Travels through Thailand

January 28th to February 19th, 2014

After Hong Kong, I flew to Chiang Mai, Thailand for our Annual Thailand Conference with ELIC, then visited Bangkok and spent 4 days in Kamala Beach, Phuket Island, before returning to Lhasa through Kunming.
Chiang Mai is in the hills; an ancient, busy tourist town with remnants of an old city wall and moat. I visited doctors, dentist, hairdresser, stores, and also took a day's trip to ride elephants and visit a orchid farm. As I wrote in my newsletter, the conference was filled with meeting or reconnecting with 600 teachers, attending interesting workshops, and hearing inspiring country reports. Walks before sunrise, a classical concert by Brilliance, and a traditional Thai dinner were also highlights. Then Ashley and I took an overnight train to Bangkok, where, due to the political climate, stayed one night, but enjoyed 2 days of sightseeing, using the river ferries to see much and go to the National Palace.
Then we flew to Phuket, staying near Kamala Beach for swimming, sleeping and massage on the beach. Flying home we encountered snow in Kunming. Immigration also asked for more papers to let me return to Lhasa which shows how fortunate I am to be living in Tibet.

Ashley and I took an overnight train ride through the hills to Bangkok.

 Every business had a small shrine in the back.

 Then on to Kamala Beach, Phuket. Ahhhhh.

 The Kunming Airport is stunning.

 Kind of like whipped topping...

 You can see the airstrip in the next, dry valley. We're almost home!

On the bus back to Lhasa, you can see the Potala Palace (center-slightly left) from everywhere.