The sky in Cairo was gray, a gloomy sort of day. Most of my experience with weather would lead me to think there was a possibility of rain. In the desert, where Cairo is planted, this is an unlikely scenario, although it had rained heavily for two days before we returned from our Christmas break. The grit floating in the air provided the additional clue that this was the aftermath of a sandstorm blowing in. The addition of the smog, from burning the rubble on the sugar fields, the cement factories and the burning garbage in the city added polluting particles to the mix.
As the sand died down the sun came up and we had a glorious week, with blue skies and the kind of temperature one would delight in during an Indian summer. This year has not been as cold as last -- a fact that the workers crammed in to the beds of open pick up trucks I see each work day on my commute, must be very appreciative of.
Yes, in Vietnam (at least in Ho Chi Minh City) these conical hats are a frequent sight.
Although we know that there is significant pollution in the air here in Cairo it is largely ignored, in contrast to a significant portion of the population in Vietnam and Thailand, who wear face masks. In my Internet searches it suggests that the mask wearers are only blocking out the dirt and grit, realizing that the pollutants that affect your breathing are still a concern. Some of the masks look like those you would see in a hospital while other are multi-layered cloth. Even when it is very hot and humid one sees women completely covered, which I have been told is done to prevent the skin from tanning. There is a major industry in 'skin whiteners' in Vietnam and Thailand, because many of the people want to look like North Americans. They ingest potions and wear sun blocks with 'added whitening', which are mainly a scam, while we northerners rush to beaches and tanning parlors to look like Asians.
Cars are very expensive in Vietnam with the result being that the motorcycle is the prime method of transportation and conveying a wide range of objects, some which you would not imagine could be transported in that way. The gaps in the traffic here reflect a quiet side street; on the main roads of Ho Chi Minh City when the light changes there is an eruption of movement as hundreds of motorbikes surge forward, scurrying off in all directions like herds of lemmings.
Those of you who know us well will be aware of what a major role culinary exploration has been in our travels. We cannot begin to tell you how delighted we were with the tasty, inexpensive street food in both Thailand and Vietnam -- soup, curries, stir fries and, thankfully, usually available "a little spicy" to fit my Western taste buds.
The grilled squid made it to our plates but didn't compare with the barbecue pork on a stick.
For those who hanker for the familiar -- KFC and Heinz ketchup...just two of the universal brands.
And chickens roasting -- no need to remove the head first
Some of the Buddhist temples posted sayings on trees in the garden such as the sample below.
Even though we are seasoned culinary experimenters we did not succumb to lure of fried insects -- maybe next time.
While street food is cheap and yummy, restaurant food can demonstrate the artistry of South East Asia. This lucious dish appears to be spring rolls -- not so. Ice cream and fruit wrapped in crepes makes this a luscious treat.
We were awestruck by this display of what delicacies were in side the crepes at a food court in Bangkok
Some provide the basic necessities that the locals needs and thus vary based on cuisine and customs. Some are presented in a basic functional way, while others are displayed in a decorative manner. For many Westerners, live animals being sold for food is hard to get used to -- in Cairo rabbits, pigeons, fowl -- in Thailand turtle, eels, fish, fowl. In Southeast Asia, they say "if it moves or grows, we eat it."
The merchandise markets also vary from functional every day item, both locally produced and, more and more commonly, produced in China or Vietnam. Then there are the tourist markets offering a range from beautifully made local handicrafts to mass produced imports from -- again,China and Vietnam.
For the "walking streets" on Saturday and Sunday a different street was closed each time so that vendors could set up booths. A festive atmosphere was created with the addition of street performers. The marionette performance pictured here combined dance and puppetry seamlessly in a way I had never before witnessed
The tribal villages offer a glimpse into the indigenious cultures. These tourist markets are near Chang Mai, Thailand. The Long Neck women choose whether to start stretching as a child or teen. They add a ring every year once the process begins. It reminds me of the scary children's story of the girl with the ribbon around her neck.
