The following two links, 1 from the Bangkok Post and 1 from the Daily Mail (UK) make interesting reading.
I have said for many years that medical advancement should slow down. My views may not be popular with many but i certainly thought very realistic. The first link is to an article about China stopping the trade in human organs, but also how 1.5 million patients a year need a transplant but currently only 10,000 receive one. Imagine the impact if everyone received a transplant, the effect on the population of a country that already limits families to one child each. It's not rocket science...
The next piece from the Daily Mail addresses the effect of longevity on the old in the UK, the sadness of old age and loneliness of death, all brought around by medical advancement. Unfortunately we all have to go sometime so maybe it's time to start doing it with dignity. It takes you through the ages of mankind from when we were at the bottom of the food chain and some how amazingly worked our way to the top, not sure if that was such a good move! Mother nature knows best.
In Africa we happily dish out very expensive medicines to save lives to then let them die of starvation! Should there not be more of a balance.
What a happy tale for Easter. Happy Easter to you all
http://www.bangkokpost.com/breaking_news/breakingnews.php?id=117920
One in five can expect a 'lonely shameful death' the Daily Mail
Saturday, April 7, 2007
Thursday, April 5, 2007
YOU WOULD NEVER GUESS?
If you didn't know before you may get a clue today!
It's a major holiday tomorrow, in fact Chakri Day .
I hear you asking what clue, well in true style with a holiday on the horizon and a big party to go to the poilce are out in FORCE with road blocks for motorists sprining up everywhere and of course the associated fine.
Have a happy holiday.
It's a major holiday tomorrow, in fact Chakri Day .
I hear you asking what clue, well in true style with a holiday on the horizon and a big party to go to the poilce are out in FORCE with road blocks for motorists sprining up everywhere and of course the associated fine.
Have a happy holiday.
THE SCHOOL FOR LIFE
Yesterday was a very special day at the school for life in Doi Saket, the official blessing and hand over of the new boys dormitory funded by this years Hillside roof top charity event in January.
Unfortunately i was unable to attend as i am still unpacking from the move and repacking to leave next week, all very confusing. I am assured by Steve the event was enjoyed by all. There was a very strange event that looks like an obstacle course and endurance test all at once. Blowing up balloons, eating huge water melons and a 4 person set of ski's to name but a few of the tasks.
The pictures in the web album say it all. Have a look!
Well done to all involved and all those who contributed over the year and at the event itself.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
MURDER MYSTERY AND INTRUIGE AT GALEN'S GALLERY
Sunday night and after a long and hot two days moving it was the BIGGEST night out in Chiang Mai in a long time.
Howard and Steve had put together a murder mystery party and many of our old favourites had parts including yours truly, i had the part of a Thai folk/pop star guitar and all.
The event was carefully planned and well thought out, with little to no information given to people before the event. Each was given a brief synopsis of their role and the names of characters they would interact with, but you had no clue who would play the characters.
The first arrivals were at 7pm and we had to be there and in character right on time, as the second group were to arrive at 7-30 giving half an hour to get into character. The second group were themselves, but later on some became characters i.e the detectives after the gruesome murder took place.
The part of Sri Banharn a bitchy quite manipulative gossip columnist was played by the lovely Ronny and of all people the murderer was Steve who played an amazing part of a hen pecked husband with a Lesbian wife, great job by Ms Lomax.
The setting was brilliant as i do love the vibe at Galen's gallery and since it was the launch of an exhibition of newly acquired works it worked so so well and was so much fun.
Everyone brought a pot luck dish and booze and it was a ball. I am glad to say Ronny is fine and no permanent damage has been done in the making of this epic.
If you would like to take part in the next event i will put your names forward to the organisers if you let me know.
Thanks again to Steve and Howard for all their hard work.
Howard and Steve had put together a murder mystery party and many of our old favourites had parts including yours truly, i had the part of a Thai folk/pop star guitar and all.
The event was carefully planned and well thought out, with little to no information given to people before the event. Each was given a brief synopsis of their role and the names of characters they would interact with, but you had no clue who would play the characters.
The first arrivals were at 7pm and we had to be there and in character right on time, as the second group were to arrive at 7-30 giving half an hour to get into character. The second group were themselves, but later on some became characters i.e the detectives after the gruesome murder took place.
The part of Sri Banharn a bitchy quite manipulative gossip columnist was played by the lovely Ronny and of all people the murderer was Steve who played an amazing part of a hen pecked husband with a Lesbian wife, great job by Ms Lomax.
The setting was brilliant as i do love the vibe at Galen's gallery and since it was the launch of an exhibition of newly acquired works it worked so so well and was so much fun.
Everyone brought a pot luck dish and booze and it was a ball. I am glad to say Ronny is fine and no permanent damage has been done in the making of this epic.
If you would like to take part in the next event i will put your names forward to the organisers if you let me know.
Thanks again to Steve and Howard for all their hard work.
AIRPORT NAMES
Hi Gareth,
(Sorry couldn't send any of this via your blog for some reason)
I also understand that the 'new' spelling of Don Muang as in Mueang is leading to many tourists, and those of us who are completely useless at the Thai Language, being taken to the nearest Pork BBQ Roast stall by taxi drivers who do not understand that we want to go to the airport! (or visa versa, of course, you could find yourself in the check-in line for a flight to Phuket when all you really wanted to do was to take was to have a quick lunch time snack!)Apparently the pronunciations are very similar! Probably another reason for using Suvarnabhumi which incidentally if pronounced as spelt would most likely result in you being taxied to the river to catch a boat to the Grand Palace! Hope all is well in Chiang Mai or is it Chieng Mai?.
(Sorry couldn't send any of this via your blog for some reason)
I also understand that the 'new' spelling of Don Muang as in Mueang is leading to many tourists, and those of us who are completely useless at the Thai Language, being taken to the nearest Pork BBQ Roast stall by taxi drivers who do not understand that we want to go to the airport! (or visa versa, of course, you could find yourself in the check-in line for a flight to Phuket when all you really wanted to do was to take was to have a quick lunch time snack!)Apparently the pronunciations are very similar! Probably another reason for using Suvarnabhumi which incidentally if pronounced as spelt would most likely result in you being taxied to the river to catch a boat to the Grand Palace! Hope all is well in Chiang Mai or is it Chieng Mai?.
Monday, April 2, 2007
The Big Move
Well folks, the big day has come and gone and i have said a final good bye to my home in Mae Rim.
I am now ensconced in my new home which sits on 2 fabulous Rai of land on the river bank in Chiang Mai. I now have the most gadget laden high tech cow shed in the world, but the gardens and views are precious.
The dogs, never having been with others, are now happily staking their turf with the other 6 dogs on the land, and yesterday their first day found them completely exhausted by the experience.
The move went pretty much without hitch taking 10 pick up loads and a lot of help from friends to accomplish, but we moved a 3 bedroom bungalow's worth and the huge gardens worth of potted plants and water features in 9 hours, not bad since it is about an hour and a half round trip from there to here.
I have been made more than welcome by my friends whose house then land sits on and i feel quite privileged to have such good Thai friends.
A word of warning to anyone renting in Thailand, your returnable deposit may not be quite that and may be very difficult to get back, especially if like me your landlord is a jumped up Colonel in the army, luckily for me an unfortunately for him i can trump his Colonel with a General, a friend of mine whom i cm going to have to call on to get my money back. The Colonel having gone over the figures with me in November and again in February seems to think he needs to check them again before returning my deposit. He originally promised me it today and now reckons the 17th April, not much use to me sine i will be in the UK. I think he has no money and is trying to wriggle out of it, but I spoke to the my friend the General yesterday and he has said he will sort it upon his return to Chiang Mai this week. I do however feel if i did not know the General it would be a case of kiss it goodbye.
More to follow but have so much to do in the cow shed.
I am now ensconced in my new home which sits on 2 fabulous Rai of land on the river bank in Chiang Mai. I now have the most gadget laden high tech cow shed in the world, but the gardens and views are precious.
The dogs, never having been with others, are now happily staking their turf with the other 6 dogs on the land, and yesterday their first day found them completely exhausted by the experience.
The move went pretty much without hitch taking 10 pick up loads and a lot of help from friends to accomplish, but we moved a 3 bedroom bungalow's worth and the huge gardens worth of potted plants and water features in 9 hours, not bad since it is about an hour and a half round trip from there to here.
I have been made more than welcome by my friends whose house then land sits on and i feel quite privileged to have such good Thai friends.
A word of warning to anyone renting in Thailand, your returnable deposit may not be quite that and may be very difficult to get back, especially if like me your landlord is a jumped up Colonel in the army, luckily for me an unfortunately for him i can trump his Colonel with a General, a friend of mine whom i cm going to have to call on to get my money back. The Colonel having gone over the figures with me in November and again in February seems to think he needs to check them again before returning my deposit. He originally promised me it today and now reckons the 17th April, not much use to me sine i will be in the UK. I think he has no money and is trying to wriggle out of it, but I spoke to the my friend the General yesterday and he has said he will sort it upon his return to Chiang Mai this week. I do however feel if i did not know the General it would be a case of kiss it goodbye.
More to follow but have so much to do in the cow shed.
Friday, March 30, 2007
Lese majeste charges get Swiss man 10 yrs
In case you should forget Lese Majeste
A word of warning to those who know little of Thai customes and laws and thinking of visitning Thailand. Don't panic this sort of thing isn't a normall occurance , but does show the level of respect shown to the Royal Family.
Lese majeste charges get Swiss man 10 yrs
A word of warning to those who know little of Thai customes and laws and thinking of visitning Thailand. Don't panic this sort of thing isn't a normall occurance , but does show the level of respect shown to the Royal Family.
Lese majeste charges get Swiss man 10 yrs
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Alessio Monti
Alessio Monti
world renowned guitarist
in concert
AUA auditorium
Friday, 6 April 2007 - 7:30 PM
Please visit the following web sites for more information about Alessio Monti.
http://www.concertartist.info/bio/MON001.html
http://www.sonicgarden.com/sonic-web/artist.cfm?artistid=1129
Pass this message along to friends who love music.
This promises to be a very special concert.
world renowned guitarist
in concert
AUA auditorium
Friday, 6 April 2007 - 7:30 PM
Please visit the following web sites for more information about Alessio Monti.
http://www.concertartist.info/bio/MON001.html
http://www.sonicgarden.com/sonic-web/artist.cfm?artistid=1129
Pass this message along to friends who love music.
This promises to be a very special concert.
Royal gossip straight from the horses mouth
If anyone is a fan of the British Royal family you can now get an inside view of the goings on. Princess Eugenie, the Queens granddaughter has a blog, see everyone is doing it! It even has links to other Royal Blogs, although i am sure most of those including The Queen's are done on their behalf, Eugine's is maintained by her own Royal hand.
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=50275896
http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=50275896
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Smaller packets urged for fattening foods | the Daily Mail
Smaller packets urged for fattening foods the Daily Mail
Now if you want to see crazy click thelink above.
Not sure about the rest of the world but certainly in the UK for many years in fact zillions since i was a child , the size of confectionery bars, packets of crisps ( potato chips) has been decreasing at an alarming rate, and the prices at a similar rate have increased. Now due to obesity on a huge scale in England the food standard agency is asking companies to reduce the size of the packets. I always knew that one day they would be charging for fresh air but i thought that it would be in the form of yet another government tax. Do you think these agencies are getting a kick back from the food manufactures to help make more profits. Maybe they should put them back to normal size there was little obesity when i was a kid, you could only eat 1 bar a day since you were full. Mind you we had proper cooked meals on the table not fast food everyday.
Now if you want to see crazy click thelink above.
Not sure about the rest of the world but certainly in the UK for many years in fact zillions since i was a child , the size of confectionery bars, packets of crisps ( potato chips) has been decreasing at an alarming rate, and the prices at a similar rate have increased. Now due to obesity on a huge scale in England the food standard agency is asking companies to reduce the size of the packets. I always knew that one day they would be charging for fresh air but i thought that it would be in the form of yet another government tax. Do you think these agencies are getting a kick back from the food manufactures to help make more profits. Maybe they should put them back to normal size there was little obesity when i was a kid, you could only eat 1 bar a day since you were full. Mind you we had proper cooked meals on the table not fast food everyday.
It's hotting up
Well it's hotting up, and not just on the weather front. The temperatures are starting to climb, even in Mae Rim. Also the house move is getting closer and i am no further forward with anything. Not a box packed or indeed a finger lifted to do so, suppose i am dragging my little feet because i really do not want to go.
Yesterday brought it home even more so why i like to live out here. After a very pleasant lunch with my mate Harry and Mr Jay Jay and i drove back via the second ring road joining by the Mandarin Oriental and driving round to the Mae Rim turn off. The scenery is spectacular with the mountains in the distance and Paddie fields all around and the traffic is far less congested than coming around the super highway and up. By the way who ever named it super highway, i can find nothing super or for that matter highway about it.
