Bangkok – Is There Danger? Shamanic Voodoo Dolls and Talisman.

Back to Bangkok! Thailand’s capital city draws an estimated 45 million tourists yearly and several travel publications have deemed it one of the world’s best cities. It’s easy to see why travelers would gravitate here, with its colorful patchwork of Buddhist temples and ultra-modern hotels, gleaming taxis and three-wheeled tuk-tuks. Peak season is between November and March when tourism is particularly high. The months of March, April and May are the hottest. December to February: regarded as the ‘cold months’, the perfect time to explore Bangkok on foot. Visitors looking to participate in Bangkok’s festival season should visit from November through May.

My two visits in December coincided with a heatwave, one from a cold northern California winter shouldn’t complain, but 95 degrees combined with 95% humidity was challenging. Modify touring, visit Temples and shrines as soon as they open and add a long tail boat for a canal tour in the afternoon and sip gallons of freshly juiced pomegranates!

A long list of tours, besides the city Temple tours, Wat Pho, the glimmering golden reclining Buddha is breathtaking. Chinatown night tour with sidewalk snacking from street vendors – yes, I did this! My first night out, my guide first took me to a small hillside bar with a stunning illuminated view of the Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn. An easy walk down the hill through the Pak Klong Talat market, one of Bangkok’s largest, liveliest and loveliest markets. A maze of wholesale and retail vendors selling flowers, vegetables, fruits, Pak Klong is truly a delight for the senses. Nighttime doesn’t limit activity, Bangkok never sleeps, in my case a behind the scene look at the flower vendors preparing for a National Holiday, florists were creating dozens and dozens of orange marigold wreaths to be laid on local altars. My favorite is the small jasmine bracelets, enchanting fragrant adornment for your pillow!

Bangkok is over flowing with ancient markets, easily reached by the long tail ferry boats – narrow down your choices and definitely include a few of the floating markets outside of the city. I love the vibrant market scene – similar to the souks of Marrakech, in that the markets are in small cavernous buildings, narrow foot traffic is interrupted by small scooters, workers dragging transport carts, a vibrant sea of activity. Booths and small permanent shops offering strange, sometimes useful, sometimes not so useful items. Clay handicrafts, wooden furniture, ceramic ware, local artists. One of my goals was to visit the amulet market, a rewarding afternoon combined with visiting a few Thai temples and hidden neighborhoods. Talismans, some prized by collectors are sorted by type, vintage and provenance. Religious charms and traditional medicine can be discovered in one of Bangkok’s oldest markets, you may be bumping elbows with monks as well as men in dangerous occupations, looking for an amulet to ward off danger or to ensure long life.  Bargaining is expected!

Start in early morning to visit the local floating markets and the Mae Klong market where the train rolls through, vendors quickly move their tarps of fresh vegetables to allow the train to pass. Minutes later, they’ve unrolled their tarps of vegetables and the market continues. Saturday is a popular local day for the floating markets and less touristy. Dawn to dusk floating market tour at Tha Kha floating market, is one of the most authentic markets in Bangkok. Observe an age-old way of living, ancient ladies in their wooden rowboats selling meals, drinks, household objects, vegetable and fruit from their gardens. A long tail boat ride here offers a quiet glimpse of Thai living, their somewhat dated wooden homes along the river bank interrupted by deep green fields and local farms. My knowledgeable guide picked up greens from the rowboat ladies and we took to a local restaurant to enjoy with massive prawns – the restaurant was happy to steam the juts picked greens.

Jim Thompson House, the Bangkok based American businessman who is still missing since 1967, is honored by the firm still running his silk business in maintaining his unique house and beautiful gardens. Thompson pieced together his small estate from six traditional Thai teak wood houses in order to house his growing collection of Southeast Asian art. A beautiful representation of authentic Thai design and a stunning inspiring garden set along the banks of the river. 


My last day in Bangkok was spent at the amulet market, a mini sacred day outing. After my 10 days in Bhutan absorbing Buddhist culture this was the perfect end to my three-week Asia exploration.  City tour of the spiritual and mystic side of Bangkok, with a focus on religious shrines, spiritual art and local worship ceremonies.

