Ireland is non-stop visual beauty. The people are as colorful as the countryside. From the moment we flew over the 40 shades of green pastures, we were in love. Each destination in Ireland we went to was fetching but Dingle Peninsula was mystical.
The drive to Dingle was as pleasant for my husband as it was to reach the destination. Arriving there was the kind of experience when every family member getting out of the rental car simply gasped. There’s no other way to say it than it takes your breath away. We’ve never heard waves crash like that. Seagulls were so close to us, they looked us in the eye.As we explored, I thought about what happened here in history. I could visualize Viking longships sailing across these waters. Just as I felt at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, we were on the edge of the world….the northeast corner of the European continent. We did not want to stop taking pictures—it was that gorgeous. The panoramic view of sandstone, cliffs, bluest waters and green grass is peaceful but also powerful with the sounds of the crashing waves and the vast sense of a force of nature. In the nearby town of Dingle, we strolled through the streets of the idyllic town and stopped to rest and eat seafood. You cannot go to Ireland without making a day trip to Dingle Peninsula. Being on the edge of the world like that saturates your senses. After enjoying the urban charm of the cities of Ireland, this natural destination will provide a fulfilling break and treat you to the wonders of Celtic beauty!
“Imagination is more important than knowledge. For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand, while imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.”– Albert Einstein
This quote applies to everyone no matter what your vocation. I imagine (pun intended) we all relate to this quote. When I took the time to digest it’s words, it made me remember which childhood imagination events influenced me.
Certain childhood imagination tools I had in my basement playroom influenced my future vocations and interests. The wonderful thing about the pre-electronic games era is that our playtime was perhaps more inventive, creative and definitely, more imaginative.
Recently, I literally unearthed an item from my childhood home’s attic– an old Remington typewriter! It was covered with dust, soot and hopefully, not asbestos from our 1920’s attic. It was a heavy antique but so pristine, dramatic and proud! I was immediately flooded with memories of a similar typewriter we had from Goodwill and how I used it in my childhood basement playroom.
My older sister was always bringing home unique things from estate sales or Goodwill. I used to use a vintage typewriter as a pretend cash register with my best friends. I had a pretend grocery store in my basement because my parents stored overflow groceries down there as a pantry. One of the friends would go “shopping” and put the canned goods and boxed goods in her “shopping basket” and one of us would ring up the items on the antique typewriter which was posing as a cash register. Since the return bar had a wonderful “DING”, it seemed like a cash register.
On the nearby table which we unknowingly fashioned as a partner desk, I had another business going on…a travel agency. My sister brought home some tourism department books she found at a school library that was closing. They were about all of the provinces of Canada. They were old and outdated but I thought they were fabulous and resourceful! I can still envision the photos of lush green forests in those old books. On a vintage rotary dial (again heavy) black phone, (which really worked) I chatted away with pretend customers, setting up wonderful trips to anywhere in Canada….and only Canada…because those were the only tourism books I had at my fingertips. At 9 or 10 years old, I could design you a trip to Nova Scotia. Later, I discovered this delicate Paris travel brochure that made it in my move to the new house. If I had it in my pretend travel agency, I could’ve designed you a trip to any province in Canada—and Paris.
It reminded me about a conversation I had at seven years old. I told my mom and brother that I wanted to be a tourist when I grew up…as my job. My mom skeptically asked me in her practical minded Greek mom way, “How are you going to make money doing that?” My 16 year old brother waited for the reply to see if my critical thinking skills would apply here. I was kind of baffled and deflated and asked her, “what do you mean??”. She replied, “That’s a hobby but how is that a job?” I stated, “I don’t know!” My brother chuckled but didn’t want to discourage me.
My mom technically didn’t discourage me either but she showed me there was a realistic side to consider when you’re imagining and making plans. I wasn’t ready to give up on this tourist job idea. Ironically, my grandmother’s old passport was discovered years later when I moved to my new home.
It was intact, glamorous, full of historic travels and a most important pilgrimage of taking her daughter, (my mother) back to Greece, Turkey, France and Egypt to meet relatives for the first time. My maternal grandparents were political refugees in the 1920’s leaving their Turkish-occupied Greek island to come to America.
