Understand

Hi,

We woke up to a slightly warmer morning than yesterday.  The cloud cover kept the temperature down and we had a very comfortable day.  

The ‘Easy Monday’ song was “It’s Too Late” by Carole King.  That means it’s time for a ‘Zany Day’ song.  “It’s the __ __ __ __ __. (go granny go granny, go granny go)  Has a pretty little flower bed of white gardenias. (go granny, go granny, go granny go) But parked in a rickety old garage is a brand new, shiny red, Super-Stock Dodge!”  Hint: Lives in the city where the Rose Parade takes place.

This morning, after our morning coffee, we went to the flower market to get an arrangement to take to our friend Tye (pronounced Tdie), who just opened a shoe store in her shophouse.  There are lots of places selling shoes in Chiang Rai, but I have to say, this one is very special.  The shoes are beautiful, there is lots of lighting, and the price is right.  Consider an average price of $5 per pair.  She even has a couch in the back room for husbands and boyfriends (555).  We’ve known her since our early days here in Thailand and she has helped us with many things.  

This afternoon we had a visit from Boot (our former housekeeper) and her boyfriend Rudi.  We hadn’t seen them in some time and it was a nice reunion.  The real reunion was between Daku and Boot.  He was beside himself the whole time they were at the house.  They started out in the front yard, Daku running in circles around Boot, then wagging his tail so hard he looked like he might fall over.  Then, inside it was more of the same.  He mellowed a bit, but couldn’t stop giving her all his attention.  It was very sweet.  They have known each other for the first 5 years of Daku’s life so it makes sense.  He hadn’t seen her for at least a year.  We caught up on each others lives and Rudi and I talked about 'the times' a bit.  It was a good day.

Tomorrow will be another adventure day.  Cat, along with Rachel and a film crew from the States, are coming over after lunch to do a segment for “The Freedom Story” (formerly The Sold Project) about Cat’s life at The Big Brown House.  They are filming her life in various locations, including her dorm and classes at the university, life at our house, and at the village where she grew up.  Then they’ll squeeze it all down to a few minutes.  It should be an interesting experience. 

Today’s photos are from the Bangkok weekend.  The first photo is a water-taxi from the Oriental Hotel.  It’s a modern version of an old-school transport, all in carved wood.  It shuttles guests to various riverside locations.  The second photo is one of the many exotic vehicles for sale on the third floor at Siam Paragon.  We saw everything from Minis to Rolls-Royces.  This little Lamborghini Gallardo really caught my eye.

It feels like a Wacky Wednesday.

                  Peace,

                            Danny

“Nothing in life is to be feared,

it is only to be understood.

Now is the time to understand more,

so that we may fear less.”

~Marie Curie

Thinking

Hi,

After I sent you yesterday’s message, it began to rain.  It was a slow dripping kind of rain that went on for hours.  That’s the best kind, especially when it’s in the middle of the night.  Today was cooler with a few hints of blue sky.

Most of you have already written with the title of the ‘Easy Monday’ song, but there’s always room for more (555).

We’ll skip to the last verse:  “There’ll be good time again for me and you, but we just can’t stay together, don’t you feel it too.  Still I’m glad for what we had, and how I once loved you.  But __ __ __, baby, now, __ __ __, though we really did try to make it…..”  Hint:  Too easy.  

Last night there was music from the river, of course.  The last act to perform was quite different from what we’re used to hearing.  It was a piano-based group lead by a woman singer who had a wonderful sense of pitch.  The songs were very melodic and had beginnings, middles and ends.  The thing that first caught my ear was the obvious nod to gospel music.  I don’t know who they were, but it would be a treat to see them up close, as opposed to just hearing them from across the river.  

