April 18 - Virginia                                                                                                        

Back in Sterling, VA at Bert's home.  Catching up on laundry and getting rested up.

April 17 - Back to the USA                                                                                             

Up very early.  The shuttle bus picked us up at 2:30 AM and took us to the airport for a 3 AM check in.  We left Bangkok at 6 AM.  Off to Tokyo and then on to DC, 12 hour flight.  Lori met us at 4:00 PM Wed afternoon.  An interesting side light, We left Tokyo at 3:55 PM Wed and got to DC at 3:40 PM Wed, 15 minutes before we left Tokyo.  Those 12 time zones to cross do funny things to you and your time schedule.  What meds do I take when I get home, morning or night?  I took the night as I was going to bed.

April 16 -  Another day of relaxing                                                                                                

The 3 B's went to the airport to check things out for tomorrow.  I stayed at the hotel and worked on this.  I still had a sandwich here so when they again rode the train and went for lunch I stayed home.  Those trains are nice but the walk between and stairs I did not want to take today.

April 15 - Restful Day                                                                                      

We just stayed at the hotel in the morning.  Mid afternoon we hired a taxi and went downtown.  We met one of Bert's friends from GLS and had lunch.  Mike now works half year in Thailand and happened to be in town.  We then went to Starbucks and talked for several hours.  Batty had some things to do so she went and got them done.  When she got back the guys decided they were hungry again so we went for supper at one of those cafe courts.

To get home we rode the metro train out to the airport and then took the hotel shuttle back.

A long good day.

April 14 - Off to Bangkok                                                                                                     

Up earaly and picked up about 6:45 AM to go to Ubon to fly to Bangkok.  There were 7 of us flying so 2 vehicles took us.  It is about an hour drive.  After arriving at Bangkok Pri, Pan and Peaw went to their place as Pri was to be at her school to work.  We came to the ThangTa Hotel, checked in and all took naps.  In the evening we went to a lovely cafe for supper.  As seems to be par for the course, it rained.  This cafe is several buildings joined by lovely gardens.  It was pouring so hard that we sat in the cab for awhile and then was met with men carrying umbrellas.  We still got drenched.  I think I was as wet as at the water fight.  We had a very tasty supper so I guess the free shower was worth it.

 

When the rain quit I walked around and took a few pictures.

I wanted to take more but because of it being night they would

not show up.

 

As we went to leave it started to rain again.  We were again met with unbrellas.  As we had brought Brian's stroller Bert put him into the back seat of the taxi and went to help put the stroller in the trunk.  Batty did not see Brian in the back seat so when she opened the door he fell out on to the drive.  He now has a nickle sized abraision above his nose at his hair line.  All is well.  He cried for a couple of minutes.  Bert had hs first aid kit at the hotel and took care of everything when we got back.

April 13 - Water Festival                                                                                                      

Not sure what it is all about but it is quite a day for Thailand.
The day starts by 7 AM with the people gathering in the school yard.  They are all dressed in their best.  I can not say Sunday best as Sunday is just like any other day to them.  They are carrying pans, dishes, baskets of food to be given to the monks.  When you get there the monks and others are gathered to hear something they are being told, prayers etc.  Then the monks come out with their kettles and walk down the line of people to get their offerings, the older ones and the young ones there for the summer. (Teaching them to beg right away.)  They can only eat what has been given to them.  If no one gives then they do not eat.   All the ladies are in dresses below their knees and longer.  The men are in their best clothes.  As the monks walk by you are to take your shoes off in reverence to them.  You are not to touch their clothing, skin, or the container they are carrying.  They do not smile, nod or say thank you.  All in silence.

 

The people lined up waiting for the monks.

 

The monks are starting to come down the line.

 

Batty had bought some treats for them and divided

them into several dishes for us to give them.  I did not

want to do it but hated to dissappoint her so gave out some.

These people do need to eat.  They can not eat any meat

as they are not to eat anything that gave its life so they

could have food and live.  They are strict vegetarians.

 

This little guy was so serious about what he was doing.

 

 

After this the fun began.  Everyone was throwing water on everyone else.  Buckets, hoses, containers of all sizes.  When the pickups went buy they had water barrels in the back.  Some had red food coloring in the water.  They also take talcum powder and mix with the water and rub on each other.  The neighbors came over and carefullt and nicely poured water on me and put this powder paste on my face.  All in all it was a lot of fun.  Of course beer was involved so by mid afternoon many were staggering. No beer thrown at least in our area but a lot drank.

 

 

Batty's aunt, Toon's sister with Brian.

