Hoi An, Viet Nam

Greetings from Hoi An...Arrived Sunday about 1 pm.  The Green Apple Hotel is perfect and very comfortable.  Met Darwin for dinner at Ganash Indian Restaurant and all was yummy.  We walked around some and then had coffee. Actually there is not as much horn honking as expected but the locals are very friendly and helpful. Shopping galore...store after store after store...! Monday we went for a short but brisk walk...not sure I would do this alone as my sense of direction is poor. Breakfast, included with room fee, was better than expected.  Fresh fruit, home-made yogurt, granola, 3 types of juices, rolls, baquettes, eggs (served to order), etcetra!   After breakfast we were off to the dentist for exray’s for implants, check-up & cleaning for me. Scooter tour around, of course I was totally lost but the scenery was lovely....rice fields, bridges, wild sea front, lots of contruction everywhere. Had my 1st Bahn Mi sandwishes...had a veggie one which was very tasty.   Went and met Hoa (Flower) and she is very sweet.  

Green Apple Hotel Restaurant

Road along rice fields

Bahn Mi Sandwich

Tuesday we were at the dental office at 8:30 am and had driver take us to Da Nang for blood work & CTCB scan.  Ms Minh was picked up and explained that hospital in Hoi An was charging to much for tests so that is why they chose to drive us and have the work completed in Da Nang.  Excellent driver and it is amazing how the traffic works here...go slow and watch everything everywhere.  After the testing they took us to lunch as we had not had any food.  Meanwhile Yogi has a so-so tummy which continued to get worse.  Back at Hoi An dental office we picked up medication and came back to our room.  Yogi slept and I watched Netflix...he was running hot and cold.   Glad to report that on Wednesday morning Yogi was feeling much better.  Off to the dentist again...LOL.  I had 2 implant posts done and Yogi had 1 implant post and 1 bone graft to prepare for 2nd implant post.  This is a lot of dental work and I feel lucky that I did not need the bone graft also!  Today, Thursday November 30th we had check ups for yesterdays work and schedule my next dental adventure of a root canal.  Going to sign off for now with a few photos of scooters here and hotel staff.

Family on Scooter

Ms Suong

Ms Thu

     

Samui Trip

Tuesday, November 21st we went over to Koh Samui for the day!  Departing condo about 8:15 am we drove our scooter to the SeaTran Ferry at DonSak arriving in perfect time for the 9 am departure.  The scooter goes on the ferry too so upon arrival off we go!   Our 1st stop was to visit with Wan, our hairdresser friend, who lives 5 minutes from the ferry.  We had coffee and Thai breakfast items along with fun conversation.  Her friend Lek was there too!  

Coffee with Wan....

   

....& Lek

 Then we headed around the island to Bophut to visit with Pumm & Dai.  It was a great scooter ride as there has been new road work completed.  We had a fun lunch and visit with these two.  It was great to hear the news of the last 8 months and how their wonderful children Prim & Pun are.

 

Pumm & Dai looked great and seem so happy to be back in Samui...I think living in Bangkok was a difficult time for them both.  Dai grew up in Samui and I think his heart is happy to be back home.  We just laughed and talked with ease.

 

Before we knew it the time was 4 pm...off we went and caught the 5 PM ferry back to the mainland.  With a 6:30 pm arrival we had a DARK 40 minute drive to Khanom.  Yogi seems to drive along with ease and I do a lot of deep breathing...LOL.  Needless to say it was great to see the lights of Khanom and arrive safely at our condo...whew!                

Lunch time with Pum & Dai

The Beginning....

As of this moment in time my head is full of many thoughts although none of it makes sense. Life walks us down many paths to mold us for a certain unknown time! A friend of mine just wrote..."You know that some Buddhists think that the dog is the top of the lives and when you become a dog you have reached the highest form you can become.  After being around many dogs lately I think that could be true."  


Something to research and think about...  

Nasha on a Thanksgiving Time Road Trip

 The above was my first blog writing which I never posted.  Now the story has come full circle as Nasha is waiting for us at Rainbow Bridge with all our furry ones...she is free, running, smiling and having a bouncing good time. The story ends like this...Sunday night, June 19th, 2017, Yogi said "Maybe Nasha is hanging on for you."  So Monday Nash & I had a talk.  I told her "You can go, I am fine.  At least give me a sign that you are ready to go."  Well Tuesday morning I heard her drinking water as I woke up and there in her water bowl was blood mingled with the water...kind of like a 'burning bush' type of sign. This made me know in my heart it was time. My friend, Anita, took this next photo when we were spending time in Mexico and Nasha was about 7 months old.  This is the photo that I held in my mind as we drove back to Lake City from our vet visit in Creede Tuesday morning, June 20th, 2017.  

Nasha running free...then & now!

My heart is heavy with emptiness as I write BUT I have soooo much to be grateful for.  Nasha was a wonderful girl, fun loving and full of joy...always smiling.  With ease she encouraged her Mom & Dad to travel and was excited beyond squeals of happiness when we returned...never scolded us for leaving.  How grateful I am to have returned this February 12th, 2017 to spend 4 plus months with her.  Walking, talking just being together.  When she went blind on March 15th, 2017 she trusted her being to me more than I could have imagined.                                                                                 * * * * *   Back in Thailand & looking thru my blogs I see I did not publish this one.   Thinking my departure from  Lake City would be easier leaving no dog at home...now it just makes me sad to leave my nest.  Also many thoughts of Nasha were rekindled...which may contribute to the sad feelings.  Missing my girl...knowing full well a new puppy is the only way to fill the hole in my heart.                                                         Leaving this up to the universe as always we do not know what is best for ourselves so we patiently wait to be gently guided along our life path.                                                                                                         Peace Be With You, Bearz  

Thailand 2017/18

Travel was interesting, as always.

