Hi,
It's Friday night in Chiang Rai and it's unbelievably quiet out here on the edge of town. Not that I'm complaining. After a fairly mellow day, a mellow evening is the perfect end.
All you kids got the latest song. It was "Owner of a Lonely Heart" by Yes. See, you knew that. Now we're going back in time. "All we need is a drummer for people who only need a beat, yeah I'm gonna add a little guitar and make it easy to move your feet. I'm gonna add some bottom so that the dancers just won't hide...__ __ __ __ (x4) " Clue: It's a family affair by everyday people. One of their early hits.
We went into town this afternoon for a scheduled massage but it didn't happen. My operator has apparently left and Lisa's was with another client. All that came with an appointment. One never knows what's going to happen. We rescheduled for Sunday and ran errands. We only have three bills to pay each month. It's pretty amazing. That's not to say that there aren't other things that have to be paid for, but I digress. Utilities can be paid at any 7-11. We had several stops on the main drag today, including 7-11, the pharmacy warehouse where we get vitamins, and the hair lady by the Wancome Hotel (our first home). We parked at the hotel and let that be our base. Considering it only costs 62 cents to park, it's not a bad deal.
Lisa gave Napa a ballet lesson later in the day. Napa is dying to get in the pool. She's been swimming here a few times and even though the water really is cold, she denies it. Today she was in to her knees. Once it warms up, it will most likely be ballet and swimming and Tay will have to drag her from the water. I remember being nine and how much I loved being in a pool.
Life is going pretty smooth for us without Boot. Of course she left a full complement of clean cloths, food in the kitchen and a clean house. Today I watered most of the lawn using the system that Rene devised. He got these couplings for each of the hoses around the yard so it's a simple motion to move the sprinkler around. Tomorrow I'll do some spot watering and then there are the trees. We're starting to get white and purple flowers on our little tree in the front yard. Pretty soon we'll be able to smell it in the house. Yum.
Our dear friend Kathie Fry has put together a series of websites that provide travel and cultural information. There's one called 'Do It In Hawaii' (www.doitinhawaii.com) which has links to everything you'd want to know about Hawaii. Now there's one called 'Do It In Thailand' and I think you should run over there and see what this place (Thailand) is all about. www.doitinthailand.com/
I'll leave you with another link that was sent to us by Blue. Monday I'll tell you more about it. Just watch and listen.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tAjFnJuk1Aw
It's time for the 'Funnies'. Thank Martin for the laugh. Have a Great WeekEnd.
Peace,
Danny
"All we need is a drummer for people who only need a beat, yeah I'm gonna add a little guitar and make it easy to move your feet. I'm gonna add some bottom so that the dancers just won't hide...__ __ __ __ (x4) "
My wife and I were sitting at a table at my high school
reunion, and I kept staring at a drunken lady swigging her
drink as she sat alone at a nearby table. My wife asked, "Do
you know her?"
"Yes," I sighed, "She's my old girlfriend. I understand she took to drinking right after we split up those many
years ago, and I hear she hasn't been sober since."
"My God!" says my wife, "Who would think a person could go on celebrating that long?"
And then the fight started.....
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
www.risingstardom.com
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Thailand Is Full of Surprises
Small Things
Hi,
There's big news on the 'water front', we saw the travelers off, the market got a visit and the dog got a bath. All in all, another fine day in The Rai.
It's becoming obvious to me that a lot of you really know your 80's songs. Today's production is from a group known for epic arrangements and elements of classical music mixed with rock. There was also some fairy tale influence in some of their work.
"Shake, shake yourself, you're every move you make. So the story goes. __ __ __ __ __ (x2) (Much better than a) __ __ __ __ __" Clue: This song is more about the realities of being alone. Hmm.
We got up early on purpose today. This was the morning that Boot and Rene would take the 12 hour VIP bus ride to Rayong.
To our amazement, Boot had made tons of food for us to eat while she was away, including two of our favorites. She was very excited about seeing her mother, sister and brother.
Yesterday the pool was filled and salt was added. We left it alone overnight to see if the water held it's level. This morning it was at the same spot so the filter was turned on for the first time in quite awhile. Johan was pleased with the outcome and also happy that the lights worked. Now we just need to give it time to warm up. (Ha)
This afternoon we braved the central market in search of a few household items. We went into an area we hadn't really explored and found new things to bring forth a 'Hmm'. There was the woman who sold a huge variety of machete-like knives that are used for chopping just about anything that needs chopping. We also found a booth that sold large pots for BBQing and another stand that had every kind of chili one could imagine. Large baskets filled with beautiful shades of red and orange, ready to burn the palette. We found most of what we were looking for and called it a day.
