Riches

Hi,

Today's weather was a mixed bag. Hot and muggy in the morning, light rain in the afternoon, and hot in the evening. We met some very interesting people today, and learned a lot.

That 'Easy Monday' song was "Make It With You". It's time now for 'Songs of '68'. Prance around as you sing this:
"I was born in a cross-fire hurricane, and I howled at my ma in the driving rain. But it's all right now, in fact it's a gas..." Hint: 'Who am I?' This rowdy R&R song was done by a rowdier band from across the pond. You know this one.

This morning I got a call from Toyota telling me that the car was ready. They said 'The battery is broken'. I can live with that. Thomas arrived a little later on his motorbike, followed by Khun Siam and Joyce, in Siam's car. Siam took us to Toyota so we could get our car. The plan had been to visit a home gallery of another artist, but he was not home. At Toyota, I had to wait a bit, and Lisa made friends with a Thai woman who lives in a remote area south of town. She told Lisa that she only comes to town 3 times a month. I don't know if I could do that, but I guess she's happy.

We left Toyota in a clean car, ready to face the world. One funny thing before we left though. The 'broken' battery was on the floor of the passenger side. We had to assure the service tech that we didn't want it. We all had a laugh about the strangeness of it all. We followed Khun Siam most of the way to his house. Joyce rode with us and remembered up to a point. She called Thomas and he led us into the village to the house. I think I can get us there again.

The experience at Khun Siam's house was amazing. He teaches art, and makes bamboo furniture. His girlfriend, Buse, is an artist that he met in an Akha village. She's never had any training, but makes some of the most moving scenes of people that I've ever seen. It all has that 'untrained' look, but there is a maturity in the subject matter that is sometimes humorous, sometimes shocking, and sometimes 'Hmm'. Siam has been careful not to try to teach her anything, except show her various kinds of paint. We went through her work and as Joyce would touch a piece, Buse would describe in Thai or Akha the nature of the scene, or the meaning and Joyce would interpret.

Khun Siam took us to see some of his bamboo work on a porch in the rear of his house. There was a swing set that he made for the children who come for art lessons on Saturdays, several couches, a few tables and some really neat stools. Inside I noticed he had a few Suengs (Traditional four stringed instrument). He told the story of a man he met who was from the Chan state in Burma. The man was covered with so many tattoos that his skin was black, and he had gold caps on his teeth. That visual image was vivid in my mind. He watched this man play the Sueng and asked him to teach him. The man said he couldn't teach him but he could watch him play. Siam watched him play for two years and learned one song. He played the song he learned from his 'teacher'. He likened the style to Ravi Shankar, because the bottom strings were used like the drone of a Sitar. The little concert he gave us was wonderful. We can't wait to get together with Siam and Buse.

Time for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,
Danny

"The greatest good you can do for another is not just share your riches,
but reveal to them their own."
~Disraeli

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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http://blog.risingstardom.com/
www.lisamosesgallery.com