So Phisai Thailand, June 20,2018

I arrived here with friends on Saturday afternoon after a 45 minute flight to Udon Thani, then a three hour bus ride at a cost of 2.50 Canadian. The bus stops along the country roads to take on and let off passengers. The distance is only 137 kilometers. I am here until July one, when the trip back to BKK is started....same route in reverse.

I had a surprise in the plans for painting the inside of the family house. (Grandmother, Omah in most Asian countries), owns the house and her grown up children have tried to paint it several times. Omah has always said No!. Spend your money elsewhere. The house is over 40 years old, and badly needs paint. The family agreed that if they could surprise Omah, she would be happy, but do not tell her in advance. During a heated family discussion on what to do, I did the manly thing....took the two youngest kids, five and eight for a walk. As luck would have it, we just went two blocks, and there was the ice cream shop. When we returned to the house, the problem was solved, at least for a while.

Unbelievable, as it may sound, while the discussion was going on, a government agency called to offer Omah a four day trip to a resort south of Bangkok, from June 25 to 28. That is when the job will get done. I expect to be back at my motel when she returns home. I see tape, scrapers, brushes, etc in places that I guess Omah never goes, so plans seem well in place.

I am enjoying the time here, on the edge of the forests. I can walk half a kilometer and see mango, papaya, lychee, rambbutan, and all sorts of fruits to which I do not know the name. I also see the apple, to which the cashew nut grows  outside at the bottom.

I have known some of these folks for six years, and it is just great doing things with them. Thai people do not keep much of a schedule in the countryside, so one never knows what is next. I have breakfast at the motel, then get picked up and go to the family home each morning....on a motorbike.
All is going great and I get a lot of requests for information and advice, so there are some people who listen to me....and act on that advice!.

I will probably do an update when back in BKK, soon after July 1.