This morning we went to The Wanderer for coffee and a Skype chat.  Since we go there because the internet is strong, we finally made a point to go to our provider and discuss the problems.  It seemed like once we told them that Youtube and Skype didn’t work so well, they understood that there was a problem.  They actually use Youtube to test how stable a connection is, since everybody Youtubes.  "Someone will be with you shortly." (555)

Natcha and Gong have changed their approach to selling food.  Gong will be selling in the mornings at a location where there is more of a demand for food.  That means that they will be here more hours and Neechanon will be around more.  This is great, since she’s evolving so rapidly, we don’t want to miss the special times.  Last night she and Natcha came up for a quick visit and Neechanon brought me a couple of toy monkeys.  She handed me one and kept the other and then gave me big smile and began talking.  It seemed like a full minute of non-stop talk.  There were changes in inflection, facial emphasis, the whole bit.  Observant children learn how language works from listening and watching.  

Today’s photos are from Bangkok.  The first is a Hindu Temple on a major thoroughfare.  People of all faiths stop and light incense or leave flowers.  There is also a Buddhist Temple that gets the same traffic.  There is such a mingling of the two that the lines are sometimes blurred.   The second photo is a table made from split bamboo.  The top lifts off to provide storage space.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                  Peace,

                            Danny

“No problem can withstand 

the assault of sustained thinking.”

~Voltaire

Gratitude

Hi,

Sunday, the weather in Bangkok was cloudy and looking like rain.  There was mist on the way to the airport.  Tatt told us it was raining where he was.  When we arrived in Chiang Rai it was dry and windy.  It tried to rain today but it didn’t make it.

Well, the ‘Old School Friday’ song was “Get A Job” by The Silhouettes.  This week’s ‘Easy Monday’ tune should be familiar:  “Stayed in bed all morning just to pass the time.  There’s something wrong here, there can be no denying.  One of us in changing, or maybe we’ve just stopped trying.  And __ __ __, baby, now __ __ __, though we really did try to make it.  Something inside has died and I can’t hide and I just can’t fake it, oh no no.”  Hint:  Something that is the opposite of early.

Our weekend adventure in Bangkok continued on Saturday morning.  We had scheduled a meeting for 11am at Paragon, one of the high-end malls in a row of big shopping centers.  We arrived a little after 10am and the place was already getting crowded.  This was the first weekend after the cremation ceremonies and also the weekend of Loy Krathong.  Khun Boonrit dropped us off and we found a table at Starbuck’s.  The appointment was with the woman who served as ‘presenter’ for the Women’s Exhibit at ArtBridge.  It was a good meeting and as a result, she will visit us in Chiang Rai and get a closer look at Lisa’s work and the process.  She has contacts in Burma and Bali.  She’s also a dog lover and will probably stay with us.  We felt good about the connection that was made.

Tatt goes to Chulalongkorn University, which is fairly close to where we were so he met us for lunch.  He’s in his final year of degree in marine biology, and super busy.  When we asked him if he was still studying Italian he said he already had 22 credits this semester. Instead he is downloading lessons from the internet, doing the worksheets and then taking them to his professor to have him check his work.  Most of his time is spent in the laboratory working on ways to identify microplastic in micro organisms as a result of pollution.   We went to the ‘Sea Life’ exhibit where he interned last summer.  He stayed with us while we went from floor to floor looking for the bookstore and art supplies.  It was fun.  We kept noticing young people in costumes related to some anime characters.  Tatt told us that the first of each month there is something like that at the mall.  

After the mall Khun Boonrit drove us back to the house.  Once again, the traffic was the topic of conversation.  While sitting at a light I watched people line up at a motorbike taxi station.  It’s really just a place at the curb, but it seemed like an organized ‘thing’.  The drivers wear orange vests with their I.D. in a little window on the back of their vests.  A bike pulls up, they tell him where they’re going and they pull away.  Then another bike appears and so it goes.  It is possible to use several types of transportation to negotiate around Bangkok on a single outing.  Some people use the bike system to get to the train, then take a boat up the river, get in a Tuk-Tuk for part of the ride and then maybe a car taxi for the final part of the trip.  Compared to Bangkok, Chiang Rai is still in the baby stages of transportation.  

