Elephant Ride

You should have seen Dad and Alan on the Elephants. They laughed and laughed. Vic and I were on one too and it was very high. Thank God they didnt run amok. We went for a ride on them through the local countryside and then rode on a bullock cart to come back to the Elephant camp. We then unfortunately watched an Elephant show where they painted pictures and kicked footballs and played tambourines. That part was not nice and we all felt sorry that these magnificent creatures were trained to do these demeaning things. We were told that the Thai government has stopped logging and that the people and the elephants that previously did the logging work now run this tourist camp. The money goes to the whole village as the people are now employed at the Elephant Camp. Overall we had a great day out. Oh, the bullocks names were, Toyota and Mitsubishi.

Orchids and other Thai beauties

I am obsessed with taking pictures of the beautiful flowers that I have seen here. They are beyond stunning. I want to select some of the pictures and frame them in a very arty farty way. Some of them are scented. I didnt know that orchids have sent and they are so lovely. I have been snapping flowers everywhere.

Chaing Mai Belly

Well, we have all had it. It doesn't seem to matter what we eat or who is eating it because one or the other of us has ended up hugging the toilet bowl. Alan and I went to the local Chinese herbalist and he gave us some miracle pills for Dad and they cured him. The doctor - which is what I presume he was - saw us in the middle of the pharmacy at a big marble table. We told him the symptoms and he produced two very decorative bottles with little round black pills in them and told us Dad had to take 8 out of one bottle three times a day and a whole vial of the other stuff one hour before. Dad bravely obeyed and in a day he was up and at 'em again.

The pharmacy was a traditional one with a line of scales and the pharmacists measuring out all manner of interesting things and wrapping them into paper containers. It was fascinating even though I couldn't help but wonder which eye of newt was in it.

Gory Dental Pictures

Alan decided to get dental implants Its been a gruelling process that you really must want to do. Check out the gory dental pics. Prior to this he had a bone graft, then the implants were put in and now the abutments and the bridge is being done. It was all done under a local anaesthetic in the dentist's rooms. We will soon find out if the results have been worth it all. The moral of the story is dont eat too many lollies and make sure you clean your teeth.

At the Dentist

My darling has come back here because he is repairing the damage of a willful and unthinking past that left him with no top teeth. He is in the final stages of having dental implants in his upper jaw. It wont be long and for the first time in over 30 years he will not have to wear dentures. We plan to have a ceremonial biting of an apple when he finally has his teeth. I do hope he gets a better job than Chad Morgan (the Sheik of Scrubby Creek).

In Thailand with Father

This trip is very important to me because I have the great pleasure of my 88year old father’s company. He has plunged headlong out of his comfort zone – he is a true creature of habit – and is “holidaying” in Thailand. He has so far cruised the canals in Bankok and tramped the very rough footpaths of Chang Mai which are far different to walk on than the flat and pot hole free paths between Dickson and Civic, a walk he takes 5 days a week. Here, its up and down stairs, in and out of Sontels and all in sticky monsoonal heat and rain. He has stood up to this admirably and without complaint. No doubt that will start soon – he has mentioned that he is “bloody sick of all this Thai food.”

In Thailand again

Well, I finally have to admit that I am never going to get this blog of our world travels up to date. I have decided that if and when I am travelling or holidaying or anywhere else doing something else and I have access to do it, I will blog something. So saying, I am in Thailand, Chang Mai to be exact, with my lovely husband, my adored father and my wonderful friend. We are here to holiday, go to the dentist and visit with my other brother, David who lives here. We have been here since 1 August and will be off home by 19 August. Home just in time to vote. Thankfully we wont have to be bombarded by all the election hype. I had already decided how I would vote before the election was called - and it wont be for Wing Nuts.