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Quintessentially Thai: Images of Asia

admin — Wed, 10 Jun 2020 06:32:01 +0000

My name is Danielle Dranoff. I’m an American who has been living in Southeast Asia for the last four years. I, like so many of you, am fascinated by this region of the world which boasts a vibrant culture, friendly faces, a warm climate and so much more.

As a foreigner abroad, there are things that I see everyday that still “wow” the tourist inside of me. These “quintessentially Asian” or in this case, “quintessentially Thai” images remind me every day that the world is fascinating, different and unique, and Thailand is a country that is a whole lot different from the place I call home.

Ready to hear what they are? I’m sure they’re images you dream of when thinking of Thailand and that will instantly transport you from your home to Asia.

Water Lillies and Lotus Flowers

Seen across the region in pots of water, for sale on the street, in lakes and at the flower market, these flowers are indicative of the warm climates of Southeast Asia. The beautiful hues – whites, purples, pinks, greens and yellows – show the uniqueness of each individual flower, similar to the uniqueness of a person. Each one is so different yet so similar – and strikingly beautiful.

Seeing Monks on a Daily Basis

Where I come from, the golden yellow hues of a robed monk are not everyday images. It’s an exotic scene that is reserved for world travelers who have been across the globe. In Thailand, and most of Southeast Asia, robed monks can be seen going about their daily lives like the rest of us. Taking the bus, talking on a cell phone, receiving alms. While it’s a commonplace image in Thailand, every time I pass one of the saffron-clad individuals, I nod my head and remind myself to be grateful for each day given in this spiritually and culturally-rich country.

Temples, Temples Everywhere

When I say everywhere I mean EVERYWHERE! Hidden in the back alleys of a time-preserved neighborhood, on the banks of Bangkok’s Chao Phraya River, in the middle of the bustling city, on the top of mountains, hillsides – you name it! There’s nothing quite like turning down a small street and seeing an ornate temple come into view.

Animals, In the Wild

Monkeys, elephants, vibrant birdlife, geckos, monitor lizards, buffalo, and more. There is something striking and mouth-dropping driving down the road to see a troop of monkeys grooming and playing about. How about an afternoon spent walking in a city park, Lumpini Park, Bangkok’s nod to New York’s Central Park to be exact, and seeing three-foot-long monitor lizards wading on the water’s edge. Oh, and the iconic Asia elephant crossing the road in Northern Thailand alongside its mahout. Talk about “wow” moments!

Ready to see some of these quintessential scenes for yourself? We’re here when you’re ready. Contact us at mahouts@smilingalbino.com.

About the Author

Danielle has lived in Southeast Asia for more than 4 years and is currently based in Bangkok. She originally hails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. An avid traveler, Danielle has visited more than 35 countries. Her favorite thing about working in tourism is being able to share the world with others. “Delivering exceptional experiences that will have a permanent resonance with our guests is what I live for. Knowing that people’s eyes will open a little wider after seeing and experiencing a new part of the world truly makes my job one of the most fulfilling the world. More than a job, it’s a lifestyle and one that I truly love.”

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A Pre-Covid Myanmar Journey, Part 1

admin — Tue, 26 May 2020 08:09:23 +0000

A Pre-Covid Myanmar Journey, Part 1

26 may 2020

Despite having lived in Southeast Asia for nearly seven years I didn’t get a chance to explore Myanmar for the first time until very recently (March 2020). The so-called “Golden Land” has been at the top of my travel list for years now and as I finally got around to booking my trip, and as my departure date was fast approaching, I certainly wasn’t going to let fears of COVID-19 get in the way!

Days 1-3: Bustling Yangon

The adventure began with a 3 night stay in Myanmar’s former capital. While no longer the political center of the country, Yangon is still Myanmar’s biggest city and is the heart of trade and commerce. It is a beautiful city with a pan South/Southeast Asian feel, glittering temples, traditional crafts, colonial architecture, a circular train around town, and, of course, fantastic food

A burgeoning nightlife scene is also great for those (like myself) that fancy a drink or two after a long day of exploring the city.

