Adventures In Thailand

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Flow

Hi,

We had one of those will it or won't it days. A sprinkle here, a dark cloud there, and a sunny afternoon for a swim. Just after dinner we got another storm. It's been two hours and it's still going strong.

'Easy Monday' was good to some of you. You remembered "Help Me Rhonda" by The Beach Boys. 'Zany Day' is next:

"Up in the mornin' and out to school. The teacher is teachin' the Golden Rule. American history and practical math, you studyin' hard and hopin' to pass. Workin' your fingers right down to the bone, and the guy behind you won't leave you alone." Hint: It's by an early R&R icon who played a guitar like ringin' a bell. This in not a typical summertime song.

Today I was reminded of a few more reasons I like where we live. There are lots of trees and birds. It's nice to walk out and hear the sounds of nature. We also get to hear traditional music sometimes, coming from our only neighbor. This is the time of the year when the dragonflies emerge and hover like clouds. A friend told us that they eat mosquito larvae so I guess that's a good thing. They also think that the pool is theirs, diving down to take tiny drinks of water. Sometimes when we're in the pool they approach as if we are on their turf. The Butterflies are not as territorial, but seem to be in abundance right now.

Here's a photo of something you don't see everyday. It's a mature tree being moved somewhere for planting. We saw some giants at the nursery and watched them load one on a truck. Very interesting.

Since we stocked up on chicken over the weekend, we haven't had to make so many trips to Makro. I don't mind going, but the drive is crazy during the highway reconstruction. It seems odd to me that they would begin a major road rebuild in the middle of the rainy season. I'm no expert, but when it's dry you can work more days, dry the concrete and finish in a shorter period of time. Don't get me started on planning ahead in Thailand.

Tonight's rain storm is interrupting our Olympic viewing. The signal just went away, which is not unusual in a big storm. Not cool Mr. Weather. I have recorded many events, but they're showing equestrian show jumping in HD and that would be a treat. Today we watched a man lift 509 lbs over his head. We also, briefly, watched some large women hurl spears into the air, and some larger men twirl a steel ball on a wire into the air. I couldn't resist. My guess is that a long time ago they used to throw an actual sledge hammer and it evolved. The synchro swimming was amazing. I can't imagine being upside down in the water while doing an intricate routine with my legs, in perfect timing with another person. The level of physical conditioning is beyond my comprehension.

Thailand sent 37 athletes to the Olympics. So far there has been one silver medal awarded in women's weightlifting. We were watching that event and saw the 'history' as it happened. Unfortunately, there has not been a lot of support for those competing but that may change in the future.

Tomorrow the sun will shine, the streets will be dry and we will run errands and do things. Hmm, quite a prediction.

Looks like a Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,

Danny

"If you can't fight

and you can't flee......
flow."

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Seek

Hi,

Today was one of those days when we wanted it to rain a little to water the yard. I guess you don't miss the rain 'til the lawn gets dry. (555) We had another quiet day at the Big Brown House.

How cool that some of you remembered the 'Easy Monday' song. Here's the second verse of this plea for help:

"She was gonna be my wife and I was gonna be her man. But she let another guy come between us and it ruined our plan. Well, __ you caught my eye (caught my eye) and I can give you lotsa reasons why, you gotta __ __ __, help me get her out of my heart. Hint: California girls in T-Birds know when the surf's up. That should tell you the group. The rest is easy.

One of the things that I like about living on what is, for the time being, the edge of town is that there are still aspects of traditional life everywhere we look. It is still possible to watch people pick edible leaves from bushes along the roadside. There are many familiar faces that walk or bicycle around the neighborhood, and there are characters that seem like they are from another era, like the old woman who always has a big stick in one hand and a bag over her shoulder. She covers a lot of territory and seems to be self-sufficient. The people who live down the road from us have primitive dwellings hidden from traffic and they seem to be content. Amazing Thailand.

I now know the difference between a kayak and a canoe and have great respect for the rowers of both. Last night the question came up as to why the 'Steeple Chase' is called that. I think it should be called 'Hurdle and Splash' since that's basically what happens. We've been doing pretty well at catching the events that we're interested in even though there is no schedule to refer to. There are up to seven channels to keep tabs on at any given time and often we'll end up watching something that wasn't in the plan. I still have little interest in handball, field hockey, and I can only watch bits of the indoor cycling. There is a great interest in badminton and table tennis in Asia, so they broadcast all of the matches. Hmm. Tonight we finally get to see some synchronized swimming. What? Yeah, it's pretty cool when you realize what they're doing. Hmm, do swimmers sweat in the water?

There was another amazing float in the parade last Saturday that I thought you might enjoy seeing. Remember, all of the major elements are made from carved wax.

A Coiled Dragon

Have a Happy Tuesday.

Peace,

Danny

"Only the development of compassion and understanding for others can bring us

the tranquility and happiness we all seek."

