What to do when you don't pedal

In my last blog post, I wrote about "pedal power" in Thailand - the use of bicycle-powered rickshaws to get around the city.

I did a quick trip myself in Chiang Mai. Really enjoyed it.

But while I like cycling when someone else is pedalling, I'm not a huge cyclist myself. In fact, I've cycled once since 2002.

Like I tell people, "I'm a paddler - not a pedaller."

So when flooding in southern Thailand scuttled the planned elephant back ride as well as a canoe trip down a river, trip organizers scrambled to find a new itinerary.

The one they came up with involved mountain biking.

Like I said, I'm a canoehead - not a gearhead. So I opted out of Friday afternoon's biking excursion.

Instead, I went to the Sankhampang Hot Springs to sweat by soaking rather than spoking.

The source of the springs is a pair of geysers, spouting red hot water in a nice park setting. But you don't dare soak in those, as they're hot enough to boil eggs in (which people actually do, I'm told).

You can  sit along a rail and soak your feet in a small stream that leads out of the hot springs basin. Or, you can go sit in a private tub that has "hot" and "hotter" faucets coming directly from the mineral pool.

If you're me, first you stop at the massage facility located in the park and get a Thai massage or foot massage. Then you go soak your bod.

It's hard to say which one is more relaxing and beneficial. It may require additional study on my part over the next several days. But I think I'm up to it.

Besides, I owe my readers - I'm sure they're dying to know ....

Pedal power rolls on in Thailand

You know you're in Thailand when ...

...you see far more two-wheeled vehicles on the streets and highways than you do four-wheeled ones.

Most of the former take the form of small motorbikes. You'll see equal numbers of men and women driving them, often with someone else along for the ride, sitting behind the driver.

The other form, of course, is the bicycle.

One rickshaw taxi, at your service.

Both of those vehicles are also used to ferry passengers around city streets. The motorbikes-taxis are called tuk-tuks; the bicycle powered cabs are called rickshaws.

Similar to the ancient rickshaws of Asia, they are human-powered. And they're not a bad way to get around, see the city - and at a pace that actually allows you to see the city, and maybe even Shana a few photos while you're cruising along.

Although they're popular with tourists, locals often use them as well, especially for chores like hauling groceries or goods back from the markets, if you don't have a car or motorbike.

They can also take you places motorized vehicles may not be able to go, places like the courtyards of temples.

So if you're ever in  Chiang Mai, Thailand, why not try hailing one, and see the city from a different perspective?

Or as Freddie Mercury and Queen said, in  that famous song about rotund-reared ladies: "Get on your bike and ride!"

Centuries old tradition continues daily

"Thirst for existence, O monks, has a specific condition, it is nourished by something, it also does not go without support. "- Buddha

Support. Nourishment. The Buddhist faith remains strong in Thailand because the people choose to support it. The way they do that is through the centuries old tradition of giving alms - i.e., providing nourishment - to the monks of their local temples.

Every morning, just after sunrise, the monks march out of the temple down the main local road and collect whatever food the people are willing to give. In return, they bestow blessings upon the people.

It is a very simple act - and yet, at the same time, it is a very powerful real-life manifestation of the spirituality of Buddhism.

Without this kind of real-life support, this show of belief, one wonders what would become of the faith - or for that matter, what might become of the people.

Thailand is the one southeast Asian country that has never been conquered or subjugated by a European power. At the same time, the country never really had to defend itself against the European powers during their colonial heydays.

It kind of makes one wonder, maybe there is something incredibly powerful about that simple act of faith, that belief in Buddhism, something unlike any other spiritual following in any other country, something that gives it strength unlike any other country.

Maybe that's why everyone smiles so easily in Thailand.

Tamarind Village Inn an oasis in the city

When I first looked at the website for the Tamarind Village Inn in Chiang Mai, Thailand, I assumed it was located somewhere in a forest, or some kind of natural setting - at least it sure looked that way, based on the images I saw.

Imagine my surprise when we pulled into the entrance way just off a busy city thoroughfare. I should add, it was a pleasant surprise. Very pleasant.

It truly is an oasis, a natural sanctuary, from the huge 200-year-old Tamarind tree growing in its inner courtyard to the lush vegetation found everywhere in and around the grounds. I sat there and actually found it hard to believe I was sitting in the middle of a huge urban area. Still do.

The style of the 42 rooms and three suites is contemporary,but it is also based on the ancient - it makes use of the patterns and fabrics indicative of the various hill tribes that call this area of Northern Thailand "home."

Its amenities include a wonderful restaurant, a large outdoor pool and a spa that offers everything from traditional Thai massage to reflexology, from exfoliation scrubs to full-body massage.

(Regretfully, I did not find time to sample the services at this spa...maybe next time...)

In what I'm beginning to realize is another Thai tradition, the staff is incredibly warm, friendly and helpful; and it feels genuine, unlike some places I've stayed where you realize the service is offered the way it is because of good training. This feels like it's beyond training. Everyone always has a smile that feels genuine.
 