Anyway got back and sat and enjoyed my garden for a little while and a night in front of the TV with Mr Jay, i haven't been out much this week since i want to enjoy the last i can of my little house in the back end of beyond.
Yesterday brought it home even more so why i like to live out here. After a very pleasant lunch with my mate Harry and Mr Jay Jay and i drove back via the second ring road joining by the Mandarin Oriental and driving round to the Mae Rim turn off. The scenery is spectacular with the mountains in the distance and Paddie fields all around and the traffic is far less congested than coming around the super highway and up. By the way who ever named it super highway, i can find nothing super or for that matter highway about it.
Anyway got back and sat and enjoyed my garden for a little while and a night in front of the TV with Mr Jay, i haven't been out much this week since i want to enjoy the last i can of my little house in the back end of beyond.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Bangkok Post : General news
Let us hope this is the start of many things to come. Maybe now some of the unconverted will again think why in September 2006 there was a coup! They were never leaving of their own accord nor through "democratic channels"
Bangkok Post : General news
Bangkok Post : General news
Monday, March 26, 2007
The old bag reads post bag again.
Sat with my morning coffee(s) and half a pack of cigarettes ( great diet) as usual i trolled the Bangkok post on line and found this little beauty about Don ( however you would like to spell it ) Airport
It was with some bemusement that I read that the name of the old Don Muang airport, which has been unofficially used for 93 years, has been re-spelled Mueang (Bangkok Post, March 24).
The decision by airport director Pinit Saraithong was made after conferring with the Royal Institute and the Chulalongkorn University arts faculty. Their considered opinion was that Mueang was correct.
Regrettably there is a problem _ "uea" is an illegal vowel combination in English. To Westerners, the pronunciation of this configuration will cause consternation.
That is the reason why Muang has been used, and adopted nationally in Thailand, in place-names. Such a significant name change should have been tested with native English speakers, people proficient in English grammar and structure, then the error would have been found quickly.
In addition, the name change will be extremely costly to implement _ the traditional Muang spelling has been used for years by cartographers, governments, satellite navigation systems, commercial and online flight resources, plus numerous tourist guides. The name exists in hundreds of thousands of official references.
The dilemma now is who changes _ the airport or the rest of the world. In either case, the cost will be high.
There is a famous saying in English: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." It is regrettable that, despite his best efforts and intentions, Mr Pinit did not heed this advice.
So with my usual speed and wit (ha ha) i penned the following in response.
With regard to Peter Pendleton postbag 26th March and the use of the illegal vowel combination "uea in" Don Mueang the new name for the old Don Muang Airport. It may be an illegal vowel use in English but if that is the translation then so it should be. Personally i would pronounce it "Moouang"
I do agree that it appears a waste of time and for some going to be costly changing it after all these years but would pose the question what should now be done with "ng" in translation, as i have tried for 3 years for the correct pronunciation without much success, generally when i am trying to talk about the snakes in my garden (ngoo), and think that combination should be illegal in any language and is certainly very difficult for foreigners, but we are in Thailand after all, and i think it is great they go to the expense and trouble to translate these things for us, imagine how difficult life would be without it.
Gareth Chiang Mai
I then read further to find some rather sad news. Not sure how missed this news but i did. (too much Singha beer probably)
A lady wrote about the closing of the Suan Lum Night Bazaar's in Bangkok.
I appreciate that Thailand is wanting to move forward as a country but does it have to happen at the expense of tradition and beauty and big air conditioned malls. The Thai's seem to have the same theories on Malls as they do when your shopping, if they see you have bought and item say a mango wood vase from one shop they think you want another, and another , and another, try selling us something different!
I like the lady in Bangkok will miss it not to mention the stall holders that will not be able to afford the rents in an expensive Mall, come on Thailand support your small local businesses, you will miss them when they are gone and there will be a lot of unemployed people and you don't have a social security system to support them.
It was with some bemusement that I read that the name of the old Don Muang airport, which has been unofficially used for 93 years, has been re-spelled Mueang (Bangkok Post, March 24).
The decision by airport director Pinit Saraithong was made after conferring with the Royal Institute and the Chulalongkorn University arts faculty. Their considered opinion was that Mueang was correct.
Regrettably there is a problem _ "uea" is an illegal vowel combination in English. To Westerners, the pronunciation of this configuration will cause consternation.
That is the reason why Muang has been used, and adopted nationally in Thailand, in place-names. Such a significant name change should have been tested with native English speakers, people proficient in English grammar and structure, then the error would have been found quickly.
In addition, the name change will be extremely costly to implement _ the traditional Muang spelling has been used for years by cartographers, governments, satellite navigation systems, commercial and online flight resources, plus numerous tourist guides. The name exists in hundreds of thousands of official references.
The dilemma now is who changes _ the airport or the rest of the world. In either case, the cost will be high.
There is a famous saying in English: "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." It is regrettable that, despite his best efforts and intentions, Mr Pinit did not heed this advice.
So with my usual speed and wit (ha ha) i penned the following in response.
With regard to Peter Pendleton postbag 26th March and the use of the illegal vowel combination "uea in" Don Mueang the new name for the old Don Muang Airport. It may be an illegal vowel use in English but if that is the translation then so it should be. Personally i would pronounce it "Moouang"
I do agree that it appears a waste of time and for some going to be costly changing it after all these years but would pose the question what should now be done with "ng" in translation, as i have tried for 3 years for the correct pronunciation without much success, generally when i am trying to talk about the snakes in my garden (ngoo), and think that combination should be illegal in any language and is certainly very difficult for foreigners, but we are in Thailand after all, and i think it is great they go to the expense and trouble to translate these things for us, imagine how difficult life would be without it.
Gareth Chiang Mai
I then read further to find some rather sad news. Not sure how missed this news but i did. (too much Singha beer probably)
A lady wrote about the closing of the Suan Lum Night Bazaar's in Bangkok.
I appreciate that Thailand is wanting to move forward as a country but does it have to happen at the expense of tradition and beauty and big air conditioned malls. The Thai's seem to have the same theories on Malls as they do when your shopping, if they see you have bought and item say a mango wood vase from one shop they think you want another, and another , and another, try selling us something different!
I like the lady in Bangkok will miss it not to mention the stall holders that will not be able to afford the rents in an expensive Mall, come on Thailand support your small local businesses, you will miss them when they are gone and there will be a lot of unemployed people and you don't have a social security system to support them.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Welcome home Bernard
Last night saw the welcome home party to celebrate the return of the Lovely Bernard after his travels in the USA.
Mr Cooley, Sopha and Wan did a great job of arranging the event held at the Narawee restaurant, opposite to the Nakornping conod's. A tasty buffet and drinks were provided and there was a fair old turn out.
Check out the picture gallery
http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/BernardsParty
Mr Cooley, Sopha and Wan did a great job of arranging the event held at the Narawee restaurant, opposite to the Nakornping conod's. A tasty buffet and drinks were provided and there was a fair old turn out.
Check out the picture gallery
http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/BernardsParty
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Applying for a job in person at a P.O Box, now there's clever.
This appeard in todays Bangkok Post jobs section.
Job Description
Urgently Required!General Manager
Please send your application letter, resume and expectd salaries with recent photo or
apply in person at : MD. Office
P.O. Box No.43,
Suttihisan Post Office,
Bangkok 10310 Location All Thailand
Maybe it should have this added at the end...
Prepared to work in a cramped non airconditioned enviroment for long periods.
This appeard in todays Bangkok Post jobs section.
Job Description
Urgently Required!General Manager
Please send your application letter, resume and expectd salaries with recent photo or
apply in person at : MD. Office
P.O. Box No.43,
Suttihisan Post Office,
Bangkok 10310 Location All Thailand
Maybe it should have this added at the end...
Prepared to work in a cramped non airconditioned enviroment for long periods.
Funny How some folks think!
A report in today's Bangkok post with regard to a rally in Bangkok got my attention. PTV, private TV, sprang into action and erected a stage in Sanum Luang at the site of Traditional Thai Sports Festival , which had to be canceled due to their actions.
However things got a bit unruly and apparently bottles were thrown at the police, and the PTV executives asked the demonstrators not to attack the police as they said it might be used as an excuse to break up the protest.
personally i think it would be good cause, not just an excuse!
Since the rally organised by PTV ( set up by a group of former Thai Rak Thai executives) and they were handing out literature with Mr Thaksins image on, i think they were very lucky not to be arrested for holding a political rally, but i think the police were sensible not to make them into martyrs
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Mar2007_news03.php
However things got a bit unruly and apparently bottles were thrown at the police, and the PTV executives asked the demonstrators not to attack the police as they said it might be used as an excuse to break up the protest.
personally i think it would be good cause, not just an excuse!
Since the rally organised by PTV ( set up by a group of former Thai Rak Thai executives) and they were handing out literature with Mr Thaksins image on, i think they were very lucky not to be arrested for holding a political rally, but i think the police were sensible not to make them into martyrs
http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/24Mar2007_news03.php
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Bangkok Post Breaking News
Now this is funny
I think this Girls family must have been avid James Bond fans as i seem to recall a Chinese character he managed to bed with the same name Chew Me! Now it appears a former Taiwanese politician turned accidental porn star with the same name ( different spelling) has been hired as a news anchor! To read more click the link
Bangkok Post Breaking News
I think this Girls family must have been avid James Bond fans as i seem to recall a Chinese character he managed to bed with the same name Chew Me! Now it appears a former Taiwanese politician turned accidental porn star with the same name ( different spelling) has been hired as a news anchor! To read more click the link
Bangkok Post Breaking News
Bangkok Post : General news
Now this is what i like to see.
Bangkok post today, every one keeps screaming for results and things to move forward, but this i think shows things are. Slowly but surely and properly investigated which takes time, but far better than being reactionary and just looking for scape goats they want to get at the truth, a practise that can hopefully stay in the past
Bangkok Post : General news
Bangkok post today, every one keeps screaming for results and things to move forward, but this i think shows things are. Slowly but surely and properly investigated which takes time, but far better than being reactionary and just looking for scape goats they want to get at the truth, a practise that can hopefully stay in the past
Bangkok Post : General news
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
GOB SMACKED
I cannot believe the insensitivity of some people.
Today's Daily Mail reports of an attack at British Airways over a passenger who died in flight and her family been moved to First Class to have some privacy as economy was full. Some jumped up Chief exec travelling on the same flight had the audacity to complain, he was worried she may have died from some airborne disease i.e bird flu, God you don't have to be dead to be carrying it and face it if she wasn't breathing how could she expel air to contaminate him. It's not like you get your own oxygen in First class, i know! Arghhhhhh people do annoy me sometimes.
Today's Daily Mail reports of an attack at British Airways over a passenger who died in flight and her family been moved to First Class to have some privacy as economy was full. Some jumped up Chief exec travelling on the same flight had the audacity to complain, he was worried she may have died from some airborne disease i.e bird flu, God you don't have to be dead to be carrying it and face it if she wasn't breathing how could she expel air to contaminate him. It's not like you get your own oxygen in First class, i know! Arghhhhhh people do annoy me sometimes.
How very true
Hot off the press! well email from Khun Harry.........
An old man, a boy & a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the donkey & the old man walked. As they went along they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding.
The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions.
Then, later, they passed some people who remarked, "What a shame, he makes that little boy walk."
So they then decided they'd both walk! Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So, they both rode the donkey.
Now they passed some people who shamed them by saying how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey.
The boy and man figured they were probably right, so they decide to carry the donkey.
As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the animal & he fell into the river and drowned.
The moral of the story?
If you try to please everyone, you might as well... Kiss your ass goodbye!
An old man, a boy & a donkey were going to town. The boy rode on the donkey & the old man walked. As they went along they passed some people who remarked it was a shame the old man was walking and the boy was riding.
The man and boy thought maybe the critics were right, so they changed positions.
Then, later, they passed some people who remarked, "What a shame, he makes that little boy walk."
So they then decided they'd both walk! Soon they passed some more people who thought they were stupid to walk when they had a decent donkey to ride. So, they both rode the donkey.
Now they passed some people who shamed them by saying how awful to put such a load on a poor donkey.
The boy and man figured they were probably right, so they decide to carry the donkey.
As they crossed the bridge, they lost their grip on the animal & he fell into the river and drowned.
The moral of the story?
If you try to please everyone, you might as well... Kiss your ass goodbye!
GOOD NEWS
After the devastating news about the pollution and dead fish in the Chao Phraya the government seems to have reacted swiftly and pro actively. The Agriculture Ministry will ask for 28 million baht to be set aside for compensation to those whom lost their lively hoods and meanwhile, permanent secretary for agriculture Banpot Hongthong yesterday released almost one million fish of various types into the Chao Phraya River at Ayutthaya's Wat Pananchoeng pier, where the oxygen level is considered acceptable to susstain aquatic life.
Mr Banpot has also instructed the fisheries department to release more fish and prawn stocks into the river totalling more than 10 times that lost through this disaster.
I think they are going in the right direction, a fast and effective result me thinks! AND FOR THE PEOPLE..................
