Ottawa, December 23, 2018

I returned to Ottawa as scheduled, December 12, all flights were on time, and because of the season, very smooth travel. My checked luggage was tagged all the way to Ottawa. But,  with the need to clear customs in Toronto, I claimed it, cleared customs, and then put the luggage on a belt, and it went to Ottawa. I had a scheduled layover in Seoul, South Korea of twelve hours. I was offered a five hour free trip into the city, but declined. While there were several, of various hours, most involved quite some time shopping, a no no for me.One of several hours was a tour to some cave where a lot of gold was recovered...but, Mr Don does not go into caves more than ten feet, and then only if I can see the other exit.
Before departure from Korea, as we prepared for take-off, we were told by Air Canada staff that a hot dinner would be served an hour after take off, and that a snack would be served six hours into the flight, (scheduled for almost 13 hours), and a hot "Breakfast", would be served one hour before landing in Toronto. We were scheduled to arrive at five in the afternoon. We were flying in a Boeing 787-900 series aircraft. The 787s were the first in the world to have no blinds on the windows. There is a button below the window, top is white bottom half is black. To see  out, one presses the white part of the button several times, and the window is clear. If you want to darken the window, one pushes the black several times, and total dark window..unable to see out. Now, this 787 and, I suppose all the 900 series have a crew override for the windows. As we departed Korea, even before the dinner was served, the crew darkened the windows, and one could not see out. The Air Canada crew kept the windows darkened until after breakfast was served at four Toronto time. They also darkened the windows for landing...which is a no no at least, has been a no no until now. They always ask to set seats in upright position and OPEN window shades at landing on all other carriers and flights.

Thailand had been ruled since May, 2014 by a military dictatorship, who imposed very strict laws on the people with their own so-called constitution. To talk or write anything negative about the government is, in the eyes of the Generals, a crime against the king...and if caught, one is jailed for up to 15 years. In addition, for Google, and probably many other companies to operate in Thailand, under the dictators, they had to give the army full control of the internet. 
As a result, every outgoing and incoming email is read, and allowed to continue, or , it disappears
into thin air. The speed is controlled..to the point that it can take several minutes for a short four line email to be sent. This control is done by them detecting foreign owned computers from the computer I.P. address. The computer will often tell you that, "Google is using the web cam". In short , spying on you. As a so called, "election", is planned for probably February, and is already fixed according to some sources, the military is getting nervous and becoming more controlling. If I were to return to Thailand under this dictatorship, I will probably leave my laptop at home, just too much trouble.

I hope to post some photos, probably mid January, after the holidays, and when my techie is free to help. In the meantime, Happy Holidays to All/Thank you.

Bangkok, Tuesday, December 11, 2018

I will keep this page very short. I have been having internet problems for all my time here in Bangkok, and have been erased, and delayed many times. I will comment more when home. I depart hotel in 12 hours for the return trip. Time here has been great/Thanks for understanding

So Phisai, December 2, Part two

The malls, the shopping and the specialty stores,
I have done this all, and, a whole lot more,
But, as the hours pass, and another month nears,
I look at my schedule, and I count the beers,
I look at my friends, and see no fear,
Because....Bedier was here.!!!

Back in Canada on December 12,
I will unpack my bags, get some sleep, have a long chat with my friends, and... yes;
Already, another adventure awaits,... to where.....that is anyone's guess!!

This is now Sunday, December 2. I will be departing here on Friday evening, and taking an overnight bus to Bangkok. One day to relax and two for seeing a few things, including the earlier mentioned Skywalk.
 I will depart Bangkok at about eleven thirty in the evening of 11 December for Inchon/Seoul, South Korea. That is a six hour flight. I have a twelve hour stopover, may get a city tour, depending on Visa requirements, etc, then ....I will see what surprises Air Canada have in store for me...as we have a
twelve and half hour flight to Toronto, clear customs, etc and a short half hour flight to Ottawa.
........cold and snow awaits...
If time permits, I will do a short update before departing Bangkok.

So Phisai, Thailand December 2, 2018 Part One

It is Sunday morning here, and I thought that I would do some creative work for this site, that some may find interesting. First off, This is now The Kingdom of Thailand, a title that has been in place since only 24 June, 1939. It did revert to the old for two years, 1946 to 8, but has stayed with the current title since. The term Siam, and Siamese is still often seen throughout the country.
Thailand never was occupied by any European country. England and France decided not to take it over, but to keep it out of their areas here....because they could not trust each other. France had Indo-China, England had whatever else they could get..between them, everything but Thailand. China was always alone....except for some areas like Hong Kong.
I have been here now, about ten or twelve times, and, on Friday, during some idle time, I came up with some recollections....

Here in So Phisai on the last day of November,
The treasures of Thailand, I try to remember
The Orphanage at Pattaya, it comes to mind first,
Two hundred kids, for love and compassion, they thirst
all of these, and a whole lot more, would have been left in the lurch,
If not for a lot of volunteers and the backing of the Catholic church.
Buddhists all, as they come and they go,
some will remain, while others to far away countries go.
I view the Temples, and the jewels they hold,
With statues made from Jade, Emerald and Gold.
In old Siam, I view the sights
for thirty days and thirty nights,
I take the photos and I sample the food,
I view a mountain where Buddha once stood,
An imprint in time from long long ago,
Millions come here, but there is no side show,
They walk up very very high, and come back slow
They saw proof in the rock, a footprint for sure
Six centuries till now, and for many more, it will endure
Historic places, and the history they hold
Like Chang Mai, a Capital once, a place to behold,
With orchid farms and many things cool, why, there is even a moat, and a monkey school
Then there is Chang Rai, at the top of the map, a triangle of sorts, they call golden, but watch the weather reports
When the temperatures drop to twenty degrees, all the locals think they are going to freeze.
Then when it drops to minus one, all the tourists to this city run, to see the frost before the sun.