Khun Puert waits for his Phat Thai.

My brother Peter (Thepadol) returns to Bangkok from Rome for a month's vacation. Mom waits for her Kaeng Musamun.

Rochana enjoys watching reality show "Academia Fantasia" 24 hours a day.

Patrapa bakes a fruit tart cake just like at "Pastiche" in R.I..

Pat's and Mon's friends take their stations at Jum Saap party.

Ingredients for Jum Saap dinner.

At the PLAYGROUND on Soi Thonglor. Clockwise: Visit, Veera, Arin, Sathapana, Suwit, Chotipat, Pracha, Norachet and Sivaporn. In the center, of course, is Pukkie Sasithorn.

At the PLAYGROUND.

Sanctus Seraphin Violin A.D. 1742 - Real or Copy?

Violin Maker's label: Sanctus Seraphin Utinensis Fecit Venetijs Anno 1742. Translated it means:"Sanctus Seraphin of Udine made in Venice in the Year 1742". Sanctus Seraphin (Santo Serafino) (1699-1758) from the town of Udine was a successful violin maker working in Venice . His instruments are finely crafted and tonally excellent. If this is not a German made copy of the 1800's, it is of great value.
Even a Sanctus Seraphin copy in good condition such as c.1880 Santos Seraphin copy of probably Tyrolean origin is quoted at US $ 19,500.

From : The Violin - Its Famous Makers and Their Imitators -by George Hart -1909:

"SERAFINO, Santo, Udine—Venice, 1710-48. This maker is chiefly famed for the exquisite finish of his workmanship. The modelling of his instruments varied. There are instances, particularly in the case of his Violins, where he has entirely set aside the Stainer form, and copied Amati. These Violins are wonderfully like the work of Francesco Ruggeri. The varnish upon them, of a rich red colour, is of so exceptional a quality, that one is compelled to look twice before being satisfied as to the author. The greater number, however, of his instruments are of the German character, the sound-hole, scroll, and outline all hinting of Stainer. These Venetians were wonderfully fortunate in obtaining handsome wood, and in this respect Santo Serafino was pre-eminent, for his sides and backs are simply beautiful to perfection. His method of cutting the wood was invariably to show the grain in even stripes. The scroll is well cut in point of workmanship, but the style is poor. Santo Serafino cannot be regarded as having displayed originality in any shape, and he thus forms an exception to the great majority of Italian makers. His instruments are either copies of Amati or of Stainer; there is, of course, a strong Italian flavour about his Stainer copies, which lifts them above the German school of imitators, and hence their higher value. Nearly all his instruments were branded with his name above the tail-pin. He used an ornamental label of large size. "

Sanctus Seraphin Violin Comparison

Maker's labels: Top left is Dad's violin; remaining three photos are from internet. It would appear that Dad's is the more authentic of the two, with Sanctus Seraphin Utinensis (Santo Serafino of Udine) on the same line and Fecit Venetijs Anno 1742 ( Made in Venice Year 1742) on the second line. Whereas for other violin there are three lines. It is obvious that whoever made this label did not have the benefit of three years of Latin study, otherwise he would know that "Utinensis Fecit" doesn't make sense. An additional point of note: On my father's violin label the last two digits ("42") of the year 1742 are handwritten, whereas in the other, all four digits of 1730 seem to be printed. It is believed that the authentic violin maker would glue the label inside the body first when it was being assembled and after the violin was finally completed he would use a pen to enter the year it was made. This process was confirmed to me by Privy Councillor M.L. Usni Pramoj, who also believes that Dad's violin is the authentic one and not a copy.

Dad's Sanctus Seraphin violin

Sanctus Seraphin violin that my father bought in the US in the 1940's and played for many years in Thailand, the US and Italy.
Dad bought this violin from an antique shop in Philadelphia while he was studying for his Masters at the University of Pennsylvania (1939-1943). His roommate there was Khun Chintamai Amatayakul. Mom said that it was one of the few possesions that the Japanese occupation did not sequester from him on his return to Thailand from the US during WW II with Khun Tuey Vutthikul, who graduated from MIT.

Sanctus Seraphin violin: single piece backside

Sanctus Seraphin violin: single piece backside. Body is 35.8 cm. long. Shoulder is 18.5 cm. The neck is 13.7 cm.
Sanctus Seraphin worked under guidance of Nicolo Amati before 1692, his instruments' versatility of modeling a remarkably characteristic feature combines Amati, Stainer and even Magginiinan original manner. Varnish mostly a golden-brown, sometimes a orange-red, occasionally a dark-red. Generally of brilliant appearance, often splendidly transparent and soft, but also at times rather hard and dry with its usual accompaniment of crackling. Nearly always plentifully applied. Tonal quality resonant and very responsive, not of extraordinary brilliancy but of good carrying power, richly mellow, and in fact all the attributes that soloists are continually hankering after.