Mr Banpot has also instructed the fisheries department to release more fish and prawn stocks into the river totalling more than 10 times that lost through this disaster.
I think they are going in the right direction, a fast and effective result me thinks! AND FOR THE PEOPLE..................
More Airport Info
Khun Warren kindly sent this to me today, I am sure he would like to share it with you all. Thanks Warren
When I was in Suvarnabhumi (SVB) a few days ago I took the opportunity to see what was happening on the 25th of this month.
Nok Air, PB Air, SGA and Orient Thai-One Two Go will operate from Don Muang from this date.
Air Asia and Bangkok Airways will remain at SVB. Thai Airways are moving some of their flights to/from Chiang Mai back to Don Muang. It seems that TG flights that operate into Don Muang will have a ‘1’ prefix to the flight number and whereas flights to SVB will continue to use the airport code of BKK those operating to Don Muang will use DMK.
It is, of course, essential to know what airport flights will operate from especially if you are making an international connection. Thai Airways freely admit that they expect a lot of confusion until passengers become accustomed. Eventually they will all move back SVB as the cost to TG of having two operations (Engineering, catering, ground handling, ticketing, customer service etc etc) in Bangkok is a very expensive business.
By the way Gareth, Suvarnabhumi looks good and my bags were waiting for me on the belt by the time I reached the baggage hall. The taxi fare into town (Sathon area) from SVB is actually less than from Don Muang.
Warren.
When I was in Suvarnabhumi (SVB) a few days ago I took the opportunity to see what was happening on the 25th of this month.
Nok Air, PB Air, SGA and Orient Thai-One Two Go will operate from Don Muang from this date.
Air Asia and Bangkok Airways will remain at SVB. Thai Airways are moving some of their flights to/from Chiang Mai back to Don Muang. It seems that TG flights that operate into Don Muang will have a ‘1’ prefix to the flight number and whereas flights to SVB will continue to use the airport code of BKK those operating to Don Muang will use DMK.
It is, of course, essential to know what airport flights will operate from especially if you are making an international connection. Thai Airways freely admit that they expect a lot of confusion until passengers become accustomed. Eventually they will all move back SVB as the cost to TG of having two operations (Engineering, catering, ground handling, ticketing, customer service etc etc) in Bangkok is a very expensive business.
By the way Gareth, Suvarnabhumi looks good and my bags were waiting for me on the belt by the time I reached the baggage hall. The taxi fare into town (Sathon area) from SVB is actually less than from Don Muang.
Warren.
Monday, March 19, 2007
POST BAG
Well i am sure your all quite aware how this OLD BAG like to write to the POSTBAG at Bangkok post, but for some reason unknown they don't publish me very often. Here is a piece submitted today in relation to an article on credit card debt.
BANGKOK POST 19TH MARCH 2007
I found your article on credit card interest charges most interesting
“People wilting under the burden of credit card debt have set up their own "club" to fight what they say are unfair interest rates charged by non-bank credit firms.”
I would be interested to know if these people had read the agreement and taken any notice of the interest rates before spending, or if like many in the world just ran out with their newly found WEALTH and spent like crazy or were the rates raised after the event?. The interest rates of 28% are equal to those charged by UK credit card companies.
"Department chief Niramol Asawamanee said the BoT had to allow the 28% charge by non-bank creditors because they were usually lax in inspecting the financial records of debtors and could easily end up losing money."
I find the excuse given above by Mr Asawamanee feeble to say the least, it is up to the companies concerned to assess the customers ability to repay and not penalise everyone else for their LAX policies.
I understand that for those that have had little for a long time the sudden ability to gain possessions may be alluring. However I think the blame is with the Thai thinking and FACE, is it good to show your friends you’re doing well, even if it is with the bank or credit card company’s money, and when you cannot pay, to save face shoot yourself and the family, face has come and gone. Shooting yourself does not save face; it just means you don’t have to be around when you loose it.
If such importance was not put on this from a very early age I am sure there would be less of a problem. How many people drive a huge 4x4 not because they need one but because they look like they are successful even if it’s on a 25 year loan?
On the few occasions I have shopped at Tesco’s, I prefer to give my money to the local economy and I want them to survive not just a few multi nationals, I have seen few Thai’s pay cash for their purchases no matter how small, and I am sure they base their success on this factor.
Did Mr Thaksin have any hand in encouraging this kind of spending to make his economy look stronger?
Gareth Chiang Mai
BANGKOK POST 19TH MARCH 2007
I found your article on credit card interest charges most interesting
“People wilting under the burden of credit card debt have set up their own "club" to fight what they say are unfair interest rates charged by non-bank credit firms.”
I would be interested to know if these people had read the agreement and taken any notice of the interest rates before spending, or if like many in the world just ran out with their newly found WEALTH and spent like crazy or were the rates raised after the event?. The interest rates of 28% are equal to those charged by UK credit card companies.
"Department chief Niramol Asawamanee said the BoT had to allow the 28% charge by non-bank creditors because they were usually lax in inspecting the financial records of debtors and could easily end up losing money."
I find the excuse given above by Mr Asawamanee feeble to say the least, it is up to the companies concerned to assess the customers ability to repay and not penalise everyone else for their LAX policies.
I understand that for those that have had little for a long time the sudden ability to gain possessions may be alluring. However I think the blame is with the Thai thinking and FACE, is it good to show your friends you’re doing well, even if it is with the bank or credit card company’s money, and when you cannot pay, to save face shoot yourself and the family, face has come and gone. Shooting yourself does not save face; it just means you don’t have to be around when you loose it.
If such importance was not put on this from a very early age I am sure there would be less of a problem. How many people drive a huge 4x4 not because they need one but because they look like they are successful even if it’s on a 25 year loan?
On the few occasions I have shopped at Tesco’s, I prefer to give my money to the local economy and I want them to survive not just a few multi nationals, I have seen few Thai’s pay cash for their purchases no matter how small, and I am sure they base their success on this factor.
Did Mr Thaksin have any hand in encouraging this kind of spending to make his economy look stronger?
Gareth Chiang Mai
THE GREAT BRITISH NHS
I was reading the Daily Mail on line as i do everyday, and came across yet another article on the cash strapped NHS. For those of you not familiar with this, it is the British medical system.
A brilliant idea when first established but then just left to play with itself.
When first established people paid a small percentage from their salary into it and got treatment for free when required. Now 40 years ago when i was a mere babe the treatments available were to say the least basic compared with today's amazing medical achievements.
Of course these treatments and the drugs often involved for life after many procedures cost considerably more, and since people are living longer they need more treatments and it goes around in circles. Of course the amount that many of the now elderly paid in was based on a life expectancy of around 70/75 which is now growing rapidly to around 85 + and our wonderful government in all those years did not see this coming, and probably still haven't worked it out. It amazes me........
They have over the past decade brought in business professionals to manage the funds and the hospitals, but like with most over zealous senior management with no experience in the field they have just entered, they only made business judgements based on economics not operational need and now it's even more of a mess.
Give me THAILAND any day.
A brilliant idea when first established but then just left to play with itself.
When first established people paid a small percentage from their salary into it and got treatment for free when required. Now 40 years ago when i was a mere babe the treatments available were to say the least basic compared with today's amazing medical achievements.
Of course these treatments and the drugs often involved for life after many procedures cost considerably more, and since people are living longer they need more treatments and it goes around in circles. Of course the amount that many of the now elderly paid in was based on a life expectancy of around 70/75 which is now growing rapidly to around 85 + and our wonderful government in all those years did not see this coming, and probably still haven't worked it out. It amazes me........
They have over the past decade brought in business professionals to manage the funds and the hospitals, but like with most over zealous senior management with no experience in the field they have just entered, they only made business judgements based on economics not operational need and now it's even more of a mess.
Give me THAILAND any day.
Bangkok Post : General news
This article has appeared in today's Bangkok Post, and caught my eye.
Why the Governor would rather spend 1 Billion baht to rebuilt a submerged Temple when that amount of money could be invested into a more profitable venture for the very poor locals in the area is beyond me. Maybe he just wants to make his own merit with the peoples money!
Bangkok Post : General news
Why the Governor would rather spend 1 Billion baht to rebuilt a submerged Temple when that amount of money could be invested into a more profitable venture for the very poor locals in the area is beyond me. Maybe he just wants to make his own merit with the peoples money!
Bangkok Post : General news
Sunday, March 18, 2007
THANKS TO MARON FOR THIS
Thanks to Marion for this, a very astute account of life here, Marion & Michale must obviously have fond memories of the things that can drive you insane in our little world. Hope to see you both soon X X X X X
1. You can go for weeks without toilet paper. (Water based system)
2. It's perfectly acceptable to drive down the wrong side of the street.
3. You decline to wear a motorbike helmet because it'll mess up your hair.
4. Half your wardrobe is the color yellow. (National Color for the Royal Family)
5. You no longer wonder how a civil servant who earns 400 USD per month drives a Mercedes. (duh..)
6. It is no longer surprising that the only decision made at a meeting is the time and venue for the next meeting.
7. Hearing "Mai Mii!" or "Mai Dai!" for the 300th time in a day and doesn't bother you anymore. *I don’t have and I cannot
8. Curry is perfectly acceptable breakfast food as long as it has an egg on top.
9. Au Bon Pain is a chic hang out serving good food. (Au Bon Pain...like Subway but much more high class)
10. You can rely on the fact that any given night of the week, somewhere there is a model getting free drinks. ( i would say every where)
11. You are careful to cover your mouth when picking your teeth, but openly pick your nose at the dinner table.
12. You keep a roll of toilet paper on your dinner table, but not in the bathroom.
13. You are not surprised when three men with a ladder show up to change a light bulb.
14. It's exciting to see if you can get in the elevator before anyone can get off.
15. You'd rather SMS someone than actually meet and talk.
16. A t-bone steak with rice sounds just fine.
17. "Love You Long Time" is no longer a satirical quote from Full Metal Jacket, but an actual saying.
18. You know when people say they're "going to bed" that they'll actually be partying until 2AM in a cylindrical nightclub resembling a spaceship. (its not that bad a place)
19. "Sexpats," "Yellow Fever," "Rice Queens," "Pirates," and "Piratey" are all in your vocabulary. (people who like Asian girls/boys/both)
20. You can silence a group of whores in Patpong with just one angry stare. (patpong...main sex district)
21. You regard My Name Lon - You Like Me? and Colonel Ken's Tales of Misadventure in Asia as classics in "Asian Literature," shamelessly promoted at airports everywhere.
22. It's just part of the adventure when the waiter correctly repeats your order and the cook makes something completely different.
23. You regularly fumble for five minutes to find a 10 baht coin despite 10 people waiting in line behind you. (10 Baht = 30 cents approx)
24. When shopping at the supermarket, a farang stares you down when he catches you looking into his basket while you wonder to yourself what farangs eat. (Farang = white people)
25. You realize half of your personality is complaining.
26. It doesn't bother you anymore when someone calls you 'FARANG!'.
27. When A Thai says "see you tomorrow at 10am" you know exactly it means 11am ( a bit like making an appointment with Tad)
28. The sight of a whole fish on a plate doesn't frighten you anymore. (thai fish..awesome!)
29. You can walk pass a crippled beggar on the street without feeling anything. Sometimes you even think they block the traffic and get annoyed. (they are annoying..)
30. Everything you buy, you ask for discount
31. Your mom who comes visit you in Thailand says you smell like cooking oil.
32. Your favorite eating place is on the street. ( a whole meal and more for only 1-2 dollars)
33. you use fake brand-name products you buy in silom and tell everybody they're real.
34. you can't be bothered to cook anymore.
35. You've slept with Misty. (she puts out a lot)
\
36. you've used food poisoning as an excuse to miss work more than twice in the past month37. you don’t think twice about the irony of putting a helmet on while riding in a small motor boat with no seat belt, no life vest, and smoke pouring out of the engine38. you don’t go to the new mall until its been open for at least 2 days because you know there will be casualties from faulty construction39. when you hear the word zen you think of shopping (big ass shopping center now called Central World)40. you think its rude when Americans don’t stop and salute when they hear the star spangled banner (Thai stand still during the national anthem)
41. You think the mall is the perfect place to do your laundry, see your banker, grocery shop, have a work out and then a massage, all in one go.
42. You think sitting in 2-hour city traffic can actually be kind of therapeutic.
43. The first thing you do upon hearing of a military coup is to grab your camera and run towards the army tanks so you can take a photo with the soldiers while flashing a peace sign.
