One of the concerns of the Thai government is tracking the current location of former PM Thaksin. Since his exile, he has spent time in Hong Kong, London, Cambodia and other locations throughout Asia and Europe.
His latest "base" has been in the United Arab Emirates city of Dubai. The Thai government had reported that he was expelled from the UAE back when the latest wave of protests started, but he appears to have returned there since.
There was an article in today's Bangkok Post which talked about how Thaksin had recently visited Sweden and Russia. In the article, Thaksin addressed some rumors that he was ill. He explained that he had been on a diet prior to his trip to Sweden, but had gained a few kilos while enjoying the food in Sweden and Russia. Specifically he mentioned that he enjoyed Russian caviar.
I understand that the former PM may enjoy rubbing the fact that he is still free in the nose of the government and the coup leadership. Its a high stakes game of "na na na na na na, you can't catch me".
What makes this behavior appalling is that at the same time the former PM is crowing about enjoying the good life, he is urging his followers to continue their protest on his behalf. These red shirt followers travel to Bangkok, many of them leaving their farms or businesses behind for days or weeks. They are sleeping in tents and braving the often brutal Bangkok heat. While the organizers do feed the protesters, its certainly not caviar, and I doubt that many of them are putting on weight.
Anyone left out there who thinks he is doing this because he loves the people? In the past he at least had the the good sense to say that he was suffering by only having "camel meat and camel milk" for nourishment.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Wat Phra Kaew and Grand Palace
Visited Thailand's famous Wat Phra Kaew and Grand Palace today. I've been there a few times to take photos. I like to use it as bit of a gauge as to how I have developed in my photography.
I decided against taking all the same shots that I have in the past. I wanted to do something a little different. Some of the shots are similar to ones I've taken before, but I also wanted to try some new angles.
One thing that caught my eye this time were the beautiful pots that housed some of the plants. The artwork on these were very beautiful. I think it is the symbol of the royal family.
You can see the white elephant in the design. The white elephant was at one time on the Thai flag and is considered very auspicious. My understanding is that part of the reason it was changed was because Europeans thought that it was a white rat. Not sure if that's true, but that was what I was told.
I decided against taking all the same shots that I have in the past. I wanted to do something a little different. Some of the shots are similar to ones I've taken before, but I also wanted to try some new angles.
One thing that caught my eye this time were the beautiful pots that housed some of the plants. The artwork on these were very beautiful. I think it is the symbol of the royal family.
You can see the white elephant in the design. The white elephant was at one time on the Thai flag and is considered very auspicious. My understanding is that part of the reason it was changed was because Europeans thought that it was a white rat. Not sure if that's true, but that was what I was told.
Barbed Wired
When we visited the border of Thailand and Burma, there was a small outpost near the border. It was kind of interesting, because just outside the barbed wire was a helipad. There was no helicopter on the helipad, rather a small herd of cattle.
Of course when I saw the curves of the barbed wire, I just had to take some photos. I already posted one of Tim. It didn't take much convincing to get Jacob to climb (carefully) into the barbed wire for a few shots. I think he enjoyed it. Please take note, that no subjects were injured in the making of these photos.
Of course when I saw the curves of the barbed wire, I just had to take some photos. I already posted one of Tim. It didn't take much convincing to get Jacob to climb (carefully) into the barbed wire for a few shots. I think he enjoyed it. Please take note, that no subjects were injured in the making of these photos.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Walking Up Hill
There was one sad note from our trip to the school. The nun who is in charge told Tim that one night fairly recently, one of the teachers left in the middle of the night and took fifty students with her. She has no idea where they went or why.
A friend, hearing the story, told Tim that she should think positively and that maybe the teacher took the kids to a better place. As Tim adroitly pointed out, if the teacher had taken the kids to a better place, would she have sneaked out in the middle of the night without telling anyone?
A friend, hearing the story, told Tim that she should think positively and that maybe the teacher took the kids to a better place. As Tim adroitly pointed out, if the teacher had taken the kids to a better place, would she have sneaked out in the middle of the night without telling anyone?
Monday, March 29, 2010
Sexy Swimsuit
Yaow told me a story today. Aleena had swimming lessons after school. There was an hour or so between the end of school and the start of lessons, so Yaow let Aleena play at school for a while.