I worked well alone on this pretend travel agency and it became kind of hectic one day in the travel agency/grocery story basement when two playmates came over. Innovation turned to mischief and someone got the bright idea to change my serious travel agency ambience into a phone call pranking headquarters and we started calling random numbers and doing the usual 1970’s pranking scripts, (“Did you order a pizza? etc,) “One of the playmates got nervous when someone answered and in handing the heavy vintage phone over to the other friend, it got too close to her face and she chipped our friend’s tooth! That’s how heavy the phone was. We panicked. The friend caught the piece of her tooth in her hands and went to find her parents. The playdate was OVER. And my travel agency was tainted, in my opinion. We had our first casualty! Our friend went to the dentist over this mishap. The phone sits innocently in a nook at my sister’s home. Whenever I see it, I consider it a culprit to a prank….and a chipped tooth!
A calling to become an educator took center stage in my life when my baby cousins were born. They became my little students and there was no pretending about it! We had a true neighborhood style “homeschool” going on for a few years and a full curriculum designed by me, a 7-11 year old and my little cousins were the experimental students.
The tourist job fantasy didn’t exactly take a backseat though. I was able to travel extensively as a child of an American Airlines employee because of the flight privileges and hotel discounts. My mom was talented at making all of the complicated connections possible and I listened intently as she made our “non-rev” flights and details. This was the heyday of travel, in my opinion; when the flight attendants looked like Miss America contestants and people dressed up to fly! First class seats were so available to us non-rev passengers and I even got to be a flight attendant on one flight. I passed out peanuts, spoke on the intercom, saw the cockpit and sat with those stunning glamazon flight attendants in their special section when we were landing.
from the internet
Years later, I helped friends with their trip itineraries and made recommendations to them on which stops and excursions to take off of cruise ships in Greece, etc. This was all for fun and I loved it when the recommendations were appreciated. But what a full circle moment from that pretend travel agency in my basement with all of my vintage and antique props!
On these wonderful family trips, I remember my dad’s new camera–a Minolta Super 3 Circuit. That was a big deal. It even had a leather strap and case.
I remember my grandpa’s old accordion style camera, too and I found a similar style camera and display it as a reminder of all of the meaningful vintage items that I was surrounded by in my childhood. It created an appreciation for historic items….things made with artistry and value. Those items represented challenges, adventures, voyages, journeys and risk taking for my immigrant ancestors entering into the New World for a New Life.In this same childhood home where imagination and discovery collaborated, there was one other item displayed which was a part of my daily images whenever I passed by the living room mantel….the GEISHA GIRL. That’s what we called her. Geisha had a marvelous glass case box that she was displayed in. It was as if she was stored away and protected from the elements. She could look out but she was untouchable. I was bewitched by the geisha girl. She had a Mona Lisa smile and a gaze that was averted. She was an enigma to me. I loved that my Greek mom and Greek household had this “oriental” (as we called it in the 70’s) item prominently displayed over our fireplace! It was not a house only full of Greek columns, Greek keys and busts of Apollo or Aphrodite. We had those things, too- of course. But Geisha Girl had a presence in our home and conveyed that we appreciated international souvenirs of all kinds.My best friend was always intrigued with the glass case that surrounded the geisha and strangely, years later, somehow the case broke. Geisha Girl was freed! I liked her even better that way. I felt like, finally, geisha was out of the case and not untouchable. We could enjoy her delicate details up close. She moved with us to our new house but she was not up high anymore on a mantel. She became the centerpiece of our dining room table or buffet. And in some ways, she represents to me that I, too, have passed down an appreciation for international culture for my sons.
I appreciate that my family did not toss out those old items. We incorporated them into our childhood imagination play. As adults, we later displayed them in our homes. Currently, they are inspirational “props” for me in my writing study. They connect me to my roots. In creative writing, it is nostalgic to think of those childhood influences. Life was black and white but evolved towards gray. In those shades of gray, I delve into interviewing others about their travels, inspirations and passions. That has been good for the soul!
“When you’re talking, you are only repeating what you already know. But when your’e listening; you’re learning.” In travel writing and interviewing people about their travels and stories, I am listening….and learning. When I’m writing, I am surrounded by my inspiration props– an antique typewriter, antique cameras, and an antique phone while I use my modern day laptop, my modern camera and my handy cell phone as my tools. It’s funny to think one day these modern day gadgets will be antiques to the next generations.
I love being surrounded by these childhood imagination props. They are from a pre-electronic game time. Pre-social media, pre-computers, pre-cell phones. A time when we had imaginary play in droves in the backyard, neighborhood alleys or down in the basement. I am not quite 50 years old but I’m almost there. The props were there in the first half-century of my life and now they are being useful again in the next half-century. And where knowledge is limited, imagination is limitless.