I guess that's why Thailand is so often referred to as "The Land of Smiles."

I have to leave in a few hours, to move on to a new spot, experience some new adventures - and that thought causes my own smile to fade, just a bit.

I'm also sure that before long, I'll more reasons to smile as I continue to explore Thailand and meet new friends along the way.

Thailand, elephants enjoy ancient relationship

Splish-splash, I was takin' a bath - but it wasn't on a Saturday night ... (with apologies to Bobby Darin!)

It was actually a Wednesday afternoon, and as they do every day right after lunch at the Thai Elephant Conservation Centre, the mahouts had their elephants down at the river for their daily bath/water-fight.

At least, it sure looked like a water-fight. And everyone seemed to be having a good time.

Although Thais and elephants have a long-standing relationship dating back to the ancient kings of Siam, for many of the elephants at the centre, life was not always so hunky-dory. In recent times, most of them worked in the Thai logging industry at some point, but when the Thai government shut down most commercial logging operations several years ago, the elephants and their mahouts were out of work. Rather than sell them off to private owners or worse, cull them, the government set up this centre to keep them working, happy and healthy.

Every day, they show off their skills (painting, playing music, etc.) to visitors in the morning, then take their baths in the afternoon.

The centre is home about 50 elephants, and as well as providing homes for them, it also runs an elephant hospital on-site and has a mobile elephant clinic that travels the country to help heal injured or sick elephants.

As the elephants finished their bath, they formed up in formation to march up the road in single file. You could almost hear them singing, "Oh, the aim of our patrol..."

Jet lag melts away at Vous Wellness Spa

So I arrive in Thailand after flying for 15-1/2 hours, tired, jet-lagged, a bit tense. I find out our tour organizer has pre-booked spa treatments for us at the Novotel Airport Hotel, Bangkok. All right!

Then the tough part comes ... what service do I choose? I can get a straight Thai massage, but that can be vigorous, almost stressful to an already tired body. Hot stone massage doesn't do a thing for me. I certanly needed more than a reflexology (fancy name for a foot rub) treatment. Hmmm..mmm I pondered the menu and came upon something called a "Hot Oil Jetlag Massage". That's it!

This massage combines some elements of Thai massage with those of Swedish/deep tissue relaxation massage. Just what the doctor ordered.

When you enter the spa, you are greeted by a lovely hostess with a traditional Thai "wai"and a request for which service you desire. While waiting, someone brings you some wonderfully warm and relaxing bael fruit tea.

My massage therapist, Noi, comes out to greet me then leads me back to the treatment room, down a hall lit beautifully by small candles at each doorway. After I exchange my clothes for a spa robe, she comes in, sits me down and gives me a soothing footbath. Then it's up onto the massage table for my treatment.

Soon, the tension from all the air miles melts away under her skilled hands. Too soon, it's over.

Noi brings me some more tea, gives me a farewell wai, and I head back to my room to enjoy the warmth and relaxation for as long as I can.

It's a great way to start my visit to Thailand ...

B.C.'s Bloedel Conservatory gives parrot lovers a chance to see exotic birds locally

Okay. So you know part of the title of this blog includes "parrots." Maybe, if you don't know me, you're wondering, "Why parrots? The guy's supposed to be writing a travel blog."


Well, I actually do write quite a bit about parrots I encounter in my travels. In fact, I seek them out - parrots that is, and trips that will bring me into contact with wild parrots.


The reason I'm so interested in wild parrots and the conservation of those wonderful creatures stems from my life prior to becoming a travel writer, full time.


Years ago, my wife ended up adopting a Congo African grey parrot named Nikki. He had lived in two different homes before he came to us. Eight years later, a second CAG came to live with us: Coco. He was six months old when we met him, and has been with us for 10 years now. Five years ago, we adopted another parrot, an Amazon named Einstein.


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Coco Puff, the Congo African grey parrot.

Because I've always been interested in enjoying the outdoors responsibly and doing things to help conservation, it was only a matter of time before I began focusing on parrots, writing about companion parrots as well as their wild cousins, in places like Peru, Bolivia, the Cayman Islands, Puerto Rico and Ecuador. Over the next few months, I will post blogs that detail some of my experiences as I travel to view parrots in the wild.


Okay. So by now, you may be wondering, "What's this got to do with Bloedel Conservatory?"



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Grooming time at the Conservancy.

This facility is located in Vancouver's Queen Elizabeth Park. It's the highest point in the city, you can get great views of the north shore mountains. But the Conservancy itself is in a big glass dome that houses hundreds of different tropical plants - several species of birds, including parrots. A pair of macaws, a cockatoo named Charlie, a CAG named Rosie and some others all live there, year round. It's a great opportunity to see these birds up close, not enclosed in a cage, if you can't afford to head to South America or the South Pacific or Africa to see them.

I've included a shot of the two green-winged macaws grooming each other.

Anyways, you can expect to see more posts about "parrot travels" here in the coming months. Enjoy!