44. You start writing a list like this.
1. You can go for weeks without toilet paper. (Water based system)
2. It's perfectly acceptable to drive down the wrong side of the street.
3. You decline to wear a motorbike helmet because it'll mess up your hair.
4. Half your wardrobe is the color yellow. (National Color for the Royal Family)
5. You no longer wonder how a civil servant who earns 400 USD per month drives a Mercedes. (duh..)
6. It is no longer surprising that the only decision made at a meeting is the time and venue for the next meeting.
7. Hearing "Mai Mii!" or "Mai Dai!" for the 300th time in a day and doesn't bother you anymore. *I don’t have and I cannot
8. Curry is perfectly acceptable breakfast food as long as it has an egg on top.
9. Au Bon Pain is a chic hang out serving good food. (Au Bon Pain...like Subway but much more high class)
10. You can rely on the fact that any given night of the week, somewhere there is a model getting free drinks. ( i would say every where)
11. You are careful to cover your mouth when picking your teeth, but openly pick your nose at the dinner table.
12. You keep a roll of toilet paper on your dinner table, but not in the bathroom.
13. You are not surprised when three men with a ladder show up to change a light bulb.
14. It's exciting to see if you can get in the elevator before anyone can get off.
15. You'd rather SMS someone than actually meet and talk.
16. A t-bone steak with rice sounds just fine.
17. "Love You Long Time" is no longer a satirical quote from Full Metal Jacket, but an actual saying.
18. You know when people say they're "going to bed" that they'll actually be partying until 2AM in a cylindrical nightclub resembling a spaceship. (its not that bad a place)
19. "Sexpats," "Yellow Fever," "Rice Queens," "Pirates," and "Piratey" are all in your vocabulary. (people who like Asian girls/boys/both)
20. You can silence a group of whores in Patpong with just one angry stare. (patpong...main sex district)
21. You regard My Name Lon - You Like Me? and Colonel Ken's Tales of Misadventure in Asia as classics in "Asian Literature," shamelessly promoted at airports everywhere.
22. It's just part of the adventure when the waiter correctly repeats your order and the cook makes something completely different.
23. You regularly fumble for five minutes to find a 10 baht coin despite 10 people waiting in line behind you. (10 Baht = 30 cents approx)
24. When shopping at the supermarket, a farang stares you down when he catches you looking into his basket while you wonder to yourself what farangs eat. (Farang = white people)
25. You realize half of your personality is complaining.
26. It doesn't bother you anymore when someone calls you 'FARANG!'.
27. When A Thai says "see you tomorrow at 10am" you know exactly it means 11am ( a bit like making an appointment with Tad)
28. The sight of a whole fish on a plate doesn't frighten you anymore. (thai fish..awesome!)
29. You can walk pass a crippled beggar on the street without feeling anything. Sometimes you even think they block the traffic and get annoyed. (they are annoying..)
30. Everything you buy, you ask for discount
31. Your mom who comes visit you in Thailand says you smell like cooking oil.
32. Your favorite eating place is on the street. ( a whole meal and more for only 1-2 dollars)
33. you use fake brand-name products you buy in silom and tell everybody they're real.
34. you can't be bothered to cook anymore.
35. You've slept with Misty. (she puts out a lot)
\
36. you've used food poisoning as an excuse to miss work more than twice in the past month37. you don’t think twice about the irony of putting a helmet on while riding in a small motor boat with no seat belt, no life vest, and smoke pouring out of the engine38. you don’t go to the new mall until its been open for at least 2 days because you know there will be casualties from faulty construction39. when you hear the word zen you think of shopping (big ass shopping center now called Central World)40. you think its rude when Americans don’t stop and salute when they hear the star spangled banner (Thai stand still during the national anthem)
41. You think the mall is the perfect place to do your laundry, see your banker, grocery shop, have a work out and then a massage, all in one go.
42. You think sitting in 2-hour city traffic can actually be kind of therapeutic.
43. The first thing you do upon hearing of a military coup is to grab your camera and run towards the army tanks so you can take a photo with the soldiers while flashing a peace sign.
44. You start writing a list like this.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Help Lanna dog rescue and have some fun!
Friday 23rd - Serendipity in Chiang Mai. a funky cabaret jazz concert at CHIANG MAI GATE HOTEL in Suriwong road. starts 8.30 vocals Lauren Brown, Frans Bloem. Miya Aliman. Ongard Kanchaisak Mark Walder. Musical direction Bernard Wintner. 100bht tickets on the door - proceeds go to Lanna Dog Rescue
Friday, March 16, 2007
Lanna Dog Rescue
Last night for the first time i attended a meeting of Lanna Dog Rescue, having been invited by the lovely Ronny. Being a dog lover i was intrigued to the work they carry out and what their plans are.
I was welcomed by a small group of lovely Ladies who dedicate most of their time to Dog rescue and care, their aims and objectives are
to manage the numbers of strays and unwanted off spring through sterilisation,
organise medical care for dogs in need
find loving homes for strays
increase awareness of the benefits and needs of dogs within local communities to those communities and how they should be handled.
The meeting last night however was to discuss today and the coming week. Today at Thappee gate and during the week at various Wat's in the area. This week will see a programme of free health care for Dog's and Cats offering vaccinations including Rabies, sterilisations and blood tests for heart worm, for strays and the not so rich in the community whom could not normally afford this for their animals.
Today and all of next week Lanna Dog Rescue members will be in attendance to assist with paperwork and Nursing duties at the various locations. If you know anyone who cannot afford sterilisation ( of their animals) and would like the procedure carried out they can attend, with the animal (s) at the venue on the day. Like wise you may take any GENUINE strays for the procedure, but please check it is stray.
Lanna Dog Rescue has just been approved to become a member of WISPA.
If you would like to donate money or time to this project, visit their web site for further information. They really are doing a great job for All our 4 legged friends.
Click the link below for the photo album
http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/LANNADOGRESCUE
www.lannadog.net
I was welcomed by a small group of lovely Ladies who dedicate most of their time to Dog rescue and care, their aims and objectives are
to manage the numbers of strays and unwanted off spring through sterilisation,
organise medical care for dogs in need
find loving homes for strays
increase awareness of the benefits and needs of dogs within local communities to those communities and how they should be handled.
The meeting last night however was to discuss today and the coming week. Today at Thappee gate and during the week at various Wat's in the area. This week will see a programme of free health care for Dog's and Cats offering vaccinations including Rabies, sterilisations and blood tests for heart worm, for strays and the not so rich in the community whom could not normally afford this for their animals.
Today and all of next week Lanna Dog Rescue members will be in attendance to assist with paperwork and Nursing duties at the various locations. If you know anyone who cannot afford sterilisation ( of their animals) and would like the procedure carried out they can attend, with the animal (s) at the venue on the day. Like wise you may take any GENUINE strays for the procedure, but please check it is stray.
Lanna Dog Rescue has just been approved to become a member of WISPA.
If you would like to donate money or time to this project, visit their web site for further information. They really are doing a great job for All our 4 legged friends.
Click the link below for the photo album
http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/LANNADOGRESCUE
www.lannadog.net
PROOF OF GLOBAL WARMING
Ronny kindly sent me this photo of her kickers over the ages to show how global warming has affected her, maybe it's just she keeps moving to warmer climates. Thanks Ronny X
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Another great legacy from Mr TAX-SIN
Well how interesting reading today's Bangkok post on line, why waste 25 baht when you can have it for free!
Now i have written to them several times recently in defense of the new airport and the new government, now i am not accusing them of being pro TAX-SIN but they seem to choose not to publish anything on either subject unless it fits with their spec, and in my view air only negative items on the new government and on the airport, is this balanced, UMMMMMMM.
Anyhow back to the plot!
Now it appears that the AOT have to pay out compensation to local residents near the new airport so they may move, having been forced out by unbearable noise. I know people who only bought there because of the new airports impending arrival and the chance to see large gains in their investment, a little fore thought goes a long way!
I am sure this is somehow going to be blamed onto the new regime by the PRO TAX-SIN (ites) but get a grip and get a life and see how much good this man has done for you!
AOT are going to have to get the money from the government as they are already in debt to the tune of 70 Billion baht with Japan Bank for International Cooperation for the original build of the airport, and with the compensation estimated to be in the region of 121.5 billion baht ( not per person). This is a whooping 191.5 billion baht. Would it not have been far less expensive to compulsory purchase further land around the much lamented Don Muang where the residents were already used to the noise of aircraft and have probably been in great pain from the loss of much local revenue. Now stick up for the policies of Mr TAX-SIN. He is probably glad the coup occurred before this lot hit the fan, not even he could have crawled his way out of that i am sure.
Now please remind me who owned the COBRA SWAMP before sense and reason flew out of the window in favour of profit?
Now i have written to them several times recently in defense of the new airport and the new government, now i am not accusing them of being pro TAX-SIN but they seem to choose not to publish anything on either subject unless it fits with their spec, and in my view air only negative items on the new government and on the airport, is this balanced, UMMMMMMM.
Anyhow back to the plot!
Now it appears that the AOT have to pay out compensation to local residents near the new airport so they may move, having been forced out by unbearable noise. I know people who only bought there because of the new airports impending arrival and the chance to see large gains in their investment, a little fore thought goes a long way!
I am sure this is somehow going to be blamed onto the new regime by the PRO TAX-SIN (ites) but get a grip and get a life and see how much good this man has done for you!
AOT are going to have to get the money from the government as they are already in debt to the tune of 70 Billion baht with Japan Bank for International Cooperation for the original build of the airport, and with the compensation estimated to be in the region of 121.5 billion baht ( not per person). This is a whooping 191.5 billion baht. Would it not have been far less expensive to compulsory purchase further land around the much lamented Don Muang where the residents were already used to the noise of aircraft and have probably been in great pain from the loss of much local revenue. Now stick up for the policies of Mr TAX-SIN. He is probably glad the coup occurred before this lot hit the fan, not even he could have crawled his way out of that i am sure.
Now please remind me who owned the COBRA SWAMP before sense and reason flew out of the window in favour of profit?
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
A classic from Mr Cooley
This arrived in my box (mail) first thing this morning. It's good to strat the day with a smile.
Thanks John x
Bangkok Post: Top Stories
Well at last something positive to be done about the polution! Why not with immediate effect amazes me but it's a start.
Bangkok Post: Top Stories
Bangkok Post: Top Stories
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
The secret mission told.
Ok folks, you have waited patiently and it is time to reveal the big secret mission of 7th March 2007, please do not ask why it had to be a secret it is quite embarrassing!
As many of you may already know Hillside 4 condo with the help of Khun Steve runs a clothing project for Hill tribe people & Poor Thai people. if you didn’t know you do now and can drop off unwanted items of CLEAN clothing blankets sheets and shoes etc to hillside 4 reception and when there is a big enough load they are delivered to one of the tribes.
This was the purpose of our mission, and the group that day were in the mountains beyond the beyond that is Khun Warrens place.
Driving out and up further into the mountains I thought we were en route to heaven, well we were really as the scenery was magnificent. Trees shrubs and flowers gave an abundance of colour as we wound our way. Warren handled the car like he did this journey every day, and I am sure he doesn’t.
As we approached the village in question we stopped to get a view from the other side of the mountain, before we dropped and crossed a ledge to the other side and it was stunning. But what is ethnic and pretty for us is an everyday reality for these people and maybe not what they would choose, but on the same note if they knew the stress of city living they may feel privileged to be out of it.
The village comprises of just one street with houses on either side, and a Temple at the end and what Steve thought was a school building.
The temple has been in construction for around 4 years now and the Monk, yes he is the only one there is undertaking the work. I am sure he had help with the construction but now it is painting he is there on his own. This particular Monk hasn’t been there that long and took over when the previous one passed on! He was a very pleasant young man who gave us all a blessing and beautiful bracelets instead of your normal string. Warren had brought an orange bucket filled with essentials as an offering to him.
The people of the village welcomed us with big smiles and anticipation of the much needed clothing supplies; I have never seen so many patchwork pants. We unloaded the bags from the car and everything was laid out on mats and the people with the usual respect were patient and did not argue or quibble and none tried to be greedy, lessons by the dozen can be learnt from these wonderful people.
When they were all done we were invited to a local home for water and shade, a wooden house on two levels with place for a fire and to the side, already a mountain of wood for next winter, although I am sure at the moment it is still cold by night up there so maybe it’s this years stock.
With no land farm land to speak of, they are on the side of a mountain and need the trees around to break the rain water in the wet season, these people are still hunters and the men still head off everyday with old muskets and hope to find dinner.
Please if you do have spare clothes or shoes, donate them to the hillside project, if you could experience the gratitude first hand you would see why it is worth that little bit of effort to get them to Hillside 4, they will do the rest, and maybe if you would like to help on the next trip Steve could arrange it.
Do remember however they need to be practical, 6 inch bright red char char heels might not be the order of the day.
As many of you may already know Hillside 4 condo with the help of Khun Steve runs a clothing project for Hill tribe people & Poor Thai people. if you didn’t know you do now and can drop off unwanted items of CLEAN clothing blankets sheets and shoes etc to hillside 4 reception and when there is a big enough load they are delivered to one of the tribes.
This was the purpose of our mission, and the group that day were in the mountains beyond the beyond that is Khun Warrens place.
Driving out and up further into the mountains I thought we were en route to heaven, well we were really as the scenery was magnificent. Trees shrubs and flowers gave an abundance of colour as we wound our way. Warren handled the car like he did this journey every day, and I am sure he doesn’t.
