Mar 5, 2013
Thailand. I always heard Pad Thai had too many calories, too much salt but I never really investigated it until arriving in Bangkok. This is the way Pad Thai is served at The Oriental Hotel where we stayed. Really delicious. So what is in it? Well fish sauce, tamarind paste, red chilies and rice noodles, with cilantro, lime juice, chopped peanuts, bean sprouts and maybe some protein and dried shrimp thrown in. All things I regularly have in my house. Not! And Pad Thai was voted the #5 food in the world by 35,000 people in a CNN poll in 2011. Interestingly, Rendang was voted #1 and cheeseburgers were way down the list at #30. Rendang??? I have so much to learn as I have never even heard of this exotic food from Indonesia and I consider myself to be fairly well travelled. So I tried making Pad Thai at home, finally locating the tamarind paste at Whole Foods, and it was really good. A restaurant portion of Pad Thai comes in at a whopping 900 calories, but my at home version was about 350 calories. The American Heart Association even recommends Pad Thai as a healthy option when eating Thai food. So just watch the portions and enjoy.... read more
Mar 4, 2013
Thailand. With the opening of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) yesterday in Bangkok, Thailand has announced they will move to ban all ivory trade including domestic trade. (I like to think my signature on the petition last week really moved this along). This is potentially good news for the elephants depending on when and how it is enacted. So what is CITES? Having never heard of it until last week, it certainly has been in the news recently. Well it is a treaty signed by 197 countries (called parties) with a goal to ensure the international trade of plants and animals doesn’t threaten survival of the species in the wild. Over 34,000 species are covered. Wow. Plants and animals are categorized into 3 categories with Level I addressing plants and animals faced with the threat of extinction. Included in this list are Asian elephants, some populations of African elephants, jaguars, gorillas, red pandas, tigers and manatees. Woah. Manatees? Yep. Manatees are an endangered species. And even more interesting (to me) is DNA evidence suggests manatees are related to elephants. So that sweet manatee you see in the coastal waters of Florida may be related to the baby elephant I am feeding in Northern Thailand. Once again, the world comes around in a full circle. Absolutely amazing! ... read more
Mar 2, 2013
Thailand. I admit I don’t know much about Buddhism, but I am learning, a lot. And there is so much to learn. With over 350 million Buddhists worldwide, there is great debate – religion or philosophy? Well, it depends on who you ask. The Dalai Lama says “From one viewpoint Buddhism is a religion, from another viewpoint Buddhism is a science of mind and not a religion. Buddhism can be a bridge between these 2 sides.” OK, so it is neither or both? Not really sure. Some of the tenants of Buddhism are: Lead a moral life Be mindful and aware of thoughts and actions Develop wisdom and understanding Sounds pretty peaceful. In fact, while Buddhists have fought in wars, there has never been a war in the name of Buddhism. Hmmmm. So, while I have no idea whether it is a religion or a philosophy, nor am I sure it really matters, I do know it is a fascinating way of life. One I sure want to know more about! ... read more
Mar 1, 2013
Thailand. In 1989, a worldwide ban on the sale of elephant ivory was agreed to by 105 (out of 110) countries as part of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Although Thailand is part of the agreement, they have a unique law that allows for the sale of ivory from domesticated Asian elephants. Huh? This law has been used to launder illegal African ivory thru Thailand. Today it is estimated 2,500 elephants are slaughtered a month worldwide for their tusks which is a status symbol in many Asian countries. Poaching is the biggest threat to African elephants while habitat encroachment is the biggest threat to Asian elephants. Next week, Bangkok hosts the annual CITES meeting. Yesterday, a petition was delivered to the prime minister of Thailand from the World Wildlife Fund (it is free to join) calling on Thailand to ban the trade of all ivory in the country. The petition had over 500,000 signatures, including mine and Leo DiCaprio’s. Oh my. How very cool to feel like I am making a difference. By the way, you may be wondering why the photo today looks different than the previous elephant photos. The elephant’s ears are much larger and she has tusks. Asian elephants have smaller ears and the females do not have tusks, unlike the African ones. So this is a photo of an African elephant I took while on safari in Botswana. An entirely different life experience just waiting to be shared! ... read more
Feb 27, 2013
