History

Hi,

Chiang Rai, where the sky is clear and the streets are dry. Over the weekend we went to an art exhibit opening, experienced a mall full of children, and endured a ton of explosive fireworks. There's a holiday coming.

Our 'Old School Friday' song was "Poison Ivy" by The Coasters. A few of you remembered. Now it's time for 'Easy Monday. Let's see if this one rings a bell: "Whoa, __ __ __, I knew that I would now. __ __ __, I knew that I would, now. So good, so good, I got you (horns)." Clue: This one's by a man known as The Godfather of Soul, and he's telling us about his 'mood'.

Saturday afternoon I was to meet with our friend Khun Noy in order to give him some celery that we got in Chiang Mai. He and his wife Susan had not been able to find any in Chiang Rai and we all need it for our veggie drink. He called me to say he'd be a little late, due to the heavy traffic. He later explained that Prime Minister Yingluck was in town for a special ceremony in honor of Walking Street. It's been going for three years and that merits a special day. Noy also told me that he was glad he wasn't going to Central Plaza because there was a big Super Hero show for kids. Little did he know that it was also happening Sunday, the day he had to make a delivery of lettuce to Fuji restaurant. I haven't talked to him since then to find out how he did.

That evening we went to 9 Art Gallery for the opening of a show featuring six local artists. It was a wonderful show and you can see the paintings by going to this link: http://www.9artgallery.com/November 2011.html

Sunday we went to Central Plaza for lunch. When we arrived the parking lot was chaotic. We ended up in the 'new' lot that had just been paved. When we entered the mall we realized that the 'Hero show' was happening again. There was an area in front of the escalators filled with children sitting at easels, painting on t-shirts that had drawings of Doraeman, a Japanese character who is big in Thailand. In the center of the main floor was a stage and around the stage there were hundreds of children and parents jockeying for position to see the show. We went upstairs to Fuji for lunch and managed to avoid the crowd. After we finished lunch it seemed as though the crowd had doubled. It was an ocean of kids waiting for the event to start. As we were leaving, the M.C. was working the kids into a frenzy. He said something and the crowd erupted and it was deafening. We got out just in time. From the posters we gathered that there were going to be costumed characters coming out and doing routines of some kind. Central Plaza will never be the same.

We went to the Night Bazaar for our usual Sunday dinner and a little shopping. Many of the vendors are still feeling the repercussions of the Bangkok flood. There are some tourists in town, but they didn't seem to be shopping. We just hope that tour agents and foreign governments will realize that there are places to go in Thailand that are safe.

Thursday of this week marks the celebration of Loy Krathong. This is the festival where small woven Krathongs, little baskets containing a candle, flowers and sometimes coins, are placed in the river. I'll be talking more about it as it gets closer. Needless to say, it's an occasion for fireworks of all descriptions.

Tomorrow we go on a road trip to Mae Sai for our visa check-in. What's a week without a road trip?

Have a Great Week.

Peace,
Danny

"One determined person can make a significant difference; a
small group of determined people can change the course of
history."
~Sonia Johnson

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
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