Our friend Tay came and picked up Lisa to go to a rehearsal for a dance competition that Napa is going to be in. I cleaned up the dinner dishes (What?) and played with BamBam. While we were outside I heard the sounds of drums and a singer off in the distance. There was also the sound of screaming girls who sang along with the chorus of the song. It was classic. I don't know who it was, but they knew the tunes and their excitement filled my head with images. Imagine, a music concert in a village outside of town sounding like it could have been in an arena. Thailand is full of surprises. This was just one of them.
BamBam will be sleeping (we hope) in our room for the next five days. We're going to try and keep her up for a while so she doesn't get up too early. (555)
Have a Wonderful Thursday.
Peace,
Danny
"Sometimes, we just need to be amazed by the small things."
~Angela Pacheco
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
www.risingstardom.com
Hi,
There's big news on the 'water front', we saw the travelers off, the market got a visit and the dog got a bath. All in all, another fine day in The Rai.
It's becoming obvious to me that a lot of you really know your 80's songs. Today's production is from a group known for epic arrangements and elements of classical music mixed with rock. There was also some fairy tale influence in some of their work.
"Shake, shake yourself, you're every move you make. So the story goes. __ __ __ __ __ (x2) (Much better than a) __ __ __ __ __" Clue: This song is more about the realities of being alone. Hmm.
We got up early on purpose today. This was the morning that Boot and Rene would take the 12 hour VIP bus ride to Rayong.
To our amazement, Boot had made tons of food for us to eat while she was away, including two of our favorites. She was very excited about seeing her mother, sister and brother.
Yesterday the pool was filled and salt was added. We left it alone overnight to see if the water held it's level. This morning it was at the same spot so the filter was turned on for the first time in quite awhile. Johan was pleased with the outcome and also happy that the lights worked. Now we just need to give it time to warm up. (Ha)
This afternoon we braved the central market in search of a few household items. We went into an area we hadn't really explored and found new things to bring forth a 'Hmm'. There was the woman who sold a huge variety of machete-like knives that are used for chopping just about anything that needs chopping. We also found a booth that sold large pots for BBQing and another stand that had every kind of chili one could imagine. Large baskets filled with beautiful shades of red and orange, ready to burn the palette. We found most of what we were looking for and called it a day.
Our friend Tay came and picked up Lisa to go to a rehearsal for a dance competition that Napa is going to be in. I cleaned up the dinner dishes (What?) and played with BamBam. While we were outside I heard the sounds of drums and a singer off in the distance. There was also the sound of screaming girls who sang along with the chorus of the song. It was classic. I don't know who it was, but they knew the tunes and their excitement filled my head with images. Imagine, a music concert in a village outside of town sounding like it could have been in an arena. Thailand is full of surprises. This was just one of them.
BamBam will be sleeping (we hope) in our room for the next five days. We're going to try and keep her up for a while so she doesn't get up too early. (555)
Have a Wonderful Thursday.
Peace,
Danny
"Sometimes, we just need to be amazed by the small things."
~Angela Pacheco
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
www.risingstardom.com
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
A Beautiful Day in Thailand
Boat
Hi,
It was another beautiful day in Thailand. We are definitely moving into the hot part of the year. That's not to say that it doesn't cool off at night, but by mid-morning you can feel it coming on. We could really use some rain but that doesn't seem to be in the forecast.
All it took was a blatant clue and the mail poured in. "Biggest Part of Me" was the song and Ambrosia was the group. Moving forward in time for the benefit of the 'younger set', I offer the first line of this popular mid 80's hit. Stay away from Google.
"Move yourself, you always live your life never thinking of the future..." Hint: These days everyone is harping on ownership of this and that. Hmm, take a shot.
I'm happy to report that the pool is holding water, and as soon as it warms up we'll be splashing around again. The temp is at 72 degrees right now but considering the change in the weather, we could be swimming in a few weeks.
Sunday night while we were at the Night Bazaar we got a new mailbox from one of our merchant friends. It's made from teak and almost looks like a bird house. Lisa painted our name and address on it today and now we just need to coat it with something like epoxy. That will mean a special trip to the hardware store. That means another adventure.
We may have discovered why so many of the corn fields are just standing, unattended. Johan was telling us that the demand for ethanol has declined drastically due to the lower oil prices. There had been a rush to produce more ethanol to meet what looked like a major demand. Now it appears that many small farms are stuck with a crop that nobody wants. Of course, that's not really true, but in the small town vision of things, what do you do with it? They pick enough for family, or the village and let the cows come in and clear the field. Today there was an article in the Bangkok Post about the setback with ethanol production. They failed to mention the small farmers. Sounds vaguely familiar.