Saturday evening James BBQ’d chicken and veggies and we had a wonderful dinner.  Sunday morning I got a real treat.  Normally, James and Nita have a trainer who comes to the house for a workout and physical therapy.  Juan is an Osteopath, originally from Madrid, Spain.  I had been telling them about my lower back and knee and when James had to be away on Sunday, Nita insisted that Juan see me.  I got one of the best treatments I have ever received.  He explained what was happening and did things to correct the issues.  He told me I would feel uncomfortable for a few days but then I’d feel better.  I had no discomfort while traveling home, and today I used the stairs sparingly with no pain.  My new mission is to find an Osteopath in our area so I can continue with this form of therapy.  So grateful.

Today’s photo was taken at Paragon in Bangkok.  It's an example of the creative environments that some of the restaurants offer.  They used driftwood and bamboo to create a tropical vibe.  

Meanwhile, back at the ranch (555) the Loy Krathong musical intrusion continues.  Last night they went until midnight.  They’re back tonight, a little quieter for now but it could get loud later.  Thursday is the last night.

Have a Great Week.

                 Peace,

                           Danny

“Feeling Gratitude and not 

expressing it is like wrapping

a present and not giving it.”

~William Arthur Ward

Friday Funnies

Hi,

Bangkok had beautiful weather today.  The high was 87F and the low was 73F.  Chiang Rai is going to feel like an icebox when we return.

This week’s ‘Zany Day’ song was “Summertime Blues” originally by Eddie Cochran and later by Blue Cheer.  For ‘Old School Friday’ see if you remember this:  “(Intro) Sha na na na, sha na na na na x 3, yip yip yip yip yip yip yip yip, num num num num num num __ __ __ sha na na na na na na na na.  Every morning about this time she gets me out of my bed a-crying __ __ __.  After breakfast every day she throws the want ads right my way and never fails to say, ‘__ __ __’.  Sha na na na, sha na na na na na……”  Hint:  Employment crisis in the household.

This morning we were driven to MBK plaza, a five story, giant shopping center.  There were a couple of things we wanted to find, and it’s just a crazy fun place to experience.  We found what we were looking for and also discovered a tattoo expo that was going on.  No, we didn’t get any ink, but we did see some beautiful artwork.  The police have been cracking down on the sale of counterfeit goods and the place was a little different than when we were there 5 years ago.   During our travels we saw a big sign reading: “R & B Karaoke”.  Upon further examination I discovered it stood for Rhythm and Beat.  How could they?

We met Nita at one of the malls after her yoga class and the three of us went to lunch at The Anantara Hotel.  The food was quite good, and they made me a mango ‘pun’ that was perfect.  A pun is like a slushy only thicker, mostly fruit and ice blended into a beverage that one can hardly draw through a straw.  From lunch we went for coffee at The Oriental Hotel by the river.  Nothing like an iced-coffee by the river on a hot day.  The hotel was setting up for their Loy Krathong celebration dinner for the guests.  Before we left the hotel grounds, Nita wanted us to see a jewelry store she likes.  We don’t usually browse in places like this, but it was something to see.  The craftsmanship was amazing.  We didn’t ask about the price on the emerald earrings, but the diamond encrusted purse was going for $25K.  I will just hang on to the memory of what I saw.  Parked outside was a Porsche eHybrid belonging to someone with some extra cash (555).  

The traffic in Bangkok is heavy and intense.  I don’t think I would ever be inclined to drive here unless it was an emergency.  Khun Boonlit was masterful in guiding the SUV through tight spaces and merging in and out of the strangeness.  The abundance of motorbike taxis is mind boggling.  The drivers are mostly men, wearing orange vests and hauling customers in and out of the lanes, beating the traffic.  James and Nita use them all the time.  We’re not that brave, or something.  

Our last stop of the day was Villa Market, which has a lot of Western food.  We picked up some dinner items and finally returned to the house.  It was a fun but tiring day.  

