Memo last!

The Asean summit was originally scheduled for last Nov. in Chiang Mai. The yellow shirts caused a postponment. I was in the town next to Pattaya when it finally began. This time the red shirts burst into the meeting and caused the delegates to flee. The police stood by and let it happen. The Thai govt. is kinda humiliated now.
When Annie and got got back to C.M., we had one night there. The next evening we hopped the night train to BKK. Annie flew home the afternoon we arrived. I had one more night, and I was on three airplanes home.
Five and a half months. It was a very good trip.
Doahlah

# 70 1/2 Tha Ton

The other night of our little road trip was spent in the river town Tha Ton. We found a little guest house across the river from town. It's big business covered spots on the river bank and truck tubes to float down a little bit and walk them back upstream. Just behind the beachside lounging spots are many food booths. There was lots of good smelling bbq smoke in the air. It was all local folks enjoying their day off.
These women are selling local crafts. I was having coffee in our open air restaurant. There were not allowed inside the fence you see.

# 70 Mae Salong

In China, white is the color of death. On a walk about the evening before we saw a large party up the road in an open air restaurant. It was a funeral celebration. I think they were up all night. We could see them from our hotel moving about at 7 A.M. This truck full is leaving at about 10 A.M. accompanied by firecrackers.
Here is our hotel. The nicest place in town. Room price $15. Here is a bamboo tray of tea drying. The white bits in the center are cat poop!
Duggg

# 70 Road trip to Mae Salong

Halloh. I hired Boon Phats toyota to visit a far in the mountains part of Thailand. The area around Mae Salong was settled by Chang Kai Sheks' KMT soldiers fleeing the Communists at the end of their war. The road was very narrow and winding. There were no places to pull off to enjoy the views. Poor Annie gets a little car sick and slept through many of the most beautiful bits. In Mae Salong people speak more Chinese than Thai. Annie had fun with that. These steeply terraced hills are a major tea growing area.
There is a museum just out of town that documents the lives of these Chinese immigrants. For twenty years the Thai govt got these soldiers to fight its fight against Thai Maoist insurgents. This long fight 'bought' them the right to become Thai citizens. Annie did not want to stop. You know me. I'm a sucker for a museum, and admission was only 20 baht (60 cents). All said, she was very happy that we stopped. "I learned all about this in school, now I'm living it". Said Annie.
I hope Boon Phat doesn't read this. I damn near crashed the car trying a pass. Another car came around a corner toward us. I hit the brakes and they locked. We passed three wide on a road barely wide enough for two cars. "YIKES"
Doablah

# 69 S.K. C.M.

There was a very long parade that marched through the gate and on to who knows where. There were many examples of regional costumes. A few misbehaving party monsters squirted some of the beautifully dressed and made up young ladies.
I didn't take a lot of action shots. It was too likely that my camera would be soaked. Next year I will plan better so I can enjoy this festival for all three days. It would take that much time to sample the tastiest examples of local cuisine.

# 69 S.M. C.M.

The Thae Pae gate plaza was a largely a water free zone. There was some squirt gunning but no water barrels. There were dozens of food booths. Here is some stuffed squid. Also, were many fresh fruit shake vendors, and of course, beer was available.

# 69 S.K. Chiang Mai

We made it into C.M. the morning of the last day of S.K. It was very quiet. Bye noon though, the city was packed with revellers. The old town is surrounded by a moat filled with very stinky brown water. It didn't stop people from dipping their buckets, or themselves to get water to toss. Pickup trucks with people and barrels of water soaked the people spashing them as they passed by.
We met Shaun at the Number 1 bar. It's located in a small alley. Two young terrorists were armed and ready to ambush people walking or motorbiking past them.

# 68 S. BKK

We made our way back to the train station in the afternoon. The train I had booked tickets for at 6:30 A.M., would be departing as scheduled. The army had been dispatched, and the leader of the red shirts had been arrested. These soldiers were guarding the main entrance.
We had a tasty meal at one of the eateries across the street from the station, and didn't get too wet.

# 68 S.K. BKK

In China town, there were groups of young children throwing water, but not many cars and motorbikes to target. Bangkok was empty, not from the rioting, but because most people go to the home towns for the holiday. It's a great time to visit, if you can find anything open!

# 68 S.K. in BKK

In Chinatown, it was very quiet. Most businesses were closed up tight. This sign says they will reopen on the 16th, thats 2552 the year our Buddah. Many people live in rooms behind their stores. Ya gotta eat!