Chiang Mai

Just added this as a reminder. We went up to Chiang Mai for a few days and visited /caught up with old friends. Really good fun.

Doctor Bob, me, Peter and Phil.... Putting the world right.

View from Peter's pad.

The man himself  "Peter"

Thailand to Seychelles first few days

Been quite busy with things.  We departed on Wednesday from Thailand for Seychelles and onward to Ghana.  Accepted a 3 month posting in Ghana stopping in Seychelles on the way out and on the way back.

Last beer in Bangkok airport just to get the trip in motion.... And away we go. Took a photo,  a selfie of a selfie !!!!!

So first stop was to our condo and then catch up with the family especially the grand kids.  Busy time.

Sebi is now 3 and full of the joys of life. He decided my cordless drill was a wonderful toy and

is planning helping my put up some pictures on the wall tomorrow.  He even advised us to which ones go where !

Need less to say we moved on to guitar playing and then stayed, joining us for dinner. That boy eats more lentils than I do. Loves them.

Had to go to the clinic for Mathilde as she had a couple of stitches to be removed.  

Then the usual things, doing a bit of walking around town to do shopping and got to ATM etc.

 Followed by a bus ride home.  

Seychelles buses are an experience not to be missed,  but again they are not for the faint hearted. 

Fortunately it is only a 15 minute ride otherwise you thing you have spent the day having a good work out or just visited a fun park and played on the roller coaster!!!

Watching the rugby this afternoon and then La Digue tomorrow.  Oh yes, and of course we are also putting up pictures or do I just leave that to Sebi   ....?

Guitar Jam

Was in Khon Kaen with my friends Dante and Alain.  We had a few strums. Really learning some good stuff.  Dante  is a great teacher.  He needs to be with my slow learning  process. The more I learn the more I realize how little I know. I don't think anyone ever fully learns music as there is just so much of it. And importantly we listened to a local guy who had been learning the "pin" a three stringed instrument which they use for all Issan music.  Khon Kaen University has a music department a section of which specializes in Issan music. He has attended this course.  Now he travels world wide playing Issan and rock and  blues. Very impressive.

Mody is a small studio in the Khon Kaen University area.  Fairly basic but a lot of fun and a good central location for meeting up.  And the compound hosts a "Koi" fish farm, some small crays and hydroponics.  A really fun place with a great atmosphere. You can spend a few hours there just relaxing.

They also make some very good quality guitars. I think I might treat myself next year.....  Don't tell Wanna......

Been busy

As I mentioned last post went down to Rayong for a quick day to see some friends and then get ready for departing Thailand.  Going to Seychelles on Wednesday then onward to Ghana for a short work spell. Duration as usual unknown. Supposed to be for 3 months but we will see what transpires.

In Rayong outside on of the big department stores the parking area was taken over by street vendors. Lovely array of foods.  needless to say we tried a lot of it....  From noodles to bugs and stuff in between.  I walked along and "clicked" away on the phone. They say a picture tells a thousand words.  Please just enjoy  the photos.....

Road Block

We went down to Rayong last week. All good roads fine and a quick journey except..... speeding along a dual carriageway the traffic started to back up.

After about 30 seconds we got tot eh trouble spot.  A tree had fallen over the road. So..... In typical Thai style the cars decided to "drive round it".  But it cover the full width of the road.  Not to be deterred they just went off the

road found a route through the trees on the road side onto a cycling lane and back on the main road pas the tree and sped off.  Needless to say we did the same.  Photos of this taken while driving do not give the whole or clear picture (pun...) of the story but this should be sufficient for you to get a good idea of a typical road trip in Thailand.....

Home Massage

Our Friend Noi was round for a few days.

She brought with her a Korea massage kit.  Its one of those ones where they out air cylinders on your back and suck the air our.  Leave them on your skin for about 5 minutes.  It is supposed to stretch the skin adn muscles etc. After 5 minutes she removes them she gives you a good back massage to follow up.

So relaxing unbelievable.  Should do this more often.  BTW the marks stay for a good 48 hours......
  

Yellow Fever

Well I do not have yellow fever nor do I want it. So with the upcoming possibility of a short term assignment in West Africa I need with Wanna to get down to Bangkok for the necessary jabs.

Can you believe given Thailand geographical location it is necessary to go to Bangkok for the jab and Certificate.  Apparently you can get the jab locally but the certificate not so. Strange but TIT.

So we flew down for the day.  Train into town and visited  the Red Cross Society where they have inoculations for everything you can imagine and some you never knew about.

Of course the main thing in this regard in Thailand is snakes and dealing with snake bites.  Seem to be a lot of nasty guys around as well. So the Red Cross is fully equipped and has an in house snake farm  or snakeatorium  whatever it s called so they can extract venom to make vaccines..  Actually I do not like snakes but it was fascinating going round and seeing them from a safe distance..... i.e through thick glass or mesh.

The place was very education. That does not sound exciting does it....  I added a copy of the video.  Bit boring but it will serve as a memory in time.

So some photos  snakes including a skeleton of a python.  Ugh !!!!!!!!