Tim's Thailand Blog: Night Safari by Day Light, and other Chiang Mai Happenstances.....

"For summer there, bear in mind, is a loitering gossip, that only begins to talk of leaving when September rises to go."- George Washington Cable

I was going to quote a half remembered song lyric with a September reference but then realised two things: First, it's from a Neil Diamond song, and second, having read the whole song, after finding it through Google, it's a bit weird. THEN, I discovered that the only bit of a pop song that it's legal to post on a blog is the title!
I then thought of our approaching cool season and the G.C. Cable thing seemed apt, even if he was talking about the deep South(USA).

Juniper Tree Developments

The simple solution to a blocked drain was to cut the pipes above ground level and let the water from the basins, showers etc just soak away under the houses!

They now neatly join Somsak's new 150 metre drain (all hand dug and the heavy concrete sections hand placed!)

This tank is for our new house! Each little group of houses needs a tank and an electric pump, eventually it will be hidden behind a trellis and plants.

The drain goes off into the distance, I haven't yet looked what happens at the far end.........

House 21, we expect our first guests to stay here in January! Hope this isn't too optimistic!

Joan is surveying our patio, Our visitors and Church small group should be able to look out over the gardens as we meet!

The view towards "Home" from Dec/Jan

Events in Chiang Mai

In recent weeks we have had a number of events to go to in Chiang Mai. The first was a joint service for all the international Churches in the City. We took over a large conference room at the Lotus Hotel and about 1,000 people gathered on that Sunday afternoon. The Worship Band included people from all the Churches, but the speaker was a Thai National, who was a great preacher. He really challenged the International Churches to get more involved in the local community!

Pastor Steve is just greeting the lead singer of the band (wearing his Thai silk shirt of course!) before taking on the M.C. role.

Patrick got all the kids involved in his children's message wearing different team shirts, all about unity in diversity.

The next event was a visit to Chiang Mai by Nick Vujicic. He is a talented, inspirational speaker, who had the misfortune to be born with no limbs. Far from feeling cheated by his disadvantages, he is notable for his positive, life affirming attitudes, which are firmly rooted in his firmly held Christian faith. The event was proceeded by various Thai musicians performing, all popular young acts which drew in a vast crowd of local youth, along with those keen to hear Nicky's life story

This event was attended by 10,000 people and, in true Thai fashion, was calm and orderly as they arrived and later departed after the 5 hour production!

Khamsi and the disappearing terrace!

The damp conditions soon cause the wooden houses problems. This new terrace, outside house 11, was a bit overdue. If anyone had jumped too hard they might easily have ended up at ground level quicker than they hoped.....

Visa run to Myanmar

We needed to extend our visa (remember the Cambodia post). We drove our selves this time as the death drive with the tour company last time was far too stressful!

It was a beautiful day and a lovely change to drive up and down Thailand to the Burmese Border.

The sign opposite is for a restaurant along the main A1 road in Northern Thailand. Would you be tempted into a place called Cabbages and Condoms?

On the return run we stopped at the hot springs. The water we have our feet in is nearly too hot to bear. The next pool is so hot a little lady sells boiled eggs that sit in little baskets in the well shaped pool.
It's very strange to have your feet in such hot water outdoors.

The new "sump" for the marine tank.

Sadly, I've got either the design or the making wrong somewhere and it isn't doing what it's supposed to do yet. Story of my life.......

Visit to Lilly's shop

Lynn and I have the studied look of two seriously devoted gourmets (or just 2 hungry blokes!)

Lilly put on pork ribs, a pork noodle soup and then a fabulous Pad Pak Rome Gung Sod. This is a shrimp and fried vegetable dish that demands a return visit to make sure it really is as good as it seemed that night!

Shelly and Lynn have been good enough to cover the Juniper Tree when we have been on our visa runs and also have given us a day off, thus enabling this blog to finally get written (sorry to those who have been gently nudging.)

Elliot and Jemima's Lobster Gift

When Elliot and Jemima visited the Channel Islands they found a new way to send a lobster through the post! I had an amusing hour with a craft knife and sellotape....It brought back fond memories of holidays there when the kids were young and some tastier, though shorter lived sea food experiences.

Baan Tawai

Joan is resting (Joan rejects the term) after a long expedition around a wood carving village called Baan Tawai. We were with Lynn and Shelly sharing our newly discovered gem of a place to shop for presents. (Not giving away any details)
All the artisans live and work in a village community and the shops number in their hundreds.

News from home

Richard and Andrea were in Berlin, recently, visiting family, this aquarium has the main hotel lift running right up through the middle! The balcony of the room looked out over an inside court yard with the tank in the middle, huge sea fish swimming around the people in the lift. A personal visit is essential in the future!

Favourite driver from Phom Phenn

I mentioned this happy chappy on a recent blog but lost the photo, so here he is!

If we ever went back we'd love to have him for a few days to do the full tour of Siem Reap.

Happy Birthday Pat!

One thing we miss is the round of celebrations with family and friends At David and Pats birthdays, our children have been left to convey our greeting and toast the day on our behalf. ( The list of other family and friends special days would be too long to list) but there has been at least one ninetieth birthday; congratulations to Dot Fletcher!!

Chiang Mai Night Safari

On our long awaited afternoon off, we went to the night safari. This is an attraction many of our guests enjoy and some go during the day time! You can walk around the central lake and see all sorts, as the following pics show. We wanted to visit the Giraffe Cafe, where you get the giraffes leaning into the cafe to eat with you, however it was closed for lunch? At night you can feed the bigger animals and there is a tiger show, included; as you travel around on a bus, through the dark jungle setting. These photos speak for themselves: