Striving

Hi,

The consensus is that the rainy season is over.  It didn’t rain all weekend and it doesn’t look like it’s coming soon.

The ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” by The Platters.  It’s ‘Easy Monday’ time.  

“On the first part of our journey, I was looking at all my life.  There were plants and birds and rocks and things, there was sand and hills and rings.  The first thing I met was a fly with a buzz, and the sky with no clouds.  The heat was hot and the ground was dry, but the air was full of sound.  I’ve been through the desert on __ __ __ __ __ it felt good to be out of the rain.  In the desert you can remember your name ‘cause there ain’t no one for to give you no pain.  La, la, la, la, etc.”   Hint:  It was 1971 and the hit was about a guy riding high in the saddle, by a group named for their country.

Saturday was the big day in Chiang Rai.  It was billed as “Thai Fight”, or Muay Thai, also known as Thai kickboxing. I have a friend from Holland who studies this art/sport and he went to the event.  He estimated that about 1500 people were in attendance and said it was a very entertaining evening.  During each bout, musicians played Thai traditional music with the fighters doing their thing.  Between the matches there were announcements and speeches.  At the end there was a giant fireworks display that we could hear at our house, and that's far away.  We saw a video on Facebook and it was quite spectacular.  I would imagine the traffic afterwards was monumental.

Saturday evening, while we had Daku outside, Chopper took the opportunity to slip inside and run upstairs.  When we got up there, he was chewing on a bone.  It’s his favorite things to do.  Daku was on his ‘bed’ and Chopper came over and sprang straight up in the air and landed behind Daku.  We think he’s part baby goat or something.  He’s very light on his feet.  They did fine until Chopper’s pent up adrenaline got the best of him.  That’s when he had to go back outside.  It is nice having him for the little visits though.

Sunday evening there was a big parade and celebration at the Clock Tower to announce the opening of the Chiang Rai Games.  The games are a national event that rotates around the provinces.  We don’t know where they’re being held yet, but the ArtBridge community was very involved in the promotion of some of the villages and tribes.  

Today’s photos show one of the notable floats from two angles.  Imagine seeing this big face coming down the road.  Once it passes you, you see an array of various Hill Tribe members.  

Today was the first day back to school for Nitchanan.  Saturday she got out her bags and accessories, ready to get back to work.  When they left this morning, there was no crying.  When she came home, she seemed very pleased.  

Have a Great Week.

                      Peace,

                                Danny

“In a controversy, the instant

we feel anger, we have already 

ceased striving for the truth,

and have begun striving for ourselves.”

~Buddha