Upload
susie-siegel
View
214
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
1/39
Dear friends--
not quite adept at blogs yet...but here is what's been up from one lucky grateful
girl!
WORK HARD---TRAVEL HARDER!
Brow
8 solid weeks of(more if you include prep and dismantling but I don't want to
include that!)
The beginnings, endings (and middles) are particularly challenging to teachers so
as I prepare for my 20th year or so of teaching I reflect upon a particularly
fabulous summer of travel that I have just completed.
https://www.facebook.com/misssusieshttps://www.facebook.com/misssusieshttps://www.facebook.com/misssusieshttps://www.facebook.com/misssusies7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
2/39
It was 14 plane rides, 2 Continents, 11 Countries, A Ship, 2 Ferry Boats and a Ship
as well as more time zones than this insomniac cares to ponder...
Deep down, I feel there is no reason for me to leave the amazing comforts of my
home here in San Francisco. After all, SF is a vacation unto itself. I LOVE MY
HOME...and that is exactly what motivates me to get out-of-the-box in the
summer.
It would be easy to become complacent, sheltered and numb to the rest of the
world as I bask in my creature comforts.
But ahhh, to escape all the STUFF, to pack up one bag and just GO...I am super
lucky to do this while I have good health and no summer commitments. I alwayslearn SO much and I feel that I take that back not just in personal growth but also
to my classroom.
It is easy to perceive America as the center of the Earth and I just loved being in
Asia where the name California was not always recognized.
My trip is better told in pictures so I will enclose some highlights. All who really
know me, know that pictures are something I am never short of taking!
I started my journey in Singapore and the highlights there were its very clean,
pristine streets, parks, etc and most definitely its food. From watching ladies
making homemade udon and I mean HOMEMADE to eating crispy peking duck, I
was mesmerized by its food courts which make ours here in US malls look silly.
Did I mention any freshly squeezed fruit or veggie you could imagine?
On to Ubud in Bali, Indonesia. A town that is inland in the hills set amongst rice
paddies, spiritual healers and crafts people, it was one of my favorite stops.
Some highlights:
1. a villa accommodation overlooking rice paddies and really the most incredible
rainforest shower that was outside
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
3/39
2. taking yoga classes in the coolest yoga studio I will ever see...open-air as the
sun goes down, crickets, katydids, a sunset and the smell of fresh flowers over-
looking rice-paddies during downward dog.
3. Visiting Christopher and Amana's friend, Ari whose family are mask-makers of
the most extraordinary kind.
4.Spending time with Ketut from "Eat, Pray, Love." fame. He is like 94 and pretty
much no 100% says positive things about your health and future and had a spirit
that was super fun to be around.
5. Luwak Cofee(cofee passed through the stomach of a Luwak!) apparently quite
pricey in the US.
6. The smell of the crisp, air there was something I couldn't get enough of.
On to Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia for a short splurge at a W hotel which was
seriously ridiculous!Yes, their motto was, "WHATEVER, WHENEVER!" It was like someone else was the
teacher and I could just have whatever, whenever!!!!! My senses couldn't get
enough of the whole "Scene" very stylish, tactile, amazing food, great design and
comfort beyond words...and then a lovely afternoon of shopping with my former
principal, Ms. Yvonne Chong and my former student, Patrick's mom who
happened to be vacationing in nearby Nusa Dua. If you want to go shopping you
are in great hands with Yvonne and Faye! Faye also has complete command of
what Indonesian delicacies to order. This area was right along the coast and a
change from inland Ubud.
On to Bangkok, Thailand! PHEW! WOW! Not my favorite place. Crowded.
Congested. Major Trac. Felt Polluted. But wild, anything goes...amongst all this
hustle bustle it is Thailand....from Kho Shan rode to outrageous buddhist
temples...and neighborhoods representing many diferent cultures. Bangkok the
gateway to the rest of Thailand and I learned not to characterize all of Thailand
by my early perception of Bangkok.
I liked observing the diferent Buddhist traditions in diferent Asian Countries and
am quite fascinated by it.
Learned bits and pieces about its practice, its tradition, its importance. We even
saw a funeral passing by.
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
4/39
On to Inland Chiang Mai. Here I spent one of my favorite days of my life...adopting
an elephant at Patara Elephant Farm.
Look it up. As you know most elephants are exploited--used for moving lumber
or doing stupid painting tricks or being exposed in a circus.
I didn't get the feeling at Patara that the elephants were unhappy. The owner, Pat,
is an amazing man. I asked him how he inherited such a place and he said he
bought it some 12 years ago or so and it was supposed to be an organic farm and
after he closed the deal the seller said, "Oh, by the way, there is also an elephant I
am leaving here for you!" Pat fell instantly in love with the elephant and soon
came to feel that the elephant was lonely so he got her a friend. Well, 30
elephants later...he has Patara Elephant Farm!!! Pat has adopted elephants who
are abused all over Thailand. There were 100,000 elephants at the turn of the
century and now there are like 2800. Pat taught us how to see if an elephant washealthy. We fed the elephants, we bathed them and we even swam with them, for
real! We rode them BAREBACK no helmets for 2 hours in the jungle.
