Happy Songkran!
สวัสดีปีใหม่ Thai New Year GET WET!
The full moon rises over the waters of Koh Samui, its glow filling the eastern sky as the wild western sunset carries on, making the islands appear like small rocks and the clouds resemble buildings or mountains.
Small fishing boats gather the local catch, which then makes its way to these laid-back, family-run eateries. There is even a beach run place called Bang Por Seafood Ta Kho that has a mention in the Michelin Guide. The drool factor is high. Think BBQ Prawns and Mackerel Stir Fry Thai Spicy….
Somebody give me a towel….
These shots (above) in Bang Po at Thai Mama….our fave little place to eat with a very lovely family cooking up a storm where you are forced to sneeze while the chili fries.
Slow walking around the tropical islands of Thailand for a month has enabled me to forget what day it is and to remind me that time is a social construct created to manage our time. What is better than looking up into the sky and knowing the time and the weather all at once? And as far as the news, well, try to avoid it and create your ripples of love and care and creation.
Life is not an accident….every second is a miracle.
(Very wet Sanngkoran shots above)
The pure joy of Thai New Year, celebrated by getting soaked with buckets of water as you walk or scooter or drive around anywhere yesterday, was a great wonder. Kids squealing as they throw water on the passing cars and pick-ups and the pick-ups loaded with big barrels of water, so they can stop and soak the people on the streets.
It is the peak of summer, so walking around soaking wet is easy.
How much better is this cleansing joy of Songkran vs fireworks at midnight in many places or drinking to excess to ease into a hungover New Year? The physical output of washing people in the water and marking faces with talcum powder was incredible to experience. Things were quiet last night as every kid and adult seemed to be buggered from the water fights from morning to night.
How young does everyone feel playing with others in their community? Based on the smiles and laughter, everyone was thoroughly enjoying themselves.
We have noticed that farangs are more insular than in the past. Simply, I blame it on the iPhone. Don’t forget this picture (below). I mean the folks traveling, not the locals.
Look around. Look at these pictures. How could the internet bring you more joy? It does for a moment, that dopamine hit, well, then you need another and another and soon that is the most important part of your life.
Be Here Now. You know that is the only way to live.
How many times do I have to write that or preach it?
Forever.
Life does not last that long.
Be here now. Love the ones you’re with.
Enjoy every sandwich.
Wandering off the islands tomorrow and back to the mainland. Dreaming of swimming to Cambodia and a train to Laos during May. We have time.
We did dip our toes into the media for awhile and not surprised about much of what Trump does anymore. He’s a fool, and idiot and he does not care for anyone. I see he even played Bill Maher at the White House to get him to say ‘nice’ things about the man.
What angers me the most is the administration taking NO ACTION to RELEASE Kilmar Abrego García. Even the President of El Salvador said he would not help while he jerked off Trump in the Oval Office. Presidente Bukele has imprisioned many in his super prison in El Salvador and now he has illegal and LEGAL immigrants subjected to hell on earth.
The reporter asked Bukele if he would return Abrego Garcia to the U.S.,, and he responded, “How can I return him to the United States?”
“Do I smuggle him into the United States? Of course, I’m not going to do it,” Bukele said. “It’s like, I mean the question is preposterous. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States?”
Bukele continued, “We’re not very fond of releasing terrorists into our country. We just turned the murder capital of the world into the safest country in the Western Hemisphere, and you want us to go back into releasing criminals so we can go back to being the murder capital of the world? That’s not going to happen.”
They are birds of a feather and both uglier than any bird I have ever seen.
Yeah, I have never seen an ugly bird.
And just a note, did anyone watch that debate with Dutton and Albanese on Sky? The production and directing of same was some of the worst production I have ever seen. I was waiting for the backdrop to fall amongst other bad video!
Dutton certainly lost that round and we can be happy about that. Dutton did say we are a nation of immigrants and we should take care of each one. I sort of threw up in my mouth thinking aloud, “Australia can’t even take care of it’s Indigenous people.”
Love to you all….enjoy some music from stumbling around Spotify as we traipse around South East Asia.
Adios for now…
Greetings Paul!
Life in Thailand looks so lovely! it seems to suit you two so well. We almost went in February for a couple months, but we needed to come home as we had already been in Mexico for a month to avoid being in USA during in inauguration and we had some stuff we had to deal with before things got out of hand. Now we are just waiting for out new passports with the ability to travel for the next 10 years. That is if any other country will let us in after the way Dump has been handling things. so until we get those baby's back in our possession, we are landlocked here. So we are headed to Vegas to go to The Sphere to see Dead and Co.. Ben and Tanya are flying in for it as well. Hoping we get a chance to connect with them. in May we are off to Kauai and Maui to see some friends. Be well and eat some papaya salad for me....