As we approached the village in question we stopped to get a view from the other side of the mountain, before we dropped and crossed a ledge to the other side and it was stunning. But what is ethnic and pretty for us is an everyday reality for these people and maybe not what they would choose, but on the same note if they knew the stress of city living they may feel privileged to be out of it.
The village comprises of just one street with houses on either side, and a Temple at the end and what Steve thought was a school building.
The temple has been in construction for around 4 years now and the Monk, yes he is the only one there is undertaking the work. I am sure he had help with the construction but now it is painting he is there on his own. This particular Monk hasn’t been there that long and took over when the previous one passed on! He was a very pleasant young man who gave us all a blessing and beautiful bracelets instead of your normal string. Warren had brought an orange bucket filled with essentials as an offering to him.
The people of the village welcomed us with big smiles and anticipation of the much needed clothing supplies; I have never seen so many patchwork pants. We unloaded the bags from the car and everything was laid out on mats and the people with the usual respect were patient and did not argue or quibble and none tried to be greedy, lessons by the dozen can be learnt from these wonderful people.
When they were all done we were invited to a local home for water and shade, a wooden house on two levels with place for a fire and to the side, already a mountain of wood for next winter, although I am sure at the moment it is still cold by night up there so maybe it’s this years stock.
With no land farm land to speak of, they are on the side of a mountain and need the trees around to break the rain water in the wet season, these people are still hunters and the men still head off everyday with old muskets and hope to find dinner.
Please if you do have spare clothes or shoes, donate them to the hillside project, if you could experience the gratitude first hand you would see why it is worth that little bit of effort to get them to Hillside 4, they will do the rest, and maybe if you would like to help on the next trip Steve could arrange it.
Do remember however they need to be practical, 6 inch bright red char char heels might not be the order of the day.
To view more photos in the album click the link below.
Now this is really bad and maybe even worse than we thought
We do not even need to leave the house to see that air quality is reaching critical levels, just a peek out of the window can confirm maybe we should stay home or buy a gas mask.
The pictures below were kindly sent to me today from Ronny. The first came with the following information !
The agricultural fire season in Southeast Asia spreads smoke across a large portion of, from west to east, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. Country borders are marked by black lines. This image of the region was captured by the MODIS on NASA's Aqua satellite on March 4, 2007.
Places where MODIS detected actively burning fires are marked in red. During the area's dry season (roughly fall-winter in the Northern Hemisphere), intentional land management fires, as well as accidental forest fires that spread from agricultural areas are common in Southeast Asia.
And the second came with this!
This shows graphically what we know about yesterday: pretty bad air.
Note that the first line, in red, shows the supposedly "acceptable" level (120). Chiang Mai hit 273.5 yesterday.
Anyone want to buy a gas mask? Check out Ebay!
The pictures below were kindly sent to me today from Ronny. The first came with the following information !
The agricultural fire season in Southeast Asia spreads smoke across a large portion of, from west to east, Myanmar, Thailand, and Laos. Country borders are marked by black lines. This image of the region was captured by the MODIS on NASA's Aqua satellite on March 4, 2007.
Places where MODIS detected actively burning fires are marked in red. During the area's dry season (roughly fall-winter in the Northern Hemisphere), intentional land management fires, as well as accidental forest fires that spread from agricultural areas are common in Southeast Asia.
And the second came with this!
This shows graphically what we know about yesterday: pretty bad air.
Note that the first line, in red, shows the supposedly "acceptable" level (120). Chiang Mai hit 273.5 yesterday.
Anyone want to buy a gas mask? Check out Ebay!
Restored faith
The view from my new home, i hope it's not a heavy rain this year :)
My new home, it's just a basic wooden Thai house but sure i can make it home.
When things seem like they cannot get much worse isn't it funny how it can suddenly all start turning the other way, and not always in a direction or source we would expect it to come from.
Some of you may know not long after i arrived in Thailand i invested in a cooking school, and it got off to a reasonable start. Then whilst on a trip to England the rains came and washed it away, it was on the banks of the river! The teacher departed to work in the USA and finding a good teacher with a western sense of humour is not easy, so we closed.
The people who own the land have become very close friends and have several family houses on the land, one has become vacant and they have kindly offered it to me free of charge for as long as i need it. That in itself was kind enough to cheer me right up but then yesterday we spoke and they wanted to know when i wanted to move in. Once we had decided on a date i was told not to worry, the trucks to move would be organised and a pen built so i could bring the dogs as well. I had presumed they were going on a long holiday or worse still, to a new home.
So it's correct, you can only go so far down till the only option is up.
I love a happy ending, especially my own.
Monday, March 12, 2007
BRAIN TEASERS
Read out loud the text inside the
triangle below.
triangle below.
More than likely you said, "A bird in the bush," and........ if this IS what YOU said, then you failed to see that the word THE is repeated twice! Sorry, look again. Next, let's play with some words.
What do you see?
In black you can read the word GOOD, in white the word EVIL (inside each black letter is a white letter). It's all very physiological too, because it visualize the concept that good can't exist without evil (or the absence of good is evil ).
Now, what do you see?
You may not see it at first, but the white spaces read the word optical, the blue landscape reads the word illusion. Look again! Can you see why this painting is called an optical illusion?
What do you see here?
The word TEACH reflects as LEARN.
Last one. What do you see?
You probably read the word ME in brown, but.......
when you look through ME
you will see YOU!
Do you need to look again?
ALZHEIMERS' EYE TEST
Count every 'F' in the following text:
FINISHED FILES ARE THE RE
SULT OF YEARS OF SCIENTI FIC
STUDY COMBINED WITH
THE EXPERIENCE OF YEARS...
(SEE BELOW) HOW MANY?
WRONG, THERE ARE 6 -- No joke. READ IT AGAIN! Really, go Back and Try to find the 6 F's before you scroll down.
The reasoning behind is further down.
The brain cannot process "OF."
Incredible or what?
Go back and look again!
Anyone who counts all 6 "F's" on the first go is a genius.
Three is normal, four is quite rare. Send this to your friends. It will drive them crazy. And keep them occupied For several minutes.
More Brain Stuff . . . From Cambridge University. Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs. cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The
phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy,
it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs psas it on !!
Psas Ti ON !
phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy,
it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt! if you can raed tihs psas it on !!
Psas Ti ON !
Why Parents need eyes in the back of their heads
A few fun photo's of kids antics!
Click the link below to view album.
http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/WhyParentsNeedEyesInTheBackOfTheirHeads
Click the link below to view album.
http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/WhyParentsNeedEyesInTheBackOfTheirHeads
Loving it
The wife came home early and found her husband in their bedroom makinglove to a very attractive young woman. And was somewhat upset. "You are a disrespectful pig!" she cried. "How dare you do this to me -- a faithful wife, the mother of your children! I'm leaving you. I want a divorce straight away!"And the husband replied "Hang on just a minute love, so at least I can tell you what happened.""Fine, go ahead," she sobbed, " but they'll be the last words you'll say to me!"And the husband began -- "Well, I was getting into the car to drive home and this young lady here asked me for a lift. She looked so down and out and defenseless that I took pity on her and let her into the car. I noticed that she was very thin, not well dressed and very dirty. She told me that she hadn't eaten for three days! So, in my compassion, I brought her home and warmed up the enchiladas I made for you last night, the ones you wouldn't eat because you're afraid you'll put on weight.The poor thing devoured them in moments. Since she needed a good clean up I suggested a shower, and while she was doing that I noticed her clothes were dirty and full of holes so I threw them away. Then, as she needed clothes, I gave her the designer jeans that you have had for a few years, but don't use because you say they are too tight. I also gave her the underwear that was your anniversary present, which you don't use because I don't have good taste. I found the sexy blouse my sister gave you for Christmas that you don't use just to annoy her, and I also donated those boots you bought at the expensive boutique and don't use because someone at work has a pair the same."The husband took a quick breath and continued - "She was so grateful for my understanding and help and as I walked her to the door she turned to me with tears in her eyes and said, Please ... do you have anything elsethat your wife doesn't use?"
This was part of a chain letter! I am passing it on en mass or at least the content for all, so no need for you to worry about the chain
A new priest at his first mass was so nervous he could hardly speak.After mass he asked the monsignor how he had done.The monsignor replied, "When I am worried about getting nervous on the pulpit, I put a glass of vodka next to the water glass. If I start to get nervous, I take a sip."So next Sunday he took the Monsignor's advice.At the beginning of the sermon, he got nervous and took a drink.He proceeded to talk up a storm.Upon his return to his office after the mass, he found the following note on the door:
1) Sip the vodka, don't gulp.
2) There are 10 commandments, not 12.
3) There are 12 disciples, not 10.
4) Jesus was consecrated, not constipated.
5) Jacob wagered his donkey, he did not bet his ass.
6) We do not refer to Jesus Christ as the late J.C.
7) The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not referred to as Daddy, Junior and the spook.
8) David slew Goliath, he did not kick the sh*t out of him.
9) When David was hit by a rock and was knocked off his donkey, don't say he was stoned off his ass.
10)We do not refer to the cross as the "Big T."
11)When Jesus broke the bread at the last supper he said, "Take this and eat it for it is my body." He did not say "eat me".
12)The Virgin Mary is not called "Mary with the Cherry".
13)The recommended grace before a meal is not: Rub-A-Dub-Dub thanks for the grub, Yeah God.
14)Next Sunday there will be a taffy pulling contest at ST.Peter's not a peter pulling contest at St. Taffy's.
A new priest at his first mass was so nervous he could hardly speak.After mass he asked the monsignor how he had done.The monsignor replied, "When I am worried about getting nervous on the pulpit, I put a glass of vodka next to the water glass. If I start to get nervous, I take a sip."So next Sunday he took the Monsignor's advice.At the beginning of the sermon, he got nervous and took a drink.He proceeded to talk up a storm.Upon his return to his office after the mass, he found the following note on the door:
1) Sip the vodka, don't gulp.
2) There are 10 commandments, not 12.
3) There are 12 disciples, not 10.
4) Jesus was consecrated, not constipated.
5) Jacob wagered his donkey, he did not bet his ass.
6) We do not refer to Jesus Christ as the late J.C.
7) The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not referred to as Daddy, Junior and the spook.
8) David slew Goliath, he did not kick the sh*t out of him.
9) When David was hit by a rock and was knocked off his donkey, don't say he was stoned off his ass.
10)We do not refer to the cross as the "Big T."
11)When Jesus broke the bread at the last supper he said, "Take this and eat it for it is my body." He did not say "eat me".
12)The Virgin Mary is not called "Mary with the Cherry".
13)The recommended grace before a meal is not: Rub-A-Dub-Dub thanks for the grub, Yeah God.
14)Next Sunday there will be a taffy pulling contest at ST.Peter's not a peter pulling contest at St. Taffy's.
TV > Reality TV > We are searching for time travelers
Now this is funny and it is not supposed to be! How many do you think we have in Chiang Mai? Does travelling West on a 747 count? That makes me a well travelled Time Lord.
TV > Reality TV > We are searching for time travelers
TV > Reality TV > We are searching for time travelers
MORE FUNNIES.
Eight Words with two Meanings
1. THINGY
Female..... Any part under a car's hood.
Male.... The strap fastener on a woman's bra.
2. VULNERABLE
Female.... Fully opening up one's self emotionally to another.
Male.... Playing football without a cup.
3. COMMUNICATION
Female...The open sharing of thoughts and feelings with one's partner.
Male...Leaving a note before taking off on a fishing trip with the boys.
4. COMMITMENT
Female... A desire to get married and raise a family.
Male...... Trying not to hit on other women while out with this one.
5. ENTERTAINMENT
Female.... A good movie, concert, play or book.
Male...... Anything that can be done while drinking beer.
6. FLATULENCE
Female... An embarrassing byproduct of indigestion.
Male...... A source of entertainment, self-expression, male bonding.
7 MAKING LOVE
Female...... The greatest expression of intimacy a couple can achieve.
Male.. Call it whatever you want, just as long as we do it.
8. REMOTE CONTROL
Female.... A device for changing from one TV channel to another.
Male... A device for scanning through all 375 channels every 5 minutes.
Southern Grandma
Lawyers should never ask a Southern grandma a question if they aren't prepared for the answer.
In a trial, a Southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand.
He approached her and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?" She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a young boy, and frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you." The lawyer was stunned! Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?" She again replied, "Why, yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He's lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can't build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him." The defence attorney almost died. The judge asked both counsellors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said, "If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me,
I'll send you to the electric chair."
A Polish man moved to the USA and married an American girl.
Although his English was far from perfect, they got along very well until one day he rushed into a lawyer's office and asked him if hecould arrange a divorce for him.
The lawyer said that getting a divorce would depend on thecircumstances,and asked him the following questions:
Have you any grounds? Yes, an acre and half and nice little home.
No, I mean what is the foundation of this case? It made of concrete.
I don't think you understand.
Does either of you have a real grudge? No, we have carport, and not need one.
I mean. What are your relations like? All my relations still in Poland.