~The Dalai Lama

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Monday, August 6, 2012

Heart

Hi,

Our weekend weather in Chiang Rai was a combo of rainy and dry. Today it was bright and cloudy with no rain.

The 'Old School Friday' song was "Land of 1000 Dances" by Wilson Pickett. It's time for 'Easy Monday' again:

"Well, since she put me down I've been out doin' in my head. Come in late at night and in the mornin' just lay in bed. Well, __ you look so fine, and I know it wouldn't take much time for you to __ __ __, help me get her out of my heart.

Hint: By a SoCal group that liked surf, sand, and cars. They're pleading for some relief.

Saturday morning we went on a little adventure with our friend Natty and her brother. We rode with them in their new pick-up truck to see some property south of town. On the way back we stopped at a new building that I had noticed, and wondered about. It's an OTOP store and it was done in a very modern way with products representing many areas of Chiang Rai. Everything from packaged food to clothing, with many items geared toward tourists.

On our visit to the low key OTOP gathering last week I managed to get a photo of a motorbike accessory that is gaining popularity. I don't know what to call it, but I suppose it can keep you kind of dry and would surely block the sun. This model even has a windshield wiper.

We spent much of the afternoon catching up on our Olympic viewing. There was a surprise rain storm that we thought was just an hour, but when we went out in the morning it was apparent that it had rained all night.

Sunday morning we had a meeting at the house with the brother of Khun Kwang, the woman who helps Boot with the housework. He does various kinds of construction and came to give us an estimate on putting in paving stones by our kitchen. After drawing a picture of what we wanted, and conversations in English, Thai, and Akha we came to an understanding. Later we followed him to the nursery and picked out the tiles they will use. Actually, they're not tiles but concrete squares that are textured to look like brown wood. Work won't begin for two weeks since he can only work on Sundays and next week is Mother Day. I'll tell you more about that later in the week.

Sunday evening we went to the Night Bazaar for dinner. We hadn't been for a few weeks and it was nice to see some of our friends. Many of them hadn't had a dry evening for some time. Our friend Too, who makes craft-style jewelry had a new canvas awning for his stall. He got tired of dealing with sheets of plastic, which is what most of them use.

Today was a mellow day. Gary and Jago came over for a play-date and stayed for an hour. The dogs had a great time. Jago is still a puppy and has boundless energy. He and Daku ran around playing what looked like a combination of tag and hide and seek. When BamBam first came out she did her territorial chase thing. Jago galloped around the yard with BamBam hot on his heels. Daku kept trying to run interference for Jago. Once BamBam was scolded she calmed down and tolerated Jago. He kept trying to get her to play but she just ignored him. While Daku was taking a break on the porch, Jago went over and nudged his face and then put a paw around his neck. It was one of those special moments. Daku was so worn out that he went upstairs and crashed.

Have a Great Week.

Peace,

Danny

"The human heart feels things the eyes cannot see,

and knows what the mind cannot understand."
~Robert Valett

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Friday, August 3, 2012

Friday Funnies

Hi,

That light evening shower I mentioned turned out to be an all night rain. This morning the yard was soaked so bad that the dogs didn't get to play. The yard crew came, we saw some parade floats, and we went to OTOP.

That pesky 'Zany Day' song was "I Am The Walrus" by The Beatles. Now it's time to put on your dancin' shoes and groove with 'Old School Friday': "Got to know how to pony, like Bony Maronie. Mash potato, do the alligator. Put your hands on your hips, yeah, let you backbone slip. Do the Watusi, like my little sister Lucy. Na na-na-na-na na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na-na (etc.)" Clue: The title is in 5 words, none of which is in the lyric of the song, but oh, that chorus.

We got an early start on our day by going to Makro early. We took our new alternate route to avoid highway traffic and it was pretty smooth. Well, the drive was smooth but the road was full of pot-holes. We passed by the new Chiang Rai United stadium and caught a glimpse of the big grandstands. Early shopping at Makro was a breeze.

A trip to the vegetable market was needed and on the way home we passed a group of floats that were staging for an afternoon parade. We stopped and took a bunch of photos. The floats were made up of floral arrangements and featured giant candles, dragons and Buddha figures all made from wax. The carving was amazing and I've included one of the floats for today's pic.

Before lunch we went to OTOP with Tatt. He doesn't get out much and we thought it might be a chance to practice his English. This presentation was not like the last one we went to at all. There were very few vendors and it was almost like going to an abbreviated Walking Street. We got some honey with a comb in the jar, and some brown rice. The three of us had a laugh at how boring the whole thing was and Tatt mentioned that this was the second festival this year. My guess is that since it's also harvest time, many people had to stay in their villages and help out. It's not uncommon to see owners of small shops close down so they can help family or neighbors with the harvest.

