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The Thailand Tales: Episode 5
This day would be spent in the province of Ayutthaya. The early kingdom of Thailand, then called Siam, was established in the 1300s. We would first visit the grounds of the Bang Pa-In Royal Palace and then move on to the famed ruins of Ayutthaya. The Palace complex is open to visitors and is only … Continue reading
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The Thailand Tales: episode 4
Thailand is a nation of rivers. The Chao Phraya is the main river system and there are 5 tributaries that branch tree-like up into Northern Thailand. Bangkok’s being located on the main river was one of the reasons that it was chosen as the capitol. In the 1500s under the Ayutthaya period, a canal-system was … Continue reading
The Thailand Tales: episode 3
We are headed to the Royal Palace today. The complex also houses the famous Emerald Buddha who sits inside his very own temple. This Buddha image is of a much smaller scale than his reclining cousin. He sits about 2 feet tall and is actually made of a jade-like semi precious stone instead of emerald. … Continue reading
The Thailand Tales: episode 2
Bangkok was not the first capitol of Thailand. It was established after the fall of Ayutthaya due to its strategic significance on the mouth of the Chao Phraya river. Wat Pho was the main temple complex established by King Rama I in Bangkok. The city section that houses Wat Pho is known as the Old … Continue reading
The Thailand Tales – episode 1
In May, one of the travel sites that I subscribe to posted a limited deal that had a trip to Thailand. It was a week, airfare, hotel, most meals and one excursion. There were optional excursions that you could also book. We opted for 3 additional excursions. The price was less than $1000 each. How … Continue reading
Time and Thai Wait For No One
In keeping with our typical luck (read: “bad” or “no”) the esteemed ruler of Thailand has died less than one month before we embark on our next epic adventure. The longest sitting monarch in the world completed his 70 year rule on October 13, 2016. The country officially entered a month long period of mourning and … Continue reading
A Drop In Your Bucket List
Have you ever read one of our posts and found yourself saying, “Boy, I wish I could travel with the Russos”? Of course you have! Now you will have a chance to cross that item off the old bucket list. If you follow us you are aware that each holiday season we do a … Continue reading
The Gift You Can’t Unwrap
When your birthday just happens to be 9/11 celebrating becomes a touchy subject. For several years after the attack I couldn’t celebrate my birthday at all. My family was most gracious and either September 10th or 12th they would recognize it for me. As time passed I realized that the best way I could honor … Continue reading
It’s Always Sunny
In the summer of my 19th year a series of lightning strikes from a passing thunderstorm triggered electrical mishaps that resulted in the New York City Blackout of 1977. Although the lootings made the front page of the local newspapers my Bronx neighborhood responded by hosting a huge unofficial street party. Temperatures inside the … Continue reading
The View From Above
I had lived in New York State for 24 years and never ventured further west than Cooperstown. To be honest, when I visited Cooperstown I was no longer a resident. We spent last week between Rochester and Buffalo at a place recently voted the #1 state park in the country. Letchworth State Park encompasses 17 … Continue reading