Having never heard of Jim Thompson until researching our trip to Thailand, he is now one of those people I would have loved to meet. He was an American, who single handedly, revitalized the Thai silk industry after World War II. He was also was an architect, retired army officer, a spy (that is the one I am really intrigued by), an antique collector and a silk merchant. In the picture, we are at The Jim Thompson house, run by the Foundation established in his name, watching silk being spun from cocoons. The cocoons are boiled and a single thread at a time is pulled and put on a spool. It is then used to make beautiful silk cloth. More on silk later, but the story of Jim is fascinating. After retiring from what is now known as the CIA, he moved to Thailand and started the Thai Silk company. He convinced Vogue magazine to do an article on his silks and then achieved a great coup when his Thai silks were used in the movie production of The King and I in 1951. He helped raise thousands of Thai’s out of poverty by providing them with a living making silk. He built a beautiful house in Bangkok, filled with antiques he collected and entertained royalty. Then on Easter Day in 1967, he went for a walk in Malaysia while on holiday and was never seen again. Much speculation exists about a possible kidnapping by all sorts by shady characters or maybe even a tiger ate him. Oh my. But the mystery remains to this day. And the silks... read more
Feb 26, 2013
Thailand. Part stretching, acupuncture (without the needles), reflexology, and deep compression. All of these are used during a Thai massage which helps you feel mentally alert and physically energized, unlike a Swedish massage. At least that has been my limited experience. With origins dating back to the 5th Century BC, a confidant of Buddha is said to have originated the beginnings of Thai massage. The diagrams shown in the photo are in the same temple as the Reclining Buddha, Wat Pho. After Thailand was invaded by the Burmese in 1776 most of the manuscripts on massage were destroyed. King Rama III had the best surviving texts and diagrams inscribed in stone and installed in the temple. A Thai massage, recognized by the Thai government as a medical discipline, is performed with loose clothes on and increases flexibility, detoxes, improves your immune system, reduces stress, helps arthritis, and boosts energy. A massage and a cup of tea with a slice of pineapple and coconut and I will be orbiting the moon. And speaking of moons, when I went to book a Thai massage at a local yoga/massage center, the website said they were closed yesterday due to a full moon (which was absolutely gorgeous last night). They are also closed for new moons. Really? That is a new one for me and just shows how much I have to learn!... read more
Feb 25, 2013
Malaysia. My favorite time on the Orient Eastern Express train was tea in the late afternoon served by our butler, Paul. The tea was always hot and perfectly brewed. What I didn’t realize, tea is the most popular beverage in the world behind water. It has been served for over 5000 years and has tons of documented health benefits including helping lower heart disease and blood pressure, prevent tooth decay, help in weight loss and help shrink cancerous tumors. And all tea, whether black, green, oolong or white, comes from the same plant. It is just a matter of the way the leaves are processed that make each tea different ( I didn’t know that either). The most expensive tea experience in the world? Well for $200 a cup you can have tea fertilized by panda poop ( I am not kidding. It has been certified by the World Record Academy). Or for $813 a couple you can have high tea at the Cliveden Hotel outside London. Not only do you get tea, but truffles, caviar, one glass of Dom champagne and chocolate cake trimmed in gold leaf. A true bargain!... read more
Feb 24, 2013
Thailand. So what does a reclining pose for Buddha mean? In the case of the longest reclining Buddha in Thailand, at 160 feet long and 50 feet high, it illustrates Buddha passing into Nirvana. Nirvana? Simply put, Nirvana means a state of peace or bliss. Or as we now know, it could also mean you were born on a Tuesday since a reclining Buddha pose represents Tuesday birthdays. This monument is spectacular, completely covered in gold leaf with the eyes and feet inlaid with mother-of-pearl. While the temple is over 300 years old, the Reclining Buddha was commissioned in 1832 under the reign of King Rama III. And there are all sorts of rules and customs involved in viewing Buddha statues. First, you must take your shoes off and leave them outside (which is a little weird because my first thought was what happens if someone takes my shoes), no bare shoulders or knees are allowed, and you should never point your feet at a Buddha. And if you are really into the customs, you should walk clockwise around the statue, and enter the temple with your left foot and leave with your right foot (which sounds a lot like not stepping on a crack in the sidewalk when I was a kid). And in acknowledging it’s importance as a Bangkok landmark, it was Obama’s first stop on his recent Asian tour. And yes, even he had to take off his shoes. ... read more
