We find a Red Lobster restaurant near our Best Western hotel in Poughkeepsie and we have a dinner of our favorite Maine lobster.

Taconic Parkway

We drive down from Albany on the Taconic Parkway, my favorite route, to Poughkeepsie, N.Y. The Taconic Parkway is very scenic. The is no commercial traffic and it is free of tolls.

Oakwood Cemetary, Troy, N.Y.

Sivaporn pays respect to the burial site of Tom Burke, his classmate and roommate at RPI. Tom and his parents are all buried here.

Carmody's in Bennington, Vt.

We drive from Boston on local roads thru New Hampshire and Vermont. We caught some snow flurries in the mountains at elevations in excess of 700 meters. It was dark by 6PM so we stopped for dinner in Bennington, Vermont. We parked in the center of the city and there was a restaurant :"Carmody's" nearby so we decided to est there. A fortunate choice, because as it turned out, they have the best tasting French onion soup we have tasted, the blackened strip sirlion was very delicious and tender, the buffalo wings were crispy outside and moist and succulent inside, the Caesar salad was cold, crispy and the sauce tasty, but the cold slaw was sweet and tepid. We think they buy readymade cold slaw.

Barley's in Cambridge, MA

We have lunch at "Bartley's" which is known for having the best hamburgers in the USA. As usual, we ordered the yummy hot "Britney Spears" roast prime rib sandwiches.

Pilgrimage to Rama IX's Birthplace

In celebration of King Bhumipol Adulyadej's 80th birthday we visit his birthplace in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It is know as King Bhumipol Adulyadej Square and a plaque is dedicated to him there.

NorthFace Jackets

Wearing our North Face outfits in Boston to test their effectiveness for the Hokaido trip.

Dinner of lobster, clams and squid at "Ocean Wealth" in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dessert is at "Pastiche" in Rhodes Island.

We have lunch at "Thai Star" in Rhode Island, famous for its som tam.

Patrapa drives the rented Chevy Trail Blazer out of NYC.

Brag Schut's X7th Birthday Dinner

Dinner with Jan and Brag Schut who celebrates his x7th birthday today. This year Jan and Brag celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. We eat at "Alma's", a Mexican restaurant just cross the block from their firehouse on Hicks Street, Brooklyn which has a beautiful view of Manhattan.

Valley Forge National Historic Park

Christmas Shopping at King of Prussia, Pa.

Philadelphia- University of Pennsylvania

Khun Tunnee ("Phoo"), a graduating MBA in Finance at the Wharton School, U. of Penn. shows us the Jon M. Huntsman Hall where all the MBA courses are taught. Jon M. Huntsman was CEO of Huntsman oil comapany of Texas. He and Charles Stanford, former CEO of Bankers Trust, were friends and Jon served on the Bankers Trust Board of Directos. I met him a few times. Jon has benefacted Wharton with an outstanding education building.

Dinner at "Tallula" in Arlington, Virginia

We met up and had dinner with Dan Kotrapu at "Tallula".

The Shops At Georgetown Park in D.C.

Rochana and Patrapa go shopping in Georgetown.

Off to USA

Jitima and Big's Wedding At Plaza Athenee

The gang with the bride & bridgegroom and parents, especially Khun Sathit and Khun Rachada.

Khun Bodin's Son Weds

We attended the wedding reception of Aae and his bride at the Peninsula Hotel. Khun Bodin Asawanich, Legal Advisor to the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation and fellow National Legislative Member, is very proud of Aae.

Khun Sathit's Daughter Gets Married

M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula, former Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Central Bank Governor, pours lustral waters on Picha and Jitima to celebrate their wedding.
The gang with Khun Sathit Aungmanee, the proud father of the bride, pose with the wedding couple at "The Authors Lounge", The Oriental Hotel, Bangkok.

Krisanapong and Sudathip Finally Tie the Knot

M.R. Pridiyathorn Devakula, former Deputy Prime Minister, presides over Tong and So's Wedding reception at Chao Phya Park Hotel's Grand Ballroom. Tong and So have known each other for 20 years and have been working for the Rama IX Art Museum Foundation for 10 years.

Dr. Sumet Gets Ballooned

A couple of hours after his heart procedure at Samitivej Hospital, Dr. Sumet Tantivejkul happily explains to Khun Chookiat the details whereby a stent was inserted in one of his arteries to unblock a 90 % obstruction of the artery.

Kam Lung Chinese Restaurant

Khun Banyong and Thanpuying Poranee Lamsam join us for dinner at Kam Lung on Yaowarad Road. They loved the pan roasted duck tongues., while Sunnisa Hancock loved the "patongko with beef" dish.

Rochana gets two birthday cakes at Prime steakhouse, Millenium Hilton Hotel.

CATS comes to Bangkok

We watched "Cats" at the Muangthai Rachada Theatre at the Esplanade. Actually, my nap during the first half was worth it, since I was wide awake to enjoy the more entertaining second half. Singing and dancing was well worth the show.

Solid Gold Buddha at Wat Trimit

Khun Chaisak Saengchuto, Chairman of the Wat Trimit Renovation, brings a team of Thai Airways aircraft maintenance crew to endoscope the innards of the Gold Buddha and to consult with engineers about the translocation of the Gold Buddha to its new location after the new temple construction is completed.

Khem Wanglee Gets Engaged

Khem Wanglee and Busatree Tangkarawakun are engaged today with Prime Minister General Surayud Chulanon presiding over the ceremony.

My smoking room at Parliament.

Triple Birthday Dinner at Krua Absorn

Angkana and BOT gang host triple birthday dinner for Khun Rochana,Khun Puert,and Baby Pavalyn.
Sitting : Banchob, Chittra, and Rochana
Standing: Sivaporn, Nong, Tua, Kate, Chiap, Ang, Kob, Puert, Boon, and Vor

Rochana and Sureeporn, Ex-TISCO and now President of the Thai Ladies Association and Luons Club.

Sivaporn congratulates Dr. Vichit Suraphongchai, Chairman and CEO of Siam Commercial Bank, on his successful operation to eliminate electrical shortcircuits in his heart.

Happy Birthday Rochana!

Rochana has the best birthday present by holding her granddaugther Baby Pavalyn.