HAPPY NEW YEAR & THE STORE IS ONLINE

Sawasdee Khrap

HAPPY NEW YEAR ——  HAPPY NEW YEAR

And we have the new version of the Store and Gallery online now.  Still plan on making a lot of changes but we think the basic format is there – just tweaking the site now is needed.  Many images will now be improved, and we still need some pricing for “Bird’s” Asian Tours ( trekking & Chiang Rai) for starters.

Well what do you think of the site and store now – Please clique for me – need your opinions, comments and suggestions.

What do you feel when you see the site?  Is is appealing?

Does it convey any feelings to buy?       We were told the old version looked more like a museum than a store.

Has that changed?      Are there some Thailand products you would like to have presented?

Thanks for your help – we really need it.

Ciao

Frank & Tasanai

Another Earthquake —

Sawasdee Khrap

This is really a test to see if our Internet connection is still up and running – the quake on Wed 26th ( 7.1 ) – crippled our service, but I think it’s better now.  At least we have email today.  We are ready to upload the latest revisions for the Blog, Store and Gallery – if the connections will hold.  A few minor changes are still needed so we will convert the entire web-site sometime next week but before the end of the year. —

Trusting everyone had a great CHRISTMAS and looking forward to the NEW YEAR.

Ciao for now

Tasanai & Frank

What a day !! ??

Sawasdee Khrap

What a day, or I should have said evening — we were robbed last night.  He entered in through the balcony and stoled our laptop – right while Tasanai’s mother was sleeping on the couch.  She did slightly wake up and saw someone but thought it was Tasanai, going to the front bathroom and so didn’t say anything.  Pretty brave, to come in while there are people there – but last month we were missing 17,000 Baht or about $500 US — must have come in the same way.  Security in the building is sure they know who is doing it (happened to about 3 others on our floor this week I found out) but they don’t have actual proof Yet.— we are now setting up a motion alarm and will stop any other attempts, just movement will set off an alarm and lights.  But that’s the excitement for today, Thank God we have the insurance.  Bought it last month – never thought it would be needed this soon.

On another point – our neighbour said he really felt the earthquake we had last week – Tas and I slept right through it – Our neighbour said it really swayed the building and lasted for about a minute – first one he has been in – he said it was pretty scary —

Ciao

Frank

 

 

Changes, Changes, Changes

Sawasdee Khrap

Making a lot of changes now – trying to make the Blog, Store and Gallerys easier to use and the general theme of the site more apparent — Your comments are really helping, we just wish we had a better background of web design. Sorry, we are taking so long – quite a learning process. 

We are updating “Tour’s Best” – Bird’s Tours – for better content and photos  — and it will also have next seasons new pricing  – Mock-ups look great – hope you like it when finished.

We are trying to incorporate the “Asiancoop.com” flash Title used in the Gallery into the Blog, so the sites are more consistent.   That’s not as easy as we thought it would be — again the learning curve — but doing so is also teaching us how to embed “Flash” movies into the Blog and Gallery — that way we can show you movie clips, such as small clips on the different tours offered, short movies about the Artist we sponsor, and scenes from Frank’s travels.  We’re hoping that these will help make the site more attractive. What do you think?

Anyway – it’s your comments that give us the incentive and guidance to make the site more inviting.

Thanks so much,

Tasanai & Frank

 

Please Check Out the Store

Sawasdee Khrap

Just got the store and blog integrated – Please check it out and be sure and leave some comments. 

The images in the store right now are set at low resolution – we will start to bring them higher while at the same time reducing the size of the code to reduce loading times. Lot of work still ahead. 

Some of the images – Pong’s artwork for example – were shot in bad lighting and will have to be replaced – sorry Pong.  Her work is so beautiful we feel bad that the images turned out so poorly, We’ll get those changed next week.  We have only included enough images to fill the pages  – now we will develop a larger Gallery.  Really looking for your input to decide which images or scenes you would like to see.

Just click on the “ARTIST – GALLERY – STORE” in the upper Menu and have a look.

We are also looking for State-Side sales Reps  (U.S.)  for the products shown – interested ????

Drop us a email.

Thanks

Tasanai

Earthquake last night

We must have been very tired after Tasanai’s Birthday and next day celebration –  It was a great party and yesterday we took the family to the Airport Shopping Center – Got some pictures but we’ll post them later  – the quake is news now.   last night about 12 PM we had a earthquake (5.1) about 30 miles away and we didn’t feel it.  All over the news this morning they were talking about it  – showing buildings, even ours, checking for damage and we slept through it. –  Some of the older ones showed some cracks but our building – nothing

The quake was centered in Mae Rim, about 30 miles away where the tourtist usually go to see the elephant camp and where the Orchid farms are.  Apparently some real damage there. I had some pictures of our trip to here when Tin was visiting from San francisco.  They didn’t know this fault existed and are now giving it a name. — We still can’t understand how we slept through it – they said that there was also over 20 after shocks.

Anyway, got the Store loaded into the servers today and in testing phase before we begin to change the blog to link it.  Within the next week we will create the menu links to set it in the blog – Sent out email for some to test it now and will use their comments to get out the bugs.

and for everyone else   MERRY CHRISTMAS –  if we don’t have it fully functional by then.

