Plai Somlak, Pang Mae Boonkaew, Pang Phornchita, Pang Charunee, Seedor Suthas and Plai Suthin are coming for the EGAT opening ceremonies.

 
 Checking the final details at Sublangka Wildlife Sanctuary for the EGAT Electric Fence opening ceremonies on March 30, 2009.

Thephasdin Clan Meeting

Juran Thepasdin( Rochana's father) lineage hosted the Thepasdin Clan meeting this year at the Royal Sports Club. The emblem of the Clan is an elephant. Hasdin means elephant and thep is angel or Angel Elephant is the meaning of Thephasdin. So I married into an elephant clan!

The BOT gang congratulates Dr. Kobsak Pootrakool- Ph.D. (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Economics- as recipient of the Dr. Puey Ungphakorn Foundation Award Best Economist 2008 with a dinner get together at Coca Restaurant.

 Sole survivor of two hatchling looks at the camera. This is the second year that we observed that out of the two hatchlings only the stronger one will survive.

Wat Trimit

Pramondok of Wat Trimit, where the 5 ton solid gold Buddha will be housed, is nearly complete. It is very very unfortunate that Khun Chaisak, Chairman of the Project, cannot see the development. He is resting still in hospital for over six months without consciousness.

Directors' Pool Seminar

Minister of Finance, Korn Chatikavanij, opens the seminar of the directors pool for state enterprises. Seminar covers the differing aspects of state enterprises objectives and governance. Most speakers talk about the various liabilities of the directors.

Steak Thon Nam

Near the top of the mountain pass on Highway 304 southbound from Korat into Wang Nam Khieo is Steak Thon Nam restaurant. Thai style T-bone steak served with hot roll and butter and a mixed salad is Baht 270. A lot cheaper and better than Lex's which is a few more corners down the road. The "Khao Kai Kraphow" with fried egg on top is good.

Gham Thong Restaurant

Just a left turn off Highway 304 before Pakthongchai about 20 kms from Wang Nam Khiaow is Gham Thong Restaurant which specializes in fresh water prawn dishes and has been in operation for over 20 years. We had the Fish Sweet Sour sauce, Khung Praa, Khung Tenn, Khung Paow and the Larp Moo (which was very very hot!).

Cool in the Summer

Rochana has to borrow my new North Face jacket because of the cool weather in Wang Nam Khiew. This is the middle of March and the beginning of the hot summer in Thailand.

Wang Nam Keow is Real Cool!

 
 
 
 The thermometer reads 17 degrees Celcius in the morning and it stays around 20-22 degrees Celsius all day today while Bangkok is in the early thirties. It helps confirm our feelings that Wang Nam Khieo has its own micro climate which is several degrees cooler than Bangkok.

PEA Power Line

The Provincial Electricity Authority has installed the electric poles and cable all along WNK Paradiso Boulevard.

While the Thai flag is raised and the national anthem is played, Pavalyn stands at strict attention.  

Wang Nam Keow - Khrua Aranya

 Located on the Wat Khao Phaeng Ma Road just a few hundred meters from the Wang Nam Khieo intersection with Highway 304, Krua Aranya cooks the best Pork Fried Rice and Kai Jeew. Aranya is a nurse by profession but enjoys cooking.

Rod Stewart Concert party. Although we enjoyed the concert and didn't mind the main projection screen going kaput (some farangs wanted their money back), we thought the "Simply Red in Bangkok" concert was better because Mick Hucknall was able to connect with the audience and enthrall them. Of course, the big plus for the Rod Stewart concert was that they allowed us to bring in and drink all the Singha Beer we wanted, so we weren't feeling much pain when Rod Stewart just suddenly walked backstage without saying goodbye while the band was still playing "Sailing".

Rod Stewart in Bangkok

We go see Rod Stewart in Concert at the Impact Arena, and we run into another outstanding performer.

 The gift Sony LCD TV set is installed at the WNK Paradiso cabin. Reception and picture is very good.

 WNK Paradiso Cabin at night before the heavy rains came.

 Suveying the Wang Nam Khieo landscape.

 Artit and Lom are planting the "Lays" potatoes near Khun Paweena's pond.  We are planting potatoes because they are highly versatile and very nutricious. A 5 ounce potato provides 100 calories and 35% of a day's recommended Vitamin C, 20% of the Vitamin B6, 15% of the Iodine, 10% each of Naicin, Iron and Copper,and 6% of the Protein requirement.