Insider Fact: Yangon is a motorbike-free city. Unlike other major cities in Southeast Asia (most notably, perhaps, Hanoi and Saigon), you won’t find a frenzy of two-wheelers and honking dominating the streets. The reason for this is a topic of some debate but most attribute the ban to a disgruntled military general seeking revenge on a bunch of motorbike drivers that made threatening gestures towards him on the road. Whatever the reason for the ban, it makes for an interesting change in urban pace.

Days 4-5: Spiritual Mandalay

After Yangon, we flew up to Mandalay where we stayed for just one night before beginning a weeklong motorcycle adventure. Though only limited time, checking out the former palace and taking in the sunset from Mandalay Hill are simply must dos (and we did). As we began our motorbike trip the next day (the first leg of which was a more than 200 km jaunt down to Bagan), we took a worthwhile detour to Mingun Pahtodawgyi; the so-called “Unfinished Temple”. It might just be the highest pile of bricks in the world, built in the late 18th-century and only comprising the foundation of what would have been a massive stupa.

Nearby we also saw the Hsinbyume Pagoda, known as the Taj Mahal of Myanmar, as it was built as a memoir of love by King Bagyidaw to his wife. The rest of the ride skirting along the Irrawaddy River down to Bagam was long, hot, and dusty … but we wouldn’t have it any other way as we discovered Myanmar in motorized style!

Insider Fact: One of the most unique experiences to partake in during a visit to Mandalay is the daily face-washing ceremony of a highly sacred Buddha image at the Mahamuni Pagoda. If you don’t mind getting up super early (or staying up super late?), head to the pagoda at 4:00 am to partake in this fascinating and deeply spiritual ritual. The idea is that the Buddha, just like everyone else, needs to start the day with washing his face and brushing his teeth. You won’t see many other tourists around, but lots of pilgrims and Buddhist monks from all over the country come to see this ritual on a daily basis.

Days 5-7: Ancient Bagan

If traveling was a video game then Bagan would be the final boss of ancient brick temples in Southeast Asia. Bagan consists of thousands of Theravada Buddhist monuments which were erected between the 10th and 14th centuries AD, at a time when the area was the political, economic, and religious seat of Myanmar’s powerful Pagan dynasty (Myanmar’s first unified Burmese Kingdom).

Indeed, Bagan is considered the world’s largest and densest concentration of Buddhist religious buildings. Dotted across the landscape are massive stucco-covered brickwork monastic complexes, as well as more modestly sized and small stupas and wats, some mere piles of rubble covered in thick shrubbery. It is the combination of all of these buildings – in varying stages of ruin, repair, renovation, and reconstruction – imposed on a vast and continuous landscape that gives Bagan its unique and seemingly timeless character. While we didn’t get those quintessential sunrise or sunset shots, a day spent on electric scooters exploring some of the thousands of stupas and pagodas scattered across a barren landscape was surreal.

Are you ready?

Insider Fact: The landscape surrounding Bagan can be barren, almost desert-like. While during the rainy season, patches of green tend to beautify the area, during the dry months it is truly, well, dry. Interestingly, this is not purely a consequence of the natural climate — in order to sustain the centuries’ long building frenzy at Bagan, a truly vast number of trees had to be burnt in order to fire countless numbers of bricks at high temperatures. Human-fueled resource depletion leading to environmental degradation? That sounds familiar.

Stay tuned for the next episode or contact us to start planning a Myanmar journey.

Looking for more?

featured myanmar posts

An Open Letter About the Coup in Myanmar

A Pre-Covid Myanmar Journey, Part 1

Travel From Home: Our Favorite Virtual Travels

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Smiling Albino Team Talks Company Vision

Product — Tue, 03 Mar 2020 08:39:41 +0000

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Over the last few weeks and months, the leadership team at Smiling Albino has been working with the managers to hone the Vision, Mission and Core Values of Smiling Albino.

Focused on being the best we can be – together – our leadership team put together a collaborative event that incorporated the important parts each team member plays towards the continued succcess of Smiling Albino.

After brainstorming sessions, group presentations, discussion and refinement, the team walked away with a common understanding of our values and how we plan to live them on a daily basis to provide our “customers”, both internal and external, with the best possible experience.

At a time when the industry is suffering from the unknowns of Coronavirus, we here at Smiling Albino are committed to continuous development to be the best partner we can be for our peers. And of course, at the end of a successful session, we celebrated with beer!

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