SaaiFon's Cemetery Tour

When I read that there was a Nationalist Chinese Soldiers cemetery in Chiang Khong where over 200 KMT soldiers were buried, I was intrigued. (Partly because I had written my first real research paper in high school about the Civil War in China when the communists took over "Red China" in 1949.) So when SaaiFon, the owner of BaanPakPon, asked me if I would like to go with her on her motorcycle for a scenic tour, I said, "Yes!" and asked if we could also visit the cemetery. She didn't know anything about it but I found where it was and we stopped there.

The graves are all angled on a hill so they face China. The caretaker told us that he and other soldiers buried there had fought with Thai soldiers against communists in Laos and China. There's also a shrine built there containing old photos of KMT soldiers-at-arms and a painting of a princess from China(?). Photos here.

[KMT, located in Taiwan, was led by Chiang Kai-shek and ruled much of China from 1928 until its forced retreat to Taiwan in 1949 after defeat by the Communist Party of China during the Chinese Civil War. The KMT are known simply as "Nationalist China" after its ruling party.]

After seeing how interested I was in this SaaiFon offered to take me to two Thai cemeteries (with crematorium) in town also. Here are those photos.

Elephants and Assisted Living

Last month, I spent a day with Dtuum and some of her family who wanted to take me to a local elephant camp. Although not a fan of zoos and trained animals, I must admit I did have fun. Here are some photos we took.

In January, I learned about the opening Dok Kaew Gardens of a new Retirement/Assisted Living Facility, the first in Chiang Mai, for both Thais and Ex-Pats. Trudi and I decided to take a look one day and a car was sent for us to enjoy lunch and a tour. There is currently only one resident but we talked about ways to expand and get the word out and I expect before long there will be quite a waiting list. Spotlessly clean, well-managed, sunny and cheerful. My only concern was the extremely and unexpectedly boring food. Here are a few photos I took there.

Chiang Khong

When in Chiang Khong, we visit the market which is on Fridays only, from very early in the morning (no idea when as we are assuredly still asleep)until about 2PM. Many people come to the market from outlying areas and hill tribe villages. Here are photos from one Friday and one week later. And a few photos of Jim's favorite food shop.



Here are a few sunrise photos Jim took from our room overlooking the Mekong on two consecutive mornings. After leaving CK, Jim had a chance to visit Chad, a master mechanic, when in Mae Sai to renew his visa. Here are some photos of his recent creations.

Our Thai friend, Mark, in Chiang Saen

Under a teacher exchange program between Thailand and the U.S., we met Mark a few years ago as a visiting teacher of art in Cape Elizabeth. When we heard about him, we looked him up at the Middle School and invited him to our home and we subsequently became friends. He cooked us several delicious Thai meals. Jim loaned him a bicycle while he was here which increased his mobility about CE and SP. We had stayed in touch but had not seen him since.

This January 2010, Jim was hitching from Chiang Khong through Chiang Saen in the Golden Triangle and decided to try to find Mark at his home. He wrote, "Not only did I find him, but he invited me to stay the night and have dinner by the Mae Khong. The next morning, he went with me to Mae Sai, where I needed to get a new tourist visa. He will going to New Zealand in June for a two-year program to be a chef. We had a great visit. Hope to see him again later this winter. Thank you, Mark!"
Here is Jim's photo album from that visit.

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.