I am writing this post with a heavy heart.
We are also very sad to read and see the news of the earthquake that has caused so much suffering in the area of Japan.
On a lighter side, before we left
California we had a little get together with some of the family members. We all did a little crackin at Joe's Crab Shack in
Newport Beach. It was nice to see most of the family before our three month trip.We arrived in Bangkok a week ago and spent the
night at a new guest house on Soi 4 in the Sumhamvit area. I stayed up for the eighteen hours flying time and watched movies. Of the six I watched, I was impressed with "The King's Speech". I understand why it won so many awards.Daeng slept most of the afternoon the day we arrived and then in the middle of the night she went shopping. She
went to the wholesale market in Bangkok that opens at midnight and sells to most of the store and shop owners. She bought shirts and jeans for the family members in Mai Sai.It is also wonderful to have fresh fruit for about 60 cents a serving.
When she came back about 8:00 AM on Thursday morning we got into a taxi and went to renew her Thai Passport. When we arrived at the government office she was told that it would take until Monday. She explained we were leaving for northern Thailand on Sunday. They told her she could renew it in Chiang Rai which is about a four hour bus ride from us in Mae Sai.
Now for the really sad part, on the way back to our room Daeng's son called to tell her he had been in a motorbike accident last night and the lady that was driving the other motorbike died. He was okay, just a little skinned up as he had a helmet on. His friend, who's motorbike Boonreang was driving, was a passenger and had broken his arm but was okay. The young passenger on the other motorbike had slight injuries but was going to be okay.
The taxi driver also played a little game with us as the meter stopped working along the way and we had to bicker about a fee for the trip. We did pay more that we should have but we just wanted to move along, under the circumstances. The difference was only about 90 Thai Baht ($3.00 USD).
When we got back to our room, I got onto the Internet using WiFi and my netbook and changed our reservations from Sunday to that night. I don't like to travel at night but we don't have much choice. We had called Pastor Lota and ask if he could pick us up at the Chiang Rai Airport at about 9:30 PM.
We arrived, got our bags and he along with Nuy, Daeng's niece and Hlong, Daeng's sister-in-law, were waiting for us. On the way north, Pastor Lota dropped them off at the ladies home to pay their respects and start the process of settlement. I could tell that things were done differently here then the way we would do them in America. I went on to our home, unpacked and waited for Daeng who returned around 1:00 AM.
It seems that the lady who was 73 years old turned right in front of Boonreang. His motorbike hit her and knocked her to the pavement. She was not wearing a helmet so she died of head injuries. Boonreang was driving without a drivers license. According to the police, everyone was at fault. The lady driving the other motorbike was not wearing a helmet. She, according to witnesses, turned right in front of Daeng's son without signaling and was driving a uninsured, unregistered motorbike. In turn, Boonreang was driving without a motorbike driver's license.
I am told that under the circumstances everyone would have just taken care of their own expenses and that would have been that. But, because the lady died the other driver, Daeng's son, is responsible. For the last few days, Daeng and Boonreang have been visiting the family and trying to help the deceased family members.
The cremation was Monday and now Daeng and Boonreang must meet Friday with the Police and Judge to see how this accident will progress. The range of events could be anything from Boonreang going to jail to Daeng paying money to the family and any charges being dismissed.
More will be revealed!
When she came back about 8:00 AM on Thursday morning we got into a taxi and went to renew her Thai Passport. When we arrived at the government office she was told that it would take until Monday. She explained we were leaving for northern Thailand on Sunday. They told her she could renew it in Chiang Rai which is about a four hour bus ride from us in Mae Sai.
Now for the really sad part, on the way back to our room Daeng's son called to tell her he had been in a motorbike accident last night and the lady that was driving the other motorbike died. He was okay, just a little skinned up as he had a helmet on. His friend, who's motorbike Boonreang was driving, was a passenger and had broken his arm but was okay. The young passenger on the other motorbike had slight injuries but was going to be okay.
The taxi driver also played a little game with us as the meter stopped working along the way and we had to bicker about a fee for the trip. We did pay more that we should have but we just wanted to move along, under the circumstances. The difference was only about 90 Thai Baht ($3.00 USD).
When we got back to our room, I got onto the Internet using WiFi and my netbook and changed our reservations from Sunday to that night. I don't like to travel at night but we don't have much choice. We had called Pastor Lota and ask if he could pick us up at the Chiang Rai Airport at about 9:30 PM.
We arrived, got our bags and he along with Nuy, Daeng's niece and Hlong, Daeng's sister-in-law, were waiting for us. On the way north, Pastor Lota dropped them off at the ladies home to pay their respects and start the process of settlement. I could tell that things were done differently here then the way we would do them in America. I went on to our home, unpacked and waited for Daeng who returned around 1:00 AM.
It seems that the lady who was 73 years old turned right in front of Boonreang. His motorbike hit her and knocked her to the pavement. She was not wearing a helmet so she died of head injuries. Boonreang was driving without a drivers license. According to the police, everyone was at fault. The lady driving the other motorbike was not wearing a helmet. She, according to witnesses, turned right in front of Daeng's son without signaling and was driving a uninsured, unregistered motorbike. In turn, Boonreang was driving without a motorbike driver's license.
I am told that under the circumstances everyone would have just taken care of their own expenses and that would have been that. But, because the lady died the other driver, Daeng's son, is responsible. For the last few days, Daeng and Boonreang have been visiting the family and trying to help the deceased family members.
The cremation was Monday and now Daeng and Boonreang must meet Friday with the Police and Judge to see how this accident will progress. The range of events could be anything from Boonreang going to jail to Daeng paying money to the family and any charges being dismissed.
More will be revealed!
No comments:
Post a Comment