Frank & Tasanai

Where the hell is the Store and Gallery ?????

Sawasdee Khrap

Good question, Whew, all of the images for the galleries are loaded, code is ready for PayPal and pages all have some writing.  I say “writing” because I just put something for each image, even a one liner, just to get it going.  So don’t get too critical on me for the starting setup.

This weekend will be devoted to Tasanai’s birthday.  Tomorrow we start making setup for Sunday’s party.  Tasanai is planning on special food plates and setting the condo in pretty fancy flower arrangements.  We have set the guest list to just a few friends and family.  But all activity on the store and gallery will have to wait till this is over.  I’ll have some pictures of the party to show you next week .

After Monday, I will start the testing in the PayPal sand-box.  This is a mock version of PayPal that I can run any test of the store code before setting it open in the web.  Ha Ha they call it the sand-box – time to play.  It should take at least 2 days to test out all the pages and PayPal options – then I can upload to our web-site and open it up.  I’m planning on Wed or Thu.  Anyway I’m excited and I hope you will be when you see the GALLERY and STORE open for business.

Till then

Ciao

Tasanai & Frank

 

King’s Birthday – Nov 5th

Sawasdee Khrap

Well tomorrow is the King’s Birthday and a National Holiday here – actually it’s called Father’s Day and we will go to Lampang to celebrate with Tasanai’s family.

We’re taking a computer system over to give to the family and the kids can use it for school work. Tasanai’s brother, Thanon Chai’s birthday is Jan 2 so this will serve as Father’s Day, Christmas, and Thanon Chai’s present. Hope it will help him with school – he’s studying PhotoShop right now and being able to practice at home should really give him some extra help. They don’t have a lot of computers at school – so the kids can use it to study at home – I hope to see them having good grades.

Just adding the finishing touches to the Store and Gallery, didn’t think it would take this much typing – have to add a small description to every image in the Gallerys and especially for the artist products being shown. I have just started testing it on PayPal to make sure that the credit card part is working OK and then I will set up the Form-Mail for contact purposes. I’m still planning on the end of the month as the latest – sorry I won’t be able to get it done before the Christmas buying rush – bummer – but for next year we should have a tried and tested system and several new great artist and their works available. I am just putting in a short description for all the images now – but will continue to add to it as time goes by.

Anyway, just wanted to post where we are at – And the San Mateo number is active now  650-227-2913 and will accept voice messages.    see you soon at the STORE

Ciao

Frank & Tasanai.

Store update

Sawasdee Khrap

Well the store is just about ready – the new template is great. We are now working on the photos that we will start offer first. So far we’ve planned 8 gallerys:

# 1 – Hand Carved Soap Flowers by Nattapoun

#2 – Photo Reproductions by Piyachart

#3 – Po Leaf & Sa Paper Artwork by Pong

#4 – Landscapes – images from our travels

#5 – Flora & Fauna

#6 – Temples in Thailand

#7 – not yet defined

#8 – not yet defined

Paypal is set up and will accept purchases and deposits for projects.

I think you’ll like the new site addition – some major changes will be needed to be done to the blog to include the Gallery, I will start working on them next week.

Tasanai

P.S. Frank is recovering from a infected ear but is expected to be at full steam shortly.

Mike’s Burgers – Chiang Mai – Loy Krathong2006

Sawasdee Khrap

Went to a friend of ours Grand opening of his new burger franchise shop located at “The Peak” in the Night Bazaar. Here’s a link for it (Night Bazaar) That’s a mouthful – Brian, a friend, has just opened his 3rd location in Chiang Mai. He started with the first site near the Thapae Gate and had such success he is now offering franchises for the new locations. So far 3 now with plans for several more in CM and some in Bangkok. I went down to get some opening shots and get ready for Loy Krathong’s first parade in the evening. Here are some shots of Brian, and the new owners:

1optfullView-Brian-MikesPeak 1optMikePeak-NewOwners

Next are shots of Pong (Brian’s partner) and Patty behind the grill. Pong is on the right:

1optMikePeak-PongPattyWorking 1optMikePeak-PongPatty

AND the first customers (actually the first to sit down – Jerry and I ordered the first burger and hotdog that evening – but we were sitting at the bar next door)

1optMikePeak-Drian-yngcust 1optMikePeak-FirstCust

Then it was off to the start of Loy Krathong and the first evening parade – these are just some quick shots to give you an idea about what it looked like.

OptLoyKrathong-FireBalloon OptLoyKrathong-crowdParade

Of course there were a lot of boys there – in the parade

OptLoyKrathong-boysfloat1 OptLoyKrathong-boysfloat1back

OptLoyKrathong-boysfloat2 OptLoyKrathong-boysfloat3

And of course the usual floats, dancers and girls

OptLoyKrathong-RoyalFloat OptLoyKrathong-drums

OptLoyKrathong-girls2 OptLoyKrathong-girls

OptLoyKrathong-dancer1 OptLoyKrathong-dancer2 OptLoyKrathong-dancer3

There will be another parade tonight (5th) for a krathong to go to the river and then tomorrow night will be the final larger parade – both Tasanai and i will be there and should get some great shots. I’ll try to get then in too.

