Trip to Ban AYO & Kids

We had our normal breakfast of chicken, sticky rice, coffee and Pa thong Ko at the Ban Pa Meat Morning Market. We then headed south from Mae Sai stopping in the little settlement, Huai Khrai, just south of the immigrations check point.

Daeng bought cookies, salt, small fish and fruit to take to Chom-nom's Mother in Ban AYO. While we were at the main market I saw a big truck with what looked like an arm. We walked over and sure enough it was part of a large statue. From the looks of it it is a rival for anything made in Texas.

In the pick-up truck in front is a life size statue and in the tractor-trailer is just part of the right arm. When it is put together is will be huge.

We made our way down route #1 and turned west on route #1130. From there we wound up the hill making sure we did not follow the directions on our GPS as it would take us through the villages and not on the new road.

When we got to the Ban AYO turn off sign we could see the burnt ground from the recent fires.

At the shelter area we could see that much of the over grown vegetation had been cut back and burned, as well.

Just to bring everyone up to date, we worked with Chom-nom to help build a children's shelter for children at risk. It was close to being inhabited when Chom-nom was arrested for possession of drugs and went to prison for a couple of years.

Here is a link to those stories: http://terrysstories.blogspot.com/2011/10/ban-ayo-trip-tears-anger.html

When we arrived at Meechue's home, Chom-nom's Mother, there was no one around. We were told she was in the jungle getting bamboo for her leaking roof. We sent out some scouts on motorbikes to find her. We hung out in the little shop area across the road from her home and had water and cookies.

About 15 minutes later, a motorbike delivered her to us. She was very dirty and said she was going to go get cleaned up at her house. We walked across the road to her house and hung out as she changed into her normal "Akha" attire.

A farang, non-Thai or Westerner, is not a common sight in this area so the kids come to see what the farang is all about. Most of them are scared but wander about this fat, white, funny looking guy is all about. They also like the cookies we usually bring. One of the girls remembered me from the video we did a few years ago. To see that video just CLICK HERE: http://www.funnyplumber.com/akha.wmv Chom-nom is the main singer.

Here is a picture of some of the kids.

We also had a nice surprise, the man that we had lunch with at the edge of the jungle in 2007 came by as he heard "The Old Fat Farang" was there and wanted to see him again. We laughed together and he said his wife left him so he cut his hair. You can read that story by clicking on this link: http://www.funnyplumber.com/Stories/10-21-07_Terry

If you have trouble with this link you can read the story at www.FunnyPlumber.com on the "Stories" Page listed as "Terry's Trip into the Jungle". He is on page 10 and 11.

We all talked for some time. We drank coffee, ate cookies, pineapple and laughed at the pictures we had brought for them. It was almost 2:00 PM so we gave Meechue a little money to help finish the repairs to her roof and said "Goodbye for Now."

We told her we were going to make the trip to see Chom-nom this week and would come back to tell her of our meeting with him.

Another Day in Mae Sai 03-15-12

Today was another day in Mae Sai. Yesterday, Daeng went 60 Km south and had a Parent Teacher conference with Boonreang's teacher. The teacher said her son was doing much better in school and will move on to the next level at that school.

On her way home it rained very hard. She stopped at a friend's home and missed most of the rain. That was good and the rain put out a lot of the jungle fired, as well.

Today we got up and headed on Daeng's motorbike to the morning market. We turned left onto the main street, a one way divided road. A girl was coming the wrong way and ran into us. She did not have a driver's licence as she was illegally in Thailand from Myanmar (Burma). Note: In Thailand you drive on the left side and Myanmar (Burma) it's on the right.

She offered us all the money she had, 200 Thai Baht (about $6.60 USD) and must have said she was sorry at least forty times. The good part was none of us was hurt and the only damage to Daeng's motorbike was the basket on the front was bent slightly. I bent it straight with my hands.

We told her to keep her money, be careful and have a great day. She again said: "Sorry" another dozen times and "Thank you!" another eight or nine times.

We went on to the market and had the usual fried chicken, sticky rice, coffee & Pa Thong Ko. Deang did buy some cow skin and fried pork liver just to change up the breakfast a little.

I also took a picture of the lady in the market selling ant eggs for soup. I have had ant egg soap and it is pretty good; tastes like chicken.

Now, let's talk about the price of gasoline. Ninety-one (91) Octane gasoline is 42.45 Thai Baht a liter. US Dollar to Thai Baht is 30.69 per $1.00 US. 1 US Gallon equals 3.785 liter so 42.45 Baht x 3.785 = 160.67 Thai Baht / 30.69 = $5.26 USD a US gallon.