Who hasn’t been fascinated with the legend of Loch Ness and its “Loch Ness Monster.” When I was younger, I wanted so badly to believe that this mysterious creature existed. It seemed like there were always updates about possible sightings. It was a tug of war between imagination and scientific fact…..but it kept the Loch Ness monster in the media for all these years. There was no way I was going to go to Scotland and miss seeing the lake, Loch Ness! On a misty day, we drove to the breathtaking area of the Scottish Highlands of Inverness. The lake was vast and water was calm. I was standing at Loch Ness as an adult —but remembering the curiosity I had a a child about this place.
My kids played along with me and pretended to be looking for “Nessie” as the Scots call her. If you like cold and misty weather, you’ll LOVE Scotland! My husband loves this kind of weather–me, not so much! So a hoodie was useful and necessary wherever we went. If you can go to Scotland in the summer, the highlands will be bright green.
Read about the legend of the Loch Ness monster. This is detailed and thorough information about its history on the link below.
Persian rugs, Indian rugs, Turkish rugs—-they are all incredibly beautiful works of art! Upon entering most rug factories, you’ll be treated to a coffee or beverage and a guide will explain all of the different styles of rugs. It’s quite an experience! Pictured here is a rug in India.
watching the loom at the rug factory in Turkey
A fascinating fact I learned while reading about the history of carpet weaving is that the carpets were invented to serve the purpose of practicality for the nomads. The thickness of the carpets was out of necessity to protect people from the cold conditions of the climate. By using carpets, they didn’t need their animals’ hides for this purpose. They needed their animals for other things. These carpets served as their flooring rather than the ground. Carpets helped decorate and beautify their rustic tents. The carpets were easily transportable when their nomadic lifestyle needed them to move on. There are so many styles of rugs from so many origins. I felt like I could stay in one of those rug stores for hours and hours studying the different designs. Just to name a few:
Turkish
Oriental
Persian
Indian
Kilim
Tabriz
Kazak
Heriz
Sarouk
We also observed a fascinating process in Udaipur called block printing. It is form of coloring and dyeing fabrics with wooden blocks. There are so many intricate steps to this process. India is reportedly the largest exporter of block printing fabrics.
Visiting a rug factory overseas is a recommended activity because not only will you get to experience an informative “tour” or exhibit of these fabulous pieces of art, but you’ll also get good deals on them! If you purchase one, they’ll roll it up in a small duffel for you for easy transporting.
Some of the favorite items in my house have come from international markets; pillows, rugs, tablecloths, etc. There is nothing quite like handmade crafts.
An acquaintance of mine has a fascinating job as a television producer who travels the world filming sports and adventure programs. He has been to over 100 countries, on 6 continents. While interviewing him, I was equally fascinated by the job details as I was by the destinations he’s reached. His journey is both geographically and intrinsically developed as he has made career choices based on fulfillment and a word I admire--“balance.”
What is your job description?
I’m a television producer for a Tulsa based production company called Winnercomm, Inc. I currently produce a variety of shows, primarily for Outdoor Channel. Over the years, I have produced sports and adventure programs for national networks such as ESPN, Fox Sports, CBS and the Golf Channel.
What was the inspiration for this job?
I went to school (University of Oklahoma) to become an advertising producer. For the first five years after college, I did just that … and it was a fast-paced, tremendous learning experience for me. However, that lifestyle was geared more towards selling products & services and increasing profits. For me, the effort versus reward just didn’t balance out .
That’s so important.
Fortunately, an opportunity came about through one of our major clients to make the transition from commercial production to national programming production and I took it! It was a launching pad into the outdoor sports production for Winnercomm at the time.
Was the travel part of your job for sports and adventure?
The planning, editing and writing happens locally but the adventures have to gathered by traveling. Based on the assignment, I’ve traveled to more countries than I’ve taken the time to tally an exact count, on every continent except Antarctica. I’ve had to add several pages to my passport.
Have you had a favorite trip?
That’s tough to answer. Based on assignments I’ve had, the travels primarily centered around adventure and the outdoors. I rarely go into metropolitan areas but rather the countryside. What’s beneficial about that is the chance to see the real culture of that area. I think one of my favorite trips has been New Zealand because it’s so American-friendly, clean, and the people are so welcoming. It has so much to offer because the geographical area and landscape varies so dramatically in relatively short distances.
While the North and South Islands are both very different, the entire country has a common cultural thread that is very appealing. The country’s epic and varied landscape has make it a popular destination for big, movie production sets. Plus, there is so much to offer for outdoorsmen. They offer hunting, fishing, sailing, hiking and back country adventure.
