The Thai Pirate - Thai Blog and Travel Stories

And the Winner is......

I'm happy to announce that Siam Rick is the poster of the 1,000th comment on the Thai Pirate... (Talen, you were sooooo close!)

Massive thanks to Mr Rick, author of the super Thai blog Behind the Noodle Curtain, and indeed everyone who posts comments now and again on TTP.

So, Rick, what have you won?

As if you haven't guessed from the picture, The Thai Pirate would like to proudly present you with, none other than the flppin' gorgeous Thai pop starlet...........Gybzy.

Gybzy, a.k.a Wanida Termthanaporn, is a very tasty girly from Land of Smiles who became an instant celeb when she hit the pop scene with her all girl band, Girl Berry.

Wise Kwai, over at Wise Kwai's Thai films gives a good overall description of Gybzy, and a recent film she starred in, so if you want to read instead of stare, check it out at Wise Kwai's.

Thanks to Rick and everyone for giving your 2 pennies worth on my little blog.... Rick - a deserved winner, and its a nice fact that your 1000th comment was, as usual, a pretty darn positive one...

So Rick - What are you gonna do with Gybzy?

Temple fund raiser in Suphanburi

For the last month or so envelopes have been distributed around our local area to raise funds for the Lemon Temple in Suphan. The fund raising climaxes with an event and ceremony at the temple on a Saturday morning..

Its an early start - up at 5 to get ready, and cook up a light lunch for us and the monks. This routine must be the same for dozens of families throughout Suphan...  A good turn out, as you can see from the picture. We got their late-ish, so got stuck with sitting on the floor. Actually its quite an eye-opener how when I first arrived in Thailand I could only sit on the hard floor for about 2 minutes before the aching began.... These days I can manage about 10 without blinking. Probably cos I've lost a bit of weight, am a bit more flexible, I can curl my legs up underneath me quite easily now I'm used to it.

That's Sutiya and Noon counting out the cash from some of the many envelopes collected .. Every envelope has the name of the donor on the front, and after opening, the amount contained inside is neatly written on one corner . . After a few hundred envelopes, the amounts are toting up rather nicely. It's a testiment to Thai character and community that lots of people, who live day to day with little money, manage to find some for the pot.

Throughout there is a Buddhist ceremony in effect. One of the organisers has the loudspeaker most of the time, yapping away, with the occasional chanting... at other times the head monks get the mike for chanting and prayer... The audience sit quietly and raise their hands in the wai on occasion.

After just over an hour, it all breaks up, the monks are passed food by some of the younger members, and shortly after all the temple-goers move downstairs, or on the floor in front of the monks to eat.. Just before we eat, the loudspeakers announce the amount raised - a little over one million baht. Wow. Not bad going for a modest sized temple... All the money goes to the local poor.

A garden of Thai dogs

With the rain finally beginning to relent, a bright blue sky and a regular cool breeze, Thailand has finally begun to cool. The rain puddles have dried, and left everything in full bloom. October, November and December are surely the most comfortable months for non-natives of Thailand.

(Pinky and Secret, who kindly stopped rucking for the picture)

In this cooler period its pleasant to get outside on the lawn and have a roll around with the mutts. I reckon they are the luckiest dogs in the whole Kingdom.... they now get regular grub, sleep inside at nighttime and get taken to the vet when ill.

We have lots of Thai's visit who say 'my...... how many dogs do you have'.

(Joe, having a good scratch)

Ten. This is largely because their life expectancy has improved... Before, there would be pups all over, with a high 'turnover' rate .... Whilst being a firm follower of  the 'when in Rome' mentality, this aspect of the household has changed, largely my fault, but I can't have dogs dying around me all the time..... They've all had the snip as well, male and female...., which stops them venturing out, and renegade mutts venturing in.

(Lucky, in ambush position)

All in all, it makes for a happier house I think. Plus, since they've all started living longer, they have grown on the Thai's here more. Although, most of the locals no doubt probably think I'm a crazy farang.

Ladprao Hotel - One Year on

Was lucky enough to help out in the design of a hotel in Ladprao during my first year, that project is nearly finished, but whilst standing on the 8th floor, I took a photo of a hotel project taking place opposite. The photo above was exactly one year ago.

Amazing the difference a year makes eh. Pretty smart now, maybe not everybody's favourite style, but what a superb job these guys have done, and in pretty good time.

Bangkok - City of......... Green?

Most wouldn't think of Bangkok as a green city, but this time of year during the rainy season, Thailand really does turn a lush green in many places. The photo is on top of a high road running through Bang Bua Tong, in the North of Bangkok....

(The not so green view)