I am also checking on some new web templates for the gallery and store – hopefully it will work and let me set it up quickly – stay tuned —– printer died – isn’t it always something.

Ciao

Frank

Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006

Sawasdee Khrap

No pictures – Just a note.

Today starts the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek 2006 Expo near Chiang Mai. We won’t get a chance to see it until later in the month, maybe not till December – Make sure you take a look at the web site.

We are getting ready for Loy Krathong this weekend– Tasanai will do some video work in Lampang on the 4th & 5th and then we will celebrate together here on the 6th. Actually that will be the day of the parade here in Chiang Mai with the big lighted floats – I will try to get some unique shots.

Had to put new front and rear brakes on the Mira, Tasanai is going over the mountain to Lampang this weekend and we wanted to make sure that the brakes were in order – they were getting very thin and would need renewing soon – so why wait. 2,400 B – $60 US for the entire job – now try to get that done in the States.

Still having problems with the new computer – hopefully I can go to a operating system restore and get it working correctly again – If not I will have to wait until after the busy cool tourtist season to shut it down for a full format and re-load of all systems – Tasanai needs it working for his video projects and I am afraid that if I attempt to start from scratch and format the hard-drive and reload the operating system something may go wrong and leave us without a working unit. At least right now it will produce the videos and Photoshop is up and running – no video menus but we can use Titles instead and still make a good looking product.

Anyway that’s where we are now. Get back to you later

Ciao

Frank

Trip to Chiang Rai

Sawsadee Khrap

Can’t show you all the pictures here on the blog, I’ll try to get them in the Gallery. but here are some highlights. First we stopped at a Resort, Jarim Garden, for lunch before getting to Chiang Rai.

Parrot-JarimGarden Bridge-JarimGarden KingMengRaiMemorial

Wow, there they had this beautiful parrot and the bridge Tasanai took a picrure of last year. His pic is much better than this one. About 10KM outside of Chiang Rai is Wat Rong Khun – a great gleaming white new Wat, these were taken in the afternoon sun and suffer from straight down lighting. – Arriving in Chiang Rai, you first see the King Mehgrai Memorial: We went to several Wats here but those pics will wait for the Gallery.

WatRongKhun1 WatRongKhun2 WatRongKhun3

Leaving Chiang Rai we headed North toward Myanmar (Burma) and the Golden Triangle:

MaeSai-GoldenTriangle BorderRoad-MaeSai

This shot is looking toward Thailand (Mae Sai) from the border road – we were stopped several time for ID check of Tasanai, (they didn’t ask for my ID at anytime), apparently they wanted to make sure he wasn’t illegal. At the top of this mountain range was the King’s Mother’s Garden and Mae Fa Luang Park. Also here is the Oldest Northern Temple – Phrathat Doi Tung (Doi Tung Shrine) – one of the 12 Major Temples in Buddhism – Pig Zodiac – and Tasanai’s brith year Temple. And on the way back, in the late afternoon here is a shot again of Wat Rong Khun.

PhrathatDoiTung WatRongKhunNight

Ciao

Frank

Chiang Rai and the Red Rose Hotel

Sawasdee Khrap

Just got back from a trip to Chiang Rai and the surrounding area. We stayed the night in the Red Rose Hotel in the Toon Inn Room — As you can see from the pictures this is a place you won’t want to miss – especially if you have kids or you are young at heart yourself. I really liked this room, but if you don’t like cartoons, they also have the Boxing Room, Space Ship Room, and many more to choose from – see the big sign in the picture of the front entrance. Prices range from 800 Baht to 2800 Baht – that’s $20–70/night US depending on size.. We thought our car felt right at home in the Toon’s Car Port -. $30 US/night Anyway here are the images:

8210-RedRoseSign RedRoseSignNight RedRoseDragon ToonInnFront RedRoseBench RedRoseOfferings TasToonInnToonInnCarToonInnFrontRoom ToonInnLivingRm2ToonInnBedroom ToonInnDressingRmToonInnToilet

We left the Red Rose visited the new Wat Rung Khun – beautiful white temple and then went to Chiang Saen and then to Do Tung Temple – I’ll post more pics on this later, this was a 2 day trip — But here’s the Red Rose website – enjoy

Ciao

Frank

New P.O.Box too

Sawasdwee Khrap

Forgot – today I got a new P.O. Box at our local Post Office.

P.O. Box 237

Phrasing Post Office

Chiang Mai 50205 Thailand

We will use this for AsianCoOp and business type mail that will not need to go to the Condo. Our personal mail will still go to the HillSide4 address.

Ciao

Frank

Checkup and then to Chiang Rai

Sawasdee Khrap

Went to the hospital today for my annual checkup – 4000 Baht, $100 US.   Checked blood (sugar, PSA, hormones, hepatitis, STD, etc ) , and urine, stool tests (complete), EKG, Artery Condition, body fat, chest X-ray —— Hows that for a full checkup and what a great price.

Tomorrow we leave for Chiang Rai – will get some shots there and present them next posts

Ciao

Frank