Sawadee Khrap

Listen to the news and you can begin to doubt – but it really still is – we will eventually rid ourselves of the dictators and other scum denying peoples rights – but till then just enjoy this song and movie posted on YouTube.

 

Ciao

America Needs A Leader Like This!

Prime Minister John Howard - Australia

“Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were made by parliament. 'If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you', he said on National Television

I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia : one the Australian law and another Islamic law that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option', Costello said.

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who

...

Sawadee Khrap

Continuing our trip back to the refugee camp, the next morning we woke at our small house at the Moun-Ju-Kour Resort.  Here is the view from our front porch.

   and this is a shot of the main office & restaurant.

Last night – this was our sunset — spectacular.  The next shot is Tasanai, the X mayor of Wiang Haeng city and  owner of the Resort, and Jira, our friend from Suan Dok.

 

 

 

 

 

And or course the Rhinoceros Beetles, the staff had a bucket of them that they collected last night as the bugs flew around the Resorts lights – they sell them in Chiang Mai for the vendors who make bug collection displays for sale – I thought they ate them – but no, its for profit.  And I also thought I’d throw in a flower shot – they were really beautiful with the morning sun shining.

 

 

 

 

 

  I also really liked the glasses they used at the Resort restrauant.  The sideshow has the other versions  —– I’m going to try and get a set – wish they had a gay version – that would be neat.

 

From here we headed to the Wat Fa

...

Sawadee Khrap

Saturday was a special event day for the Golden Ball Restaurant.  New Logo and the monks came for the blessing ceremony.  Bon also bought some new furniture for the lounge area.  Tomorrow, Sunday,  will be both Bon’s and my birthday – he’s throwing a party at the restaurant and I and Tasanai will go there to celebrate mine too.  Different setup here, in Thailand the birthday person throws the party (paying for all food and drink) and guests bring presents (at least some do – he he).  I know Bon stocked up on the booze so my costs will be low – but I will chip in on some of the costs – I don’t have that many friends coming – like he does.  Anyway here are the shots –

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

See you after the party —

...

    This is a test of ZOOMIFY.   You can scroll around the image using the above “<”,  “>”,  buttons and and zoom in using the slider at the left.   This is a panoramic of the view from the front porch of the Moun Ju Kour Resort we stayed at in Wieng Haeng while on our trip to the Refugee Camp. The next post will show more photos of our stay there.   Please try it out and give me your comments – I am going to increase the size of the window to fill the entire post area.   Ciao 

Sawadee Khrap

Now for the children’s party.  As I mentioned in the earlier post , Tasanai and I brought several 5 gallon containers of cookies for the kids.  When I saw the line form I was really worried that we hadn’t brought enough for all – but it was perfect – everyone had theirs and some even got seconds.   Since we had gotten there early it was a perfect starting point for the day – about 10ish Michael and his volunteer troubadours arrived from Chiang Mai.  And the show began!

Here’s a shot of Michael’s group as we finished up the cookie line.

 

 

 

 

 

They brought a lot of donated stuff for the camp and then started to put on the entertainment.  Games, games, games.

We had    darts, football, rope skipping, dancing contest, Western dance lessons, pop-the-balloons, relay race, and finally the

Tug-O-War

 

This is a large file and will load somewhat slowly.

 

 

Quite a day – 200 screaming kids – excitement,   excitement ,   excitement.

The rest of these images show highlites of the day – Be sure and check out the

**** SLIDESHOW ****

 

 

 

 

 

...

Sawadee Khrap

We just got back from a return visit to the Kuang Jaw Shan Refugee Camp.  That is the correct name (see prior post labeled Tak Lang)  Tak Lang is the small village next to the camp – so now I have it named right,

I have a lot of pictures so I thought I would first show some shots of the people we meet and then next post will be on the party, followed by the Moun-Ju-Kour Resort where we stayed and later the visit to Srisangwan Waterfall.

 First, before we arrived at the camp we passed these lovely ladies on the road – I think they are from the Musur tribe. I’ll check on that to make sure.

The rest of these shots were taken at the camp.  We got there early so we could see the kids reactions when Michael’s group of troubadours, volunteers from

the Chiang Mai area arrived to entertain the children.  I don’t have everyones name but this is a shot where they were talking to the Monk and the Camp leader(seated right).

Throughout the day we meet a lot of great kids and parents – some of which I thought were special enough to show here – Please check out the  *SLIDESHOW* for more.

Here is shots of Saiooe and Jorn – these young men,

...

Sawadee Khrap

Just got back last night from another trip to Piang Luang and the Lak Trang refugee camp and then we went to the Doi Pha Daeng National Park, Srisangwan Waterfall.  Great pictures – slightly over 1000 taken, lot of panoramic landscapes and some real great children shots.  I’ll post them in sections about what and where we went.   Hope you enjoy.

I’ll also start revamping the blog theme and reduce the content this week – so be prepared for some changes.

Ciao

 

Sawadee Khrap

I was just reading a article on The Bangkok Post – Database – the computer and technology section about the latest horrors of “PayPal” and their recommendations.   And I have been discussing with Tasanai the progress of our web site and blog – no sales, lot of activity (the blog) and our future plans.  We have decided to revamp the site, reducing it to the blog (with sideshows) and a section for Tasanai’s AsianCoOp local promotion of photographic and video offerings. (in Thai).

I’m going to start making changes and try to redesign the entire site over the next week or so.  –  sooooo don’t be shocked at what you may see – I will be trying out new themes and color schemes – Please leave a comment if you find one you particularly like.

This will also eliminate the need to continue our PayPal account and I can start looking for a full Merchants Account here in Thailand for local business credit card options, while using bank deposits for International transaction when needed.  Should really simplify things.

So stay tuned for some major changes and look – hope you like them

Ciao

Sawadee Khrap

I just finished getting my Monday 2hr massage & haircut.  1000 Baht.  $25 US

Tasanai is going to see if he can develop a business marketing his new massage oil formula.  Under the AsianCoOp label and for the local spa and massage parlors with their own label.  He just received a sample of a new version of Raw coconut oil from “Ms Ta’s” in Koh Samui.  Using coconut oil as a base and adding other Essential Oils, he has come up with a very good formula.  So today I tried it out.

In addition I needed a haircut  – so I called another friend “Odd” , his nickname, to come to the house and fix me up.   And that he did.

First a haircut – sitting on a chair in the front room and then a 2 hr Oil body massage – using of course Tasanai’s coconut formula.  This guy is great, barber and masseur.  The haircut was right on – just the way I like it – no wheel-wells around the ears and fairly short – trimmed my beard too. And then the massage.

We put several blankets on the floor ( I have to get an air mattress) and his skilled hands went to work.  Odd is small but powerful and his pressure lasts the entire two hours – I like a strong massage so he is excellent.

If you are in Chiang Mai or planning to come and you want to contact Odd – he can be reached

...