Tonight we went out to Big C to get a small gift for Boot's mother. While we were there we stopped at one of the larger phone concessions and got Lisa a new phone. She's been using a phone we got soon after we arrived. Not a bad phone, but the manual is in Chinese, and Thai but nothing in English. It had a touch screen, which was an attraction, but it was hard to know when it was really locked. It's been very frustrating so we took steps to make life easier. Now she has a really cool little 'slide' phone and she can read the directions. One of the coolest things about living in an 'unlocked' country is that you just put your phone's SIM card in the new phone and continue where you left off. No contract negotiations or restrictions. You pay the provider of your choice, as you go.
Something tells me it's Wacky Wednesday.
Peace,
Danny
"Help your brother's boat across,
and your own will reach the shore."
~Hindu proverb
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
www.risingstardom.com
Hi,
It was another beautiful day in Thailand. We are definitely moving into the hot part of the year. That's not to say that it doesn't cool off at night, but by mid-morning you can feel it coming on. We could really use some rain but that doesn't seem to be in the forecast.
All it took was a blatant clue and the mail poured in. "Biggest Part of Me" was the song and Ambrosia was the group. Moving forward in time for the benefit of the 'younger set', I offer the first line of this popular mid 80's hit. Stay away from Google.
"Move yourself, you always live your life never thinking of the future..." Hint: These days everyone is harping on ownership of this and that. Hmm, take a shot.
I'm happy to report that the pool is holding water, and as soon as it warms up we'll be splashing around again. The temp is at 72 degrees right now but considering the change in the weather, we could be swimming in a few weeks.
Sunday night while we were at the Night Bazaar we got a new mailbox from one of our merchant friends. It's made from teak and almost looks like a bird house. Lisa painted our name and address on it today and now we just need to coat it with something like epoxy. That will mean a special trip to the hardware store. That means another adventure.
We may have discovered why so many of the corn fields are just standing, unattended. Johan was telling us that the demand for ethanol has declined drastically due to the lower oil prices. There had been a rush to produce more ethanol to meet what looked like a major demand. Now it appears that many small farms are stuck with a crop that nobody wants. Of course, that's not really true, but in the small town vision of things, what do you do with it? They pick enough for family, or the village and let the cows come in and clear the field. Today there was an article in the Bangkok Post about the setback with ethanol production. They failed to mention the small farmers. Sounds vaguely familiar.
Tonight we went out to Big C to get a small gift for Boot's mother. While we were there we stopped at one of the larger phone concessions and got Lisa a new phone. She's been using a phone we got soon after we arrived. Not a bad phone, but the manual is in Chinese, and Thai but nothing in English. It had a touch screen, which was an attraction, but it was hard to know when it was really locked. It's been very frustrating so we took steps to make life easier. Now she has a really cool little 'slide' phone and she can read the directions. One of the coolest things about living in an 'unlocked' country is that you just put your phone's SIM card in the new phone and continue where you left off. No contract negotiations or restrictions. You pay the provider of your choice, as you go.
Something tells me it's Wacky Wednesday.
Peace,
Danny
"Help your brother's boat across,
and your own will reach the shore."
~Hindu proverb
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
www.risingstardom.com
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Grow
Hi,
Today we had morning guests, a day off from workers, a trip to the vet and a wonderful evening in the middle of nowhere. What does it all mean? Read on.
I'm a little disappointed that only one person responded to the song and he admitted to using Google. This should help you:
"Yeah (sunrise) there's a new sun risin', (In your eyes) I can see a new horizon, (Realize) that will keep me realizin'
You're the __ __ __ __" Clue: There's a big part of you that knows this song. If I hummed a little you'd smile.
This morning we were awakened by the sound of BamBam barking her guard-dog bark. It went on longer than usual so I jumped up from my nice warm bed and my twilight sleep to see what was going on. As I raced downstairs I glanced at the clock to notice the time. It was ten after seven. This better be good. There at the partially opened front gate stood Boot in her robe, BamBam barking, and Woody and Sunee, ready to visit. Hmm. Boot yelled to me, with a knowing laugh in her voice, "Your friends from America come". Fine.
After focusing on the situation and realizing what had to be done, I ran upstairs, explained to a puzzled Lisa what was going on, pulled on some jeans and ran downstairs and tried to act like a gracious host. Our guests were on their way to Mae Sai with their entourage, who were sitting in two SUVs in front of the house. We gave them the tour and talked about their plans for the rest of the day. They were going shopping and then back to Bangkok and 'home' to America. Lisa asked them how they found the house. Woody pulled out the paper I'd given them with our address and explained that they gave a guy on a motorbike 100 Baht ($3.00) to lead them to us. Then he smiled and said, "This is Thailand. Can find anyplace." Right you are. Even early in the morning.