Is there any infidelity in your marriage? We have hi-fidelity stereo and good DVD player.
Does your wife beat you up? No, I always up before her.
Is your wife a nagger? No, she white.
Why do you want this divorce? She going to kill me.
What makes you think that? I got proof.
What kind of proof? She going to poison me. She buy a bottle at drugstore and put on shelf in bathroom.
I can read, and it say: "Polish Remover".
1. THINGY
Female..... Any part under a car's hood.
Male.... The strap fastener on a woman's bra.
2. VULNERABLE
Female.... Fully opening up one's self emotionally to another.
Male.... Playing football without a cup.
3. COMMUNICATION
Female...The open sharing of thoughts and feelings with one's partner.
Male...Leaving a note before taking off on a fishing trip with the boys.
4. COMMITMENT
Female... A desire to get married and raise a family.
Male...... Trying not to hit on other women while out with this one.
5. ENTERTAINMENT
Female.... A good movie, concert, play or book.
Male...... Anything that can be done while drinking beer.
6. FLATULENCE
Female... An embarrassing byproduct of indigestion.
Male...... A source of entertainment, self-expression, male bonding.
7 MAKING LOVE
Female...... The greatest expression of intimacy a couple can achieve.
Male.. Call it whatever you want, just as long as we do it.
8. REMOTE CONTROL
Female.... A device for changing from one TV channel to another.
Male... A device for scanning through all 375 channels every 5 minutes.
Southern Grandma
Lawyers should never ask a Southern grandma a question if they aren't prepared for the answer.
In a trial, a Southern small-town prosecuting attorney called his first witness, a grandmotherly, elderly woman to the stand.
He approached her and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know me?" She responded, "Why, yes, I do know you, Mr. Williams. I've known you since you were a young boy, and frankly, you've been a big disappointment to me. You lie, you cheat on your wife, and you manipulate people and talk about them behind their backs. You think you're a big shot when you haven't the brains to realize you never will amount to anything more than a two-bit paper pusher. Yes, I know you." The lawyer was stunned! Not knowing what else to do, he pointed across the room and asked, "Mrs. Jones, do you know the defense attorney?" She again replied, "Why, yes, I do. I've known Mr. Bradley since he was a youngster, too. He's lazy, bigoted, and he has a drinking problem. He can't build a normal relationship with anyone and his law practice is one of the worst in the entire state. Not to mention he cheated on his wife with three different women. One of them was your wife. Yes, I know him." The defence attorney almost died. The judge asked both counsellors to approach the bench and, in a very quiet voice, said, "If either of you idiots asks her if she knows me,
I'll send you to the electric chair."
A Polish man moved to the USA and married an American girl.
Although his English was far from perfect, they got along very well until one day he rushed into a lawyer's office and asked him if hecould arrange a divorce for him.
The lawyer said that getting a divorce would depend on thecircumstances,and asked him the following questions:
Have you any grounds? Yes, an acre and half and nice little home.
No, I mean what is the foundation of this case? It made of concrete.
I don't think you understand.
Does either of you have a real grudge? No, we have carport, and not need one.
I mean. What are your relations like? All my relations still in Poland.
Is there any infidelity in your marriage? We have hi-fidelity stereo and good DVD player.
Does your wife beat you up? No, I always up before her.
Is your wife a nagger? No, she white.
Why do you want this divorce? She going to kill me.
What makes you think that? I got proof.
What kind of proof? She going to poison me. She buy a bottle at drugstore and put on shelf in bathroom.
I can read, and it say: "Polish Remover".
A year ago, we trudged through snow | the Daily Mail
Maybe it is time to put a threat level to global warming similar to that for impending nuclear attacks especially since it is a real THREAT, maybe then people would take more notice. I think we are now at GLOBAL ROASTING! Certainly no hidden weapon of mass destruction here it is visible for the world to see, maybe it is just too scary to fight a real world enemy. Mother nature kicking back.
A year ago, we trudged through snow the Daily Mail
A year ago, we trudged through snow the Daily Mail
Sunday, March 11, 2007
THE WHITE HOUSE VERY AMUSING MOVIE WITH SOUND
Click on the link below to go to web albums then click on the album and press the play button. Quality is dependent on your connection speed, so if it don't work don't moan, up your connection speed.
http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/TheWhiteHouse
http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/TheWhiteHouse
Rotten hounds
Well what a strange affair.
Having spent the morning dossing about in that leisurely Sunday fashion it was time to head out. So when i went for the keys to the bike and did not find them i was a little bemused. First of all checked the usual places i leave them, on the table by the door, in my bag, jeans , jacket then the slightly more obtuse, like in the ignition and finally emptied the bin in case they got tossed out with the empties. Nothing, a big fat zilch. I scoured the garden from top to bottom. Now i know i had them at home last night as the bike was sat on the drive, well it would have to be to check the ignition either that or i am having hallucinations. So what can have mysteriously happened to the KEYS, i can only presume that the dogs at some point have decided to run off with, or just as likely, eaten them. By 5pm still nothing turned up, but luckily i rent the bike and the shop kindly sent a spare set out for me. Not till 6-30 so now exhausted by this strange set of events i think i am staying in for the night. If anyone wants to bring me Pizza it would be most welcome.
Having spent the morning dossing about in that leisurely Sunday fashion it was time to head out. So when i went for the keys to the bike and did not find them i was a little bemused. First of all checked the usual places i leave them, on the table by the door, in my bag, jeans , jacket then the slightly more obtuse, like in the ignition and finally emptied the bin in case they got tossed out with the empties. Nothing, a big fat zilch. I scoured the garden from top to bottom. Now i know i had them at home last night as the bike was sat on the drive, well it would have to be to check the ignition either that or i am having hallucinations. So what can have mysteriously happened to the KEYS, i can only presume that the dogs at some point have decided to run off with, or just as likely, eaten them. By 5pm still nothing turned up, but luckily i rent the bike and the shop kindly sent a spare set out for me. Not till 6-30 so now exhausted by this strange set of events i think i am staying in for the night. If anyone wants to bring me Pizza it would be most welcome.
HOUSE AND LAND FOR SALE
Some very good friends of mine have asked me to assist in the sale of their lovely propery on the east bank of the river opposite Mungford school. It has 5 houses and sits on 2 sq rai of land.
If you know anyone, individual or business, who may be interested would you please pass on the link below.
http://landforsalechiangmai.blogspot.com/
If you know anyone, individual or business, who may be interested would you please pass on the link below.
http://landforsalechiangmai.blogspot.com/
Pollution galore in Mae Rim
Things are getting really bad on the old pollution front, even in Mae Rim which is normally a lot clearer, you cannot see the mountain in fact i think visibility today is at around 10 feet, a slight exaggeration but it is seriously mucky out there and it is now 10.39 and so any early morning mist would have burnt off by now, well it would if the sun could get through the pollution. Masses of burning going on at the moment out here in the suburbs or is that the shrubs, or possibly the sticks. I was amazed at the amount of friends last night at Steve's party with bad chests and throats and i think i am developing one myself today, so am not venturing out into the smog for anything, well maybe stock up on beer a little later.
The thing that does make me howl however is when i see motorcyclists with anti pollution masks on, we know pollution might kill us eventually but when they do not have a crash hat on! Whats going to get you first, my bet's on a 4X4........
The thing that does make me howl however is when i see motorcyclists with anti pollution masks on, we know pollution might kill us eventually but when they do not have a crash hat on! Whats going to get you first, my bet's on a 4X4........
Khun Steve's party
Thanks Khun Steve for a lovely night at the Hillside 4 roof top pool.
There were loads of people there I have not seen much of since my return in January so it was good to catch up.
Not the usual antics it was a very sedate affair, not one person was thrown fully clothed into the cool fresh water of that gorgeous swimming pool, we must be slipping.
More importantly though, Steve held a raffle and utilised some unclaimed prizes from the main January roof top event which were soon to expire, and raised over 4000 baht to next years total.
I had not been to the cash point so Khun Guy kindly bought me some tickets but neither of us won. Personally i quite fancied the 1000 baht D2 voucher, but you can't win them all.
Steve and I did have to rescue 1 very well oiled gentleman and get him down 15 floors to a taxi now that was interesting thank god for the lift, but our reward was meeting a very handsome French man sat on the steps outside waiting for only who knows what, unfortunately not for us.
I may take up residence on the steps and see if he returns.
Ronnie informed me of a mass sterilisation event and invited me, i was a little concerned till i realised it was for stray animals, similar to expats but not quite the same. I think it's a charity fund raising event and i will update you when i have the full SP. I thought they were trying to calm us all down with a quick snip!
There were loads of people there I have not seen much of since my return in January so it was good to catch up.
Not the usual antics it was a very sedate affair, not one person was thrown fully clothed into the cool fresh water of that gorgeous swimming pool, we must be slipping.
More importantly though, Steve held a raffle and utilised some unclaimed prizes from the main January roof top event which were soon to expire, and raised over 4000 baht to next years total.
I had not been to the cash point so Khun Guy kindly bought me some tickets but neither of us won. Personally i quite fancied the 1000 baht D2 voucher, but you can't win them all.
Steve and I did have to rescue 1 very well oiled gentleman and get him down 15 floors to a taxi now that was interesting thank god for the lift, but our reward was meeting a very handsome French man sat on the steps outside waiting for only who knows what, unfortunately not for us.
I may take up residence on the steps and see if he returns.
Ronnie informed me of a mass sterilisation event and invited me, i was a little concerned till i realised it was for stray animals, similar to expats but not quite the same. I think it's a charity fund raising event and i will update you when i have the full SP. I thought they were trying to calm us all down with a quick snip!
Friday, March 9, 2007
Silly things that make us titter
Sorry folks, i hope i offend nobodies sensibilities, but hey ho s**t happens, i was sent this and had to share it with those who have not as yet had the pleasure.
MOre Funnies !Uncle Paul
"Hello?""Hi honey. This is Daddy. Is Mommy near the phone?""No Daddy. She's upstairs in the bedroom with Uncle Paul."After a brief pause,Daddy says, "But honey, you haven't got an Uncle Paul.""Oh yes I do, and he's upstairs in the room with Mommy, right now."Brief Pause."Uh, okay then, this is what I want you to do.Put the phone down on the table, run upstairs and knock on the bedroom door and shout to Mommy that Daddy's car just pulled into the driveway.""Okay Daddy, just a minute."A few minutes later the little girl comes back to the phone."I did it Daddy.""And what happened honey?" he asked."Well, Mommy got all scared, jumped out of bed with no clothes on and ran around screaming. Then she tripped over the rug, hit her head on the dresser and now she isn't moving at all!""Oh my God!!! What about your Uncle Paul?""He jumped out of the bed with no clothes on, too. He was all scared and he jumped out of the back window and into the swimmingpool. But I guess he didn't know that you took out the water last week to clean it. He hit the bottom of the pool and I think he's dead."***Long Pause******Longer Pause******Even Longer Pause***Then Daddy says,"Swimming pool? ...........Is this 555-9731?"
Domestic Flights
I have just been reliably informed by Khun Warren that as from Sunday 25th March most Domestic flights between Chaing Mai and Bangkok ( the budget carriers) will be reverting to the old horrible and dirty Don Muang airport. Thai airways may also be diverting some of their flights there.
So if your connecting with International flights it Will not be worth being cheap with the likes of Air Asia as you will have to get all the way to the new airport when you land.
Of course if Thai airways move some flights to Don Muang the connection times may be longer than usual, so all i can say to those of you that had nothing good to say about the new airport! Be careful what you wish for, because now it is going to be a real nightmare, and if you didn't like the facilities before you are going to hate having to spend longer in them waiting for your connection to international.
Personally i wish you had all wished we could be happy, healthy and terribly rich, since the mass wishing for the old airport seems to have worked!
Please check with respective airlines if you already have tickets booked, things can change so quickly, maybe the week after they will swap again!
REMEMBER NEXT TIME WISH FOR A LOTTERY WIN
So if your connecting with International flights it Will not be worth being cheap with the likes of Air Asia as you will have to get all the way to the new airport when you land.
Of course if Thai airways move some flights to Don Muang the connection times may be longer than usual, so all i can say to those of you that had nothing good to say about the new airport! Be careful what you wish for, because now it is going to be a real nightmare, and if you didn't like the facilities before you are going to hate having to spend longer in them waiting for your connection to international.
Personally i wish you had all wished we could be happy, healthy and terribly rich, since the mass wishing for the old airport seems to have worked!
Please check with respective airlines if you already have tickets booked, things can change so quickly, maybe the week after they will swap again!
REMEMBER NEXT TIME WISH FOR A LOTTERY WIN
Songkran 13th - 15th April
Not to be confused with a very popular and inexpensive Thai whiskey, Songkran is Thai New Year.
Love it or hate it it is going to happen and many expats here are already planing their escape.
For 3 days if you are lucky and 5 if you are not, the streets will be full of happy fun people drowning each other with water.
Traditionally a time for children to return home and pay respect to their Parents and bring gifts, big family feasts and visits to the temple.
