Bangkok

Wayne and I spent a week in Bangkok last week. I had training for MED and he did the tourist adventure. Flying 14 + hours and jet lagged for days, I sat through courses to keep my certification. But before the conference began I did have time to do a few things. The Kings Palace was fascinating, shopping was endless and the river area was busy. Bangkok is a crowded, hot and smoggy city full of sites and smells. The streets are full of vendors selling everything from souvenirs to any food, and the smell of incense at the Buddha shrines and fish fills the air.  I have never seen the massive shopping malls and food areas with more restaurants than you could eat in a life time!

gardens at the Kings Palace

Me

Holding up the temple with the emerald Buddha

Wayne and the Buddhist Monks

A very large reclining Buddha

One of the many buildings on the palace grounds

 This statues reminds me of our little dog peanut!

More like Yoda

The boss was here or Hillary Clinton visits

Some weeks are routine, beautiful Mediterranean weather, but last week the boss came. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spent six hours here in Algiers. I was assigned to her motorcade for the day. What a wild ride both figuratively and literally. I was at the airport for her arrival and there for the departure and all point in between. I shook her hand at the embassy and ate dinner (separate staff area) at the Algerian Palace. The day was exhausting and I can not imagine how she keeps that pace. We were stop 3 of 4 and she moves non stop. Here are a few pictures.

The vip area at the airport where she was to sit on the couch for 2.5 minutes.

Honor Guards

Secretary Clinton and the Algerian Foreign Minister

The ceiling of the reception hall