New Zealand
What is the typical New Zealand meal like?
Mostly meat and potatoes, but there’s access to amazing seafood. It depends on where you visit, I guess. If you go into the interior, it is different. The Maori culture is still very strong there. A traditional haka ceremony is a sight to behold! It’s a type of ancient war dance typically used in the battlefield, as well as when groups came together in peace. The dance and ceremony is very exciting and energetic, using facial expressions for intimidation…. strange, bizarre, facial expressions and forceful dance movements.
How long were you in New Zealand?
I’ve been a few different times on assignments. The trips are typically 1 week to 10 days.
Describe your African experience.
I’ve been to Africa several times and have had the opportunity to experience the remarkable culture and wildlife. Botswana and Tanzania, particularly. It is both humbling and amazing to have the opportunity to experience wildlife in that type of environment. Specifically, the elephants—I have a whole new respect for their power, strength and speed. To see them in the wild….they truly are the “King of the Jungle”.
Not the lion?
The lion commands another level of respect, that’s why the lions are called the “King of the Beasts”.
To see these animals in their natural habitat is an experience that is hard to describe. It’s one of the reasons that Africa has been the inspiration of so many epic tales of adventure.
I’ve been up-close and personal with a lot of wildlife over the years. Like the coastal brown bars in Alaska, for instance. You learn very quickly to respect the animals’ power and territory. There have been bizarre adventures and near death experiences. Weather is one of the reasons. The combination of wind, snow, bitter cold, extreme heat and darkness—and being caught miles from a vehicle at night are examples. Or, hanging out of a helicopter to capture that perfect angle from above. I put myself in these situations. Sometimes scary when you look back on it, but well worth the experience!
How do you set up a whole movie production set, equipment and logistics in a remote country?
It’s typically a very mobile, bare bones production in the backcountry. You can’t disrupt a natural environment with a lot of production equipment. It’s a small scale production, usually with a couple of camera guys, a local guide and a host or celebrity guest. We try to have minimal impact on the environment.
That’s good.
The struggles of getting there and the discoveries along the way are a big part of the storyline development.
Do you keep a journal?
Not a detailed personal journal. Writing scripts geared toward the production and overall experience is my main responsibility. It’s rarely from my personal perspective.
We have taken several celebrities on adventure trips. I’ve fished with Liam Neeson in Belize, Michael Keaton in New Zealand and hunted elk with Hank Williams Jr. to name a few.
Michael Keaton on right
I’ve traveled with several country music stars and sports celebrities. I’ve gone bear hunting with Herschel Walker. I’ve gone fishing with actor, Jason Priestley who is an avid fisherman. He owns a resort on Vancouver Island that is run by his father.
with Jason Priestley
I’ve fished with Craig T. Nelson in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. We produced a show called New American Sportsman that featured these celebrities enjoying their passion for the outdoors.
The most difficult thing about these types of productions is that there are detailed start and end times, with an infinite amount of unknowns in between. When I plan a trip, I have no control over some of what happens with travel details, flight delays, weather delays, etc. Some details are weather dependent. If you’re hunting or fishing, the environment often dictates success or failure. Trips can be difficult as a result of that. For instance, I traveled to Mongolia during the SARS outbreak.
We landed and 2 mummy-dressed people got on a checked every passenger for signs of fever before they let us deplane – in case a quarantine was needed. We spent five days getting to our final destination in Mongolia—cancelations, delays, missed-connections. This involved a 16 hour ride in a Russian jeep with no roads. We fished for one day when the Siberian run off started. That’s when melted snow causes the rivers to flood. Huge trees were uprooted and were floating down the river. No fishing that day!
How have these adventures enriched your life?
I go in with an open mind. Because I do travel into the countryside, I have the opportunity to see people at a genuine level. To step out of the metropolitan areas and go into people’s homes and small towns, I get to know the honest culture of a place. Getting out of the city gives a better sense of their history, heritages, meals, lifestyles, etc. You get a better sense of the simple pleasures in life—the environment and landscape.
You forget about going through the difficult experiences of traveling. The amount I’ve grown from pushing myself miles and miles into backcountry carrying all of my camera equipment, cameras, food and water… in the end, they are good experiences. Even here in the U.S., places like Wyoming and Montana. You find yourself deep in the backcountry, way out in the dark, hiking 13 miles or more, one way carrying an 18 pound camera.
