March 2010 -- Roosevelt Lake, Arizona, USA

While attending a WIN (Wandering Individual Network) Rally at Roosevelt Lake near Globe, AZ, we took an overnight kayak trip. This trip was on Apache Lake, the next lake downstream. A great place with some of the best kayaking in the state.



Our put in point. There were six of us on this overnighter.




We're on the way to camp. The lake is a little choppy but not bad and we all been in much heaver chop than this.



We're almost in camp. By this time the water has become very calm.




We've pulled into camp and are starting to search for a nice flat spot for the tents.






Paddling farther down the lake that afternoon we went as far as we could go. This is looking at Apache Dam from upriver and the lake side. The lake was full and water was right up to the top of the dam.




Eared Grebes, male and female.





That late afternoon as the sun set we got the best view, and lucky to get it on film. That night the weather was great, temperature just right for a good night's sleep.




The next morning we set off down the lake to the take out point which was several miles beyond our put in point. In order to take advantage of the full lake for a long paddle we had spotted a vehicle to get us back to our trucks.

This cross was on the far side of the lake and was not visible from the other side.




Great Blue Herons seem to like us for they kept pace a few hundred feet in front. Would stop and wait and do it again. Kept this behavior up for a couple of miles.




Cardinals were calling as we stopped for a break.



Doug had to try Janet's kayak.




A Bald Eagle put on a show while fishing. This was taken a long way away so as not to spook him and stop his fishing.




After missing a catch the Bald Eagle flew around us and perched to watch us as we went by.




We stopped for lunch and there was no snake, but as we finished a Ringtail Rattlesnake came slithering up. He didn't pay us any attention at all, went into a hollow at the base of a tree, settled down. We took pictures and "everybody" was happy.



Our trip back to the takeout point was great with calm water the whole day.



The takeout point. We had just missed the wind. When loaded up we looked back at the lake and saw white caps appearing. It was a great overnighter and we'll do it again.

28 Feb 2010 - Bangkok, Thailand

Our last day in Thailand and last full day of The Southern Hemisphere Trip. We took seven weeks and visited five countries: Fiji, New Zealand, Australia, Bali and Thailand.

Two tours this day. One was to the Royal Palace and the other was "The Temple of the Golden Buda".















The Royal Thailand Palace Grounds

Many of these similar type statues were
scattered around the palace grounds.

















Changing of the guard at the less important building.












Guard and Janet at the Palace entrance. The photo "could" have been altered slightly.
































































And we saw many fanciful
figures like these.





































This is the object of the tour today. "The Golden Buda" is made of pure gold.



Golden Buda up close.




Our guide said small drawers below these figures contained ashes of the dearly departed.








"The Reclining Buda" was made of bronze and was so large that there was no angle to get a decent picture.

My attempt to show the prespective of "The Reclining Buda"




Many Monks were walking the grounds at The Golden Buda. We didn't expect to see a Monk carrying a camera.




This picture was taken at the airport in LA just after surviving a 14 hour flight nonstop from Bangkok. We flew Thailand Air with complimentary drinks during the complete flight if one so desired.

The US Customs Agent actually said: "Welcome back to the US". I was shocked enough to just reply: "Thank you".

We certainly enjoyed the trip. For absolutely "the other world", we found Bali to be the strangest and most intriguing, the most unlike the US. New Zealand beaches were the best, isolated, wide with pounding surf. There were times in New Zealand and Australia, when inland one could forget it was not the US. Fiji and the outer islands were the most ocean shores vacation like with it's south seas settings and warm waters. Bangkok, well we were glad we had the chance to visit but will bypass it next time.

27 Feb. 2010 -- Bangkok, Thailand

There was no reason to pass up Thailand when it was on the way. During my days in the Navy I didn't get to make it to Bangkok but this time, with Janet and I in that part of the world, we had our chance and took it. We had our choice of cities to fly out of on the way back to the U.S. Having seen Singapore, not wanting to see Toyko and never been to Bangkok, that was our choice.

Bangkok seems to me to be caught between the old and the new. Many things are up-to-date, especially the department stores, overhead rail system and hotels but step out into the street and you have stepped back thirty years.



Watch out for the scotters on the the sidewalk. This was new, even in Bali this didn't happen. This was the first thing we were warned about when we entered the country.




Our hotel in Bangkok. Siam's name was changed to Thailand in 1939.









Siam City Hotel Doorman











One of the several big fancy departments stores downtown.







Thai Baht exchange was 32.00 to 1.00 US and living was easy. For the US traveler, goods and services were a good deal but nowhere as good as Bali.














The King of Siam.




His likeness was on every street corner it seemed. Thailand has a constitutional monarchy with King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the ninth king of the House of Chakri, who has reigned since 1946, making him the world's longest-serving current head of state and the longest-reigning monarch in Thai history.




The Bangkok Flower Market. A very busy place and covered about two blocks




Flower market delivery.







Flowers were sold on the streets all over town.




Walking thru the park, this imposing statue commands the entrance.




Some sort of religious event was being held the day we walked downtown.




We had lunch in this huge outdoor covered area and a TV show was being filmed at the same time. This was a contest between three group of dancers sort of like Dancing with the Stars.




One night we took a fancy dinner cruise on the river. The boat went up and down the river that ran through town, going by many temples and monarch palaces. Saw the King's Royal Barge (like a large canoe) powered by 32 oarsmen and only used on the King's birthday.




These two pictures are of the entertainment for the dinner on the river cruise.