We went to the Russian Market this morning. It's dark and very hot inside with stalls and booths set up in little aisles, very much like an American flea market. They sell just about anything you could want there. I bought all sorts of gifts for my family and friends. Our guide, Pot, dickered for us but I was embarrased by how litle we paid for some things. They sell beautiful silver jewelry and silk clothing. Even heroin pipes! I didn't buy any of those, of course. It's very different from American. Pot and our driver, Tay, wouldn't let us carry anything, and everyone addresses us a madame. I'm going to be very spoiled when I get home.
This afternoon we are having massages at a place called Seeing Hands. All the masseuse are blind and the massages are suppose to be heavenly! Then we thought we'd go over to a little Wat(temple) we toured this morning. They have a group of monkeys that live there, and are just waiting to be fed. There are lots of beggars also. It's very disturbing to see the great wealth and beauty of the temples, and then the beggars waiting outside.
We had dinner ;ast night with a couple, Mandy and Matt, who have been trying to adopt a little girl, Pesey, for almost four years. Adoption here isn't legal anymore, but they don't want to leave without her so they have stayed. They work at the International School. It was a very traditional restaurant. We sat on the floor(ouch!) and had foods I've never heard of before. We had Banana Bud Salad which was bery good, and Papaya Salad, which was good, but also dangerous. It was like eating fire. I've never had a salad burn before. Also this wonderful soup that I can't remeber the name of and something else with shrimp and noodles. The food is so different and I want to try everything, but quite frankly, some of it is so different I'm afraid of it. More tomorrow!
