As I have said Som Poi is a farming community. The people are easy going and plain people. They think I am quite a novelty with white skin. Some come and feel my skin, some ignore me and walk on the other side of the street, some stop and stare. Others speak and smile when I meet them on my walks. They also get along with a LOT less than most Americans do. They are happy to help others. I will try to explain things with pictures.
This circle is at the center of town. I have to go
by it on the way to and from Batty's to where I
sleep. When walking to Batty's it is my clue to
turn right to go past the school. I go that way as I
know there is a place to sit, but have never
stopped for a rest. It is only a 1/2 mile walk. So much
looks the same and so few signs and I could not read
them if there were. No stop signs in the town but they
know where to slow and look both ways.
Th entrance to the school closest to Batty's.
The sign in front of the school
Across the soccer field to the school.
They are quite the soccer players.
I can't imagine playing in this heat and humidity.
The sign that we have come to Batty's village.
When I get here I know I turn left at the next corner
and her house is the first one on the left.
The house where I get my 100 baht/$3.00 hair wash,
head, neck and shoulder massage.
The ever present dog in the street.
There are MANY dogs in Thailand.
They are so tame & trusting that they just sit or lay there
until you are almost on them.
If you are driving in the left lane and they are laying in
the right lane they just lay there and watch you go by.
Local medical clinic sign.
Batty's cousin Jim is the 2nd in command here.
The clinic
Very small things are handled here.
If anything is more serious they call an ambulance
and take you to a hospital.
All I received for "Asian Revenge" was a blood pressure
reading.
Red onions drying at neighbor's place
Entrance to the temple nearest Batty's place.
Not the one where her family goes.
3 headed dragon at the gate
Various shrines as you come up to the gate
Side of the gate with their version
of evergreens along the drive
Garbage "can"
Some of the vegetation
As it is the dry season/winter not much is blooming.
Picking up onion pullers in front of our house.
The truck and cart will come back about 3 PM
full of onions with some of the pullers sitting on top.
Not sure how the others get home.
Another temple a couple of blocks from the house
This is the one her family goes to.
The ashes of both of her parents are in a hole in
the wall at this temple.
Inside the temple
Tower where they call them to prayers
It has a bell and large drum
The temple with the beautiful flower gardens.
The grounds are cared for by the people as the
monks are only allowed to meditate and pray.
Another view of the grounds
Another view of the tower to call to prayer
A very old tree near the river that goes through town
and is on the temple grounds.
These are new monks on parade.
Some of these will be monks for life and some just
the summer. The young ones are probably here for summer camp.
They are out hoping people will give them food or money.
Sometimes they have the monks in the back of a truck and
go up and down the streets for donations.
The monks are not allowed to drive so people take them
in their pickups where they need to go.
Neighbor's house across the road.
Many red shirts hanging in front of homes.
There has been a lot of deaths of widows in the area.
Beliefs are that they do not want to go to the great
beyond without a man. The great spirit will get a man
to go with them. The red shirt tells the spirit that there
is no man in this house so go away, protecting the man
that does live there. When Pri was here we had one hanging
in front also. Batty took it down as she does not believe in
these superstitions. Construction was being done in that area also.
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