Friday, April 21, 2017

Ko and Yoko's Visit - April 2017

Please forgive my spelling and punctuation; I'm a plumber and not English major. Just read and have fun.
You can click on any of the pictures and they become larger. 
Our friend Ko and Yoko came to visit us for five days.  It was wonderful to see them.  I met Ko around 1983, when we were starting the International Franchise of DIAL ONE. He came to California from Japan to learn about it. 

It was wonderful to meet Yoko for the first time. She is my age, 75 and was born in Nagasaki, Japan. Yes, she was about 4 years old on August 9, 1945 when the USA bombed her city. 

She was very forgiving as she laughed about thanking the USA as now she has free, lifetime medical because of that bombing.  If you would like to know more about the bombing just CLICK HERE

We made arrangements to pick them up at the Chiang Rai Airport on April 14th. 

We made a little sign so they would feel important. 

I think they were glad to see us.



We are going to stop for a little bit of supper on the way home. 

They serve only organic vegetables grown on the property. 

Daeng also fixed us some of her special papaya salad.

We're home and ready to call it a night. More fun tomorrow. 

April 15th, After a little breakfast and coffee it's off to check on the opium. 

After all, this is the Golden Triangle. 

The Hall of Opium is very educational. CLICK HERE for more details. 

The landscape around it is beautiful and so are the ladies. 

We had a little surprize for them, also. 

When you are eating on the Mekong River you need "Dancing Shrimp". 


Of course there was lots of throwing of water on our trip to the Mekong River as we are in the middle of the Holiday of Songkran

Here is a picture of the Big Buddha from the Mekong River. 

We ate at a table just left of the picture edge.

We picked the place because we knew they had Dancing Shrimp.

Then, after lunch it's a visit to her friend Peg.

Peg speaks Japanese so she, Yoko and Ko could talk.

The little girl is Peg's granddaughter and was afraid of me, understandable.

April 16th, Daeng took Ko and Yoko to the casino in Burma. 

Ko won so he bought us a big Chinese dinner.

April 17th, Today Daeng helped with the flowers for a friend's funeral.

She did some beautiful arrangements.

Ko, Yoko and I went on a little sightseeing adventure yesterday. 

We visited the Scorpion Temple, on the hill overlooking Burma, bought a new coffee maker, stopped to see Daeng's Mother's house up on the hill, visited the Monkey Temple at the caves and had a late lunch at Kentucky Fried Chicken.



They told me they don't call it Kentucky Fried Chicken anymore, they call it just KFC.

It was a nice day, even with a little rain.

April 18th, I needed to work on my knee as I haven't been doing much except walking.

Before Ko and Yoko got up, I rode my bicycle to the morning market for a cup, should say glass, of coffee.

It was very quiet this morning. 

Today, Ko, Yoko, Daeng and I went to the Queen Mother's Garden.

It was nice to say "Hello" to Mom, too.

She is in the garden.

If we have time, we will probably stop in Ban AYO on the way back.

CLICK HERE for a story from 2015 that has both the garden and Ban AYO in it. 

 








We had a great day but were too tired to go to Ban AYO. 


April 19th, We laughed as here is a video titled "Holiday at Doi Tung". 

Doi Tung is where the Queen Mother's Garden is.

We renamed the song "White Boy Can't Dance". When you watch it, you will understand.  Just CLICK HERE

It is sung in "AKHA". That is Daeng's native language. 

Since it was Ko and Yoko's last night with us, we had a little barbeque.

Everyone eat too much but was happy. 

It was great to have Ko and Yoko visit us.

We talked about many things, like what we what to be when we grow up. 

We hope to see them both again, very soon. 

April 19th, For their flight to Bangkok, I took Ko and Yoko to the airport in Chiang Rai (CEI).

As long as I'm there, I am going to meet up with some English speaking friend of Jimmy K at 5:30 PM.

It's also hard to turn down apple pie.