I'm not sure if it's me or Daeng that is the most excited to be returning to Thailand.
I still get a little teary eyed concerning Mom's death but I know Mom would want us to go have a good time. It was always her belief that if you didn't have fun you probably wouldn't stay around very long.
Here is a picture of Dad and Mom the day I was conceived, March 24th, 1941. I remember the day, it was an overcast, wet day. My Mother said the sun was shining but it was pretty dark and moist where I was.
It's okay to laugh, that's an inside joke.
The plane trip was long, 18 hours and 10 minutes, but I was able to sleep about 7 hours on the Los Angeles to Taipei flight. Daeng slept a lot, also.
Even though we were traveling economy at less than $1,000 USD round trip, we had lots of room as we were sitting on the 747-400 in the back of the plane in seats 60 B & C. They are were the seat go from 3-4-3 to 2-4-2. To see the seating chart CLICK HERE.
The trip back to California in December is on the Boeing 777. It's a new plane and suppose to be more comfortable.
Everything was normal on landing. Immigrations was friendly and our bags came off the carousel quickly. Usually the airport here in Bangkok is very busy this time of the night but this time the airport was very quiet at 2:00 AM.
When we got to the White Orchid II Guest House they had the room we like, #108. We were happy as I had called last week and they said the room was booked but would put us in 109. Room 108 is the largest room in this small, boutique guest house and is on the second floor, only one set of stars, so not much stair climbing.
We got settled, put valuables in safe deposit box, showered and went for breakfast at FoodLand, a few blocks walk away. Here is a picture, on the way to FoodLand, at three in the morning of Sukhamvit Road . That's correct, 3:00 AM!
The folks there smiled and ask us how we had been. I had an American Breakfast, go figure. Later in the day, our friend Wayne Fontaine called us and said he and his girlfriend, Ning, would like to come stay with us and travel to Pattaya in a few days. We said: "Great" and arranged for the room next to us.
They were staying next to the airport and came over from their hotel the next day. We all had coffee at Starbucks, Wayne's favorite place.
We suggested a few spots for them to see in Bangkok and arranged a car for the four of us and luggage to go to Pattaya on Sunday.
One of the things we suggested was visiting the biggest open shopping area (over 37 acres) in the world. We told them they should go early in the morning, like 7:00 AM as it gets very hot under the metal roofs. Wayne said he wasn't stupid going shopping at 7:00 AM. We'll, at 11:00 AM, when they went, the complaint was: "It's too hot!" I didn't go with them but laughed to myself as now who's stupid?
If you would like to hear and see the "Pattaya, Pattaya" song just CLICK ON THIS.
After you watch the video "Pattaya, Pattaya" above you will know why I always have to remember not to hurt myself in Pattaya.
Wayne had stayed in the Apex Hotel and wanted to stay there instead of the HONEY LODGE where we usually stay so we checked into the Apex Hotel, also. What we noticed was the staff was not very friendly and just wanted money, mini-bar money and safe deposit box key money.
The room was okay but the next morning Daeng and I took a little walk and talked to a very nice lady that owns a little guest house right next to the Apex Hotel.
She showed us a big room that was nicer then the Apex Hotel and a little cheaper. We said we would love to stay there for the next week. I ask her is she wanted a deposit and she said: "Move over first and make sure you like it."
We really liked the room and felt very safe and comfortable. She had bought the place about 20 years ago, after her husband died. She made the place into a little guest house with seven rooms to rent, all air conditioned, hot water, refrigerators, 200 cable TV and private baths.
We hung out and rested for the next two days. Wayne and Ning did the beach thing after having coffee at Starbucks every morning.
As for me, 7-11 coffee is just great for 14 THB (45 cents USD) a cup. I can't taste the difference so spending 149 THB ($4.65 USD) for a cup of coffee just doesn't make sense to us. Daeng says: "We can feed 10 kids a meal for the cost of one cup of coffee." I agree with Daeng and it makes us feel warm and fuzzy helping and feeding kids.
We did enjoy having our early morning breakfast at the little spot in the market just above Walking Street. It is a family run place and the Mother always cooks something special for us. It is usually so spicy that it burns our faces off but we love it.
I did go to a few meeting with some English speaking friends. In Pattaya, there is an NA meeting everyday.
