bangkok

It was SO unbelievably hot at the temple. My hair was wet and I had to wear that horrific polyester stink bomb of a shirt, but i summoned my inner Buddha to power through. There was a big basin of water where you’d dip a flower in and let the water droplets fall on your head to bless them (bring good luck.) I got myself and everyone around me, too.
The amount of people at this place was ridiculous. I swear if you let your body relax, the crowd would move you.
Right behind us was the temple of the emerald Buddha. It is actually made of jade. It is on a high pedestal and you are not allowed to take any photos. The Buddha has three different “outfits” for the year (summer, rainy season and cool.) Only the king can change the garments. Their king is quite old so the next person in line (the crown prince) has taken over the responsibility.
You can not wear shoes in any of these temples or sit down with your feet directly facing any of the Buddhas.

When we got to the temple, they said Jesse’s pants weren’t below his knees enough, so he had to rent these. I laughed for 20 minutes. He said, “I think wearing these pants are more disrespectful to Buddha than showing my legs.” I have a theory that the locals rent these pants to tourists to bring some levity to their day. The only people you see with these on (outside of temples where they are rented) are white people trying to fit in. The locals where western clothes, so it’s kind of funny.

Alex questioned my photo directing, but Melissa did a great job- notice her serious face next to the guard. She was game for anything. Alex did provide some incredibly well placed one liners that cracked everyone up!

Nana! Thinking of you! Lots of love!

We went to visit Jim Thompson’s Silk House with Alex and Melissa while in Bangkok. I loved his art collection. He liked things that were broken- a chip here, a head gone there. I read an article a few years ago called Wabi Sabi. It is basically a Japanese philosophy that means ‘to find beauty in the imperfections.’ I think that’s what he saw in things, other people theorize that the broken things symbolized a broken man (whoa- pretty deep.) He was a really progressive guy. He frequently consulted an astrologer before making any major decisions. One advisor told him that he should not travel in his 64th year of life because it would bring grave danger. He didn’t take the advice and sadly, disappeared in the jungles of Malaysia and was never heard from again.
He built a magnificent home in Bangkok with teak wood and installed 6 inches to about a foot high wooden slats between rooms to ward off evil spirits. Apparently, the bad mojo can only move in smooth straight lines. He also had mirrors strategically placed to increase the flow of good energy (feng shui.) For entertainment, a box was built with intricate wood carvings inside to create mazes. Little mice were put in the box behind a plate of glass- kind of like tv! Toilets weren’t in houses yet so he had chamber pots for boys that looked like cats. You would lift the top of the head off and pee inside. Ladies would use bigger pots shaped like frogs.
Silk is produced by processing the cocoons. They steam the pods and the little strings that look like webs make the silk and the dead bug from inside is discarded.
The girls in the photo were dancing a traditional Thai dance. It was mesmerizing to watch their fingers curve backwards.