Feb 20, 2013
Thailand. What better snack while on a long boat off the coast of Thailand than a berry, I mean a pineapple? Actually a pineapple is a cluster of berries fused to a central stalk. This particular pineapple happens to be the best I have ever eaten and we ate the whole thing between 2 of us. And it turns out the pineapple is incredibly healthy. Not only does it help with digestion, arthritis, asthma, and blood circulation, it helps prevent scurvy and most important, worm infestations. So there you have it. The pineapple is also great as a natural detox and is low in calories. My kind of food. But they are challenging to grow. The plant takes 2 years to produce a fruit, only one fruit is produced a year and only 2 fruits are produced in the life of the plant. The perennial plant is then plowed under and the process starts again. Hawaii is the only US state to produce pineapples, hence the expense. Long known as a symbol of hospitality and friendship, the pineapple shows up in all sorts of interesting places. On furniture, hats (think Carmen Miranda), and even adorning the top of the Men’s Singles trophy at Wimbledon. So keep your eyes open. You just might see a pineapple where you least expect it. ... read more
Feb 19, 2013
Thailand. The Four Season’s Elephant Camp in Northern Thailand offers polo lessons on elephants as an activity. We didn’t have time to try it (I was too busy riding my elephant, Bounma and taking pictures from my perch on her head of the elephants in front of me), but I was fascinated with the concept. Turns out there is a World Elephant Polo Association. Last year 48 riders from over 15 countries participated in the King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament. Not knowing anything about polo with horses, let alone elephants, I set out to learn the rules. There are 4 elephants per side with 2 people riding each elephant and elephants are strictly forbidden from lying down in front of the goals posts to prevent a goal. My favorite rule is “elephants are to be given sugar cane or vitamin enriched rice balls at the end of each match and players get a cold beer, but not vice versa. That is the actual rule! Money is raised thru the tournaments for the future care of elephants and their mahouts and conservation efforts. Of course not everyone is happy including the animal activist folks who contend polo is cruel to the animals. Seeing how well the elephants are cared for at The Four Seasons, I look forward to my first polo lesson.... read more
Feb 18, 2013
Singapore. A full moon just before New Year’s Eve (taken from my hotel balcony). Is it safe to walk around at night by yourself? Considering the country/city is one of the safest in the world, probably. Not only is there a mandatory death penalty for many drug offenses (you definitely get a feel for this when you enter the country and your embarkation card has “death to drug traffickers” stamped on it), but over 30 offenses carry caning sentences. Caning as in flogging? Wow. The person sentenced to caning is laid, naked, over an apparatus that looks like an A frame and caned on the buttocks. Offenses include vandalism, rape, murder, and oh, overstaying your visa by more than 90 days. Only men under 50 can be caned so no women which I find very interesting. You might remember the young American, Michael Fay, who was sentenced to 4 canes after being convicted of theft and vandalism in 1994 (and trial is by judge, there are no juries for minor offenses). Even President Clinton tried to intervene on Michael’s behalf. But Singapore said sorry, he broke the law. So 4 canes were administered. Ouch. ... read more
Feb 16, 2013
Singapore. What to get for the person that has everything? Naming rights to your very own orchid. Pretty cool. However you just might have to wait 7 years. The time it takes an orchid to grow from seed to blossom. With over 30,000 varieties of orchid, it is hard not to love them. And I had no idea they are named after so many famous people. Nelson Mandela, Martha Stewart, Michele Obama ( and all of the other recent US First Ladies), Sir Elton John and many others. There is even a orchid called the Vanda William Kate, named after the royal couple and presented to them in Sept, 2012 at The Singapore Gardens. While at the gardens, home to the world’s largest tropical orchid display, William and Kate viewed the orchid named for Williams mother, Princess Diana. She was supposed to fly to Singapore 2 weeks after she died for a ceremony honoring her new flower. Sadly, she never got to see it. There are 2 established ways to get an orchid named after you, discover a new species or make a new hybrid, which is just what Chadwick & Son in Virginia does. For $1,500 you can get your own orchid with a plaque and 20 seedlings. I haven’t had a chance to see how long it takes to get on the naming list but……you just might see a Loti orchid turn up soon. ... read more