 

Our last 5 days prior to leaving are always very focused with sleepless nights in spite of the many lists.

 

Our trip to Denver went like clockwork arriving at Magnolia Hotel at 3:40 pm for the 4 pm wedding.  It was a lovely service...they wrote their own vows and made all of us cry.  The party was lively with lots of dancing, great food and conversation.

 

We used the new light rail to shuttle ourselves from Airport to downtown and back again...perfect.

 

Sunday our flight was two hours late leaving...we just ‘hung’ out at our seats.  Of course this caused a missed connection in Japan.  United treated us very well with lodging and two meals...all complimentary.

 

The hotel room had a great bed, wonderful pillows and soaking tub & shower.  The restaurant was a buffet style so suit all appetites.  Our expectations were exceeded.

 

We arrived Bangkok late afternoon with time to schedule body scrubs and dine at the Japanese buffet restaurant.  

 

Next is our flight to Khanom which is kind of like traveling from Denver to Lake City...a short 1 hour flight and a 1 hour drive.  The weather was great making travel easy.

 

Now we are starting day 4at the condo...we have walked, swam, rested & had massage....so life is good!  

Breakfast time @ Miracle Grand Hotel, Bangkok

 

 

An Insight to Life and How well it works...

 

Life has a wonderful way of working things out!  Late summer/early fall, for me, is busy and I do not seem to have time to read all my daily messages.  I save them for these winter months to catch up.  Yogi said 'Just delete and start fresh' with me responding 'No, I do not want to miss anything.'

 

Today, I was having an anxiety attached and yes, worrying (which is not my normal character) so started reading the daily message from October 25th and was calmed immediately...so here it is!  Feeling calm now and the final share today is this wonderful photo that is in the 2017 Polar Bear Calendar by Barbara Stone!  How blessed we are to have her as part of our life...

 

 

"Worry is a control problem, because one worries only when something isn't going the way they want it to. The only reason to worry is because you don't have control over the outcome and don't trust your Higher Power. Worry is like a rocking horse; it keeps me moving but never gets me anywhere."

 

"God is working it out, right now, as you read this. Look ahead. Farther than your eyes can see. May you be blessed with faith in God's greatest plan. Feel the relief. Notice your worry leaving you. There's no more fear. Move ahead with assuredness that solutions are forming. Your fate is sealed and it is good."

Feeling calm now and the final share today is this wonderful photo that is in the 2017 Polar Bear Calendar by Barbara Stone!  How blessed we are to have her as part of our life...

 

2017 Polar Bear Calendar!

“DIWALI!”   drawing by Barbara Stone in celebration of India’s Festival of Lights.

    Please contact Barbara Stone at bstonepolarbears@isomedia.com to learn more about her doula research in Nepal 

             or to share your story if you have experience in the post-earthquake rebuild there.

An Ending and a Beginning....

2017

Yes, it is December 31st, 2016 and I am wondering if this mind of mine can come up with something profound...LOL.   Many think this day is a time to push out the 'old' and bring in the 'new' along with making many resolutions that may or may not last but a few days. Thinking here and now that everyday should be a new beginning.  Each day should be looked at with an attitude of gratitude.  Giving thanks for waking up, the sun rising and setting....etc.  

Just a side-line here...My Aunt Aileen would call to say "Peggy, hurry, hurry, go outside, look at the Moon" so off Mom and I would go to look at the Moon!  Now the Moom and my aunt are inseparable thoughts.

Always smiling with those around us and keeping our thoughts in check. Understandably, the changing from one year to the next is a good time to evaluate life...where were you this time last year, where are you now, how are you, where are you going, where do you want to go!  Are your thoughts, feelings and heart moving in the same direction with Gratitude at the center of your being.  

Fun in Surat Thani!

On Wednesday 21st December Robin, Darwin, Don, Yogi & Bear headed out to Central Plaza in Surat Thani in our rental auto.  We just headed out of town and Darwin says 'Look at the view, one would think we were driving to Gunnison'.  The clouds were so thick the mountain (I use that word lightly) looked snow covered!

Cloudy view on a rainy day!

 The drive was a little over an hour and with all the talk and laughter the trip flew by.  Wanting an early start we left Khanom at 8 am only to arrive at Central Plaza and, as in America, the mall does not open until 10 am...yes, more laughter.  The highlight of the day, for Yogi anyway, was the massage chair shop that we must have spent an hour plus at!

Another style of Chair...

   

....Feet too....        

One of many massage chairs...

 Meanwhile, Darwin (remember he bought new scooter yesterday) is off buying nearly new iPhone...LOL...and eating at McDonalds.  The time went by so quickly it was 3 PM and we just finished shopping at Tops (the gourmet store where we could buy cheese, a luxury in Thailand).  Time for Swenson's Ice Cream...& movie talk.  Earlier we looked at the theatre times finding the only English language movie was at 15:55...at 10 am we did not think we would still be at the plaza BUT we were so, adding to the adventure, the new Star Wars Rogue 1 and a night time drive home!

iPhone for Darwin...

Feeling good with our shopping expedition (ready for hohoho day now, at least I am...555) & due to Yogi's expert driving skills with Robin as 'co-pilot' we landed safely in Khanom.  Returned the rental auto and back in our Condo happy, tired and ready for bed.   This morning we woke up to rainy, rainy skies and 1/2 power so decided the universe was telling us to have a lazy reading, writing day.