Now, that's not a bad price for 91 octane gasoline considering no gasoline comes from Thailand. ALL gasoline is imported. As you can see from the picture 95 gasohol and diesel, at the top of the picture, is cheaper. Many taxi's and big trucks run on propane which is almost half the price of 91 gasoline above.

Well, so much for the educational part of our blog.

Tomorrow we plan on driving to Ban AYO to see if Chom-nom is still at his school. You folks that have been in prison know what I mean by "school".

Another Day in Mae Sai

Another day in Mae Sai, we got up around 5:30 and had fried chicken, sticky rice, coffee and Pa Thong Ko in the Mae Sai Morning Market.

We then headed over to see how the folks that have the Pa Thong Ko shop in the Ban Pa Meat Morning Market. They are a Chinese couple that have the shop in the smaller market two lanes (call Soi in Thai) from our home. They have not been open for the last two months as the wife had a baby about 7 weeks ago. Here most husbands stay home and help the wife with the baby for the first month or two.

If you would like to read more about the Thai style donut called Pa Thong Ko just CLICK HERE.

We found their apartment and they are both looking well. We talked a while and they stated they were going to reopen their coffee and Pa Thong Ko shop next week.

Now, I not really into babies but this little kid is really a looker. We wished them the best and told them we looked forward to seeing them reopen in the market next week.

We headed over to the hardware store and picked up two toilet spray hoses for two of the five toilets in our place. Here in Thailand, as well as many other places in the world, when folks use the toilet they just spray off with a hand held spray hose. It pretty effective and no need for tissue, it's drip dry.

The sprays do get a lot of use and need replacing very frequently. The nice part is the sprayer and hose is only around 150 Thai Baht ($5.00 USD).

We also stopped for some home made coconut ice cream; made the old fashion way of ice and salt to freeze the cream into ice cream. I laughed at the "ice cream sandwich" as it is two slices of white bread with ice cream between the two slices. They also add corn and sticky rice along with chocolate, if you want.

Then home to do our chores.

There is not much to do as the old house is in pretty good shape even after us being gone for over three months. Tomorrow Daeng is going to Chiang Rai for a Parent-Teacher meeting with her son's, Boonreang's, school.

Home in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, Thailand

We made it home to Mae Sai and everything was just like we left it a little over three months ago. Motor bike started okay, satilite TV works, internet works and we are happy. We are going to rest up a little and get back to the part of having fun in the Land of Smiles.

We did stop by the Land Office parking lot this afternoon. There are a lot of venders selling things in this large parking lot.

We took a little video of the Coffee Guys selling iced coffee. I must say their cup of coffee is not boring. We hope you enjoy this video. Click HERE!

Bangkok - 24 hour Town

Although Bangkok is like flying into the Bronx of New York City we always have fun. We're almost over jet-lag but still waking up at 4:00 AM. We went for a little walk down Nana Soi and said "Hello" to the trash guys. Yes, that is a man inside the big trash truck, separating plastic and glass bottles.

We walked across Sukhamvit Road and looked at shoes. I liked the red pair on the top row but they did not have my size. Oh well, it's always hard to find shoes at 4:00 in the morning.

After a little breakfast and coffee we did visit a few sidewalk shops. I liked the red, white and blue dress that Daeng is holding up but she thought the price of about $70.00 United States Dollars was to much. They didn't have it in my size, either. I thought it would have looked nice with the red shoes.

Daeng is going to visit some friends this afternoon and I'm going to go to a meeting with some English folks and then take a nap. We leave Saturday morning for the last leg of our trip to Home on the Myanmar (Burma) border.

Bangkok & White Orchid Inn II

We made it to Bangkok and after being up over thirty (30) hours and over eighteen hours in the air we got the reward of being screwed over by a guest house owner. Here are the emails:

Dear Ms. Wei,

Your excuse for being incompetent does not save face. We gave you our full names, Terry and Daeng Johnson, along with our picture on our card and the approximate time we would arrive.

I will post your reply on our blog at http://www.terrysstories.blogspot.com/ so the rest of the world can read it.

Again, we do thank you as the Di Place is a much nicer place than yours. It has an elevator, is much safer and classier.

Sincerely,

Terry & Daeng

Subject: Re: Thank you for Booking Room March 4 to March 10

From: whiteorchid.orchid2@gmail.com

Date: Tue, 6 Mar 2012 19:52:17 +0700

To: funnyplumber@hotmail.com

Dear sirs,

We are apologize for our mistake actually we did reserve the room for Mr.Terry but in the afternoon the reception accepted another customer named Terry Canon instead of you.

