Hi,
The weekend weather moved more toward the 'cool zone' and wardrobe changes were needed. The days are mild and the nights are getting cold. We had an overnight shower that was not quite enough, and tonight the sky is clear. Today (December 5) is The King's birthday.
The 'Old School Friday' song was "Jailhouse Rock" by Elvis. It's time for 'Easy Monday' so get ready. You know this one: "Sugarpie honeybunch, you know that I'm weak for you. __ __ __ __, I love you and nobody else. In and out my life, you come and you go, leaving just your picture behind, and I've kissed it a thousand times..." Clue: Sung by four guys from the Motor City, feeling a bit powerless. Hmm.
Saturday evening we went to 9 Art Gallery for the opening of a new exhibit. It was a group show and there were a wide variety of techniques and styles. The usual cast of characters was there and we had some fun conversations and caught up with 'old friends'.
Chiang Rai has what could be called Christmas lights blinking all year round. This time of year there are even more. It makes the place look quite festive. Big C has two Christmas trees and there are musical commercials, in Thai, to the tune of Jingle Bells and other holiday tunes. The place was really jumping when we arrived, since it was the first Sunday of the month and a holiday weekend. People were buying gift arrangements to take to the temples in honor of the Kings 84th birthday. This is a special birthday because it is the 7th cycle (12 years to a cycle linked to the signs of the zodiac) and 7 is an important number in Thai culture. The King was born under the sign of the rabbit. Now you know.
Sunday evening we had dinner with our new friends Monique and Jose. They are teachers here in Chiang Rai and are from America. We had a fun time at dinner talking about living in Thailand, and learning from each other. After dinner we strolled through the Night Bazaar.
Tonight there was the sound of fireworks in honor of the birthday. There were lanterns in the sky and restaurants were doing a brisk business. During the day we noticed that many businesses were closed. The King has been living in a hospital in Bangkok for over 2 years, but made a public appearance today and gave a speech. The King of Thailand is deeply loved by all Thais and there is a reverence that is quite profound. The streets were lined with crowds of people as his motorcade went from the hospital to the Grand Palace.
Have a Great Week.
Peace,
Danny
"We come equipped with everything we need to experience a
powerful life full of joy, incredible passion, and profound peace.
The difficult part is giving ourselves permission to live it."
~Deborah Rosado Shaw
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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