Visiting the Amulet Markets, Giant Swing, Wat Suthat, and the historic Bang Luang Mosque. One can learn a great deal about Thailand, its belief system, and the life of everyday Thais by looking beneath the surface of the city, in the spirit shrines, amulet markets, tattoo houses, and other symbols that connect the people and their faiths. I wandered through stalls of objects used for divination, and protective talismans, there aren’t any Shamans here to advise. Ranging from small Buddhas, medallions, human bones, and tiger skins. My first pick was a little pile of what looked like leather wrapped stick people. My guide warned me not to touch them, I mentioned they looked like art to me…quiet gaze – Ms. Gwen they are Shamanic voodoo dolls – oh, I definitely want them! Still waiting for an appropriate curse, they elicit surprise when a guest picks them up from their red lacquer bowl, no death or drama as of yet!

From Chinese shrines to Brahmin deities, picturesque mosques and talismans galore, multi-faith Thailand offers fascinating windows into the diverse beliefs of the people.

One interesting fact, at 5’6 height with blonde hair, I am taller than most locals, I smiled and agreed to be in photos with many people in front of shrines as if Madonna had arrived!

Highly Recommend Bangkok, we love The Siam Hotel.

Bangkok and The Siam boat on the Chao Phraya River

Santa Fe In My Boots, Walking the Streets Fantastic Fall

Late summer, early fall is my favorite time of year to visit Santa Fe. Caution in going too late in October as the temperatures can drastically drop 20 degrees overnight and generate lightening boosted thunderstorms with buckets of rain!

Autumn in Santa

I’ve visited during the annual Indian Market and Spanish Market which offer hundreds of gallery openings, art shows and related events on both dates. Avoid the early October International Hot Air Balloon Festival and you will be rewarded with robin egg blue skies, huge puffy white clouds and endless landscapes of exploding gold Chamisa shrubs, cottonwood trees and golden aspens…just majestic, no camera filters needed!

Not one, but two delightful museums invite you to experience an authentic array of art culture and nature both on a hill overlooking the mountains. The Museum of Indian Arts and Culture and the Museum of International Folk Art. And these are merely two of the many marvelous museums in Santa Fe, downtown museums and galleries are enormously easy to navigate on foot.

See exclusive post on Georgia O’Keeffe activities, day trips to Abiquiu.

Fall Offerings. Enjoy the thrill and passion of Flamenco dancing during holiday season in an intimate dinner theater setting. This special Spanish cabaret at Entreflameno runs nightly November 29, 2024 – January 4, 2025.

Entreflamenco is a nonprofit organization with cultural and educational purpose. The dance company was created and founded by Antonio Granjero in 1998 in Madrid, Spain, the company traveled throughout the Iberian Peninsula presented in places such as the Palau de la Musica de Barcelona, Festival de Verano de la Communidad de Madrid and Ciclos Culturales de Alcala de Henares (Madrid).The company has traveled throughout the United States performing nearly 100 performances year at EL FLAMENCO DE SANTA FE with four distinct performance seasons while creating a new generation of youth dancers for the future of flamenco in Santa Fe.

Take in a Show at the Lensic or The Santa Fe Opera. In the heart of summer experience Santa Fe Opera’s world-renowned performances or find some of the world’s most exciting performers at the Lensic, in their grand Pueblo Deco style structure on West San Francisco Street.

Shop From the historic Plaza to the oldest church in the United States to the Palace of the Governors, downtown Santa Fe is full of stories and classic architecture. The historic Santa Fe Plaza, and surrounding avenues offer something for everyone. 

Three shops on the Plaza owned by same family, you may not want to leave – and yes, they will stash your bags while you try on the gorgeous designer clothing. Workshop, Wild Life and Santa Fe Dry Goods. Wild Life has a stunning curated collection of home goods including Vessels of the Borana Peoples– I collect African art, but the food storage containers from Southern Ethiopia are unlike any I’ve ever seen. Unique designer clothing, take your breath away designers with a few hold your breathe price tags, but gorgeous!

Cicada Collection If you wear Black or White – you will be very happy here!

Savory Spice Shop- I buy spices wherever I go for myself for Benjamin and friends who love to cook. In cellophane packages or jars and they ship overnight, amazing service! Local indigenous spice packets and an array of international blends.

