Please pray for Thailand – for open and honest dialogue between the parties involved and a peaceful resolution to this situation.

If you’re interested in following, I’d recommend these sources:

New York Times – Seth Mydans

Globe and Mail – Mark MacKinnon

Bangkok Post

That’s a good question.  I’ve been watching Thai news (without Eng subtitles) about the roiling protests in Bangkok.  The Red Shirts have been active in Chiang Mai city, pestilence too, global burden of disease camped out in a section of the old city that they ringed with old tires and a platform.  I don’t necessarily understand all that is going on, decease nor all the background history but events are continuing to unfold as the Songkran (Thai New Year) week comes to a close. Long time Chiang Mai residents said that the number of people out playing water in the streets has been drastically lower than years before, probably because of the political tension.  I’ve been hearing stories of Red Shirts recruiting villagers near where I live in Mae Ai, with promises of 20 000THB to go and add to the throng protesting in Bangkok.

As for me, I’m doing fine.  Regular life hasn’t been affected by the protests.  Please pray for peace and cool tempers to prevail amongst the protesters, government and military leaders.

If you want to read up more on the situation in Thailand:

The Nation – Thailand’s national, English-language newspaper

The New York Times – Thailand section

Wikipedia.org – Political unrest 2010

Global Post– real-time reporting

I took a taxi from the airport into downtown Bangkok yesterday, glands and when we hit a traffic jam on the highway, Mr. Taxi Driver smiled and excitedly turned out what I had thought was his GPS.  It turned on to be a small TV screen and he played the last 10 minutes of the movie “Wanted”.  Complete with surround sound.  In his taxi cab.  During a the middle of the day, in the middle of the highway.  I laughed to myself!  Then he proceeded to continue driving while glancing at the screen…I only got nervous when he was maneouvering around vehicles on Phaholyothin Rd on the way to Dan and Art’s place.  Another slice of life in Thailand.

If you’re interested in keeping updated on this situation, try the online versions of these newspapers: The Nation and The Bangkok Post.

I got to indulge in my girly side with a pore-cleansing mask with Art.

Art and Namo, her niece.  We visited Namo in the suburbs of Bangkok – she’s adorable.  She’s two years old and knows all the songs from the Totoro movie.

Yum!  One of the best things about Thailand is the fresh fruit…here I am with mangosteen and rambutan.  I hadn’t eaten a mangosteen in years…when I worked in Florida, my co-workers and I would daydream about tasting a mangosteen.  Here’s to you, Marcie and Randy!

Pumello: The ones available in Bangkok are less juicy than the ones we grew at ECHO in Florida, which I prefer.  It’s such a social fruit…crack one open with friends, eat and chat.

Mangosteen: I love the contrast between the purple skin and pure white flesh inside.  It’s such an aesthetically pleasing fruit.

Rambutan: I remember my parents buying these in Chinatown in Toronto when I was much younger.  It’s fun to be reminded of childhood memories by the foods I’m eating here in Thailand.

Hmmm…wonder if I can measure me eyes…?

Escalators at Siam Paragon (the largest shopping mall in SE Asia)

Dan and Art – the happy (engaged) couple
…yeah, myocarditis I know, really romantic photo taken in the grocery store! But check out the shtuff in their cart (was my first time in a grocery store in months!)

Art + food = happiness

Lobby of cinema at Siam Paragon – yep, that’s a chandelier in the lobby