We also like to hang out along Beach Road and eat beach food for lunch. Here is some fresh squid cooked right in front of us.
It is yummy.
I always kid about a 7-11 or a Family Mart being on every corner in Thailand. Well, sometimes they are both on the same corner.
On Thursday, we rented motorbikes and took a little ride through Jomtien Beach to a little fishing village. We wanted to visit a nice lady that we had met many years ago.
Wayne is used to driving a big Harley- Davidson motorcycle so he had a little trouble getting used to the small 110 CC motorbike. He did let Ning drive their motorbike but he was worried about an accident.
I just let Daeng drive and watch the scenery. Beside that, Daeng says I'm a poor driver. I kind of laugh because when a female Asian driver says you're a bad driver, what can I say?
The trip was nice, we did find her even though her house had been completely redone. She was well and happy to see us.
Daeng picked up some large seashells and we had a BIG fish lunch. Everyone was amazed at how much Daeng eat. I was stuffed, also.
On the way back we stopped in Jomtien Beach and went swimming. After we were in the water for a few minutes, I realized we were in a school of jelly fish. We made our way out of the water and went to take showers but I'm still itching.
We also decided we would make the trip north to Mae Sai on Sunday. We are going to use Bangkok Airlines. They had canceled their midday flights so we decided we would go early in the morning. We will have to leave Pattaya at 4:00 AM for the 7:35 AM flight to Chiang Rai.
That night, when I went to pay for our room until Sunday, Daegn told me the lady talked with her as she had made a mistake and double booked our room.
I figured we needed a few karma points so we said we would change rooms tomorrow, Friday, so she could have our room for an old, repeat customer. 
I woke up hungry at 2:00 AM so I decided to go to Walking Street. This is Walking Street at the south end of Beach Road. Even at 3:00 AM, the place is still going strong.
Later in the morning we changed rooms. The funny thing, our new room was bigger and nicer than our old room. I guess the other customer just liked the same room each trip. We were both happy campers. I thought to myself how funny things work out.
On Sunday, I took Wayne to a Pattaya Expat meeting. I think he was a little bored and wanted to be with his girlfriend so he left just before the main speaker.
I'm glad I stayed because it was very interesting and about using stem cells for ankle, hip and knee repair.
Pattaya was fun but I think both Daeng and I will be glad to get north. Wayne and Ning are kind of honeymooning it. They met on the internet and have been communication on facebook for the last six months. She met him in Bangkok when he arrived last week.
I tried to stay open minded but Daeng has been telling me some things about Ning................. I keep telling Daeng that as long as she makes Wayne happy, everything else will workout.
Sunday morning came, car we arranged with Jon was on time, trip to Bangkok airport was uneventful except Wayne couldn't get his Starbucks as the Starbucks at the half-way rest stop was closed at 5:00 AM.
We made it to the airport, checked our bags and went for Starbucks. One of our bags, mine, was 5 kilograms overweight but the lady said it was okay as we were from California. I didn't know what that meant other than we were international travelers. We got coffee and only had to hang out about 20 minutes for the plane.
Here is a picture of Wayne and Ning taking a selfie of themselves. Daeng says we will have to get some glue solvent to get them unstuck.
The plane trip was normal, that's a good thing.
Our bags all arrived in good shape and we got a car and driver to take us the rest of the way to our home in Mae Sai.
The family meet us with smiles and open arms. We showed Wayne and Ning their guest room on the 3rd floor and we put our bags in our room. Hlong, Daeng's sister-in-law had done a nice job cleaning everything before we arrived. There was even bread and milk in the refrigerator of our second floor kitchen.
We also got to meet the new baby, Nuy's daughter. Nuy is Daeng's niece, that's Daeng's brother's daughter.
Daeng had called ahead and told Hlong that Wayne likes watermelon. There was a big plate of watermelon for Wayne.
I started our pick-up truck and the two motorbikes that were covered for our absence. They all started right up.
Hlong made a nice lunch for us all and we all decided to take a nap.
When we woke up Daeng took Ning to the evening market to buy vegetables for dinner. I stayed in bed.
When they got back they cooked for Wayne and Daeng brought me a plate for dinner. I could tell something was going on but Daeng would not tell me.