Today’s photos were taken at the two hotels we visited.  The first is a big Krathong in the lobby of The Anantara Resort.  The second photo is in the lobby of The Oriental Hotel.  It also has a Krathong motif.

Have a Wonderful WeekEnd.    The ‘Funnies’ are next.

                  Peace,

                            Danny

Value

Hi,

The weather in Bangkok is warm and a little humid.  There will be no chilly mornings for the rest of the week.  Temps in the mid 80s will be just right for seeing the city and hanging out.

The ‘Zany Day’ song has three verses.  I’m gonna jump to the third verse in hopes that you’ll figure it out.  A few people already have.  “I gonna take two weeks, gonna have a fine vacation.  I gonna take my problem to the United Nations.  Well I called my congressman and he said quote, ‘I’d love to help you son but you’re too young to vote.’  Sometimes I wonder what I’m a-gonna do, but there ain’t no cure for the __ __.”  Hint:  It’s a malady that usually comes on during the months between June and August.

Our flight from Chiang Rai to Bangkok (BKK) left early, was very smooth and allowed us to have more time on our first day here.  Our taxi driver estimated the time to our destination and Google Maps gave us the same number.  They were both right.  We are staying in a little neighborhood that is actually in the middle of the bustling city, but it’s totally quiet.  Our hosts are James and Nita and we know them through Lisa’s Dad Joe.  We first met them in Chiang Rai, where we had lunch at ArtBridge and coffee at The Wanderer.  When we arrived at the house we were greeted by their housekeeper.  Once we got settled, it was time for a late lunch.  Nita and her friend Grace took us to The Commons.  It’s like an upscale food-court with a range of choices from different countries and some specialty shops like the place that featured egg dishes.  Picture this: we ordered a chicken sandwich at a Vietnamese shop, from an American guy, in Bangkok.  There was also Mexican food, very ‘healthy’ food, and a place called ‘Meat and Bone’ which we avoided.  Our food was good, had lots of laughs and then went to Healthy Land for a massage at the most elegant place I’ve ever been.  Nita and James have a driver, Khun Boonlit, who slipped us through the traffic in their Toyota Fortuner.  After the massage we went to a shop full of ceramics and fabrics.  What an afternoon.

This evening, before dinner, I got a chance to visit with James.  They have been away from the States for 30 years.  They have lived in many places and seem to like Bangkok and London the most.  Their house is like an art gallery with artifacts from their travels as an extra bonus.  The house has a pool and it may be warm enough to swim tomorrow.

Today’s photo was taken from our bedroom window.  

Have a Thrilling Thursday.

                   Peace,

                             Danny

“Strive not to be a success,

but rather to be of value.”

~Albert Einstein

Youth

Hi,

Cold seems to be upon us.  At least, what we consider cold.  The lows are in the low 60s and the highs are in the mid 80s.  It will be warmer in Bangkok so that’s some consolation.  Still, it feels strange to be wearing a sweatshirt in the morning.

‘Easy Monday’ was a memorable hit in many minds.  “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor is still a great anthem.  For ‘Zany Day’ let’s see what’s in the bag.  “A-I’m a-gonna raise a fuss, I’m a-gonna raise a holler, about a-workin’ all summer just to try to make a dollar.  Ev’ry time I call my baby, to try to get a date, my boss say, ‘no dice son, you gotta work late’.  Sometimes I wonder what I’m a-gonna do, but there ain’t no cure for the __ __.”  Hint:  It’s not the time of year for this tune, but it’s fun and easy.  There’s a season in the title.

This morning we had our weekly Skype call with Joe.  Once again, we called from The Wanderer, where the WiFi was strong, the coffee was good and the background was green and lush.  It’s fun sitting out in the morning air, talking to the other side of the Pacific Ocean.

We had a final list of errands to run before our departure tomorrow and we got everything done.  We had to drive through the flower mart to get to the plastic store and the fruit stands.  The flower vendors all seemed to be doing big business today.  I don’t know the reason, but the traffic in front of the stalls was heavy.

