Hi,
Chiang Rai is going through an interesting thing right now. Regardless of who you are, what you do, or what happened during the quake, everyone felt it and there is a oneness about the experience.
The 'Easy Monday' song was clearly a winner this week. Lots of correct responses. Here's the second verse for you:
"I think I can make it now, the pain is gone. All of the bad feelings have disappeared. Here is the rainbow I've been prayin' for. It's gonna be a bright, bright sun-shiny day." Hint: Happy island feel.
Last night the aftershocks seemed like they would never end. Some were little bumps and others felt like new quakes. We managed to get some sleep, though it was interrupted a few times. This morning there was major movement that I will dub an 'AfterQuake'. It was 5.9 so you get the idea. There have been over 100 aftershocks so far. This afternoon was quiet, but this evening we had some action. First the sound of a small freight train coming through the yard, then the shaking of the house. It is powerlessness at it's best.
The village where Cat's family lives is close to the center of the quake. Many brick houses collapsed and those who lost their homes camped out on the football field of the school. Cat is staying at her sister's so she really felt the quake. Today she surveyed the damage at her old school. Tonight they are sleeping outside, the aftershocks have them afraid.
I have told you tales of floods and earthquakes, but not the tale of the 'Night of the Flying Things'. It's an annual event here is Thailand, and I imagine other places too. Friday night, after enough rain, the little ant-like creatures with the long wings appeared from nowhere. Lisa calls it a blooming, which makes sense, in a poetic way. They are like moths in that they are attracted to the light. Combine that attraction with a few tiny openings and you have a bug party in the upstairs bathroom. Until I found their entry, it was like a bad 'B movie'. They would come in waves, and just as we thought we had defeated them, more arrived. After their access was denied, calm was restored. I must point out that many people consider these bugs a delicacy, and catch them under streetlights or set up traps. Not even mildly interested.
On a sunnier note, the other day we were at the vegetable market and we couldn't pass up this photo of the guy who makes beautiful jewelry with stones. He had set up his booth and it was time to relax. Nothing like a mid-morning nap.
Have a Happy Tuesday.
Peace,
Danny
you should own nothing.
But that nothing
should own you.
~Ali abi Talib
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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