Last Days in Thailand - Part II

There are tributes to Buddha and Buddahism everywhere in Thailand. Some are simple and others grand. The White Buddaha outside of Muak Lek is memorable both by the setting and the scale. Located on the side of a mountain it can be seen from afar but up close it is majestic. 

Prosinee and Apinya were insistent on taking me to lunch at a special restaurant. Although it was a rather long ride from the house it turned out to be well worth it. It is classified as both a restaurant and museum.

Some dual purpose venues should stick to one or the other of the things they do because they don't seem to do either one very well. The Banmaichaynam Museum does three things very well. It serves excellent food, has great ambience and is an outstanding Museum of American memorabilia. Our table was at the railing next to a quiet stream. Ambience - check.

The scenery you can judge for yourself but the taste of the food you will have to take my word for and I think it was outstanding. Food - check.

I give credit to Prosinee and Apinya because they know their Thai menu and did an excellent job of ordering. After lunch we went into the museum which you can see behind them.  Museum - check.

The owner of the restaurant and museum has traveled the world and specialized in buying American. 

This shot of him and his wife was taken while they were traveling in Switzerland. 

I found some unexpected coincidences in the things that he collected. My father worked for the Denver and Rio Grande Western Railway - D & R G W but it merged and changed it's name probably 50 years ago. 

I was born and raised in Westminster Colorado. Admittedly there is more than one town named Westminster but read on. 

Against incredible odds this table and chairs were in one section of the museum arranged as you see them. Who engraves the backs of their chairs?

For those who would like, take a stroll down memory lane. 

Pinball machines; the entertainment of the 50s. 

The largest collection of Pez dispensers I have ever seen.

A Vespa 150. When I was in junior high school you could get a license to ride scooters at age 14. The Vespa was the coolest of them all. This is an excellent job of restoration.

Marilyn over the grate.

The in-laws offered to take a picture of Steven and I as we left. 

As we finished these two women who I guess had never seen anyone as tall as Steven at 6'4" asked if he would pose with them. 

Then their father asked for a picture with the two of us. 

There were times as we traveled throughout Thailand that we did not know exactly where we were, or how to get to where we wanted to go but never at any time did we feel lonely.