No one told us that the painters were done, so we were a little surprised when they didn't show up. After deciding to enjoy the day with the house to ourselves, we regrouped and did our morning routine. It was still early enough for the timing to be the same. (Ha) Today was 'watering day' which meant that we'd be spending extra time with BamBam since she has to stay inside while the sprinkler does it's thing. She loves to play in the water but has to stay dry until her skin gets better. Needless to say, we had a nice morning.
After lunch we took BamBam to the vet for a check on her progress. She now weighs 16 kilos (35 lbs). She loves to ride in the truck, but when it's time to get out she's like a wild beast on a mission. Her little teenage brain wants to go. At that moment the word 'Stay' means 'Blah, blah'. More outings will help with this, I say.
Tonight we went to dinner with Johan and got introduced to a new, for us, restaurant. We still don't know the name of it, but it's on the road to the airport and really is in the middle of nowhere. There's another restaurant down the road on the opposite side, but that's it. There were lots of plants and water features as we walked down a stone path to the entrance. There are no walls around the dining area. It wasn't quite dark so we could appreciate the openness. One of the reasons Johan took us to this spot, besides the food, was the singer. He's told us about her in the past and how great she is and he wasn't wrong. We were seeing her at the first of four gigs she does every night. At this job she sings to a karaoke computer. She sings in Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and English. We heard it all. When she got to the English part of her set, we were blown away. She started with "Close To You" and there are parts of the song where the timber of her voice sounded just like Karen Carpenter. Goosebumps. She sang about six songs in English and we were very impressed. Then the guests started taking the stage and it was downhill from there. The food was some of the best we've tasted in our limited experience. We'll be going back for sure.
Nong, the singer at the restaurant does about an hour and a half there, then goes to another spot where she plays guitar and sings and her brother also plays guitar with her. Then she hits her third job where it's just her and her guitar. She caps the night off at a rock and roll club where she sings with a band. Every night she does this. I'm in awe.
Now it's time for Happy Tuesday.
Peace,
Danny
"To grow, you must be willing to let your present and future,
be totally unlike your past.
Your history is not your destiny."
~Alan Cohen
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
www.risingstardom.com
Today we had morning guests, a day off from workers, a trip to the vet and a wonderful evening in the middle of nowhere. What does it all mean? Read on.
I'm a little disappointed that only one person responded to the song and he admitted to using Google. This should help you:
"Yeah (sunrise) there's a new sun risin', (In your eyes) I can see a new horizon, (Realize) that will keep me realizin'
You're the __ __ __ __" Clue: There's a big part of you that knows this song. If I hummed a little you'd smile.
This morning we were awakened by the sound of BamBam barking her guard-dog bark. It went on longer than usual so I jumped up from my nice warm bed and my twilight sleep to see what was going on. As I raced downstairs I glanced at the clock to notice the time. It was ten after seven. This better be good. There at the partially opened front gate stood Boot in her robe, BamBam barking, and Woody and Sunee, ready to visit. Hmm. Boot yelled to me, with a knowing laugh in her voice, "Your friends from America come". Fine.
After focusing on the situation and realizing what had to be done, I ran upstairs, explained to a puzzled Lisa what was going on, pulled on some jeans and ran downstairs and tried to act like a gracious host. Our guests were on their way to Mae Sai with their entourage, who were sitting in two SUVs in front of the house. We gave them the tour and talked about their plans for the rest of the day. They were going shopping and then back to Bangkok and 'home' to America. Lisa asked them how they found the house. Woody pulled out the paper I'd given them with our address and explained that they gave a guy on a motorbike 100 Baht ($3.00) to lead them to us. Then he smiled and said, "This is Thailand. Can find anyplace." Right you are. Even early in the morning.
No one told us that the painters were done, so we were a little surprised when they didn't show up. After deciding to enjoy the day with the house to ourselves, we regrouped and did our morning routine. It was still early enough for the timing to be the same. (Ha) Today was 'watering day' which meant that we'd be spending extra time with BamBam since she has to stay inside while the sprinkler does it's thing. She loves to play in the water but has to stay dry until her skin gets better. Needless to say, we had a nice morning.
After lunch we took BamBam to the vet for a check on her progress. She now weighs 16 kilos (35 lbs). She loves to ride in the truck, but when it's time to get out she's like a wild beast on a mission. Her little teenage brain wants to go. At that moment the word 'Stay' means 'Blah, blah'. More outings will help with this, I say.