I was super lucky that one of the guides gave me the mother and her baby so I
got two elephants for the day. OH My GOODNESS, I really can't say enough about
the day and my elephants. BoonMe and Bebe. The baby elephant just follows
whatever the mom does. After a few minutes of reluctance, I was soon just
immersed with the elephants. Fear turned to sheer love and really it was so hard
to leave. Pat's idea is that everyone should come for one day to his farm and his/
her money will take care of the elephant and in turn he/she will do his/her part in
helping to care for the elephants--win-win situation.
I met so many people there, too. There were a lot of Australians traveling
throughout Asia since it isn't too far. I don't think I saw one American.
Sincerely, it was among the top 10 all-time favorite things I have done in my life.
On to Phuket. A lot of people don't like Phuket as much as other Islands but I
sort of liked the hustle bustle there around the beachfront and such. The real
gems though were the excursions that I took from the island.
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
5/39
A notable one was Ko Phi Phi---and its neighboring islands. The film, "The
Beach" was filmed here because it is sheer paradise.
GREEN GREEN no really really GREEN waters. Monkeys here and there...It is
beautiful but a little sad that tourists have kind of taken away some its magic. But
hey, I was a tourist, too and thankful to see it. We snorkeled all about there and
enjoyed the neon-looking fish. Beautiful Krabi was nearby....
Now to Koh Samui, where I stayed at a place that horse-shooed around an infinity
pool which looked over the ocean toward Koh Phagnan.
Honestly it was hard to move there because it is hard to tire of a view like that.
The Thai Hospitality is unmatched. The dollar is good for us and it isn't a joke
that a massage on the beach for two hours is less than $10.00 and really they are
as good or better than the more expensive places around Thailand. At every turn
people are giving you cold towels, cold drinks, smiles and niceties. Don't get me
wrong, in touristy places you had to be on guard because there were still people
who wanted to scam tourists but they didn't mess with this city girl!!!
My favorite aspect of Thailand was how fresh everything was...no frozen canned
stuf, the real deal---fish out of the water, fruit from the vines and monkeys
picking coconuts for you. There was no day without a massage and a fresh
coconut write out of the shell!!!!!
OFF to Japan. I had a layover in Osaka and my dream was to get to Kyoto. I could
have extended my vacation and really stayed in Japan to see it because one day
was a tease but I kind of made it my mission to see if I could really do it. WHAT
AN ADVENTURE. I know I traveled all over but this was where I was even proud of
myself! I landed in Osaka after having had no sleep and when I arrived NOTHING,I mean nothing is in English and I can't make things up like I sometimes try to do
in other languages. I was like am I really going to take a train for 2 hours to Kyoto
and make it back to Osaka in a few hours to get my plane with no YEn and no
idea what I was doing? Well, It was just the best day ever.
The nicest people EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Honestly a man left his store to escort me to
the ATM because I couldn't read a thing and I need Yen and he called his wife and
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
6/39
on and on people acted accordingly. What a classy place. I saw such amazing
outfits--from ladies in full Kimonos to taxi drivers in suits---with doily-like
covers for their seats.
Really it was a tease to be there for such a short time but also left the biggest
impression of all the places I had been and left me wanting to return. It really is a
special place and diferent. The hardest part was that I knew I wouldn't have time
for a meal if I wanted to finish my agenda and get back for a 2 hour train ride in a
place I couldn't navigate or communicate with.
I strolled though markets, mouth-watering as fresh fish was being cut for
afternoon sushi...men and women at a bar having cold japanese beer. sweets of
the most intricate kind were lined up in the market. i couldn't resist a fresh
mochi. really, it was incredible. And there was suspense as I tore the intricate
wrapper apart from the mochi. I almost wanted to frame the mochi wrapper sinceit was so beautiful as were my ticket stubs to landmarks---works of art in
themselves.
Everyone appeared to take such pride in their land. whether it be in a taxi ride,
the grounds of the golden temple, the train conductor who says thank you to each
passenger and ensures not a drop garbage litters its pristine trains or the lady
at the counter who even wraps something that costs a dollar with such care as if
it were from Tifany's.
Was I glad I sacrificed sleep and risked missing my plane back to SF? You better
believe it! A most memorable day.
Home for 17 days and then on to A Cruise of the Baltic--a treat from my mother. I
typically meet her for a bit in the summer and we go somewhere special. She lives
on the East coast and since I am on the West it is fun to meet.
We met in Copenhagen, Denmark....loved it from the minute I got to the airport.Usually airport rides to the center of town are boring and ordinary but this was
the coolest ride. It was like a tour in itself to pass by countryside and then
landmarks of such color and charm. European structures amaze me. They are
built with such fortitude.
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
7/39
Copenhagen is known for bike-riding. I loved that most people were walking or
riding a bike. This lent to its charm.
