I ride again...

I rode my bicycle again tonight, the first ride after a 48-hour bout with probable norovirus. That little two-day, two-night session of pain and discomfort made me realize a couple of things. 

1. I am extremely grateful to still be able to ride a bicycle.
   
   
2. I feel great sympathy for those who frequently suffer pain and discomfort. They are many, and they include some of my family, relatives, friends, and neighbors.

If you're hurting right now, I feel you. I'm praying you get to a point where you can feel at least okay again.

Ronald McDonald: Localized.

I'm a couple of years into living here, and only today did I realize that Ronald McDonald was localized. Here he is, our version of Ronald McDonald.

20240116

Pick your poison?

In Nakhon Ratchasima, dirty air. There will be no bicycle riding tonight.

20240116-2338

In Tell City, cold, cold, cold. There will be no bicycle riding tonight here, either.

20240116-0140 GMT+07:00 Indochina Time

วัดป่าหลักร้อย / Wat Pa Lak Roi.

Well, I finally made it to the Crazy Temple, the one where they imagined what it's like in hell. Thank you, visitors, as I would never have gotten around to it if you weren't here. Well worth the trip.

Additional, hellish photos are provided below after a big, long white space that you will deliberately have to scroll through. I do not want anybody to accidently see these photos. They won't kill you, or bring you bad luck, but I can imagine some people having nightmares. Better safe than sorry.

20240108

ปราสาทพิมาย / Phimai Historical Park again, of course...

If you come here to visit me, rest assured that you will be dragged, willingly or unwillingly, up to Phimai Historical Park. Most of the buildings were built in the 11th and 12th centuries. The fact that they are still standing fascinates me. 

พิมาย / Phimai, while not as important as it once was in the days of the Khmer Empire, remains a wonderful small city. 

202240106

Downtown Phimai with the Korat cats.

Just another day in Bangkok.

I think the ladies did some major shopping this day. Some of them got a massage. Me? I just hung out in their vicinity. The takeaway Coke in a plastic bag may have been the highlight of the day.

Note; I do not recommend a takeaway Coke in a plastic bag for the simple reason that you are unable to set it down. With a cup, you can sit the Coke down and relax. Not so with a plastic bag.

20240105

A day and evening near the Chao Phraya River.

วัดพระแก้ว / Wat Phra Kaew, the Temple of the Emerald Buddha. แม่น้ำเจ้าพระยา / the Chao Phraya River. Finally, my first visit to Icon Siam. Ended the evening with a boat ride to วัดอรุณ / Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn.

Pro tip: Do not split up and say, "Meet at the exit."

The "exit" is about a kilometer long and subject to individual interpretation.

Bad luck: The Icon Siam water features show was closed.

Oh, well. Two members of our entourage made it back days later and saw it.

20240104

King Power Maha Nakhon Building in Bangkok.

One good thing about having visitors is that you do things you wouldn't otherwise get around to doing. So it was with our visit to the 314-meter tall King Power Maha Nakhon Building in Bangkok. It provides an excellent view of Bangkok and its Chao Phraya River below.

20240103

Bangkok: Up on the Roof.

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