Tonight we went to dinner with Johan and got introduced to a new, for us, restaurant. We still don't know the name of it, but it's on the road to the airport and really is in the middle of nowhere. There's another restaurant down the road on the opposite side, but that's it. There were lots of plants and water features as we walked down a stone path to the entrance. There are no walls around the dining area. It wasn't quite dark so we could appreciate the openness. One of the reasons Johan took us to this spot, besides the food, was the singer. He's told us about her in the past and how great she is and he wasn't wrong. We were seeing her at the first of four gigs she does every night. At this job she sings to a karaoke computer. She sings in Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and English. We heard it all. When she got to the English part of her set, we were blown away. She started with "Close To You" and there are parts of the song where the timber of her voice sounded just like Karen Carpenter. Goosebumps. She sang about six songs in English and we were very impressed. Then the guests started taking the stage and it was downhill from there. The food was some of the best we've tasted in our limited experience. We'll be going back for sure.
Nong, the singer at the restaurant does about an hour and a half there, then goes to another spot where she plays guitar and sings and her brother also plays guitar with her. Then she hits her third job where it's just her and her guitar. She caps the night off at a rock and roll club where she sings with a band. Every night she does this. I'm in awe.
Now it's time for Happy Tuesday.
Peace,
Danny
"To grow, you must be willing to let your present and future,
be totally unlike your past.
Your history is not your destiny."
~Alan Cohen
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
www.risingstardom.com
Monday, January 26, 2009
Chinese New Year
Journey
Hi,
Work on the house began this weekend, fireworks also started going off, and travel plans were made. The pool got a minor makeover and friends from America called from the road.
The song we were humming this weekend was "What's Love Got To Do With It?" by Tina Turner. See, you knew that one.
"Well, make a wish baby Well and I will make it come true Make a list baby Of the things I'll do for you..." Hint: This mid-tempo ballad from 1980 made a big impression. Group is also the name of a dish. Today's line is from the bridge. Hmm.
Saturday morning the workers arrived to start sealing the cracks in the plaster on the walls around the house. The whole job is supposed to take about a week. Fortunately, we saved all the paint and it's still useable. We have many different colors and it would have been something to replace it all. Whew. The pool leak has been traced to the lights and Johan and his crew filled and sealed so we can hopefully keep the water in the pool. It should be ready for swimming in a couple of weeks. That's about how long it should take for the 'new' water to warm up. The air is getting warmer by the day so we're getting mildly excited.
This Thursday Boot and Rene will leave for a week in Rayong. That's where her mother lives. It's been a little over a year since she's seen her. Lisa, BamBam and I will be on our own for a new adventure. (Ha) Rayong is south of Bangkok and it takes about a day by bus to get there.
Some of you may remember that one of our favorite eating spots in Culver City was Thai Boom. The owners, Woody and Sunee told us that they would be coming to Thailand for the Chinese New Year. We gave them our number since they planned to come to Chiang Rai. Well, they called us from the highway today and said they'd be arriving this afternoon. We thought they were coming over for dinner and quickly made plans for more food. A later phone call revealed that there were seven people in their party. They had made their own plans for dinner and we breathed a sigh of relief. We'll talk in the morning and maybe they can come out and visit us at the house. We're still getting used to communication differences. One thing we realize is that just because someone speaks English does not mean they understand everything you say. Even if they say they do. Hmm.
Speaking of friends in America, our dear friend Blue has just published a book of his photography of the Hill Tribe People of Thailand. You can see a preview at: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/378955/b5206baeaff1cfa263d3886e315ae894
The book can be ordered directly from the website. It's a beautiful collection of the diversity and uniqueness of the indigenous tribes of the Kingdom.
Today is Chinese New Year. It's the year of the Ox and there seems to be a lot of celebrating going on. I don't recall it being like this last year but I may have not been paying the same attention. Anyway, there are lots of fireworks, decorations and traffic. Happy New Year.
Have a Great Week.
Peace,
Danny
"The joy is in the journey,
The destination is always changing."
~Unknown
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
www.risingstardom.com
Hi,
Work on the house began this weekend, fireworks also started going off, and travel plans were made. The pool got a minor makeover and friends from America called from the road.
The song we were humming this weekend was "What's Love Got To Do With It?" by Tina Turner. See, you knew that one.
"Well, make a wish baby Well and I will make it come true Make a list baby Of the things I'll do for you..." Hint: This mid-tempo ballad from 1980 made a big impression. Group is also the name of a dish. Today's line is from the bridge. Hmm.
