That's me gazing out over the Arctic! My cousin and I are on our way to meet her sister and a friend in Bangkok, Thailand.
These fine fellows are vendors at the Chatuchak weekend market. When asking for directions for this market, remember to an-nun-ci-ate the consonants. Otherwise, Thais will look at you quizzically and giggle because you're mispronunciation probably translates to something like "I want to go to the moon".
Wooden goods guy is trying to get the baby in the next photo to smile.
Outside the market, on the way back to the sky train, we spot our first "lady boy". She's coating her nostrils with a eucalyptus stick to numb herself to the humid putridity that lingers in Bangkok. The offensive odors are impossible to get used to, and in a way, add to Bangkok's charm.
They give me a sarong much like these modeled by tourists who LOVE to pose like models. Mind you, it's 100 degrees outside and I have to wear my capris under a raw silk sarong. My cousin's words of Bangkok wisdom rang true in my head: "You have to be comfortable being uncomfortable." It works. You just have to reset your brain. It's the only way you'll survive in 100 degree heat and 90% humidity.
This was a thank you photograph to remember the photographer fellow who photographed me and my traveling companions with our new Indian family.
Renovating a section of the Grand Palace.
He's selling boat rides down on the river.
Our friendly tour guide pinches an inch on a photo of Hillary Clinton. Clinton and Obama had just visited Wat Po in November 2012.
Once I took my photo, everyone wanted a photo of the young monks. There was some confusion about whether I wanted a photo of myself with their camera which somehow turned into a security guard using one of the monk's cameras to take a photo of them.
Even the stone cats smile. Ok, so I might have counted this one.
$15 Thai massages from these smiley body workers.
Sassy Scenesters.
The Dark Knight rises again.
That's my cousin and the concierge showing off their braces! This is one of the first smile photos I took for my personal project, "The Land of a Thousand Smiles". When I learned that is Thailand's nickname, I decided to challenge myself. Could I capture 1000 people smiling while in Thailand for two weeks? The next 125 photos are the best images from my attempt.
Curly smile.
So am I and so are his guardians. No luck. Maybe if I gave him a mango. Babies there seem to love mangos.
Within seconds of rushing to the train, I manage to communicate "I like your frame! Can you lift it up so I can take a picture of you in it?" before I get whisked away by the crowd. There's a glint of a smile under that mustache. You can see it, right?
At the Grand Palace (also known as Temple of the Emerald Buddah) in Bangkok, a lot of groups are getting their photos taken. Eighteen smiles for my project! It's the second day of my project, and I plan to take full advantage of smiling crowds. Am I bending the rules? Nahhh. The project is still evolving. And anyways... who's making the rules here?
This gentleman approaches me to photograph him with his family. I oblige, and ask for a smile photo for my collection. He is happy to help.
Not our Indian family, but a group of dapper Asian tourists dressed to impress. I hesitate to ask for a photo out of intimidation at first, but soon see the green shirted guy call all his friends over. Their proud mugs curl into smiles.
Sometimes I just need my subjects to stay still. For the record, I do not count statues in my tally. Plus... I'm not sure I would call those smiles.
FINALLY. I can take off the sarong and get my 100 bahts back. (100 bahts is about 3 bucks right now.)
A woman selling dried fish in a market outside Wat Po, and playing on her iPhone.
Wat Po is home to the Reclining Buddah. The Reclining Buddah is covered in gold leaf, and on his feet is intricate mother of pearl inlay. The Buddah is 45 feet high and 129 feet long.
Chedis and cousins at Wat Po.
Trend Micro guys from India smile too! Or at least, try.
And here is where my smile project sings halelujiah! The shoe saleswoman asks me if I want to know the word for smile in Thai. Did it occur to me up until that point to ask someone how to say smile in Thai? No. Maybe I like the language barrier challenge: pointing to my camera and then to my smile and then to my subject. Maybe. Learning the word would be great, but will it be too difficult to pronounce in a language I can't even sound out? "Yim, yim" she says. You say yim twice. That's it. Easy button!
Fancy steps at Sky Bar with Brazilian lawyers.
Apprehensive German ladies.
Outside, a taxi driver negotiates our cab fare.
Unlike in America, Thailand's mall food courts provide healthy and delicious meals. You go to a teller to put Bahts on a debit card, use it as tender, and then cash out the difference back at the teller. This is where I had my first authentic Thai curry. I chose the spiciest: green curry. They made it "Western Spicy" for me. That means "not very spicy at all" according to Thai standards.
Everyone else wants to be in the photo too. Three more people for my daily tally!
A view from the perimeter of Chatuchak market. Inside is a maze of corridors with more and more vendors. The whole market covers 35 acres and is home to 15,000 stalls.
The first day we're there is March 17th. St. Patrick's Day. Where else can you get Magners and Chang at the same bar? Why, the Dubliner in Bangkok, my friend. And boy, do we make friends. By the time St. Patrick's Day turned into March 18th, I tallied 42 smiles! I'd say that's a good start. At that rate, however, I'd make a little more than half my goal. It was time to pick up the pace.
A friend and I are turned away at the gate for not having the proper attire to enter the Grand Palace. What disgraces; me bearing my ankles and our friend bearing her shoulders. Off to the proper attire department where I meet these two young ladies.
We hear American speakers, turn around and these guys are hamming it up with some warriors at the Grand Palace. They're from California, and are also dripping with sweat.
THIS is our Indian family. Over the course of our half day at the Grand Palace, we run into the Indian family 4 times. We finally decide to take a photo all together.
This guard has the same idea: staying still. The Thai lady next to him is getting a big kick out of smiling next to this uniformed man who means nothing but business.
Meet our first tuk tuk captain who gave us a ride to Wat Po, the second temple on our tour of Bangkok. Tuk Tuks are my new favorite mode of transportation. Picture a covered three-wheeled motorcycle with a 3 person carnival seat in the back. Dress it up like Mary Poppins going on a Jolly 'oliday. Now put it on the street going 50 mph with cars, vans, buses, dump trucks screaming by. Exhilarating doesn't begin to describe it.
Tickets please! Foreigners to the right.
Young monks at Wat Po. Men of all ages are encouraged to become monks at one point in their lives.
Drinking water isn't free everywhere. But smiles are.
All giggles after watching my cousins chase down a Red Bull Mini. We get a few red bulls out of it, and give him one. Do you know Red Bull originated in Thailand?
"Yim yim?" I ask. Taken aback by my skilled Thai slang, the servers giggle and cheers to me at the Sky Bar. This is where Hang Over II was filmed. This is also the world's highest open air bar.
Hang Over gallery.
I tell the guy on the right he looks like Leonardio DiCaprio, and he says in a thick German accent "How deed hue know my name ees Leo?" He pulls out his ID card and indeed, his name is Leonardo. Whoah.