Before it was time to go, Aleena went and changed into her swimsuit. When she walked out, one of the other Kindergarten boys said, "wow, Aleena looks sexy in her swimsuit." I'm going to keep an eye on him.
Before it was time to go, Aleena went and changed into her swimsuit. When she walked out, one of the other Kindergarten boys said, "wow, Aleena looks sexy in her swimsuit." I'm going to keep an eye on him.
The Playground
The kids absolutely loved the playground equipment that Tim and her friends helped to donate.
Helping Out
This weekend the family went to visit a school a few hours outside of Kanchanaburi that my wife is helping out. The school is run by a nun educated tribal kids in the Thai language. Not only does it serve as a school, but also as an orphanage. Many of the kids live at the school year round, while others live their during the school year. Some of those who some to the school have a two day walk back to their homes.
The education level is only up to grade three, but there are kids who a bit older. Some of them didn't get to start at five or six years of age. A few of the assistant teachers are only in their early teens.
The nun in charge makes due with a pretty small budget. She gets an equivalent of about thirty cents a day to feed the kids. You know that when a big part of her "wish" list included food, clothes and shoes, that she is not focusing on luxury.
Tim donated a chunk of money and raised some from some of her friends here. She was able to donate food, shoes and school supplies to help them out. Each child got a little bag of candy, which we had our kids put together. By Western standards, it was small and uninspiring, but for those kids, it was a treat they don't often enjoy.
The biggest hit with the kids, however, was the playground set that she bought them. The playground included swings, teeter tooters and monkey bars. The playset arrived before we did, and was already assembled by the time we got there. The kids were already playing on it. Apparently they were so anxious, that they helped carry all the parts down the hill to where it was assembled.
Below are a few photos from the trip. Don't be fooled by the nice clothing that many of the kids were wearing. We visited on Friday, when they wear their tribal garb, if they have it.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
At the Border
On Saturday we ended up driving around quite a bit more than expected. We went to visit a waterfall, but we were a little concerned about getting back up the dirt road, so we turned around before we reached it.
One place that we did stop was the border of Thailand and Burma (Myanmar). The border was actually about 1/2 mile from this check point where we stopped and took some photos.
One place that we did stop was the border of Thailand and Burma (Myanmar). The border was actually about 1/2 mile from this check point where we stopped and took some photos.
Elephant Crossing
We were on our way home from Kanchanaburi when I saw a crossing sign of the unusual variety. Well, unusual in many places, but not here in Thailand. Yeah, an elephant crossing sign.
Tim was driving and by the time I said "stop" it was too late. Sure enough though, we found another one a little further up the road. I had to walk a bit, because the nearest place to pull over safely was about 50 yards up the road. Still, I think it was worth the walk.
Later I photographed a cattle crossing sign. While I didn't see any of those growing up in Northern Kentucky, I imagine they are a bit more common in the western U.S. Well, certainly more common than elephant crossing signs.
Tim was driving and by the time I said "stop" it was too late. Sure enough though, we found another one a little further up the road. I had to walk a bit, because the nearest place to pull over safely was about 50 yards up the road. Still, I think it was worth the walk.
Later I photographed a cattle crossing sign. While I didn't see any of those growing up in Northern Kentucky, I imagine they are a bit more common in the western U.S. Well, certainly more common than elephant crossing signs.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
The School
The kids have a four day weekend which started today (Thursday). Tomorrow we are going to visit the school near Kanchanburi that Tim is helping. We are bringing food, candy, and school supplies. The coolest thing is that Tim is having some playground equipment installed for them. It should be a fun time.
After we visit the school, we are going to visit some of the sights around Kanchanaburi.
This is a photo I took last time we visited the school in Kanchanaburi. The lady in white in the middle is the nun who runs the school.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Riding On the Sidewalk [50 of 365]
Took this shot when I was out today on Sukhumvit. While hardly an uncommon sight, I'm always amused by motor cycles on the sidewalks.
Good Progress
I went back to see my surgeon today about my wrist. He looked it over and said that the flexibility was good. He gave me some anti-inflammatory medicine and told me to come back in two months.
He instructed me to continue rehabbing the hand by stretching it back and forth. I'll have to do this for another three to six months. Fun stuff.
He instructed me to continue rehabbing the hand by stretching it back and forth. I'll have to do this for another three to six months. Fun stuff.
Monday, March 22, 2010
New Look
I decided to change the look of the blog largely because I think the photos look nicer with a black background.
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