"Hhong Hern" - a plant from Khao Kor, when it blossoms it looks like a swan taking wings.

For dessert "kaeng buat of pumpkin, longan, and sweet egg". Very delicious. Everyone has two servings.

SD eats three patangas at a time.

Khun Bundit takes a taste of the delicious cricket.

Close-up of the deep fried patangas, our piece de resistance.

Khun Ayus, our kind host, treats us with the special dish of deep fried patangas( crickets), which were freshly caught by his workers.

The steaks quickly disappear into the cool thin air.

Australian imported steak dinner.

Our tents are well protected from the elements. SD's in the background and Khun Pichai's in the foreground.

View from our campsite. It drizzled all evening and night.

Pomelo is a much smaller target than an elephant.

SD takes practise shot with Elephant Tranquilizer Gun, while Mor Somchai looks on. This made in Thailand model costs Baht 35,000 and worth the money since it is well-made.

Elephant tranquilizer syringe and needle. When an elephant is shot, the plastic sleeve slides back to release the medication which is pressurized in the syringe.

Expresso and buttered toast sprinkled with sugar at coffee shop near the railway station in Chaibadan, Lopburi.

One of my favorite new Cigarette Warning Stickers. We are starting a collection of these.

Gnocchi with Crayfish and Cheese-Both Khun Napaporn and Khun Rochana ordered this dish. I think both were unable to finish half of this unpalatable dish. The best deal here at Biscotti is to order the single course lunch at Baht 320 and have the" all you can eat" appetizer and salad bar. There you can stuff your plate with an assortment of parma ham, salami, roast lamb, rocket and garden salads, cheese foccacia, anchovies, artichokes, etc. etc. Then order a tea or coffee and get the crunchy bar gratis.

Chicken al Diavolo - my dish- It wasn't very good ....just like it looks.

Pan Fried Red Mullet with Scallops and Purple Asparagus. Apparently, it was good because Khun Pichai made it disappear very fast. However, not as fast as the pasta dish that Khun Sathit had. He cleaned his dish within a wink before I could get a photo of it. He said the portion was too small and he seemed very hungry afterwards.

The host flanked by : Khun Araya - new MC of TISCO Bank and Khun Napaporn- new President of Commodities Futures Exchange of Thailand.

Biscotti Restaurant- Four Seasons Hotel

Khun Chanthra hosts lunch in honor of Khun Napaporn and Khun Araya with Khun Pichai, Khun Sathit, Khun Rochana and SD as witnesses.

Minnie to Snoopy:" If you go to New York, take me along too!".

Patrapa goes to work on her first day at Bank of New York , Bangkok Representative Office. Snoopy:" Take me with you; I was born in New York!".

MARU Tepan Yaki
is on Sukhumvit
Soi 33.

At the teppanyaki counter.

The fresh sweet shrimps are really sweet.

Japanese clam and mushroom appetiser is very tasty.

Rib Loin Lunch Set at Baht 350 is a good feast.

This Japanese owned restaurant is on Sukhumvit Soi 39.

Pat enjoys a full dish of Linguine with Japanese clams.

The VitalLife Clinic at Bumrungrat Hospital sent my blood to France for analysis and the test says that I need more zinc so the doctor told me to eat oysters. So I order a dish of Chilean Oysters.

My lunch main is Spaghetti Bolognese. This Japanese restaurant serves one of the best spaghetti bolognese in town.

La Buca Restaurant is in Sukhumvit Soi 1.

Rochana has a plate of Linguine with King Prawns after an appetiser of Beef Carpacchio (chilled raw thin sliced beef with parmeggiano cheese and rocket salad).

Got hungry for steak dinner so went down to La Buca for a T-Bone steak.

Khun Suwat is joined for lunch by his former associates and friends at TISCO, Khun Nipa and Khun Karantarat.

China Town Scala Shark-Fins Restaurant: We treat Khun Suwat, former chief accountant of TISCO, to some sharks fin soup at this famous restaurant recommended by the US Ambassador Skip Boyce and McDang. Khun Suwat is helping to get the books of accounts in order at the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation.

Famous Golden Buddha constructed during the Sukhothai period. The image of solid gold is three metres high and weighs five and a half tons. Originally, this golden Buddha image was completely covered with plaster to conceal it from the enemy then invading Thailand and was installed as the principal Buddha image in the main temple building of Choti-naram Temple or Wat Phrayakrai, Yannawa District. When Chotanaram Temple was deserted in about 1931, the East Asiatic Company, with official permission, extended its operations into the land area of the deserted temple. When the building was completed and while preparations were being made to move this Golden Buddha image to the building, the covering plaster was partly broken. Only then did the people realise that it was a golden Buddha image.

The Elephant Reintroduction Foundation's offices are just next door to the Chinatown gate on Odeon Circle at the beginning of Yaowarad Road.