This afternoon Cat came over.  We had a nice visit and she’s going to come and stay with Daku one night while we’re gone.  

After dinner we had a visit from Natcha and Neechanon.  What a treat.  Tonight, Neechanon was completely over her fear of the geko wall hanging.  She wanted to hold it.  After walking around with it and showing us how she was cool with it, she walked out the door with it.  We all laughed and she came back inside.  Tonight she met a new activity collection that we got her at Big C.  It’s a box full of plastic pieces that are similar to Legos, but simpler.  I thought she would forget the other ‘attractions’ but she remembered the alphabet letters and gave them some attention also.  At one point she was saying ‘A, B’ and then going into her language.  She did a lot of talking this evening, every now and then we could pick out a word.  She was definitely talking about things around her and trying to tell us about them.  While checking out the bathtub the word for water in Thai was a big part of the stream of words.  It was a great visit and it will hold us until we get back from Bangkok.

Today’s photo was taken in the kitchen.  Neechanon sat on Daku’s bed and he crawled up behind her and settled, not disturbing her from her ‘work’.

Time to finish packing for the trip.  We haven’t been to Bangkok for about 5 years so this will be an experience.  A lot has changed and we’ll be like real ‘visitors’.  It will be the first time we’ve stayed in the home of friends, rather than a hotel.  There will be lots to see besides the galleries.  The city has grown so we’ll have to pace ourselves.  Someone suggested that we plan on doing one thing per day because of the traffic.  I’ll bet we do more (555).   

It’s a Wacky Wednesday.

                    Peace,

                              Danny

“Youth has no age.”

~Pablo Picasso

Main Thing

Hi,

Chiang Rai weather today was cool.  This morning it was actually cold.  I wore my hoodie sweatshirt all morning.  It warmed up a little in the afternoon, but it was not what we were expecting.  The sky was clear as a bell.

You may recall that our ‘Easy Monday’ song was about a breakup.  We join the drama at the end of the third verse going into the chorus:  “…Weren’t you the one who tried to hurt me with goodbye?  Did you think I’d crumble?  Did you think I’d lay down and die?  Oh, no, not I!  __ __ __.  Oh, as long as I know how to love I know I’ll stay alive.  I’ve got all my life to live, I’ve got all my love to give and __ __, __ __ __, hey, hey.”  Hint:  I think it’s all there.

We went to The Wanderer this morning for coffee and we were surprised to see our friend Rachel, from The Freedom Story, along with Tawee, the local director.  It was a nice reunion and we’ll see her more next week.  

I have been having a continuing problem with my lower back and left knee for several weeks so we decided to see the orthopedic doctor at Overbrook Hospital Clinic.  Lisa had good results with an orthopedic doctor there, so we spent the rest of the morning mostly waiting.  After a consultation, x-rays, and more consultation it was recommended that I stick to swimming, and not put any undo stress on my body until I strengthen some supporting muscles.  I kinda knew that, but it was good to get an explanation of what’s going on and see it in pictures.  The stairs are not my friends right now.  

This afternoon we had coffee at Work@Home and hung out with Katai.  She and Thovan went to Hokkaido, Japan recently and we heard about their trip.  They watched a car rally and traveled around the countryside.  Sounds like somewhere we’d like to go.  We always have fun talking about dogs, art, and life in Chiang Rai.  We made tentative plans for an evening out with dinner and live music.  

The music across the river began this morning.  It was mostly recorded stuff until late afternoon and then the live portion of the thumping started.  I’m sure there are some talented artists performing on the stage over there, but all that gets to us is ‘the bottom’.  This is the first time in one year since we’ve heard big sound like this.  Now that the mourning period is over, we’ll probably get a lot more.  Oh boy.

Today’s photo was taken as we were leaving The Wanderer.  A man and his oxen walking down to the river.  He had four adults and two teens in tow.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                 Peace,

                           Danny

“The main thing is to keep the

main thing the main thing.”

~Stephen Covey