Grandma Banchob and Rochana prepare to dine on the oyster and seafood appetiser tray at The Oyster Bar.

 Puvanai prepares to feast on a Maine lobster at The Oyster Bar in Narathiwat Soi 24.

Beef Fried Noodles Soy Sauce at Sawaeng Potchana

Very hot and tasty Guewthiew Phad Sahiew Nua at Sawaeng Potchana in Wang Nam Khieo. Lady chef makes tasty dishes to order. Beef noodle soup and Gai Kraphaow seems like favorites. Locals come to order take homes from this establishment, as we observed. Opens early morning and closes at 3 PM in the afternoon.

Thai Container PreFab House

Please see: Eco Living 101 - Model Home

WNK Experimental Techno Cabin

Wang Nam Khieo Paradiso cabin. Various views of the "Baan Foam Knockdown", as it is called by the locals around the area. Actually it is a green solar powered Isowall custom designed pre-fab house. It has proven itself in heat insulation. Inside it is liveable without air conditioning while it is 38 Celsius outside. Water is supplied by the rain troughs to the tradional water jars. Except for the doors, all the construction materials do not contain wood; therefore it is a termite proof house and there is no need for pesticides.
1. Isowall construction material: structural sandwich laminate which is less heat conductive than fiberglass. The element is also load bearing and eliminates need for columns. Surface is coated with silicon modified polyester and requires no additional painting. Total construction time approximately 60 days.
2. Solar panels provide power for exterior night lighting. Photo voltaic cells turn the lights on and off automatically on a daily basis. Each room, toilets and power outlet are also supplied by solar power in case of main power out.
3. Energy efficient light bulbs are fitted throughout the house. Bulbs are mainly 11 watts only.
4. Tinted glass windows and reflective curtains keep the heat radiation from entering the house.
5. East-West building layout provides solar effective orientation.
6. Cabin is built on raised steel frame with 6o centimeters of ground clearance, for shielding from ground moisture and provides for air circulation underneath flooring.
7. Water system has triple filtration for particles and a water softening unit.
8. Separate Reverse Osmosis filtration system provides potable water for drinking.
9. Roof is designed with wind breaker for roof terrace.
10. Artificial turf on terrace rooftop provides comfortable tent raising area and also softens the sound of rain on the flat roof.

Top photo: Potato plant starts to grow.

Some of the flower plants that I planted around Khun Paweena's pond are now blossoming. Bottom photo: the naturally occurring lavender plants at Wang Nam Khieo Paradiso.

40th Anniversary of TISCO -Alumni Party

Khun Pliu and Khun Sathit graciously host a cocktail party for Ex-TISCO alumni on the 12th floor of the TISCO Building. The party is attended by over 100 alumni. The chatter and noise is unbearable but everyone is talking and yelling at each other at the reunion. Nobody cares about the program or the food; they just want to chat with their former colleagues whom they haven't seen in years.

Eggs Benedict lunch at Mini bar Royale.

Examples of Solar Houses

These are examples of other solar houses built in Australia.

Pavalyn at Wang Nam Khieo.

 Peter Michener takes this photo of us as the sun has set over Wang Nam Khieo.

 Peter Michener enjoys a cigar and Penfolds wine as the sun sets.

 Peter Michener rides from Laos to visit us at Wang Nam Khieo.

 Chookiat is dressed up for horse riding.

 Chittra and Busaba admire the tulips.

 Pichai and Chookiat are working hard to spruce up the cabin with wind socks.

 Puvanai and Pavalyn enjoy the cooler weather in Wang Nam Khieo.

 Pavalyn comes to visit Grandpa at Wang Nam Khieo Paradiso.

Pak (Puranee) and Aae (Anchalee) enjoy a late afternoon coffee break at Wang Nam Khieo Paradiso after working very hard cleaning up the cabin.