Based on the cloud formations and the showers this evening, we will not be out of the 'rainy season' for a long time. We were hoping it was over based on wishful thinking. It actually started early this year and it looks as though it's going to continue for another two months. On the bright side, it's not as hot as it could be, or should I say 'will be'. Amazing Thailand.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd. Now it's time for a 'Funny.

Peace,

Danny

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Thursday, August 2, 2012

World

Hi,

We had another dry day here in Chiang Rai. I won't make a big deal about the evening shower. We shopped, we swam, and we watched The Olympics. It was a good day.

There were many responses to the 'Zany Day' song. Here are some lyrics from later in the song. Remember this?:

"Sitting in an English garden waiting for the sun. If the sun don't come, you get a tan from standing in the English rain. I am the eggman, they are the eggmen, __ __ __ __ ..." Hint: This could have been an 'Easy Monday' tune. How many hours did you spend trying to figure out what it meant?

Today was a National holiday in Thailand. It was the observance of Asamha Bucha Day, which celebrates the first sermon given by Buddha 2600 years ago and set the cornerstones of his teachings. For those who faithfully observe tradition, it was a day of reflection, offerings, and of course, celebration. Tomorrow is the day when the monks will enter the temples for their retreat of three months.

This morning at Big C it seemed like everyone brought their entire family to shop. It was amazing, seeing the large groups moving about the store. Lots of babies and small children being carried by grandparents. Since so many businesses were closed today it was a perfect time for a shopping trip.

This afternoon we took the dogs out for a little exercise since the yard was drier than usual. They ran a little, but were more interested in grazing on the long grass. As we passed the pool Lisa wondered just how cold it was. It was 79 degrees. That normally would be the end of the discussion about swimming, but we have our wetsuits and we decided to go for it. After going through the process of pulling them on (we're still new at it), we slipped into the pool. It was great. There is a cold bit of water that trickles down the front and back, but it's not as bad as the whole body being assaulted. We had a great swim and here's a photo before we went in.

Bring on the cold water.

This evening Lisa was working with Tatt on his English. At one point, Tatt took Daku out and he noticed a huge toad swimming in the pool. They came and got me and we saw another one on the deck. I guess the rain brought them out to play.

Tomorrow we will go to the OTOP festival across the river. We're not much for sampling food, but there are always beautiful crafts and clothing, and products made from the surrounding environment. The last time we went I found some herbal mosquito repellant. Who knows what this year will bring?

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

Peace,

Danny

"To the world, you may be one person;
but to one person, you may be the world."
~Author Unknown

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Sail

Hi,

Chiang Rai had a basically dry day today. There were tiny little showers, but nothing like before. I got a massage and the guest room got new lighting.

The 'Easy Monday' song was "I Can See Clearly Now" by Johnny Nash. It's time for a 'Zany Day' song and this one really fits: "Sitting on a cornflake, waiting for the van to come. Corporation tee-shirt, stupid bloody Tuesday. Man, you been a naughty boy, you let your face grow long. I am the eggman, they are the eggmen. __ __ __ __, goo goo g'joob." Clue: By a group of four from across the pond, about something or someone bigger than a seal. Hmm.

While I was having my weekly massage, Khun Nung was changing the lighting in our guest room to a dimmer system. He did a great job and now there can be variations on the ambience. At the same time, the pool guys were doing their thing. It was a little busy around here.

There have been news reports about flooding in China's Yunnan Province and how dam water is being released into the Mekong River. Water levels in the area near the Golden Triangle have risen, but we are in no present danger. In our neighborhood, the Kok River is up, but that's normal for the rainy season. The bank on our side of the river is much higher than any of the rising water so we're not worried. Here's a picture of a Long-Tailed boat on 'our' river.

We had a little discussion about what really constitutes a 'sport', especially with regards to the Olympics. If it were left up to me there might be a few less events. It finally came down to this: If you don't sweat, it's not a sport. Things like air pistols, skeet shooting and archery are hard to put next to the events that require physical conditioning like track & field, football, gymnastics and such. I know, very controversial, but it's also tongue-in-cheek. I do think they need a new name for the sport they call 'hand ball'. Hand ball is the game where you bounce the small ball against a big wall. Everybody knows this. (555)

There are many things that we see on the road, traveling around town. I suppose the most disturbing thing is seeing people on motorbikes driving with one hand while holding an infant or small child in their other arm. We have to remind ourselves that this is how some folks have to get from point A to point B and they seem to manage. The same thing goes for the guys who ride on the roof of the dump truck cab as it barrels down the road. Safety does not seem to be an issue. I still wear my seatbelt/shoulder strap, and remember that I'm just a guest here.

It's time for Wacky Wednesday.

Peace,

Danny

"You can't direct the wind,

but you can adjust your sails."
~Unknown

Gettin' Funky, Thai Style