Sivaporn: May 2006

Patrapa likes the photo of H.M. the King in his Mater Dei school outfit.

Khun Chookiat Prathipasen invites all to visit the exhibitions.

Khun Samart has been rejected from entry at H.M. the King's 60th Reign Celebratory Exhibitions at Impact Arena Complex, because the detectors showed that he was carrying a knife.

Although Mon has a couple of 300 yard drives, he runs out of steam in the afternoon heat.

Patrapa arranges for us to play as a family at the Thai Country Club at the event sponsored by Central Platinum Card.

Senator Kraisak Choonhavan comes in to the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation offices to have lunch and explains how the wild elephants in Khao Yai National forest are growing smaller. Khun Kraisak is President of Wild Elephant Research and Rescue Fund.

Today Khun Siri, Head of Eletronic Resources, decides to go whole hog for the record at St.Gabriel's Noodle Shop. Anyway, the noodles were delicious and he was too embarassed to continue (which he could have).

Archarn Kamchorn Sathirakul prepares to enjoy a banana split while waiting for the return flight to Bangkok from Nakorn Srithammarat.

TISCO Foundation directors and staff get a picture taken in front of the Nakorn Sritammarat "Lak Muang".

Rochana and Khun Vannee in front of the Pakpanang Palace built by the people of the South and the Lottery Bureau for H.M. the King. It has just been recently completed and cost over Baht 400 million. Sources say that H.M. the King will not visit this Palace since he didn't want the money to be spent for him this way, that he'd rather see the money used in a productive manner towards the welfare of the people and the environment.

Bird condos are good investments if the owner can get the grey chested swiflet to live there. Birds' nests made by them are clear and demand the best prices from Chinese buyers. Black chested swifts make nests that have grass mixed in and the brown chested swifts make nests that have mud mixed in, both have to be cleaned by hand with great effort. The bird droppings in the condos are also bought every three months to be used as natural fertilizer. The swifts eat fish and lots of insects so their droppings are rich in potasium and phosphate.

During recent years there has been an explosion of bird condos in Pakpanang.

After a big seafood lunch, Khun Somchai and Khun Suthas eagerly await the special dessert of Pakpanang.

Group photo of the TISCO Foundation Directors and the teachers.

We fly down to Nakorn Srithammarat and drive to Pakpanang for the TISCO Foundation Scholarship granting ceremony at Khun Kamchorn Satirakul's old school. In 2006 the TISCO Foundation will grant more than Baht 12.5 million in educational funds to needy students.

Before flying back to Bangkok, we take Khun Sumet to visit the Chiangmai Zoo and see the Panda exhibit. There are two pandas and they seem to be unhappy living in the enclosure.

After dinner we take Khun Sumet to visit the Chiangmai Night Safari. There are 12 visitors, including four of us.

We meet up with our old friend, Sumet Sumettihul, who is retired in Chiangmai and he takes us for a Shabu-shabu dinner at the Imperial Chiangmai Hotel.

Sivaporn talks to Pang Bua Thong who has been released to the wild many years ago.

Pantana and Sivaporn explore Mae Pohn Creek to see where the elephant ponds will be excavated.

Khun Puert gives instructions to our staff on the installation of the solar electric panel which will provide electricity to our Lampang Camp.

Sivaporn says hello to the newly bought elephants, Pang Morakot and Plai Sukhum.

The flight from Bangkok to Lampang takes 50 minutes by the PB Air's Embraier Brazilian made jet. It is a convenient and comfortable plane.

At the Departure Lounge in the Don Muang Domestic Terminal awaiting our flight to Lampang, Khun Puert tries to relive childhood experiences that never happened.

Patrapa goes to Samui Island for the weekend to attend the "Full Moon Party" with her friends.

Went golfing at Amata today. In photo: Ambassador Nid Pibulsongkram, Issara Vongkusolkit, Asa Sarasin (H.M. the King's Private Secretary) and Sivaporn.

Famous "Amber Room" at the Summer Palace at Putschkin where it is forbidden to take videos or photographs.

Khun Pichai tries a different type of holy water.

Khun Sukri Kaewcharoen pauses before climbing to the top of the stairs for dinner at Nicholas' Palace.

Men are the main shoppers here at Northway because it is expensive.

Another room at the Northway shop, this one displays only high quality amber jewelry.

Russian Icons for sale at Northway. The name sounds familiar but it is a premium shop for tourists in Saint Petersburg.

Long wait for entry to the Summer Palace. Once in there is another long cue for the toilet, then for fitting the obligatory overshoe socks, and another line for entry to the rooms.

Noi and Rochana in Zargosrk.

Khun Pichai takes a sip of a different type of holy water.

Khun Pichai fills receptacle with holy and sacred water at the chapel in Zargosrk. The holy water will cure all ailments.

Rochana tries to kidnap a Russian tot who according to his apparel is destined to join the Red Army.

Golden turrets at the Kremlin.

Khun Chanthra and Khun Somchai enjoy a peaceful and typical Russian dinner. Khun Somchai always wears dark glasses and earplug when seated near Khun Chanthra.