A really nice day in Isaan.

The weather today was fantastic. A little overcast, cool and a wonderful breeze. Because it is Saturday all the kids are around so it is a little noisy from time to time but I will miss that when we come home. My back is feeling a lot better so Phai and I went for a nice long walk today. It still amazes me how nice the people are here. I took my good camera and not only do they not mind having their pictures taken, I think their feelings get hurt if I do not take their pictures. I asked Phai about that and she said it is true. 

I  am really excited about the trip to Mukdahan on August 27th. Our son in law will drive us and Phai said he is excited because he has never stayed in a hotel. I am trying to convince Phai to have Ning go with us. The Phai's other daughters in law would need to agree to watch the kids and Ning would have to close the restaurant for three days but I think she would love it. It would not increase the cost of the trip much because the hotel is already paid for and the gas for the truck doesn't cost anything additional to take another person. It would cost a small fortune to take the kids because the hotels here charge anther 50% for a third person in a room and it is a max of three in a room. I have made the offer so now I will see what happens. 

I think the Mayor got new loudspeakers because the announcements to the village were very loud this morning. The music started at about 6:00 am and then she talked for about 5 minutes. I closed the window but could still hear her. I sure am glad she doesn't do it everyday. 

Well, here are todays photos. They tell the story of my day better than I can. One of the benefits of the walks is practicing my Thai on the people we encounter. Although I did not understand what one woman was saying until Phai translated it for me. She said she wanted me to come spend the night with her and she would pay me 20,000 baht. I kidded and since i know everyone bargains here I told her it would cost 25,000 baht. She said okay. I still am not sure if was a joke but since 25,000 baht is almost 800 U.S. dollars I assume it is. I have met her before and she is an elderly lady that Phai said has never had a husband and wants to experience a falang once in her life. Phai says that every time she sees me she says the same thing. I don't know if I should be flattered or scared. I didn't get close enough to take a picture but instead kept on walking in the street with Phai. 

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This man is making shoes in the yard under his house. A wholesaler picks them up from him and sells them to retailers. They are actually very nice shoes and hand made. 

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These folks are making straw mats. It is nice to see husband and wife work together.

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Here is one of the mats they made. 

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This man was sitting our in his yard right next door to the above couple. It is the first time I have seen someone read a newspaper here. Notice he is using one the mats they made to shelter his motorbike from the sun.

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We walked to the next house and this couple was making very large mats. 

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They had numerous piles of wood. Phai said they use it for cooking and on the occasional cold day in the winter for heat. 

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They didn't use reads but instead made their mats from the leaves of these plants in their yard. Phai had never seen that done before. 

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I may start a gallery of unique fence photos. 

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It is very normal for homes to have a small store in front of their house. 

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Another front yard business. This is right across the street from the previous photo.

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These two ladies were just relaxing in their front yard. I told her I like her hollywood sunglasses and that got a big smile. Note the dog under the bench. 

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I just threw this in because I was fascinated by this table and benches. 

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This is the water tower for our section of the village. There are electric pumps to get the water into the tanks and then gravity feed supplies water pressure for the village. 

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These are all motorbikes that went by us during our walk. They aren't kidding about Thailand being the land of smiles. I am assuming the lady in the top left photo is smiling behind her mask.


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