We pay so much money for comfort and style, but the reward of an experience is so much more rewarding than the superficial product and material thing. Material things last a moment; experiences last a lifetime. When you think about what makes you happy—-it’s our thoughts, shaped by fond memories of adventure.
I can’t get enough of the glamorous vintage boutiques in Kansas City, especially Westport! It never fails….everytime I visit one of these stores, there is something to admire. Westport in Kansas City has a funky vibe. For me, it’s reminiscent of Austin. There are a few vintage and antique stores there and international cafes and taverns. …even a vintage record store. Wonderland is a vintage clothing and accessories store with a salon in it! It’s exactly what its name conjures–a wonder land! It’s a Vintage Unique Curio Salon. I interviewed the owner about the store and about a music festival that happens in Westport.
When did you start in this business?
a costume vest from Syria
I’ve collected vintage clothes for years.. since I was a teenager and I’ve always loved it. I worked at River Market Antiques and sold mostly housewares and gifts. I worked at another vintage clothing store for six years and at a location down the street for a year.
How do you acquire your vintage items?
We go to estate sales, thrift stores…People’s lifestyles change and they want to sell things they collected like bowling shirts. Women who have had babies don’t need vintage dresses that they’re not going to wear anymore.
In the midwest, KC, big houses, ….mom, grandma and grandpa live in a house for 30 years and have saved everyone’s prom dresses or all of their clothes and special event things. When she passes on or moves to a nursing home, the relatives get the house and they don’t want the items so they sell them.
Do you have a favorite type of vintage item that you collect and sell?
Every time period has a certain charm. There are so many people who buy vintage and antique things for different reasons that it’s really hard [to choose a favorite]. You don’t want to limit yourself.
…so you do a variety?
A variety, yes…I’ve had Edwardian things, Victorian things…they’re not super wearable but they’re beautiful and the construction is awesome. There are people who collect them or use them for costume sourcing, inspiration and to collect them.
I use some vintage items for decoration. I put them on a mannequin and just enjoy the artistry.
Right, exactly. A lot of vintage items aren’t wearable but they’re exquisite and people collect them for different reasons. We work with a lot of theaters, artists, costumers, photographers…
Photographers use vintage clothing in their work., either for model shoots or vanity projects. I’ve been a make up artist for 25+ years, so I’ve worked on those projects.
Explain what a vanity project is.
You don’t get paid for it. An ad agency does a spec project…a sample of something you want to sell to a company and they can say “yea” or “nay” to it. A vanity project is a spec project but it’s something a photographer has always wanted to do—shoot a girl in the snow in a white gown….for their own portfolio. Noone is paying for it, so they might rent a gown or fur hat or headpiece just to fill that. We rent to photographers which is a big niche.
You were telling me something really cool the other day about a festival that takes place down here in Westport….?
Middle of the Map Festival…a music festival in the third year. It’s finally hit its stride–it’s awesome! great people, lots of fun, everyone’s in a party mood. We had people from all walks of life. From all over the world! A Japanese band was in here buying great things. There were band members and stylists from L.A. buying things for bands that they work with. It’s a really cool event in April, I think.
Do you have a favorite vintage stylist? People know about some vintage stylists in the mainstream. Are there others?
I follow many on Instagram but follow make up artists more. I love Matthew Anderson; he’s Ru Paul’s make up artist. He’s one of my all time favorites. Being a photo stylist and make up artist myself, I like avant garde, editorial—that’s my kind of thing and vintage plays into that because you can use a dress from a different time period and make it modern. I’ve worked with lots of magazines here in town.
Anything you want to tell us about your store?
We like a lot of variety. It’s been brought to my attention that I like prints more than solids. Vintage is 20 years or older. 1995/96 is vintage. People think that’s unusual because we remember it. My grandma laughed at us when we wore 1950’s bowling shirts in the 80s. She’d ask, “Why would you want to wear that old thing?”
Do you do any special events?
We’ve done fashion shows…we are busy working on other people’s projects. We collect mannequins , do visuals….
Is that Amy Winehouse?
Yes.
I bet people ask to buy that mannequin all the time.
It’s for display.
Do you have a favorite quote that pertains to this passion?
My favorite quote as far as the store: “We are a store; not a museum. I don’t want things to sit here and have you look at it. I want you to buy it and take it with you; no matter how old or delicate it is or how interesting. I get to love it while it’s here, but….
You want it to find a home….