People go to a Wat to pray and give food to monks. They also clean Buddha images in temples with water and gentle Thai perfume, as it is believed that this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year. In many cities, such as Chiang Mai the Buddha statues from all of the Wat's in the city are paraded through the streets so that people can wash them as they pass by. People carry handfuls of sand to their temple to in order to recompense the dirt that they carry away on their feet during the rest of the year. The sand is then piled into large, tiered piles and decorated with colorful flags. Later in the day, people also do community services. Going to Wat and doing community service teach people to give, the most basic way to happiness in Buddhism.
Traditionally lustra water, see wikipedia.com, is this a Betty quiz?, was poured over the hands or the shoulder in a calm and gentle fashion to show respect. Over the years and probably with the asistance of foreigners taking it one step beyond, Thailand is now the annual host to the worlds largest and longest water fight. Outside of just about every home and shop there will be barrels of water and people with buckets and water pistols aiming at anyone they can. From around 7am to 6pm the place is literally awash with fun and antics. Families fill up the pick up trucks with barrells and drive around and hoards of motorcycles with water pistols, it is very dangerous as many come off their bikes due to the extremely slippery surface.
Around the moat in chiangmai every inch is taken up with people selling food, drink and blocks of ice. The ice is for the barrels of water not the drinks, as it seems the colder the water the more fun it is to get people, how cruel?
It doesn't matter if you are young or old in shorts or on your way to work in a suit if you are not in a covered car with your windows closed, you are considered fair game and you are going to get WET. People even run up behind the red two bench buses and throw water inside!
One day of play can be fun but 3 gets a bit much.
Do's: wear shorts, buy the biggest water pistol you can, wrap mobile phones and wallets cameras etc in a plastic bag and do not get them out in the street, only use waterproof cameras and videos preferably waterproof to 2000 ft! Have fun.
Dont's: Try to avoid riding a motor bike during the day as it is extremely dangerous with many deaths each year, just because your a foreigner isn't going to get you off the hook, in fact i think it's more points!
Do not get upset about getting wet, it is a local tradition and it would only spoil peoples fun, if you want to stay dry STAY INDOORS.
Having said all that it is fun and everybody shares, if you have run out of water there will be plenty of offers to fill you back up, it is very community spirited and you will be made to feel more than welcome.
Have fun, be safe be happy and share.
Love it or hate it it is going to happen and many expats here are already planing their escape.
For 3 days if you are lucky and 5 if you are not, the streets will be full of happy fun people drowning each other with water.
Traditionally a time for children to return home and pay respect to their Parents and bring gifts, big family feasts and visits to the temple.
People go to a Wat to pray and give food to monks. They also clean Buddha images in temples with water and gentle Thai perfume, as it is believed that this will bring good luck and prosperity for the New Year. In many cities, such as Chiang Mai the Buddha statues from all of the Wat's in the city are paraded through the streets so that people can wash them as they pass by. People carry handfuls of sand to their temple to in order to recompense the dirt that they carry away on their feet during the rest of the year. The sand is then piled into large, tiered piles and decorated with colorful flags. Later in the day, people also do community services. Going to Wat and doing community service teach people to give, the most basic way to happiness in Buddhism.
Traditionally lustra water, see wikipedia.com, is this a Betty quiz?, was poured over the hands or the shoulder in a calm and gentle fashion to show respect. Over the years and probably with the asistance of foreigners taking it one step beyond, Thailand is now the annual host to the worlds largest and longest water fight. Outside of just about every home and shop there will be barrels of water and people with buckets and water pistols aiming at anyone they can. From around 7am to 6pm the place is literally awash with fun and antics. Families fill up the pick up trucks with barrells and drive around and hoards of motorcycles with water pistols, it is very dangerous as many come off their bikes due to the extremely slippery surface.
Around the moat in chiangmai every inch is taken up with people selling food, drink and blocks of ice. The ice is for the barrels of water not the drinks, as it seems the colder the water the more fun it is to get people, how cruel?
It doesn't matter if you are young or old in shorts or on your way to work in a suit if you are not in a covered car with your windows closed, you are considered fair game and you are going to get WET. People even run up behind the red two bench buses and throw water inside!
One day of play can be fun but 3 gets a bit much.
Do's: wear shorts, buy the biggest water pistol you can, wrap mobile phones and wallets cameras etc in a plastic bag and do not get them out in the street, only use waterproof cameras and videos preferably waterproof to 2000 ft! Have fun.
Dont's: Try to avoid riding a motor bike during the day as it is extremely dangerous with many deaths each year, just because your a foreigner isn't going to get you off the hook, in fact i think it's more points!
Do not get upset about getting wet, it is a local tradition and it would only spoil peoples fun, if you want to stay dry STAY INDOORS.
Having said all that it is fun and everybody shares, if you have run out of water there will be plenty of offers to fill you back up, it is very community spirited and you will be made to feel more than welcome.
Have fun, be safe be happy and share.
Suvarnabhumi Airport
Having read so many damming reports of the new airport and recently, and having had 3 very good experiences myself, i thought it was time to balance the scales and wrote to the Bangkok post POSTBAG, they chose not to publish the item, maybe because it would have taken up the post bag space for 2 days, i can rabbit on when i get the bit between my teeth, they could have given it the front page though.
Anyhow a little while after another damming report appeared so i slightly amended the item to include the concerns of this disgruntled contributor, see the first 2 paragraphs, they relate to his experience and my retort for him, if you please, UPSET over a perfume advert! Whatever next? Upset he had to walk to immigration but the disabled get a ride!? Who's faults that? break a leg!
After that is my rantings on what i have so far found to be a great place, admittedly with lots of room for improvement but has anyone been home lately, it's not just the airports in chaos.
Is your cup half full or half empty?
Dear Amazed in Thailand, post bag 1st March 2007.
I am sure it is frustrating having to take a bus from the aircraft to the terminal, but believe me Bangkok is not the only place in the world where this occurs, every time I land at Dubai, and believe me that is often, I have been bussed to the terminal, they are rectifying this as I am sure are Bangkok
In the mean time I am sure you would not want them to suspend Domestic and International fights to resolve this problem because believe me taking the bus from Chiang Mai to Bangkok would be far more inconvenient. I am really not sure how a perfume advert has any bearing on the issue of busing people to the terminal unless of course you would be happier to see an advertisement listing all the perceived failures of the new airport, negativity does not breed progress.
It certainly makes the world a more interesting place with peoples different
perceptions to the same situation, and mine regarding the new airport in Bangkok certainly seems to be different. In November 2006 I left this fine and pleasant land for a trip to the UK, a nightmare thought at the best of times, and all the comments on how poorly the new airport was performing made it no easier.
However to my pleasant surprise I certainly had a different story to tell. I flew from Chiang Mai to Bangkok to connect directly with an Emirates flight to the UK via Dubai and was concerned about the luggage appearing on time along with, will I find my way and GOD FORBID I may need to find a toilet! Amazement, not only were my bags on the carousel before I got there, I found a toilet and a very clean and empty one at that. The airport staff pointed me without hesitation to the connection for International departures and although it looked like it still needed a lick of paint, it was organised efficient and had a calming effect, unusual to say the least for any busy international airport.
Having kept up to date with current affairs during my absence I was once again dreading the mayhem promised to me by various articles and comments on web sites. A double whammy I returned to the same smooth operation I had left. It took a lot less time to get to immigration which unlike the old airport had most of the booths opened and manned. I cleared immigration within minutes not hours, and thanks to the signage ( yes it is there if you open your eyes) was soon by the luggage carousel, admittedly I was travelling in Business class and am a Gold member of Skywards, but my luggage was there within 5 minutes and I was off. From the Aircraft doors opening to my arrival at my hotel in Bangkok took a whole 65 minutes, maybe something to do with more road connections.
Well if your not envious yet, the next day, having had my one obligatory night of fun in Bangkok I gave myself plenty of time to reach the airport, it was a Friday and did not wish to risk missing my flight and trying to get on another, and what a surprise when it took less time than in THE GOOD OLD DAYS!
Check in was swift and courteous, thank you Thai airways, and again finding my way from check in to the business class lounge with nothing more than signage to guide my way was swift. The facilities were beautiful and after a spot on the Internet and a bit of snacking, I went off to explore and find some of the reported nightmares.
Oh shock horror, the food court is magnificent, the selection vast and my first let down, the first and last, it’s not cheap, but find me an airport that is.
Having had a mooch around the shops it was time to head to the gate for boarding, but en-route that Singha beer made itself known and a toilet stop was required, like an oasis in the desert the SIGN showing me the way, and the way lead to an admittedly small but clean facility that I only had to share with one other and she was there to clean, and was certainly not holding up the proceedings.
A few minutes later I found myself at the departure gate, and unlike the nightmare of Don Muang, I did not see one person having to stand, sit on the floor or share their seat with a friend, there was a copious amount of seating until the flight was called to board.
I appreciate that human beings are not a great one for change, unless it’s their mobile phone or car, but I really feel people are just not comfortable with the new surroundings yet. People were so used to the old airport and navigated its facilities on autopilot, it is suddenly a shock to the senses to not know where you’re going, and I have the same experience whenever I visit a new airport wherever it is in the world
I worked in travel for many years and have travelled extensively myself and I find the new airport to have the most calming effect of any I have visited even on a busy Friday afternoon. The gardens are stunning and accessible to all and I am sure with time things will be sorted.
To put things into prospective, the opening of a new restaurant, a much smaller occurrence, at least has the chance for a burn off, a night or several where friends and family of the staff can eat for free so they may test the systems, not even David Copperfield could magic up several days of flights and passengers to test the new systems to capacity and find the flaws, and face it on a size basis pro rata they could do with it.
As far as missing baggage is concerned check out the UK news on British Airways failure to repatriate 7000 bags with their owners after 2 days of freezing fog. Several weeks later they are still miles apart.
One thing that cannot be changed is the fact that some greedy moron decided to build the whole new airport on a swamp, there is an old fable of a man who built his castle on sand, and as much as it is a fable great heed could be taken form it’s sentiment, but isn’t that part of the reason for the events in Thailand of September last year? Be proud of your airport and give the new regime chance to resolve what was inherited form the last.
Anyhow a little while after another damming report appeared so i slightly amended the item to include the concerns of this disgruntled contributor, see the first 2 paragraphs, they relate to his experience and my retort for him, if you please, UPSET over a perfume advert! Whatever next? Upset he had to walk to immigration but the disabled get a ride!? Who's faults that? break a leg!
After that is my rantings on what i have so far found to be a great place, admittedly with lots of room for improvement but has anyone been home lately, it's not just the airports in chaos.
Is your cup half full or half empty?
Dear Amazed in Thailand, post bag 1st March 2007.
I am sure it is frustrating having to take a bus from the aircraft to the terminal, but believe me Bangkok is not the only place in the world where this occurs, every time I land at Dubai, and believe me that is often, I have been bussed to the terminal, they are rectifying this as I am sure are Bangkok
In the mean time I am sure you would not want them to suspend Domestic and International fights to resolve this problem because believe me taking the bus from Chiang Mai to Bangkok would be far more inconvenient. I am really not sure how a perfume advert has any bearing on the issue of busing people to the terminal unless of course you would be happier to see an advertisement listing all the perceived failures of the new airport, negativity does not breed progress.
It certainly makes the world a more interesting place with peoples different
perceptions to the same situation, and mine regarding the new airport in Bangkok certainly seems to be different. In November 2006 I left this fine and pleasant land for a trip to the UK, a nightmare thought at the best of times, and all the comments on how poorly the new airport was performing made it no easier.
However to my pleasant surprise I certainly had a different story to tell. I flew from Chiang Mai to Bangkok to connect directly with an Emirates flight to the UK via Dubai and was concerned about the luggage appearing on time along with, will I find my way and GOD FORBID I may need to find a toilet! Amazement, not only were my bags on the carousel before I got there, I found a toilet and a very clean and empty one at that. The airport staff pointed me without hesitation to the connection for International departures and although it looked like it still needed a lick of paint, it was organised efficient and had a calming effect, unusual to say the least for any busy international airport.
Having kept up to date with current affairs during my absence I was once again dreading the mayhem promised to me by various articles and comments on web sites. A double whammy I returned to the same smooth operation I had left. It took a lot less time to get to immigration which unlike the old airport had most of the booths opened and manned. I cleared immigration within minutes not hours, and thanks to the signage ( yes it is there if you open your eyes) was soon by the luggage carousel, admittedly I was travelling in Business class and am a Gold member of Skywards, but my luggage was there within 5 minutes and I was off. From the Aircraft doors opening to my arrival at my hotel in Bangkok took a whole 65 minutes, maybe something to do with more road connections.
Well if your not envious yet, the next day, having had my one obligatory night of fun in Bangkok I gave myself plenty of time to reach the airport, it was a Friday and did not wish to risk missing my flight and trying to get on another, and what a surprise when it took less time than in THE GOOD OLD DAYS!
