From The Sol: March 2016

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Wednesday, March 30, 2016

Tuesday, March 29, 2016

My pictures of the birds in Thailand were few and far between. Not that the birds weren't there, but the foliage was so thick that even when we could hear them we could not see them. That was disappointing, but I promise, the next time I go, I will arrange to go on a birding tour where I will (hopefully) see the elite birds of Thailand ... that is on my bucket list :)

The Spotted Dove ... This bird is indigenous to southeast Asia though it has been introduced in other areas including California. It is, however, the first time I have seen this bird so, to me, it is a Thai bird.

This pair hung out on the roofs of the buildings behind our hotel in Chiang Doa. I saw them fairly often but did not see any of them in any other part of Thailand. I adore the doves ... they mate for life and are such gentle souls :)

Andrea

NF Trees and Bushes

Of course, a Coconut Tree in Thailand ... I sipped coconut milk out of a fresh coconut for the first time. It was good, but not very sweet. I guess I am used to the US where they put sugar in everything. Hence rampant national Diabetes issues. I do make an effort to eat and drink non-processed foods now so hopefully I will get over the craving of "sweet" in my food and drink.

Andrea

Monday, March 28, 2016

Through My Lens

Thailand's

Chiang Dao Caves

One of our first outings in Thailand was the Chiang Dao Caves. They are located only a short distance from where we were staying and since our primary purpose in Chiang Dao was to get ready for and attend the wedding, we didn't want to travel far. When we arrived, we were amazed by the
main entrance and then once you get on the grounds there are many shrines honoring several different spiritual philosophies including a large outdoor Buddha, a worship room for Hindu followers, an outdoor donation altar for each animal of the Chinese horoscope and a small meditation cave behind the large monuments.

Main Entrance

From the inside ...

On entering the cave you are greeted by a large room containing several sacred Buddha images ...

Inside the cave there are many limestone and crystalline formations ... stalactites and stalagmites ...

Colored lighting was used in some places to help emphasize the beauty ...

And periodically another Buddhist Schrine ...

These caves have a long history in Chiang Doa and are surrounded with legends and myths. As we were leaving we passed the ancient Shan Chedi ...a Buddhist Stupa (a hemispherical structure containing old relics, probably left by Monks, which is often used as a place for meditation) built over 1000 years ago by the Shan, a tribe of people who now live mostly in Myanmar ...

I found Thailand to be a peaceful place ... a place where life is kept simple and people are free of the stresses we so often encounter in our own culture. Everyone is friendly, attentive and forever smiling. I would go back in a heartbeat :)

Andrea

(also linked to)

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Easter Peli

Easter Peli

wants to be the Cadbury Bunny :)

Happy Easter Everyone!

Andrea

Saturday, March 26, 2016

s-A(R)T-urday Art Linkup

..... Fish out of Water

Andrea

Friday, March 25, 2016

Weekend Reflection

Driving through Phuket (Southern Thailand) on our way to our resort I spotted the fence first then the mirror. Another "on the fly" in Thailand :)

Andrea

Feline Art Friday

Cataphant

Now my Mom is messing with me :(

Does it help to see the original?

It's a fat cat in a bag :)

Andrea

Also linked to ...

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Good Fences

A blue fence ... that's a first for me. But, as you will see over time, many of the Thai fences had color in them.

Andrea

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Wild Bird Wednesday

Migrating Pelicans ... We had at least three large flocks of Pelicans land on the lake over the last week. Their group extended the length of the lake (this is one small section of them ...