Yes. The other quote is: “I think prices are negotiable; but style isn’t. We can always talk numbers if you really love it, by all means, you know? But style is not negotiable.”
Writer’s side note: You might know how to incorporate it in your own style or you might gain inspiration from the stylistic groupings in which they are already displayed. Eye candy!
I marvel at the condition of many pieces. They are a testimony to the great fashion of their era. It’s a fun challenge to guess the decade a piece is from. The powder blues and flamingo or coral pink of the 1950’s; the bold prints of the 1960’s and all of the suede fringe of the 1970’s—they are sights to behold! The disco ball of the 70’s and early 80’s is iconic and to me, eternal.This vintage shop owner told me, “Style is not negotiable” and he’s completely correct. The dictionary defines style as “a distinctive appearance.” To become “distinct”, one cannot settle or negotiate. “Fashion is fashion but style is style,” the song says. Maybe that’s why vintage stores are around today….because some things never go out of style.Wonderland Vintage Unique and Curio Salon
My very dear friends have traveled to some wonderful places. One of the most exotic countries they’ve been to is Thailand. The exotic details she shared with me made me curious, so I posted some informational links to share. This intelligent, charming and beautiful couple are some of my favorite people in the world and their fun-loving personalities make them a great resource for travel recommendations. From culture to spas, to nighttime entertainment, this couple’s interview gives some well-rounded advice and perspective.
What was the inspiration for traveling to Bangkok?
My husband is an industrial psychologist and at the time he was training all of the HR (human resources) executives for Adidas Asia. One of the areas was Bangkok and he thought it was a good opportunity to check it out during his work trip. We flew through Osaka, Japan and had a Japanese dinner on the airplane.
What hotel do you recommend?
The hotel we stayed at was the Intercontinental Hotel in Central Bangkok. It had everything on site—the most amazing spa I’ve experienced to this day. There were tropical gardens with wild peacocks everywhere, a pool, huge hotel with restaurants and bands.
What was the vibe of the culture?
The people were very friendly and it was bursting with culture, tradition and color. There were so many people and so much traffic, too. I observed that there’s a lot of pollution and people everywhere and I was surprised that everything was on the river. There were so many people with more traffic than NYC! Lots of people on mopeds, some carrying their children on them as well. I was surprised when we arrived at the hotel that Security was checking all the trunks of cars when we pulled up and looking for bombs. I was intrigued that the main transportation we used while in the city were boats and water taxis. The city is completely dependent on the Chao Phraya River and waterways.
What excursions and museums do you recommend?
The Grand Palace and the Wat Phra Kaew–it is an intricate gold structure built around 1782. The people are very spiritual and Thailand is 94% Buddhist. It’s the spiritual heart of their kingdom. There were a lot of rules, for example, you can’t wear open toed shoes.
I also learned about the Kinnaree which is a golden statue that symbolizes feminine beauty, accomplishment and grace. It’s a mythological figure which is half human/half bird with a long tail. (Half human/half horse figures are depicted in India and half human/half bird figures are depicted in Southeast Asia.) There are ponds everywhere with huge fish which is symbolic of good fortune and wealth. We took water taxis everywhere. I remember the taxi driver would say “feed fish” and and these huge fish would jump up.
My favorite thing was the Jim Thompson house; a brown teakwood house. You take a boat to get there. The interesting thing about it is that he was an American architect who served in WWII and fell in love with the area. He built these homes with his architectural skills. There are six houses in the traditional teakwood and he collected antiques and art. The houses are gorgeous. There’s one with a fish pond and beautiful gardens. He had extravagant dinner parties all the time and it was a big deal if you were invited to them. The doors open up to let in the outdoors and they’ve kept it all original with his things. You feel like you’re outside. He disappeared mysteriously in 1967 in the Malaysian jungle at the height of his success. He dedicated his life to the Thai silk and the revival of that industry. He made it his mission to revive that. He changed that industry because it had kind of died.
Did you eat the street food? I’ve heard it’s a real treat and they fry it for you right there.
You don’t really know what you’re eating. There’s tons of fruits and something called “stinky fruit”. The stinky fruit is the Durian fruit and banned on public transportation due to the strong odor. They look like prickly pears, I was not a fan! There were markets all along the streets and floating markets in the river. We did not eat the street food but we may have tried a little bit here and there. The Singha beer was really good. We mainly ate at restaurants for business dinners and we did a dinner cruise. There are extravagant costumes, dances and tradition. There were beautiful women with beautiful skin,– just a naturally beautiful people with the clearest, glowing skin. It’s really humid there and that might help their skin. Their diet might help, too. At dinner, you get six bowls of food and you don’t know what it is in each bowl–a strange fish or odd fruit. Tons of flavors!