Saturday morning the workers arrived to start sealing the cracks in the plaster on the walls around the house. The whole job is supposed to take about a week. Fortunately, we saved all the paint and it's still useable. We have many different colors and it would have been something to replace it all. Whew. The pool leak has been traced to the lights and Johan and his crew filled and sealed so we can hopefully keep the water in the pool. It should be ready for swimming in a couple of weeks. That's about how long it should take for the 'new' water to warm up. The air is getting warmer by the day so we're getting mildly excited.
This Thursday Boot and Rene will leave for a week in Rayong. That's where her mother lives. It's been a little over a year since she's seen her. Lisa, BamBam and I will be on our own for a new adventure. (Ha) Rayong is south of Bangkok and it takes about a day by bus to get there.
Some of you may remember that one of our favorite eating spots in Culver City was Thai Boom. The owners, Woody and Sunee told us that they would be coming to Thailand for the Chinese New Year. We gave them our number since they planned to come to Chiang Rai. Well, they called us from the highway today and said they'd be arriving this afternoon. We thought they were coming over for dinner and quickly made plans for more food. A later phone call revealed that there were seven people in their party. They had made their own plans for dinner and we breathed a sigh of relief. We'll talk in the morning and maybe they can come out and visit us at the house. We're still getting used to communication differences. One thing we realize is that just because someone speaks English does not mean they understand everything you say. Even if they say they do. Hmm.
Speaking of friends in America, our dear friend Blue has just published a book of his photography of the Hill Tribe People of Thailand. You can see a preview at: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/invited/378955/b5206baeaff1cfa263d3886e315ae894
The book can be ordered directly from the website. It's a beautiful collection of the diversity and uniqueness of the indigenous tribes of the Kingdom.
Today is Chinese New Year. It's the year of the Ox and there seems to be a lot of celebrating going on. I don't recall it being like this last year but I may have not been paying the same attention. Anyway, there are lots of fireworks, decorations and traffic. Happy New Year.
Have a Great Week.
Peace,
Danny
"The joy is in the journey,
The destination is always changing."
~Unknown
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
www.risingstardom.com
Friday, January 23, 2009
Friday Funnies
Hi,
Today we danced with the powers that be, made a new friend, and dined by the river.
Get ready to kick yourself if you missed the last song. You knew it. "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" by Mr. James Brown. For the weekend, think about this line and see what happens: "You must understand though the touch of your hand makes my pulse react... Oh oh oh __ __ __ __ __ __ __?....." Clue: This was a major hit for this artist when she went solo after a major breakup. She recently returned to the limelight. A senior rocker. The song asks a baffling question.
We spent a good part of the day at the land office and the registration office. All of this in an effort to get all the proper documents in order for the land and house. The land office was the first stop. We went with our lawyer (Khun Preecha) and even though he had reserved a place in the 'queue', we had to take a number. We were number 22 and they were on 18. Shouldn't take too long. (Ha) They got up to number 21 and, in traditional Thai style, closed for lunch. We went home, had lunch and then drove ourselves back to the office. After a short wait it was our turn. First thing the man wanted to know was our names and our parents' names. Huh? We complied and then Preecha converted them into Thai. This was interesting because there are some sounds in English that don't translate. The letter 'Z' is not in the language and is a sound that is not made. There is also the sound of 'L' at the end of a word that is almost unspeakable for most Thais. My middle name is Daniel and they pronounce it 'Danion'. It took some doing, but Preecha managed to get all the names down in Thai script so they would sound correct if spoken by a Thai.
Our next stop was the office where we were to start the procedure for the 'House Book'. Since Boot lives with us we wanted her in the book too. They needed her to be there so I had to dash back home and get her. The man behind the counter wanted a Thai translation of the picture page of our Passports so it could be verified by Immigration that we are who we claim to be and that we're in the country legally. One would think that matching I.D. and Visa stamps in the book would be enough. Nope, he told us it's the law. Then he gave us directions to a translator. Boot managed to get us there, after checking for directions along the way. A man came out from the back of an open shop house and began talking to us in very good English. We told him what we needed and he was indeed the man for the job. After a few questions we learned that he lived in the U.S. many years ago. When we returned to pick up our papers we talked a little more. He sells packaged noodles from his shop and does translations. We exchanged numbers and told him to call if he had any questions about English.
