kporiginal

A Thai Obsession: Air Quality

Had I been in England – or probably any other part of the UK or Europe right now – I guess the topic to crop up in most, if not all, conversations would be the ever present BREXIT. Here in Thailand, especially in the northern provinces, the obsession is much more environmental: it’s air quality.Continue reading “A Thai Obsession: Air Quality”

A Very Modern Thai Wedding

And so the day dawned when we would attend the wedding. The celebration was not until 6p.m. so we had all day to prepare – or be lazy! Or both!! We had found a hairdresser the day before and I confess I had expected a simple wash and blow-dry when we arrived at the salonContinue reading “A Very Modern Thai Wedding”

A Southern interlude

Within 48 hrs of arriving in Chiangmai, I was at the airport again, this time flying. To Nakhon Si Thammarat for the wedding that brought about this whole visit. The bridegroom’s mother, her sister and niece met me at the airport and her brother and two nephews will meet us in the south having drivenContinue reading “A Southern interlude”

Rediscovering Chiangmai

It started yesterday when we set off to visit my favourite tailor near Thapae Gate, the heart of the tourist area of the city just outside the moated Old City – and received a welcome fit for royalty and the usual service with a smile. But more of that later. Today started with a visitContinue reading “Rediscovering Chiangmai”

Delayed in Doha!

It all started so well! My bright young chauffeur arrived on the dot of 4.30a.m., full of life as ever. We were at Heathrow Terminal 4 by 5.00a.m and by 5.15a.m. I was at the Boarding Gate dreaming of coffee and wondering when the Pret I had noticed nearby would open. All formalities were doneContinue reading “Delayed in Doha!”

One final visit to the Wall

Not quite such an early morning – but a really interesting one which started even before I had really left the hotel. The Sephardic House is extremely well situated for a quick stroll down to the Wall. Strange how, biblically, all the Psalms talk of going UP to Jerusalem! I certainly felt the need toContinue reading “One final visit to the Wall”

An early start on the Temple Mount

I had promised myself an early start and that’s what I had – breakfast at 7am and straight down to the entrance to the Temple Mount aiming to beat the tourists on the first day access was possible for a week. That worked and I was among the first up the ramp. But I wasContinue reading “An early start on the Temple Mount”

Another day in the maze of Jerusalem’s Old City

I remember my mother, having read the diary I wrote during my first visit to Jerusalem in 1978, saying, ‘It feels as if you’ve been somewhere special’. She was a gifted singer one of whose favourite sacred songs was “Holy City” and this visit has reminded me of the scenarios it presents. You can findContinue reading “Another day in the maze of Jerusalem’s Old City”

There’s still more to see (or see again!)

I’m old enough to have to look at photographs I’ve taken each day to remember the order in which things happened – for example I forgot to tell you that on my first venture out of the hotel I found a jewellery shop called Moriah where they take bits of the Temple Rock from excavationsContinue reading “There’s still more to see (or see again!)”

Walking the Old City

One of the things I love about the Old City of Jerusalem is its size: it’s easy to get everywhere and the longer you walk the more shortcuts you find. Apparently Thursday and Monday are the busiest days at the Western Wall as they are the favoured Bar Mitzvah days – that very important ceremonyContinue reading “Walking the Old City”