Tiger Temple-Nice Kitty

Journeyed North specifically to shoot the Monks and Tiger at "Tiger Temple" in Kanchaburi, Thailand.

Paid dearly to be in a group of only 12 tourists. In the am, we washed, fed, petted and played with the tigers. I was admittedly a bit reluctant, just some good photos would make me a happy camper. In the afternoon, after the tigers were a bit knocked out and sleepy like all good kitty cats we had our individual photos taken with a tiger. I was happy to just sort of me in the vicinity. No, the handlers insisted that I sit closer, and closer & closer still. When I was close enough they threw the tiger’s head in my lap, and using my camera, the handler snapped off a few pics.  Yikes, it was one of the biggers tigers too!

Nice Kitty




The handler even suggested that I come back for a 2nd turn. I think he really dug using my camera. I passed, once was enough more me. No reason to push my luck.

More to come soon,

Carpe Diem,
Lorrie
www.LorrieDallekPhotography.com

 Where is Tony Soprano?

I survived the commute from My Tho to HCMC unscathed and actually had a very pleasant stay in the HCMC Airport before departing for Bangkok.

Traffic in BKK was its ordinary ugly at 7pm upon my arrival but returned to a familiar and modest hotel that I stayed in before. Great news is that it was ¾ of the way to my destination the next morning so I figure, I’ve made the right decision. They added Wi-Fi in the room and I had a bonus bathtub-what more can a girl ask for?

Up early and armed to go to the Bus Station to take me to the “Tiger Temple” for a private shot. The bus is to cost me 99 BHT, about $3.00 USD. The 2 taxi drivers outside my hotel refused to make the commute to the bus station- they wanted to drive me all the way for 3,000 BHT, about $100 USD (a very common target price for many services in BKK).

I know the drill and pretty forceful now, especially after Vietnan. I go to the corner and successfully hail a cab. Once I get him to turn into my street (of course using a lot of mime) to fetch my luggage waiting at the hotel, he has a conversation with the corner thugs who tell him to not take me. They “owe this street” or something like that.

I am not dissuaded. Another very nice Taxi Driver passes buy, I get his full attention and he agrees to take me. My fare + a very large tip=$5.00 USD. We are both thrilled.

On a 1st class (that is a relative term) direct bus to my destination writing this note. Happy girl. Dodged another con artist in SE Asia. For all those I have lost too, take 1 for the team.

Epilogue- I wrote the aforementioned too soon. My bus just stopped for no apparent reason. We wait a few minutes a are transferred to a different bus. Looks like a 2nd class bus. Maybe too few of us to justify the trip. Hope this is still the 2hr. commute not the 3hr. alternative.

More to come soon,
Carpe Diem,
Lorrie
www.LorrieDallekPhotography.com