And the staff named wan said that she gonna clear the room and contact with you who stay next door.

After reading your e-mail,I feel very embarrassed for our workplace.Again sorry for our mistake and really apologize for that.

Rgds

Ms.wei

Sent from my iPhone

On 6 มี.ค. 2555, at 19:36, Terry Johnson <funnyplumber@hotmail.com> wrote:

Dear Ms. Wei,

We are writing to you as we want to thank you.

Sunday night we arrived as planned at your guest house, White Orchid Inn II on Sukhamvit Soi 4 in Bangkok, and were told that there was no room for us even though you confirmed we had a room. We thank you for lying to us and proving that your word is no good. After being up for thirty (30) hours and being in the air for eighteen hours and five minutes (18:05) we needed to be screwed around.We are sure you are very happy to drive another customer away from staying at your guest house.

We also what to thank you not keeping a room for us, as you stated in your email below, because that gave us the opportunity to stay at the Di Place Guest House next to your run down place. It is a much nicer place then yours.

Thank you again for being incompetent as a hotel owner and best wishes to you. Karma did work in our favor.

Sincerely,

Terry & Daeng

Here is a picture of John who helped us at 4:00 AM. Thanks John!

From: funnyplumber@hotmail.com

To: whiteorchid.orchid2@gmail.com

Subject: RE: Booking for room March 4 to March 10

Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2012 15:16:11 -0800

Dear Ms. Wei,

Thank you sooooo much. We land in BKK a little after midnight so we will be there very late on the night of the 4th. Don't worry, we will make it even if it is the early hours of the morning, 2-3 o'clock. See you then.

Sincerely,

Terry & Daeng

Subject: Re: Booking for room March 4 to March 10

From: whiteorchid.orchid2@gmail.com

Date: Sun, 26 Feb 2012 13:44:33 +0700

To: funnyplumber@hotmail.com

Hi,

Welcome back to White orchid 2 and we would like to confirm superior room #108 or similar for you on the period of 4-10 March.

Again thanks for coming Back and wish u have a nice trip.

Rgds

Ms.wei

Sent from my iPhone

On 26 ก.พ. 2555, at 5:53 Terry Johnson funnyplumber@hotmail.com wrote

My wife Daeng and I will be flying into Bangkok the night of March 4th.

We would like to stay in room 108, if possible, until March 10th. We will be arriving very late in the night but because we have stayed with you many times we would like to stay again.

Please confirm!

Sincerely,

Terry & Daeng Johnson

Our card attached

Winter in California

It was great to get back to California and spend time with friends and family.

It took us a few days to get over jet lag. The trip from Thailand to the USA always messes with our head. We stayed in Bangkok for a few days resting and having fun shopping. Then we get on a plane at 5:15 PM, fly 3 1/2 hours to Taipei, change planes, fly another 11+ hours and arrive in Los Angeles at 7:15 PM. Yep, two hours after we left Bangkok.

That makes us both a little crazy, as we have spent 30 hours pillow to pillow.

We laughed at this picture of Daeng with the bear and snow in Costa Mesa, California as she is wearing "flip-flops. Don't worry, it was only about 60 degrees that night and the snow is being made by a fake snow machine. Hey, this is California.

The holiday season is always fun for Daeng as she gets to decorate for the holidays.

We also went back to work fixing heating systems although it has been a very warm winter, so far.

New Years Eve we watched the ball drop in Times Square with Mom and managed to get in bed by 10:00 PM. Now, that makes me fell older than the 70 years that I am.

I have been trying to find interesting thing to do with Daeng. She does not care about Knott's Berry Farm or Disney Land. I have taken her to Disney Land twice and she says she does not want to go again. I think the reason is she sees Disney Land on television and it's the "happiest place on earth" and when you get there it is stand in long lines and wait.

Last Sunday we adventured to Hollywood to see Cirque Du Soleil's IRIS. This show is definitely "a love letter to the art and science of cinema", to quote LA Times Blog.

Hanging out on Hollywood Blvd. on a Sunday is always fun, too.

You meet all kinds of folks and the street entertainers are a truly unique experience.


I might also add, Thai Town is right next to Hollywood and has the largest population of Thais outside of Thailand. Thai Town has about 80,000 This folks. The food is great, as well.

Out next outing is to the Colorado River and the Riverside Casino and Hotel for Super Bowl.

Wish us luck!

Then on March 3rd we plan on returning to the "Land of Smiles".



Bye for now!