Secret & Sons. The Seret family who own Inn of Five Graces also own this shop. I’m spellbound in this exotic souk emporium, transported across the world with their impeccable taste in carpets, hand painted furniture, jewelry, Susanis from Afghanistan.  You don’t need a passport to shop here! 

Mediterrania Antiques, furniture, a significant collection of Uriarte Talavera  pottery, and they are only 2 doors away from Seret & Sons. 

 Santa Fe Vintage – Have our concierge book you an appointment at this unparalleled collection of vintage Levi’s, hats, and jackets. This is where the in the know glam stars shop for their looks!

Santa Fe Hat Company For the best selection of hats in the Southwest. A legend since 1976, offering custom, artisan and high-end brands.

Lucchese Bootmaker  If you have one more shopping stop in you, Lucchese boots is a short walk and offers the best you’re going to find.

4Kinship  This Navajo-owned (Diné) boutique for indigenous pieces, colorful up-cycled fashion, vintage denim, along with blankets courtesy and modern silver-turquoise jewelry.

Cielo Handcrafted, a few doors down you can shop local New Mexico and Latin America wares; colorful pillows handmade from Cusco, espresso mugs planters and more.

Stroll Canyon Road Art Galleries – filled with amazing art and galleries, including Morning Star. Many of the galleries on Canyon Road have established reputations with major art collectors, major art fairs, and museums throughout the country. With more than 80 galleries, studios, and designers in the Canyon Road Arts District you’ll find art that is contemporary, abstract, modern, expressionistic, digital, figurative, photorealistic, traditional, western and Native American.

Santa Fe Blue Gate Gallery represents this artist, whose work I saw at Bishops Lodge. Fritz Scholder, Hollywood Indian.

Fritz Scholder Hollywood Indian #2 Casterline|Goodman Gallery

DINING Sazon Originally from Mexico City, Chef Fernando Olea has been enthralling diners in Santa Fe since 1991 with his unique interpretation of contemporary and traditional Mexican dishes.

315 Bistro Chef-owned and operated for nearly three decades, 315 is dedicated to serving both modern and contemporary French cuisine inspired by seasonal local ingredients.

La Boca Tapas and Spanish small plates are paired with Mediterranean & South American wines at this refined venue. Santa Fe owes a significant portion of its modern identity to Spanish influences, from architecture to cuisine. Nowhere is this cookery celebrated more keenly than the intimate La Boca, where Chef James Campbell Caruso delivers small plates that transport diners to the streets of Cadiz. Campbell Caruso, who has received multiple James Beard nominations, also imports Spanish sherries and wines to pair with small plates such as turmeric-yogurt grilled chicken thigh and chicharrones de Andaluz laced with harissa. If you’re not in a hurry, paellas in classic and vegetable versions 

The Compound One of my favorite restaurants! Designed by O’Keeffe’s close friend, Alexander Girard, in the heart of the historic Canyon Road arts district and near O’Keeffe’s Santa Fe residence.

Geronimo Fine dining in a 1756 adobe home. Warm and inviting, the elegant “Borrego House” was built by Geronimo Lopez in 1756.  Thick adobe walls, kiva fireplaces and wood beams surround. Geronimo is the recipient of the AAA Four Diamond and Mobil/Forbes 4 Star Awards.  Executive Chef Sllin Cruz creates the “Global Eclectic” menu that changes seasonally. The liveliest seat in the house is on terrace on summer evenings when Canyon Road gallery gazers stroll by.

The Shed Creative New Mexican Cooking on the Santa Fe Plaza. Family owned & operated since 1953. Has won the renowned James Beard Award and is a local favorite.

EscondidoSF Chef Fernando Ruiz, three-time Food Network Champion.

Tucked into the inky blue mountains of Northern New Mexico, a week in the high desert Santa Fe, might not be long enough to enjoy all this town has to offer. The oldest state Capital in the United States, inhabited since 1607, by members of Native American pueblos. The city is brimming with creatives, eccentrics and solitude seekers. City Map 2025 published for locals and visitors.

Highly Recommend, Santa Fe