Davis' discover China

February 3, 2016 Chiangmai Thailand

Our BYU China Teachers tour group in Thailand -back row: Cameron McKay, Tim Taylor, Glen Shaw, Chris the handsome husband Davis, Roland Johnson, Don McClean (Nope he didn't sing Bye Bye Miss American Pie but he does get asked that a lot) Front row: Susan Taylor, Linea Shaw, Me, Gloria Johnson, Espie (Esperanza McClean)

We flew from Bangkok to Chiangmai and went straight to the Karen long neck village. I could been fooled into believing that I had just landed in Africa. We were told the village had migrated from Burma.

We fell in love this little angel who was 8 years old. She was totally all made up for our pictures. She is a great salesman and marketer! They let you take pictures but then ask you to buy something from their stall. Chris told me I needed to buy something, so I gladly did!

The Long Neck women start to put brass rings on their necks to stretch them as young as 5 years old. She is making a yarn ball to use to weave the scarves they sell.

You can see from this grandma, ( we are probably the same age, yikes) that her neck is so much longer than mine. The brass rings she is wearing weigh about 8-10 pounds total. It has to be hard on both their necks and back.
Each of the women who we saw in their little sales both had a mirror right by where they were sitting so they could keep looking beautiful! I wondered with all the things I do for looks if someone in China might think I was vain????

Here you see the scarves they sell and a lady who is weaving one. The scarves are beautiful. I bought one to remember the work required to make one. Also, I thought it was interesting how they wore bands on their legs too. All women want to look beautiful!

These two boys are standing between two houses, one is on stilts and the other is the grass roof. They use boxes and aluminum and bamboo for walls. There is no grass only dirt and a sparce tree here and there.

I really like this shot, it was as we were walking out and a group of children were walking along with us. One mom came by to get the baby so I turned and snapped it. You can see the mom can't really put her head down or turn side to side very well. It was really facsinating to watch them. I wanted to pick them up and talk to them and hug and kiss them. They are so priceless. I just think how different and yet how precious each of His children are to our Father in Heaven. How he knows each of them in any circumstance anywhere.

Chris is following the group of children as we leave the long neck village. On the left side in the orange pants is the girl and she and one of the boys held hands as they walked and that just warmed my heart! As you look back you can see this the path in and out of the village.

February 4, 2016

Check out the name of the Summer Palace of the King and Queen of Thailand because it kept us in stitches!!!! You pronounce this the pooping palace. So every time our tour guide "Toon" told us we were going to the pooping palace we just snickered!!! Tee Hee! The grounds were filled with beautiful homes, lakes and gardens. We walked up and down many hills and vales.

This is one of fence post Buddhas along a garden path.

This is the Magnificent Naga, the dragon-headed serpent staircase consisting of 306 steps to get to Bhuping Palace.

When Chris and I got to the Bhuping Palace our shorts were considered inappropriate. We were required to rent pants that covered us to our ankles. Chris and Don had pants that the top folded over and it reminded me of the Food Network battles of the chefs so Chris and Don are ready to battle!

Just down the hill from the Palace is....... I bet you'll never guess........ Oh, right you got it ANOTHER Buddhist Temple!!!!

Check out the three headed elephant, with the mother on it. This is always in the dream of a mother who will have a new baby Buddha. This picture has amazing symbolism to me.
Our guide explained to me through the murals how a new Buddha is born. I really saw some similarities to our beliefs. I was glad to know. There is significant symbolism which had I could understand and recognize. The world is small!!!!

We always enjoy watching the Monks in the room with the Buddhas. They read and chant and pray.They will pray for people who bring them gifts. Some temples have buckets full of various items you can purchase from the monks and then give to them and they in turn will pray for you.

This is the magnificent Naga 306 step staircase leading from the Temple. We walked down them. We took a tram up to the temple. :)

We went to the Chaing Mai night bazaar and bought elephant pants! I fell in love with them. I bought them for all the girls in the family.

February 5, 2016

When I woke up on Friday morning I looked off our hotel balcony and saw this little family in the court yard. The mom sitting down the dog by the gate and little girl with her backpack riding her bike around the driveway all ready for school. Then I saw this monk walking by and decided to snap a pic.

I wanted a picture with our guide Toon to remember her great help. It was a mystery to many whether she was a boy or girl. I had no problem. I knew she was a girl.

We walked up a ramp and were loaded onto this adorable elephant. We were told she was 60 years old! One of the few things our guide could say in English. She sure had the slooowest walk ever!!! Up and down hills I was sure she would either stop or lay down and what in the world we were going to do!!!! Our guide kept kicking her behind the ears and saying words in Thai, but we knew he was saying, "You slow little grandma, get going!!" We had a great time but everyone passed us and we just laughed and were grateful for grandma elephant!

This is Chris being thanked by the elephant, by putting his trunk in the air and rearing back, for feeding it so many sticks of sugar cane and bananas.

We liked the way the moms with babies got to keep the babies with them, they just stayed right by their side! Of course it helped that they were literally chained together but the little ones didn't want to stray very far anyway.

The elephant is putting the hat on Chris' head off of the trainers!!! They are so fun! This is a baby maybe 6 years old.

These amazingly smart little elephants painted these pictures and the workers sold them. Their trainers initially teach them to paint a picture and then they copy it. They totally won our hearts!!! Even if they gave slobbery kisses!