Madrid - Spring in full force

Sunday in Madrid - sunny and 80, green and everyone is out. Events popping up all over in the plazas and parks.

I am feeling a bit like a ball in a pinball machine bouncing around from place to place and not getting in the hole.

The April travel schedule has gone like this:

Saint Paul to Madrid, via Amsterdam

Madrid to Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt via Cairo, Egypt

And then reverse it back to Madrid

Manila, Philippines via Seoul, South Korea

Singapore

Jakarta, Indonesia

Hanoi, Vietnam via Singapore and Ho Chi Mihn

Bangkok, Thailand

Back to Madrid via Doha.

I end the month here in Madrid.

Bangkok 2 - a temple to Buddha on every corner

Bangkok does not lack places to worship Buddha - ranging from old and amazing to a niche in a part of a driveway into a place a business. They are everywhere and all shapes and sizes.

Bangkok - So many suprises and too little time to find them

I have heard so often "you have to go to Thailand and Bangkok" - wow, they were all right. What a place. It starts off wonderful and only becomes more amazing the more you start to take it in. The first thing I noticed was all the wonderful aromas - the greenery, flowers and all of the food stalls on all the streets. I wanted to whatever they were cooking it all looked and smelled delicious.

There is so much history nestled into a very vibrant and modern large city - 10 million plus. It was great to wander but at 95 and 100% moisture in the air I didn't last too long without being a sweaty mess. There is a sky train, metro, river boats and taxis to get you where you want to go - and very, very cheap.

Upgraded my ride to see the sites to a 3 wheel motorized cart. Apparently these were very prevalent 10 years ago and are slowly going way to other options. It worked perfectly and I could get lots of breeze as we zoomed around the city.

The streets are full or vehicles but more more orderly than my day on the bike taxi in Hanoi.

And the nicest most agreeable people in the world I think. They always smile - good or bad! Something for all of us to think and learn from.

I have to come back here - just got a taste and want to enjoy a whole lot more of what Bangkok and Thailand has to offer!

Hanoi - then there was rush hour, which goes all day......and then it rained

To help you understand the roads of Hanoi at rush hour think of how many motorcycles you see on the road versus how many cars and trucks you see...............then reverse it. This is a motorbike world - if you don't have one you probably don't live here. The few stray non-bikes on the road were taxis, vans and trucks - and of course bicycles.

The roads are thick. Now picture a large multi-lane intersection with cars going in all directions all ways. Then picture the light changing, and nobody caring so you have everything moving in both directions and then going left and right at the same time as well in 4 directions. And we got to the meeting early - go figure.

And like all proper women of the world - appropriate heels look good when you rideyour motorbike. And as near as I could tell it was 6 pigs tied to one coming into town - but could have been more. Of course they were alive.

And then later it rained - same experience only with ponchos.

Oops - how could I forget those crazy American motorcyclists!

My friend Jim taking in the Southwest United States.

Hanoi - the view from the bike taxi

My trustworthy, nerves of steel, driver Chew who has no fear of pulling in front of any moving vehicle in any lane going any direction. A bit like biking with Linda!

Hanoi Vietnam - a whole new adventure in motorbikes

So green and lush. As you drive in from the airport you pass miles and miles of farms and then there are parks and so many tree lined streets when you get into the heart of the city.

I am staying next to the Opera House and very close to a large lake in the middle of the city. Very easy to wander and roam. I walked and walked but at about 90 and totally sticky I finally jumped aboard a bike taxi and took in more of the sights.

The cars, trucks, motorbikes, bikes and bike taxis all share the road together. There are few rules and everyone seems to just zoom around everyone else. It often felt like we were going to hit or be hit. They all seem to know what they are doing - not sure as any of us would survive driving any vehicle around here.

A very entreprenurial spot as well. Everybody is selling something and they all have the best deal I would ever see..........it works in a communist country as well!