This evening we took Boot and Rene out to dinner. We went to a restaurant on the river that we used to see on our bike rides. Our table was under the stars, looking down on the river. There was live music for our dining pleasure. The owner of the place was still singing when we left. It started out alright but gradually devolved into a karaoke sounding effort. We all got a little silly when a man passed our table and then came back. He was from Europe someplace and he asked Rene if he was English. Rene replied, in a thick French accent, that he was French. The man had a question for someone English and apologized for bothering us. I wondered why he hadn't asked me if I was English. That's when the table started laughing. It was all downhill from there. Everything made us laugh and finally we managed to get ourselves out the door. It was a very fun outing.
I think it's time for the 'Funnies'. This week they're from Cousin Trudye. Have a Great WeekEnd.
Peace,
Danny
Signs
On a Plumber's truck:
'We repair what your husband fixed.'
At a tire shop:
'Invite us to your next blowout.'
At a Towing company:
'We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows.'
At an Optometrist's Office:
'If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place.'
On a Fence:
'Salesman welcome. Dog food is expensive.'
Outside a Muffler Shop:
'No appointment necessary. We hear you coming.'
In a Veterinarian's waiting room:
'Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!'
At an Electric Company:
'We would be delighted if you send in your payment.
However, if you don't, you will be.'
Sign on the back of a Septic Tank Truck:
'Caution - This truck is full of Political Promises.'
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
www.risingstardom.com
Today we danced with the powers that be, made a new friend, and dined by the river.
Get ready to kick yourself if you missed the last song. You knew it. "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag" by Mr. James Brown. For the weekend, think about this line and see what happens: "You must understand though the touch of your hand makes my pulse react... Oh oh oh __ __ __ __ __ __ __?....." Clue: This was a major hit for this artist when she went solo after a major breakup. She recently returned to the limelight. A senior rocker. The song asks a baffling question.
We spent a good part of the day at the land office and the registration office. All of this in an effort to get all the proper documents in order for the land and house. The land office was the first stop. We went with our lawyer (Khun Preecha) and even though he had reserved a place in the 'queue', we had to take a number. We were number 22 and they were on 18. Shouldn't take too long. (Ha) They got up to number 21 and, in traditional Thai style, closed for lunch. We went home, had lunch and then drove ourselves back to the office. After a short wait it was our turn. First thing the man wanted to know was our names and our parents' names. Huh? We complied and then Preecha converted them into Thai. This was interesting because there are some sounds in English that don't translate. The letter 'Z' is not in the language and is a sound that is not made. There is also the sound of 'L' at the end of a word that is almost unspeakable for most Thais. My middle name is Daniel and they pronounce it 'Danion'. It took some doing, but Preecha managed to get all the names down in Thai script so they would sound correct if spoken by a Thai.
Our next stop was the office where we were to start the procedure for the 'House Book'. Since Boot lives with us we wanted her in the book too. They needed her to be there so I had to dash back home and get her. The man behind the counter wanted a Thai translation of the picture page of our Passports so it could be verified by Immigration that we are who we claim to be and that we're in the country legally. One would think that matching I.D. and Visa stamps in the book would be enough. Nope, he told us it's the law. Then he gave us directions to a translator. Boot managed to get us there, after checking for directions along the way. A man came out from the back of an open shop house and began talking to us in very good English. We told him what we needed and he was indeed the man for the job. After a few questions we learned that he lived in the U.S. many years ago. When we returned to pick up our papers we talked a little more. He sells packaged noodles from his shop and does translations. We exchanged numbers and told him to call if he had any questions about English.
This evening we took Boot and Rene out to dinner. We went to a restaurant on the river that we used to see on our bike rides. Our table was under the stars, looking down on the river. There was live music for our dining pleasure. The owner of the place was still singing when we left. It started out alright but gradually devolved into a karaoke sounding effort. We all got a little silly when a man passed our table and then came back. He was from Europe someplace and he asked Rene if he was English. Rene replied, in a thick French accent, that he was French. The man had a question for someone English and apologized for bothering us. I wondered why he hadn't asked me if I was English. That's when the table started laughing. It was all downhill from there. Everything made us laugh and finally we managed to get ourselves out the door. It was a very fun outing.
I think it's time for the 'Funnies'. This week they're from Cousin Trudye. Have a Great WeekEnd.
Peace,
Danny
Signs
On a Plumber's truck:
'We repair what your husband fixed.'
At a tire shop:
'Invite us to your next blowout.'
At a Towing company:
'We don't charge an arm and a leg. We want tows.'
At an Optometrist's Office:
'If you don't see what you're looking for, you've come to the right place.'
On a Fence:
'Salesman welcome. Dog food is expensive.'
Outside a Muffler Shop:
'No appointment necessary. We hear you coming.'
In a Veterinarian's waiting room:
'Be back in 5 minutes. Sit! Stay!'
At an Electric Company:
'We would be delighted if you send in your payment.
