Making Papaya Salad

This winter, a new family food shop opened up right next to us at Wanasit. One evening Jim learned how to make the popular dish, Spicy Papaya Salad. Here are the photos.

Jim's Adventures in Chiang Khong

Jim has been in the small town of Chiang Khong, northwest of Chiang Mai, on the Mekong River for the past week or two. He does not have his bike with him and so is doing a lot more walking and meeting some very nice people.



Below are some of his recent photos from there. He's meeting me in Mae Sai when I get my visa stamp and then we're going back to CK together for at least a week. A nice break from all the activity in Chiang Mai. I biked out to the bus station to buy a ticket to MS a few days ago as the whole country is on the move for New Year's and transport is hard to come by.

Dec 30, 2009 Mekong Sun Cruise Boat - my personal favorite

Dec 30 New Friends in Chiang Khong

Dec 29 Shipping by Barge from Thailand to Laos

Dec 28 Mekhong Barge Problem

Dec 26 Ritual at Wat in Chiang Khong - very interesting!

Dec 27 Bicycle Museum & Bar

While still in Chiang Mai, he came across this parade:
Dec 6 A Celebration of the King's 82nd Birthday

Cremation at Wat Phra Singh

Jim and I were fortunate to be in Chiang Mai for the funeral of a very important, much-revered 92-year old monk. He died one year ago at his residence in Wat Phra Singh. This structure which looks like a giant float for a parade was built in four days and was the cremation vessel that was burned following a week of ceremonies at the wat next door to us.

The fire was very close to the nearby monks' quarters. The crowd stood about fifty feet away. Probably a once in a lifetime experience not only for us, but for the Thai people as well. More photos of cremation ceremonies at Wat Phra Sing.

Music Recital and Dinner

On December 6th we were invited to accompany friends of Jim's, Baan and Ben, to a musical recital that their children were participating in - Melbourne, Munich and Minna. [It was a lot of fun and reminded me of my piano recital days held in Mrs. Ryder's living room with around twenty folding chairs.] Melbourne who performed Ballade pour Adeline beautifully(you're recognize the piece, if not the title) has been taking lessons for seven years and is an accomplished musician. Many of the tunes played (like "Chopsticks") were familiar but others were not. At least two of them had been composed by the King of Thailand. Here are a few photos from our evening.

After the recital, Baan and Ben invited us out to dinner at the Good View Restaurant where we were treated to a great meal, much missed red wine and a live band!

Wat Phra Singh Cremation

Jim and I were fortunate to be in Chiang Mai for the funeral of a very important, much-revered 92-year old monk. He died one year ago at his residence in Wat Phra Singh. This structure which looks like a giant float for a parade was built in four days and was the cremation vessel that was burned following a week of ceremonies at the wat next door to us.

The fire was very close to the nearby monks' quarters. The crowd stood about fifty feet away. Probably a once in a lifetime experience not only for us, but for the Thai people as well. More photos of cremation ceremonies at Wat Phra Sing.

Gerry in Thailand

Our good friend and neighbor from home, Gerry Davis, took a ten-day tour of China and then abandoning her tour mates, flew to Bangkok on her own and up to Chiang Mai to spend two weeks there with us. Jim and I were so pleased she decided to include Thailand in her travel adventure this year!
Here we are at Ratchadaemon Kitchen with friends Anne, Gade and Trudi.

She took a lot of photos including a video at the elephant camp, but I thought I would send along these few pix while she is catching up on well-deserved rest. Am sure she'll be sending you some picasa photo albums soon although the holidays and her toil on our behalf at home are keeping her very busy.