - and lo and behold those were the very words he saw!
So 1950s British!
There were also blue and white willow pattern plates such as we would sell cheaply in the shop!
We called in at home and picked up Mam. We ate at the noodle shop that we we were in on Sunday. Great bowl of noodles and pork with a drink cost 45 Baht, just a little less than a pound.
We drove on into Phuket City to an indoor sort of market - little units by the dozen, selling shirts, shoes, bags etc.
Jamie and Mam discovered one the other day where really good looking shirts were on sale for 100 Baht (2 pounds). Bill bought 3 of them and I bought one and Jamie bought at least one more.
I then bought a present for Ekatarina. Jamie and Mam cannot believe it is perfect for her - I will say no more than black and goth!
Then we picked the children up from school. We were a bit early for John so had a drink in Leelawadee, right next door. Then the heavens opened and we couldn't budge for a while.
We spent a short while in the library again.
I am not sure what time we will get out - Mam's friend has come round. Jamie and I tried to help Jacob, the son, with his science homework. Jacob is 9 and Jamie and I were stumped - but it might have helped if Jacob had remembered to bring home the science text book. It was all about the parts of individual living cells. I photographed his work book to show the science teachers back home.
Soon we will be off to Phuket Brewery. They do actually brew some house beer there. It is a restaurant with shows going on. The children are looking forward to the magic show. There will be dancing too.
This is Bill's birthday treat. He has been using his present from me of course since we got here - the camera he bought.
Tell you all about the evening tomorrow.
We are going out to celebrate Bill's birthday in about half an hour.
This morning saw the delivery of a table and chairs in teak to be used outside under the main awning by the front door.
Then Jamie took us out to visit 2 temples. Buddhist temples include many of the same features and the styles are very similar and yet they each have something individual and unique of their own.
The first had a reclining big golden Buddha on the roof - a flat roof, which we could walk up to.
The second was more of a centre of pilgrimage and the Buddha statue was half buried (so it is said) and based on a folk tale of long ago.
This temple welcomed visitors inside to pray and meditate and light candles, incense sticks and add gold leaf to any of the other holy statues. Each statue represented a holy person who concentrated on each day of the week. The gifts that one might receive by praying at the feet of that holy one were outlined in Thai and English. I chose Friday because it was the day of my birth. I will have to see the photo to remember just what I can hope for, but I know it included long life.
Then we went to a museum of Thai/Chinese life which included all sorts of household effects even very up to date things like electrical goods and phones.
A notice specifically forbade photography and we were closely attended by a museum employee - so none were taken.
There was much Chinese pottery - Chinese in style that is.
I looked at some and commented that it wouldn't surprise me to see Johnson Bros, England on the bottom.
Jamie bent down and craned his neck to look through the glass shelf - and lo and behold those were the very words he saw!
So 1950s British!
There were also blue and white willow pattern plates such as we would sell cheaply in the shop!
We called in at home and picked up Mam. We ate at the noodle shop that we we were in on Sunday. Great bowl of noodles and pork with a drink cost 45 Baht, just a little less than a pound.
We drove on into Phuket City to an indoor sort of market - little units by the dozen, selling shirts, shoes, bags etc.
Jamie and Mam discovered one the other day where really good looking shirts were on sale for 100 Baht (2 pounds). Bill bought 3 of them and I bought one and Jamie bought at least one more.
I then bought a present for Ekatarina. Jamie and Mam cannot believe it is perfect for her - I will say no more than black and goth!
Then we picked the children up from school. We were a bit early for John so had a drink in Leelawadee, right next door. Then the heavens opened and we couldn't budge for a while.
We spent a short while in the library again.
I am not sure what time we will get out - Mam's friend has come round. Jamie and I tried to help Jacob, the son, with his science homework. Jacob is 9 and Jamie and I were stumped - but it might have helped if Jacob had remembered to bring home the science text book. It was all about the parts of individual living cells. I photographed his work book to show the science teachers back home.
Soon we will be off to Phuket Brewery. They do actually brew some house beer there. It is a restaurant with shows going on. The children are looking forward to the magic show. There will be dancing too.
This is Bill's birthday treat. He has been using his present from me of course since we got here - the camera he bought.
Tell you all about the evening tomorrow.