Check in was swift and courteous, thank you Thai airways, and again finding my way from check in to the business class lounge with nothing more than signage to guide my way was swift. The facilities were beautiful and after a spot on the Internet and a bit of snacking, I went off to explore and find some of the reported nightmares.
Oh shock horror, the food court is magnificent, the selection vast and my first let down, the first and last, it’s not cheap, but find me an airport that is.
Having had a mooch around the shops it was time to head to the gate for boarding, but en-route that Singha beer made itself known and a toilet stop was required, like an oasis in the desert the SIGN showing me the way, and the way lead to an admittedly small but clean facility that I only had to share with one other and she was there to clean, and was certainly not holding up the proceedings.
A few minutes later I found myself at the departure gate, and unlike the nightmare of Don Muang, I did not see one person having to stand, sit on the floor or share their seat with a friend, there was a copious amount of seating until the flight was called to board.
I appreciate that human beings are not a great one for change, unless it’s their mobile phone or car, but I really feel people are just not comfortable with the new surroundings yet. People were so used to the old airport and navigated its facilities on autopilot, it is suddenly a shock to the senses to not know where you’re going, and I have the same experience whenever I visit a new airport wherever it is in the world
I worked in travel for many years and have travelled extensively myself and I find the new airport to have the most calming effect of any I have visited even on a busy Friday afternoon. The gardens are stunning and accessible to all and I am sure with time things will be sorted.
To put things into prospective, the opening of a new restaurant, a much smaller occurrence, at least has the chance for a burn off, a night or several where friends and family of the staff can eat for free so they may test the systems, not even David Copperfield could magic up several days of flights and passengers to test the new systems to capacity and find the flaws, and face it on a size basis pro rata they could do with it.
As far as missing baggage is concerned check out the UK news on British Airways failure to repatriate 7000 bags with their owners after 2 days of freezing fog. Several weeks later they are still miles apart.
One thing that cannot be changed is the fact that some greedy moron decided to build the whole new airport on a swamp, there is an old fable of a man who built his castle on sand, and as much as it is a fable great heed could be taken form it’s sentiment, but isn’t that part of the reason for the events in Thailand of September last year? Be proud of your airport and give the new regime chance to resolve what was inherited form the last.
Thursday, March 8, 2007
Funnies 8 march 2007
mmmmm---all these facts----and I DIDN'T KNOW!!!!
We get many funnies flying around by email and i will be posting those that make me howl, so many just make you titter and i can do that on my own!
If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee. (Hardly seems worth it.)
If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee. (Hardly seems worth it.)
If you farted consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb. (Now that's more like it!)
The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to squirt blood 30 feet. (O.M.G.!)
A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes. (In my next life, I want to be a pig.)
A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death. (Creepy.)
(I'm still not over the pig.)
Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories a hour
(Don't try this at home, maybe at work)
The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off. (Honey, I'm home. What the...?!)
The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field.
(30 minutes..lucky pig! Can you imagine?)
The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds.
(What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)
Some lions mate over 50 times a day.
(I still want to be a pig in my next life...quality over quantity)
Butterflies taste with their feet
(Something I always wanted to know.)
The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue. (Hmmmmmm......)
Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people. (If you're ambidextrous, do you split the difference?)
Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump. (Okay, so that would be a good thing)
A cat's urine glows under a black light.
(I wonder who was paid to figure that out?)
An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
(I know some people like that)
Starfish have no brains
(I know some people like that too.)
Polar bears are left-handed.
(If they switch, they'll live a lot longer)
Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.
(What about that pig??)
Now that you've smiled at least once, it's your turn to spread these crazy facts and send this to someone you want to bring a smile to, maybe even a chuckle. In other words, send it to everyone !
(and God love that pig!)
Amazing bargains for tavel
If anyone is in the mood to travel at the moment Emirates have some amazing fares on offer.
Emirates >
Emirates >
Visa rules. Not new just being enforced.
For anyone who is still confused over visa rules I found this on the Thai consulates web site for Birmingham UK. Hope it clarifys things.
The Royal Thai Consulate - Birmingham for Visa Applications
The Royal Thai Consulate - Birmingham for Visa Applications
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
School for life
Well what a funny and exciting old day.
Khun Steve invited me for a day out.
I was unsure of the itinerary, but a day out on the bikes seemed like a good idea and a break from the norm right now.
So early this morning i left home and made my way to Chiang Mai from Mae Rim, we met up and off we set to the School for life.
School for life is an Orphanage in a beautiful setting on land owned by His Majesty The King, and donated to this project, in the Doi Saket area and way off the beaten track. The project houses , feeds and cares for numerous Orphan's. Not only does it care for them it also provides essential training in life skills, so when the day arrives that they must leave, not only are they healthy and cared for, they have skills to take with them into the community and have a better start. They educated to a good standard, they have a good command of English and are taught entrepreneurial skills as well. This is in addition to the basic skills of taking GOOD care of yourself in this big bad world.
We were there to view progress on the new build dormitory for 50 boys, this is sponsored and being paid for by the Roof Top Party Charity. This event has occurred annually since the Tsunami in South East Asia, when Khun Steve and his merry band of committee members held a charity night for the victims of this horrific event.
The event was such a success on a charitable basis and a hit with the locals for a well organised fundraising event that was fun, we asked for it to become an annual happening and it has. So this years benefactor is The School For Life, based on a submitted proposals, it changes each year and is Judged by the merits of the proposal.
Now we have you non residents up to speed i will continue.
To ensure that the monies raised are being administered wisely, a visit is arranged every step of the way before the next installment is paid. So today was one of those events, and my first visit to the site.
We were welcomed by the manager and given a tour of the facilities, and then lead down through the complex, which resembles the summer camps in the USA in my minds eye, to the new boys dormitory, which although still under construction is taking great shape. It has plenty of bathroom facilities and a family room, a room for staff to sleep in, so they can keep an eye out on the kids and room for 50 beds.
I must add on a personal note that the place had a great feel, the children cared for, the place was immaculate and the kids looked like they were enjoying life, not what you would generally expect from an orphanage anywhere in the world.
There is a blessing of this facility and official opening/handover, in early April with Monks etc.
If you would like to attend please contact Steve for details as the dates are not firm, whoever knows when builders will finish any job. There will be a lunch and drinks with a cover charge, come on we wouldn't want to take the food from the mouths of babes would we.
I hope the boys enjoy the new space and wish them every opportunity and good luck in the future, especially having had such a rough start.
P.S Contributions to Hillside Rooftop Charity are constantly welcomed as the fundraising for the next year starts as soon as the current has finished.
After School for life anther surprise.
We headed a bit further North to Khun Warrens place in the back end of the back end of beyond, and you all thought i live in the middle of nowhere! Well i suppose i do compared to Warren, but that means Warren is in the back of beyond of it.
Having wound through country roads and past beautiful rivers and finally traversed a stream on our bikes we arrive. Now the plot thickens. We are here on a mission, a charitable one at that, which involves Khun Steve, Khun Warren and Khun Nack, and since i am there i suppose i am implicated. Don't get all excited, it genuinely is charitable not illicit, but i am sworn to secrecy for a little while. Keep coming back and all will be revealed in later postings. I would however like to thank Khun Warren and his lovely lads for a great lunch and the afternoon tea, as Betty discovered the nosey mare she is, in Royal Dalton no less, oh Tea in a china cup X X X X
On the way back from our BOND style mission Warren enlightened us to an amazing home stay which i am loathe to share with you all. But since life here is about sharing great experiences and new found treasures here we go.
In the lands that sit around the Doi Saket region, near to Warrens "Valley", is a little sign in Thai, you will never find it without a map, and thanks to Warren English as well, stating home stay, and after a meander along, to say the least, a "Dodgy" road and crossing a babbling Brook you will discover a Bamboo hut, with a massive open lounge /dinning area, 4 en suite, yes en suite bedrooms, with western style toilets and showers, a large terrace and best of all for the winter, an open log fire. Here you can while away the days (and nights) and really get to grips with living THAI STYLE. I am planning on a 2 night trip if anyone want to join the fun.
Apparently if you notify them of your arrival the village boys will organise food and bring guitars and generally make your stay comfortable. From this base camp you can either relax or more interestingly explore the nearby waterfalls and many walks available.
After High Tea ( so out of Africa) with Khun's Warren, Nack and Steve, Steve and i headed off home before the light failed us. En route however we could not resist the allure of an open market and all it had to offer, i bought flip flops and Steve treat us both to orange drinks. Given the chance i think we would both have treated ourselves to something more LOCAL
http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/SchoolForLife
http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/HomeStay
Khun Steve invited me for a day out.
I was unsure of the itinerary, but a day out on the bikes seemed like a good idea and a break from the norm right now.
So early this morning i left home and made my way to Chiang Mai from Mae Rim, we met up and off we set to the School for life.
School for life is an Orphanage in a beautiful setting on land owned by His Majesty The King, and donated to this project, in the Doi Saket area and way off the beaten track. The project houses , feeds and cares for numerous Orphan's. Not only does it care for them it also provides essential training in life skills, so when the day arrives that they must leave, not only are they healthy and cared for, they have skills to take with them into the community and have a better start. They educated to a good standard, they have a good command of English and are taught entrepreneurial skills as well. This is in addition to the basic skills of taking GOOD care of yourself in this big bad world.
We were there to view progress on the new build dormitory for 50 boys, this is sponsored and being paid for by the Roof Top Party Charity. This event has occurred annually since the Tsunami in South East Asia, when Khun Steve and his merry band of committee members held a charity night for the victims of this horrific event.
The event was such a success on a charitable basis and a hit with the locals for a well organised fundraising event that was fun, we asked for it to become an annual happening and it has. So this years benefactor is The School For Life, based on a submitted proposals, it changes each year and is Judged by the merits of the proposal.
Now we have you non residents up to speed i will continue.
To ensure that the monies raised are being administered wisely, a visit is arranged every step of the way before the next installment is paid. So today was one of those events, and my first visit to the site.
We were welcomed by the manager and given a tour of the facilities, and then lead down through the complex, which resembles the summer camps in the USA in my minds eye, to the new boys dormitory, which although still under construction is taking great shape. It has plenty of bathroom facilities and a family room, a room for staff to sleep in, so they can keep an eye out on the kids and room for 50 beds.
I must add on a personal note that the place had a great feel, the children cared for, the place was immaculate and the kids looked like they were enjoying life, not what you would generally expect from an orphanage anywhere in the world.
There is a blessing of this facility and official opening/handover, in early April with Monks etc.
If you would like to attend please contact Steve for details as the dates are not firm, whoever knows when builders will finish any job. There will be a lunch and drinks with a cover charge, come on we wouldn't want to take the food from the mouths of babes would we.
I hope the boys enjoy the new space and wish them every opportunity and good luck in the future, especially having had such a rough start.
P.S Contributions to Hillside Rooftop Charity are constantly welcomed as the fundraising for the next year starts as soon as the current has finished.
After School for life anther surprise.
We headed a bit further North to Khun Warrens place in the back end of the back end of beyond, and you all thought i live in the middle of nowhere! Well i suppose i do compared to Warren, but that means Warren is in the back of beyond of it.
Having wound through country roads and past beautiful rivers and finally traversed a stream on our bikes we arrive. Now the plot thickens. We are here on a mission, a charitable one at that, which involves Khun Steve, Khun Warren and Khun Nack, and since i am there i suppose i am implicated. Don't get all excited, it genuinely is charitable not illicit, but i am sworn to secrecy for a little while. Keep coming back and all will be revealed in later postings. I would however like to thank Khun Warren and his lovely lads for a great lunch and the afternoon tea, as Betty discovered the nosey mare she is, in Royal Dalton no less, oh Tea in a china cup X X X X
On the way back from our BOND style mission Warren enlightened us to an amazing home stay which i am loathe to share with you all. But since life here is about sharing great experiences and new found treasures here we go.
In the lands that sit around the Doi Saket region, near to Warrens "Valley", is a little sign in Thai, you will never find it without a map, and thanks to Warren English as well, stating home stay, and after a meander along, to say the least, a "Dodgy" road and crossing a babbling Brook you will discover a Bamboo hut, with a massive open lounge /dinning area, 4 en suite, yes en suite bedrooms, with western style toilets and showers, a large terrace and best of all for the winter, an open log fire. Here you can while away the days (and nights) and really get to grips with living THAI STYLE. I am planning on a 2 night trip if anyone want to join the fun.
Apparently if you notify them of your arrival the village boys will organise food and bring guitars and generally make your stay comfortable. From this base camp you can either relax or more interestingly explore the nearby waterfalls and many walks available.
After High Tea ( so out of Africa) with Khun's Warren, Nack and Steve, Steve and i headed off home before the light failed us. En route however we could not resist the allure of an open market and all it had to offer, i bought flip flops and Steve treat us both to orange drinks. Given the chance i think we would both have treated ourselves to something more LOCAL
http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/SchoolForLife
http://picasaweb.google.com/GARETHANGEL/HomeStay
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