Loi Krathong in Thailand

Our stay in Thailand coincided perfectly with the annual full moon lantern festival. Jeff lit his paper lantern and launched it from the riverside where hundreds were being released to float up to the heavens. Unfortunately, we also saw quite a few crash and burn dangerously close to well wishers.

Thai Cooking with Jin Sun

While Jeff went dune buggy riding (for loyal readers, you know it has been his dream since Safford, AZ), Jin Sun took her first Asian cooking class. Here we see a few dishes and ingredients. Yum...

Just a Great Name for a Gay Bar

This was spotted in the gay bar section of Patpong in Bangkok.

Jin Sun Enjoys Her First Durian

It is banned from many hotels and airlines (and illegal in public places in Singapore), but durian lovers are convinced that, like fine French cheeses, the worse the smell, the better the taste.

Here are some of the ways that the smell of Durian has been described:

* Fermented onions
* Overripe cheese.
* Rotting fish.
* Unwashed socks.
* A city dump on a hot summer day.
* Historians report that Sir Stamford Raffles, who established Singapore as a British trading post in 1819, held his nose and ran in the other direction if he caught even a whiff of the dreaded fruit.
* Another former British governor likened the stench to carrion in custard.

Biologists believe that the bad smell attracts jungle animals to eat the fruit, thus facilitating seed dispersal.

Here are some other food pics from Bangkok...tasty.

Can I Get a Wat Wat? Part 1

Wats all over the place- here in Bangkok, we visited the famous reclining Buddha and the main palace. Click the blog title for more pictures of Bangkok.

The Return of JinXstreme

Ever the thrill-seeker, JSP eases into the bungee with a 50m jump.



We'll post better videos later- for both Jeff and Jin Sun

Eco Adventures in Chiang Mai, Thailand

We rode an elephant, visited a local village, trekked to a waterfall, and ended our 'eco-tour' with a ride down a river in a bamboo raft. No pictures of the rafting as it was a partially submerged water ride- Jeff's group of three rafters flipped over a small rapid and JSP sat in 8 inches of muddy river water the whole ride. Probably the best adventure tour so far...

Modes of Transport: Tuk-Tuk, Sky Train and Boat

Our first of many tuk-tuk rides in Thailand. We also took the boat up and down Bangkok and took the sky train.

More HK Pics

We had some cloudy weather and didn't get a great skyline shot of HK. Here is the postcard (evening) version and something fairly similar to our hotel view in the mid-levels area. The views are pretty great all around.



















Good shot of JSP in the market (but too easy to be a Where is Jin Sun? candidate).












Bamboo scaffolding still seems to be the norm here. These guys build it and tear it down by hand!
















Even our friend (and proud American) Jimmy C. would be comfortable in westerner-friendly HK!



















The infamous Chungking Mansion. Known as a place to get "anything" or disappear into a new identity. Good article on Chungking Mansion here.
http://www.worldhum.com/dispatches/item/hope_and_squalor_at_chungking_mansion_20070813/

Macau - Vegas in Asia

Macau is the Vegas of Asia- just an hour away from Hong Kong by boats running all night.

The Venetian is the casino of choice for many. Baccarat the game of choice. Can you even tell we're in Macau?

Jeff vs Bamboo Forest

Not to be out kung fu-ed by Jin Sun, Jeff trains his travel-softened hands (registered legal/lethal weapons) a small cluster of bamboo trees.

Hong Kong - Enter the Dragon: JSP vs. Bruce Lee

We walked along HK's version of the Walk of Fame... and look who we found.


After honing her skills along the water, JSP battles Bruce Lee. His Dragon style is no match for her Fists of Fury.

'Die, Wax Figure of Bruce Lee, Die!'

Shirtless in Hong Kong

And the trend continues on it's way through Asia...

More Shanghai Shots

The famous view of the Pudong skyline (huge and still growing fast - 2 of the top 5 tallest buildings in the world are there- see other pic below) from the Bund.










Both of these towers house Hyatt hotels despite the fact that they're less than a block apart.












Jin Sun can't escape fashion week, Sephora, her namesake or dancing bar girls...

Where's Jin Sun? - Shanghai Edition

Here we are standing in line for Shanghai steamed dumplings. See if you can find JSP.

Kanye West in Shanghai? Uh-huh

Comin' up in the spot looking extra fly - JSP wants to touch the sky...




We stayed an extra day in Shanghai- couldn't resist this American Boy.

Special Guests in Shanghai

Thanks to our good friend Chi Chi, we were able to hook up with Bob, Li Kheng, Brian and Kerry.

How's this for a small world story-
Jeff worked with Bob's cousin Pierce at his last job and Brian from Albany knows loyal reader J. Corcoran.

That's Levitation, Holmes

The Mag-Lev train from the Shanghai airport to Shanghai proper takes 7 minutes and goes 430 km/hour. No wheels. They're building one that will travel from Shanghai to Beijing, cutting an overnight trip down to a short day trip.

430 km/hour is roughly 270 mph to you and me. Either way, that's hauling serious balls.

JSP In Search of Shanghai Dumplings...

The quest for the perfect Shanghai dumpling- pan fried and steamed. Each dumpling is filled with broth and meaty goodness- the trick is to delicately bite through the dough and let it cool a bit before eating to prevent the burning squirt. See video for Bourdain's fave, where we stood in line for steamed buns.