This shows how people dressed to go to the monks.

 

The water fights beginning

 

The talc gets put on thick

 

A lot of eating was done

Brian really gets into his sticky rice

 

Watching the fun

 

The 3 B's

 

The group of dancers that Bert and Batty sponsored

 

Up closer

 

Bert and the neighbor kids

We do get quite wet

 

After this goes on for awhile the parade starts.  There is also a beauty contest.  A float is made for each contestant.  As they go down the street a pickup with loud speakers (turned up HIGH) and a group of dancers goes ahead.  They really put the work into the floats.

 

 

 

 

A group of dancers in front of a float

 

The float behind the dancers

 

Some dancers are in regular clothes and some in a uniform

 

Can you imagine walking a parade route in these?

 

The marchers do get drenced but the floats stay dry.

 

In the evening there are speaches, music and the crowning of the prettiest girl.

April 12                                                                                                                                               

Today and tomorrow and we will be off with a 3 day stop in Bangkok.
Had my last hair wash and combed, head and neck massage this morning.
This gal would like to come to the US to work so maybe I can have her again.

April 10 - Rice Harvest                                                                                                               

The Jasmine rice that Batty raises will be planted in May.  The regular white rice is being harvested now.  I went to Toon and Chai's place this morning and watched the harvest.

 

The field ready for harvest.

 

The rice heads.

The stems are green but the rice is ready for harvest.

 

Getting some of the weed heads out of the rice.

Reminds me of the wheat and the tares in the Bible.

 

Drying mats ready for the harvested rice.

 

The Kubota combine has arrived.

 

Coming across the field like the big ones at home.

This machine moves across the field on rubber much

as a catipillar has the metal treads.

 

 

Sacks are hung on the side and a man changes them

when they get full.  There is a small hopper for the

rice to go into when sacks are being changed.

 

Sacks and platform were full so the bags were brought

to the end of the field, tied shut with bamboo and left

to be picked up and taken to the drying mats.

 

Loading the full sacks onto the cart.

 

Rice on the mat to dry one bag.

It will be here about 2 days, sacked again.  The farmer

keeps some and the rest goes to market.

 

What the farmer keeps for eating is taken to a place and

the hulls are removed.

 

 

The harvest spread all over the front yard of the

house where I sleep.  It was only left one day as

the forecast was for rain, none came.

There is no due here so all stays dry over night.

 

Bails of rice straw are staked and the the straw over the top.

This keeps the bails dry when it rains.

 

April 7 - Brian's haircut                                                                                         

His daddy shaved his head several months ago.  Many shave there baby's heads so the hair will grow in better.

As the neighbor does hair they went over there and got his first real hair cut.

 

The results - a different looking litle boy

 

This is not Brian or his haircut but the picture is so cute I wanted to share.  This is Brian's cousin Peaw.  People here use a lot of baby powder after showers.  When Peaw gets the can he really comes out of the bedroom looking cute, like a Thai ghost.

 

 

April 6 - Brian's First Birthday                                                                                            

A first birthday is quite a celebration here in Thailand.  About 80 people were here to help celebrate the occasion.  These were relatives, friends and neighbors.  Quite a joyful group of people.

 

Birthday boy with his friend Lhong

 

Ladies getting the food ready

pad Thai

chicken noodle soup

onion tomato salad

 

Daddy blowing up the ballons and tieing them together

 

With Grandpa Chai

 

The front patio all decorated

balloons

photo gallery

monkeys, paper and balloon

Thai center piece

 

 

I am not sure what this is really for but is quite a

work of art.  It is made of banana leaves folded and

formed and put together some how.  The strings on

it are for tieing on the families wrists for good luck,

health and whatever good wish they give you.

 

Daddy walking the birthday boy.

The sash is a symbol for something.

The clothes are traditional Thai clothes.

 

 

So much going on but he would rather have a box

to play with.

 

 

The center piece and all ready for the ceremony by

one of the village elders.

 

Grandma Toon and her sister with Grandma Ruth

 

The elder giving his blessing

 

 

Happy little birthday boy

The family members each held on the string

for unity.

We each ate a hard boiled egg for new life

 

Cousin Peaw joined Brian on Daddy's lap

 

People giving Brian good wishes

The man tieing the string on is a cousin and a judge

 

 

The judge is now giving good wishes to Daddy

 

Grandma Toon is wishing me good luch

 

Daddy is giving Grandma good wishes

 

The group that were there for the blessins ceremony

 

Breaking the pinata

 

The birthday cake

 

Brian getting into his cake

 

I think this is the first time he ever had cake and he really liked it.