Did you buy any fabulous souvenirs when you were there?
Their Buddha is totally different from the Chinese Buddha. The Chinese Buddha is jolly and fat. The Thai Buddha is stoic and skinny. I brought a Buddha back and I bought some China and silk. My husband had clothes made over there. They measure you and make outfits in one day.
What restaurant do you recommend?
The Sirocco restaurant is the perfect 10 of food, wine, ambience and service. It’s in the state building and it was quite and experience! We dressed up and it was very romantic.You eat outside up high (around 820 ft in the air) and all you see is the city lights- it’s gorgeous. Every night, there is a rainfall called a humidity dump. The skies start to open up and people run outside to bring furniture inside. There’s a jazz band at night and the restaurant provides great service and a lot of pampering. The bright lights of the city at night is a scene which is also memorable.
Is tourism a huge income for them?
Yes, I would say that’s a main one. People come from all over to see Bangkok.
At the outdoor restaurant after dinner, there’s a sky bar which is the highest outdoor bar in the world. The Sky Bar is a round- shaped, lit up bar which looks like a glow stick. It’s on the Hangover 2 movie. We saw a man there who had to be removed by security so he did not fall. He probably had one too many cocktails and was swaying.
Sky Bar
There’s a net underneath because some people get vertigo from being up so high. The bright lights of the city from that high up in the open air were gorgeous and an experience I will never forget! The bar is known for their famous cocktails. The Sirocco Restaurant is gorgeous! You see the city in the background. I would definitely go back to Bangkok if I had the opportunity again.
How were you enriched by this trip?
It’s like you can meditate there because it’s so peaceful and serene. The city is all bustling but when you come back to the quiet gardens and fish ponds, it is so peaceful. There’s poverty in the city but they seem happy. The people with their beautiful smiles and peaceful spirits inspired me. The constant hustle and bustle seemed not to affect their demeanor. The exotic gardens and fish ponds built in areas of the city were most likely built as a refuge from the busy city for serenity and meditation. The little kids are jumping in dirty river water and playing in it. You think they would get sick from it. I observed that they don’t need a lot of things to be happy…..like other third world places.
There are two very special spots in Athens—Monasteraki and Plaka. No doubt you will go to each of these neighborhood markets if you visit Athens. Charm galore. As hectic as this metropolis is, it is also charming. Typically, one might write about the landmarks and incredible shopping in Athens…
but I am going to cover a special custom I l first learned in Athens. PIKILIA. (pronunciation: “peek-ee-leea”) I remember the relaxation at a taverna in Plaka on a hot day with cold Mythos beer and Frescas. Your options are meals, desserts with coffee, or PIKILIA with BEVERAGES!
I first learned the word “PIKILIA” from a new friend we met in Athens on our honeymoon. He had one of the most posh apartments I had seen at the time—with a view of Lecavito on one side and the Acropolis on the other. This artist friend in his chic apartment enjoyed hosting us (the young, casual, Greek American newlyweds)—and in his hospitable way, he announced “Let’s have some pikilia!” and dashed off to his kitchen.
My husband and I looked at each other puzzled. We had never heard this word before. Our friend came back to the table with a beautiful display of what we would call in America “charcuterie” or appetizers. Doesn’t it sound more charming, however, to say “PIKILIA”?….it was like a little tune. I say it all the time. Now, it’s our custom to make a pikilia platter often….whether at home entertaining, or while traveling.
On another tip, we found a deli in Churwalden, Switzerland that had the most amazing jarred delicacies. Cream cheese stuffed peppers! I made a pikilia platter for my family when we were tired of eating schnitzel.
Guess we leaned more towards olives and prosciutto finished off with a little vino. There’s pikilia in Greece, tapas in Spain, antipasto in Italy, hors-d’oeuvres in France and appetizers in America, etc. The love of good food is universal!
My Happy Hour Pikilia at a Cretan Villa
toast with herbs,
feta cheese,
drizzled olive oil,
balsamic vinegar,
Villa Creta wine and my husband’s frosty mug of Mythos beer.
I chopped up some sage, toasted the bread, fried the Cretan cheese in butter.
I squeezed lemon on it put salt, pepper, oregano, rosemary and wild sage….and olive oil!