However, if you don't, you will be.'
Sign on the back of a Septic Tank Truck:
'Caution - This truck is full of Political Promises.'
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
www.risingstardom.com
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Pizza in Thailand
Flower
Hi,
It was a special day today. We had lunch downtown, there was teaching at the house, and a birthday was celebrated.
Congrats to all of you who knew the song. Even if you weren't born yet, this song should be in your knowledge base. Hmm.
"Come here Mama And dig this crazy scene He's not too fancy But his mind is mighty clean. Ain't no drag __ __ __ __ __ __" Hint: This song could be the theme song for the new California ruling regarding shopping bags. That should give it away.
Today was Lisa's birthday and part of the fun of days like this is getting to do something different. We ate at the Pizza Company and had our cheeseless pizza. Yum. Might seem weird to some but it's actually kinda good with BBQ chicken as the topping. Nothing like pizza in Thailand to keep you thinking. (Ha)
Later in the day Napa had another ballet lesson. She's showing lots of potential. After her lesson she played on the steps of the pool. The water is cold but she insisted that it felt good. When you're nine and you want to swim it really doesn't matter how cold the water is.
Boot prepared a delicious fish dinner, complete with the head. (Ha) Then she brought out a beautiful cake for Lisa that she picked up at the market. I took pics of both and I'll post them soon. Tay and Napa were still at the house and they joined us for cake and laughter. Napa said she'd like to live at our house. That pool is such an attraction. After cake we learned that she played the piano so we all went into the studio and she played 'Happy Birthday' and a few other tunes. Then Tay's husband arrived with a big basket of fruit and some flowers.
While driving today it dawned on me that there seems to be a willingness here to take risks that baffles me. If one isn't afraid it's easier to take risks, I suppose. I'm still rolling this one around in my mind but I think you get the drift of it all. So, maybe it's not just bad driving. Maybe it's just the way it is. Another 'Hmm' moment.
One other thing that is puzzling is the unattended corn fields that surround the house. Workers started clearing another field today. I heard a chopping sound and looked out to see them cutting down a large section, without any harvesting. The field to the west of us is just standing there, dormant. I'm going to start asking around and see if I can get to the bottom of this.
Have an Exciting Thursday.
Peace,
Danny
"Find the seed at the bottom of your heart and bring forth a flower."
~Shigenori Kameoka
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
www.risingstardom.com
Hi,
It was a special day today. We had lunch downtown, there was teaching at the house, and a birthday was celebrated.
Congrats to all of you who knew the song. Even if you weren't born yet, this song should be in your knowledge base. Hmm.
"Come here Mama And dig this crazy scene He's not too fancy But his mind is mighty clean. Ain't no drag __ __ __ __ __ __" Hint: This song could be the theme song for the new California ruling regarding shopping bags. That should give it away.
Today was Lisa's birthday and part of the fun of days like this is getting to do something different. We ate at the Pizza Company and had our cheeseless pizza. Yum. Might seem weird to some but it's actually kinda good with BBQ chicken as the topping. Nothing like pizza in Thailand to keep you thinking. (Ha)
Later in the day Napa had another ballet lesson. She's showing lots of potential. After her lesson she played on the steps of the pool. The water is cold but she insisted that it felt good. When you're nine and you want to swim it really doesn't matter how cold the water is.
Boot prepared a delicious fish dinner, complete with the head. (Ha) Then she brought out a beautiful cake for Lisa that she picked up at the market. I took pics of both and I'll post them soon. Tay and Napa were still at the house and they joined us for cake and laughter. Napa said she'd like to live at our house. That pool is such an attraction. After cake we learned that she played the piano so we all went into the studio and she played 'Happy Birthday' and a few other tunes. Then Tay's husband arrived with a big basket of fruit and some flowers.
While driving today it dawned on me that there seems to be a willingness here to take risks that baffles me. If one isn't afraid it's easier to take risks, I suppose. I'm still rolling this one around in my mind but I think you get the drift of it all. So, maybe it's not just bad driving. Maybe it's just the way it is. Another 'Hmm' moment.
One other thing that is puzzling is the unattended corn fields that surround the house. Workers started clearing another field today. I heard a chopping sound and looked out to see them cutting down a large section, without any harvesting. The field to the west of us is just standing there, dormant. I'm going to start asking around and see if I can get to the bottom of this.
Have an Exciting Thursday.
Peace,
Danny
"Find the seed at the bottom of your heart and bring forth a flower."
~Shigenori Kameoka
Gettin' Funky, Thai Style
www.flickr.com/photos/gratidudepics
www.risingstardom.com
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