TWO NIGHTS IN BANGKOK

Our time in Bangkok already seems a million years ago, but I don't want it to be forgotten. We were there from (late) December 17th to lunch time December 20th. The city is bustling and thriving but without the cynicism of many other cities which have such high dependency on tourism.

It is a shame that we were visiting at a time of such high stress and uncertainty and we did not really have the chance to ease into enjoying the city as we would at another time. However, what was even more distressing for me was that we did not have any space in our luggage...and the markets in Thailand are about as close to shopping paradise as it gets for me (I'm no real shoppper, but I love markets like this!).

We also had a fabulous time visiting the Chabbad restaurant in Bangkok, which has been primarily set up to cater for the enormous numbers of Israeli backers in Thailand. The prices are set at local rates and you can chose between local-style cuisine as well as a range of Western or more traditional Jewish types of food.

At lunch on our second day in Bangkok we met Rabbi Tuvia Bolton who had been brought to Bangkok to perform that evening at a Channukah dinner being held jointly by the Israeli Embassy and Chabbad. Rabbi Bolton invited us to come along...and so we did. We found ourselves at an amazing barbecue filled with 100 or so Israelis, most of whom were residents of the city (either working with the embassy or involved with business in Thailand). The event seemed, to us, to signal the beginning of our journey inside the various guises of the Jewish world as they are manifest around the globe. It was a heart-warming beginning.

I also managed to slip in a brief encounter with the local heritage by visiting the Grand Palace. I think the Thais are at the top of my list when it comes to seriously elaborate and luxurious architecture. The amount of gold and the tremendous, tiny detail was almost overwhelming. I took a few pictures in an attempt to capture the moment...