Ugly Mugs & Traveling Fuel (Beer)

                   For every traveler, there needs to be a reward at the end of a long day. For an Alaskan, when the days are long, a cool beverage is in order and to try what the locals sip (local travelers, sometimes the locals can't afford beer) is a necessity. The bonus is the pretty labels, the correct pronunciation and sometimes goofy t-shirts. 

Brass fish & Kingfisher
Mcleod Ganj, India

Beer in the jungle (Nepal Ice)
Bardia National Park, Nepal

Almost Kaladi
Coffee @ Bodnath
Kathmandu, Nepal

Buddha & Jameson
This Sherpa carries everything
Namche Bazaar, Nepal

Nepal had many beers, Nepal Ice, Star, Gorka, Tubourg & Carlsburg. All brewed by Gorka Breweries and all tasting just about the same. Trekking at altitude doesn't really favor beer drinking, so Kathmandu was the center for most of our tasting.

Tongba...fermented millet
Hot water and a straw
Good taste, strong kick,
Kathmandu, Nepal

Margarita  Kathmandu style
The Mayan Pub
Who would of thunk?

Only saw this within view of Everest
Gorak Shep is at 16,942' (5164m)
At that altitude, just looking at it was enough.

Varanasi, India 

Many sacred towns in India were prohibited to sell alcohol and meat. Most travelers can go Veggie (especially in India) but for the Hotels, there is money to be made in Special Tea (Beer brought to you in a tea pot). Everybody is happy.

Pokemon, insulated & deceptive
Kingfisher in Udaipur, India.

Carlsburg on the beach in Columbo Sri Lanka

Stout was a rarity and since it is my fav we tried to sample when we had the chance....

Queen's Pub, Kandy Sri Lanka   Lion Stout - nice

In Sri Lanka, the 2 popular
 bottled waters were
 Speed & Smack....
 interesting choice of names 

Sometimes lunch got in the way of Thailand's Chang Beer

The best beer is always on the beach...
Marisa, Sri Lanka....Lion Beer

1st BeerLao in Huay Xai Lao.

On the Mekong...
Starting to feel like Dr. Seuss; I would have one on a boat,
 have one with a goat...have one on a train & on a plane,
I do like the beer Beer Lao, I will drink it Mr. Lao 

Nam Khong beer Lao name for the Mekong
@ 4000 Islands Don Det.

Beer on the rocks
Better than it sounds

BeerLao

Lao was very hot and temps were in the 90's most of the time (mornings before 9am were cooler) Keeping beer cold was a trick while you were drinking it. Ice cube = Lao style.

This Aussie bar in Vang Vieng advertised a
a big burger....They weren't fooln'...needed
 a big BeerLao

Ho Chi Minh City was hot..31C (88F) and a
Saigon  helped..... 

cute little iced coffees also helped in
the heat of the afternoon

Vietnam was big on local beers instead of big national beers.
Da Nang's was Biere Larue....on the rocks

Sea side, Saigon on the rocks in Nha Trang

On the Perfume River (Hue) with Huda Beer

A treat at the farmstay in Phong Nha...good Cab from Dalat
Vietnam....Who knew they had vineyards....

Lunch after caving, Ca phe & Huda

Remember the 70's...pop-tops are still alive.

Sorry about all the ugly mug shots (exception of Becky shots), but there must be a theme here.....but don't believe that I was sampling alone.......

Of course in Hanoi, it's bia Ha Noi

                    So much for "fun with beer photos".  You can rest assured that we toasted all our friends and wished you were all here with us. See you all soon.....Cheers! 

North to Chiang Mai

All roads lead to Bangkok from anywhere in Thailand especially the railroad. After barely squeezing a couple of sleepers into Bangkok, we found that we were trapped for a few days till we could head north to Chang Mai (bus or train). Trapped of course isn't a bad thing, it gives you time to go and explore.

We took a river boat ride to a floating market. This lady was selling
 something wrapped in banana leaves. Love the smile and hat combo.

One of the merchants at the floating market - bananas maybe

.

Went to the circus in Bangkok known as Khao San Road.
Always something going on, like this street bar made out of
an old VW bus....

Took the river taxi to the Palace. Once we wandered the palace and enjoyed a great meal at the ThaChang Dock, we headed back on the river to Khao San Road for the evening. Gazing out over the water, we were startled back to reality by a traveling Alaskan Mermaid (Tina Baugher). This world is pretty dang small.

Best Pad Thai and Smiles on the riverfront..
@PadThai ThaChang on FB

goofing at the Royal Palace

Incredible gold and inlay work everywhere

Immaculate Palace grounds

twins

Even scarier than the last guy!

Luxary VIP bus to Chang Mai: attendants, clean reclining 
seats, 2 levels, Thai music videos and...

...little snacks in a pink box!

Chiang Mai.................known for it's Markets, Temples & Cooking Schools

Colors

patterns

steamed bun faces

An overwhelming number of temples in Chiang Mai.
Each one out doing the other for more gold.... 

and bigger gongs.

Of course, I had to take another cooking class... here's my  Thumb Kaa Guy
 (Chicken in Coconut Milk)

Dish Decoration is part of Thai cooking...this is my tomato rose. Tomatoes are
 my least favorite vegetable to cut, mostly because I think I use dull knives
 and unripe tomatoes at home! Even though this sliced easily, making consistently
 thin cuts is a task requiring a desire for detail. That's not really me...

Here's the finished rose with cucumber leaves and a plate of Yam Woon Sen 
(Spicy Glass Noodle Salad)

Best thing about Chiang Mai is running into Girdwood friends for dinner. No, I didn't cook any of this. We went out and had some western food and beer!

Shine & Jennifer on our last night in Chiang Mai.