Went to a place called Tivoli Gardens. It is like their upscale Coney Island. Really
an amazing venue. It is a hub of restaurants, amusement rides, shops and
concerts. It is all lit up at night. Nothing like some Weinershnitzel and Beer to
settle in to a trip!
From there we got onto a ship. We were spoiled rotten. Down Duvets and a
Verandah over-looking the sea. 4-course dinners and Cappuccinos in china. My
favorite spot was the gym with Treadmills and Precors over-looking the Bow of
the ship out to sea...not hard to work out in these digs! Anyone used to watch the
Love Boat. It really does become like Gopher, Doc, Julie and Isaac. You get to know
people and they you.
I was soooooooooooooooo excited to bump into a man named Beni who I had met5 years earlier in Alaska who was working on the ship. It was a crazy coincidence.
We were disappointed that it was so stormy that we couldn't go to Berlin. I had
been looking forward to seeing the highlights there as I was finally ready to go to
the Holocaust Memorials and such. I have heard Berlin is an amazing city.
Ofto the fairy tale land of Estonia with cobblestone roads. I had a friend from
Estonia when I was younger so It was fun to see her country.
Then to St. Petersburg, Russia. Hard to sum up the two-day whirlwind tour. The
buildings were massive, well planned and regal.
My favorite building was called Church of the Spill-blood that reminded me of
"The Wizard of Oz." I will enclose a picture.
The Hermitage museum has enough artwork that if you were to look at each piecefor 30 seconds it would take 6 years to see.
I treasured the very short time I was there and whizzed through Picasso, Matisse,
Gaughin and Monet. It was like giving ice-cream to someone and taking it away
to have to go so quickly through the museum. Not only was the art spectacular
but
also its location. It is set along the River Neva.
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
8/39
On to Finland with its great outdoor Esplanade and fashionable shops and vibrant
flower market...
Stockholm, Sweden was one of my favorites on this journey. Open and clean
comprised of many islands. People sure know there city planning in Europe. Most
things are situated along the Lake and the Archipelagos. I saw where members
of ABBA lived and saw where the Nobel Peace Prize is announced...Sweden is so
environmentally friendly and people are taking advantage of hot beautiful
summers as winters are said to be extremely dark, cold and depressing. Next time
I go, I would like to go to an Ice Bar. A literal Bar made out of real ice where you
put on a parka and have a drink!
My favorite part was having a Cappuccino and a Cinnamon Bun. It was the best
Cappuccino I have ever drunk.
I loved the "White Nights" of Russia and Sweden where it stayed dark until almost
11:00pm and got light again around 2:00pm. Super cool and weird.
No Berlin but onto Hamburg. A really nice GREEN place with amazing houses of all
sorts, sizes and prices. Some very modern houses as well. But it's the Bratwurst I
won't ever forget!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I take back to my classroom and the rest of my life a bit more patience, a lot more
tolerance, a heart full of unique memories and a sense of accomplishment that I
expanded my ever-growing box.
I look forward to staying around locally and enjoying every nook and cranny that
people venture out here in San Francisco to see--that is in my back yard and I
strive everyday to take none of it for granted.
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
9/39
Drop me a line to let me know how you are doing and know that I look forward to
seeing you or corresponding with you once again.
Cheers to your good health and sense of adventure.
Miss Susie
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
10/39
ELEPHANTS UBUD
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
11/39
Patara Farm
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
12/39
Singapore Peking Duck!
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
13/39
Susie rubs Buddha for Good luck!
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
14/39
Susie Walking Street on famous Kho Shan Rode, Bangkok
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
15/39
The Swanky W Hotel, Seminyak, Indonesia
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
16/39
Coconuts and coca cola!
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
17/39
Patara Elephant Farm
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
18/39
Ketut! Spiritual Healer, Ubud
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
19/39
Ketut Liyer of Eat Pray Love Ubud
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
20/39
Luwak Cofee!!!!!!!!!!!!
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
21/39
Shopping in Bali with Yvonne and Faye!
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
22/39
Ko PHI PHI Snorkeling
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
23/39
Koh Samui Monkeys getting Coconuts!
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
24/39
My Favorite Picture of my Trip to Asia--the mom and baby I adopted.
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
25/39
Kyoto Japan--Kinkakujimae
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
26/39
MAYA BAY where Beach was Filmed---Koh Phi Phi
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
27/39
What a coincidence! Bumped into Beni who I met 5 years ago traveling in Alaska on a
cruise.
I ain't seen Germany til I tasted this Bratwurst!
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
28/39
Estonia
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
29/39
Beer in Denmark
Youthful looking Mom.
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
30/39
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
31/39
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
32/39
THE best Cappuccino I ever tasted! Stockholm Sweden.
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
33/39
Singapore Airlines Mango Ice-cream!
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
34/39
P1080196
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
35/39
The"W" overlooking the Ocean.
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
36/39
The beach W hotel seminyak bali
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
37/39
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
38/39
Is a Buddha Ronald McDonald an Oxymoron?
7/31/2019 Snippet of Miss Susie's Summer Travels
39/39
The stunning Koh Samui This is the view from my room.