Thank goodness Killarney was on our itinerary in Ireland! I was enchanted by this city. From the main street atmosphere to an amusement park we found, we enjoyed the variety of entertainment discoverd there. From good restaurants to the most fascinating Muckross House and the everlasting beauty of Torc Waterfall—Killarney was scenic and vivid!
Torc Waterfall
Torc is an Irish word meaning boar. The significance of this is derived from the legend of Fionn mac Cumhaill, a hero who killed an entranced boar. My husband and Boy Scout sons were overjoyed to find this nature spot right across the way from the Muckross House museum we were scheduled to tour. (Read about Muckross House on this blog. )We all played in the water, climbed on the rocks and absorbed the beauty of this total gift of nature.
Torc Waterfall definitely embodies the “40 shades of green” title that Ireland possesses. The clear air and the mossy and misty rocks around it are so grand that it is no wonder that Queen Victoria and her ladies in waiting came here to enjoy this Irish gem.
Our favorite stop in Killarney, Ireland was Muckross House. This Victorian Mansion is part of the Killarney National Park–the first national park ever created in Ireland. The tour of the house was better than a museum and the grounds were majestic. The history of Muckross House fascinated us. For example, there was a family that lived there at one time who spent an enormous amount of funds and experienced financial difficulties preparing the house for Queen Victoria’s visit. The house also was shut for 30 years at the beginning of WWII and later when it was occupied for a while by the Irish Army.
Muckross House
The house is currently preserved so well and the tour guides are very enthusiastic and informative. The blinds and shutters are positioned to restrict a certain amount of light into the House so as to protect the furniture and materials displayed. The decorations and artifacts are stunning and representative of the glory years of the Victorian era. The property was rented out for parties, fishing and hunting. Inside the rooms, you’ll see mahogany furniture, Turkish carpets, flocked wallpaper and Italian marble.
A Japanese urn and curtains specially woven are part of the grandeur of the dining room. Woodcarved sideboards and fantastic animal head trophies of the hunt boldly stand out in the Main Hall. The rich carvings reminiscent of Victorian style prominently adorn the mansion. The Billiard Room where men enjoyed cigars and bonded had walls decorated with Chinese silk. Twisted balusters on the Upper Landing and grand portraits below a beautiful ceiling molding lend so much formality to the architecture.
Muckross House in Killarney
The grounds were unbelievable, really. The vivid colors of flowers we couldn’t identify were gorgeous and the grounds extended to a beautiful body of water. We literally frolicked through the grounds.The boudoir, children’s playroom and impressive kitchen and servant system featured unique details but the room that intrigues my sons still to this day was the Queen’s bedroom which served as the bedroom during her visit. The wallpaper, polished limestone chimney-piece, gilted mirrors, finest mahogany and gold silk damask fabric all adorn this stately room.
The room that I liked the best was the kitchen which had bells to correspond to every room in the house. The servants knew who was ordering service and where to deliver the food. The cook had to give permission to anyone wanting to enter the kitchen except for the Lady of the house. And in typical Victorian design, the kitchen is built outside of the main block of the house to restrict the smells from the family and guests. That was one long walk from the kitchen to the dining room for servants carrying food!
Queen Victoria’s visit was a success as she enjoyed the grounds, the ceremonial reception and party and visited the nearby Torc Waterfall also featured on this blog at:
The people are as colorful as the countryside. From the moment we flew over the 40 shades of green pastures, we were in love. Each destination in Ireland we went to was fetching but Dingle Peninsula was mystical.
The drive to Dingle was as pleasant for my husband as it was to reach the destination. Arriving there was the kind of experience when every family member getting out of the rental car simply gasped. There’s no other way to say it than it takes your breath away. We’ve never heard waves crash like that. Seagulls were so close to us, they looked us in the eye.
As we explored, I thought about what happened here in history. I could visualize Viking longships sailing across these waters. Just as I felt at the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, we were on the edge of the world….the northeast corner of the European continent. We did not want to stop taking pictures—it was that gorgeous. The panoramic view of sandstone, cliffs, bluest waters and green grass is peaceful but also powerful with the sounds of the crashing waves and the vast sense of a force of nature.
In the nearby town of Dingle, we strolled through the streets of the idyllic town and stopped to rest and eat seafood. You cannot go to Ireland without making a day trip to Dingle Peninsula. Being on the edge of the world like that saturates your senses. After enjoying the urban charm of the cities of Ireland, this natural destination will provide a fulfilling break and treat you to the wonders of Celtic beauty!
photos by Gina and Patrick