About midnight, Daeng woke me up, very upset, and we talked about Wayne's girlfriend for about two hours. I told her to sleep on it and we'll talk more in the morning.
Daeng and I got up early and went to the Ban Pa Mueat morning market. Everyone was glad to see us.
Even Su-la, the market beggar smiled at us.
We told "Me" and her husband we missed them. They are really nice folks and he makes great Pa Thong Ko.
At the market, Daeng and I had another long talk as Ning, Wayne's girlfriend, had insulted all the women in the family, including Daeng.
For this story, at the present time, I am going to leave out what happened, the class climbing and the reasons. When we got back to the house, Wayne and I talked and he decided to go separate ways on his vacation.
Anyway, I got the pick-up truck out and we went looking for a hotel he liked. They liked the first one, Navy Home Hotel, which in Mae Sai is a medium priced hotel for 600 THB a night. He did not want to see the Piyaporn Place Hotel at 800 a night and was not interested in the Yeesun Guest House that he had stayed in the past because last week it was flooded.
I took them back to our house, picked up their bags and took them back to the hotel they had picked. I wished them good and told them to call me if they needed anything. I felt really bad for Wayne.
I'm afraid this will be another story of the male foreigner and the Asian girl.
Oh well, we can't do any more and yea, we're home.
We rested for the next two days doing a little cleaning and settling back into this home.
Of all the things we brought from America, the monkey that Michael and Charlotte gave us is the biggest hit. It is a interaction mechanical monkey that talks to you and hugs you at different times.
We also took a look around town. The river between us and Myanmar (Burma) is still very high. 
The Mae Sai morning market is even bigger it seems. There is just about anything you want. Great coffee and Pa Thong Ko there, also.
There are lots of fruits.
Lots of spices.
There is fresh fish!
You can get anything you want to cook at the morning market.
Daeng got lots of stuff and had friends over for lunch. It was very nice to talk with Peter who is retired here along with his wife Nok.
By the way single guys, Nok's sister, the lady in red, is looking for a Farang (Westerner) for a husband. You know, buy me house, buy me motorbike and I'll love you long time. She is a happy person and skinny. I think you can see light between her thighs.
Our Toyota pick-up truck is six months old. The dealership called and we took it in for service even though it has only 2600 kilometers on it. I talked with the service man and he explained that a semi-synthetic oil is used in the motor so it does not need to be changed until 10,000 km.
He serviced everything else and the nice part is was free. I watched him and this man did a great job of checking everything. Thank you!
After that it was time for some barbecued chicken in Huai Khrai. I think this is the best chicken in Thailand.
The large cabinet we had made for the side of the 1st floor kitchen area is getting marks on it. We think there are from carrying clothes baskets and things from the laundry and the outside cooking area.
We talked and decided to move the cabinet into the hall area closer to the front of the building. Kit, our nephew, Hlong, Daeng and I moved this huge cabinet.
I had forgotten the wall behind the cabinet had never been finished. It was just the concrete rendering of the cement blocks the wall was made of. What it needs is to be sanded down with a concrete sanding block, plastered, painted with at least one coat of primer and a coat of finish paint. After that is all done the base then needs to be painted.
I needed plaster and a new trowel so we visited Home Mart to pick that up.
We came back and I did the part I don't like, sanding.
Then with Daeng's help, I plastered the wall with smooth plaster. It turned out great even considering a plumber did it. We let it dry an extra day as my arm was sore from plastering. I don't do that kind of work very often.
The next day, we sanded off a few of the rough spots and put a good coat of primer on the wall. 
We let that dry and painted the base. We are very pleased with the finished product.
Because I had not heard from him, I called Wayne on two different days to make sure he was okay. He had made the bus ride to Chiang Mai and was doing okay.
We also want everyone to know there are female plumbers in Thailand. They are good looking and smell good, too.
Today we had a nice lunch of barbecued
pork and fried bamboo worms. I love Thai food. Now, here in Thailand, they just call it "food". It is nice to be back home on the Myanmar (Burma) border. For the next day or two, we are going to do a little cleaning, laundry and straightening up around here.
Then it's "Off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of.........."
Stay tuned as we're sure there is more fun to be had along the yellow brick road.
HUGS (Help Us Grow Spiritually)
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