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Message: Here's a great article I found at www.northwestnavigator.com: -- Although many Sailors aboard USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) spent their liberty time in the local area of Pattaya Beach during the aircraft carrier’s port visit to Thailand, Sept. 12-16, lots of Sailors took the opportunity to tour a 200-acre replica of the country’s ancient cities. As with many tours offered, the Sailors took a scenic drive through the countryside to their destination. The trip was lengthy, at almost two hours, and their tour guide gave the Sailors a brief description of Thai culture and history along the way. The tour guide even translated a few useful terms to use among the locals, such as “hello” and “thank you.” It was a great opportunity for Sailors to see just how different the way of life was for ancient Thailand with scale models of the country’s most important landmarks, said Aviation Structural Mechanic Equipment 2nd Class (AW) Chris Bailey, of Boise, Idaho. “I really liked getting to see all the temples and learning about their culture,” said Bailey, who is assigned to the “Lancers” of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 131. “Being able to take pictures of these places was the best. I thought it was a great way to relax and enjoy our last foreign port [before heading home].” Interacting with the people working at the park, or even exchanging a few words with other visitors, was a great experience for Lincoln Sailors said Storekeeper Seaman Kerri Kienzle of Dallas. She added that one of the highlights of the tour was the opportunity to try local Thai cuisine. “The people here are really friendly,” Kienzle said. “I really liked seeing all their temples and enjoyed trying their food, too.” The variety of tours was vast, but they all had one stop in common. At the gems galleries, Sailors had the chance to learn about how Thailand’s gem industry began and were offered the chance to see first-hand how precious stones are set into jewelry. At the Laem Chabang gallery, Sailors got to enjoy a small roller coaster. http://www.northwestnavigator.com/index.php/navigator/regionalnews/abe_sailors_enjoy_ancient_thai_city_replica_tours/
