NEIGHBORHOOD DINOSAURS

Eamonn in his element, astride the mothering Maiasaura with some fellow, multi-generational dino enthusiasts.

Above, exhibiting his recent insouciant streak atop the crested Parasauralophus.  And, yes, Eamonn named both these creatures (and characteristics) as we approached the roundabout on the CMU campus that is home to the Paleontology Department.

We came here after helping sendoff CMU undergrads as they began their yearly pilgrimage up to Wat Doi Suthep (a 12-km climb).  Very sweet parade followed by dino riding, then onto a pancake breakfast - a winning Saturday morning :)

WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU... ;)

That, due to questionable parenting choices, Ren has been swallowed by a killer whale.

Yes, this year's addition to our Chiang Mai Zoo Aquarium gag photos is a real winner.  With Eamonn running perpetual loops through the underwater observation tunnel (very cool), Ren and momma were tasked with keeping up the semi-annual tradition.

REN'S WORLD: THAI DANCING

 (Some placeholder pics....
  Watch this space for Ren's account of her lovely Mothers' Day dance with classmates.)

MORE REN IN BKK

Ren is awesome.  So can't resist posting more pics from Bangkok.  Above, Ren enjoying a cool drink at the Khlong San Market, while providing translation services for uncle Chuck and aunt Molly.

Ren again staying cool.  This time while sporting sleeves in respect of Wat Po dress code ;) 
Grl Pwr!

SECRET WAT

Dad and Eam took a little morning trip to the local animal preserve, which is tucked up rather secretively into the foothills of Doi Suthep.  Luckily arrived just in time for the daily deer feeding.  After that excitement, we walked up to the ruins of an old temple on the hill.

Eamonn showcased his balance walking the perimeter of site atop the mossy old brick walls.  (Last time we were here, in 2015, he had just learned to walk.)

The old wall from Eamonn's perspective - nice composition from the little guy!

WALNUT BOATS

Kiddos presenting their watercraft, as we prepare for the great Chiang Dao homemade walnut boat race.

Here they are, in the creek: Eam, Arun, Ren, and Surin.  As with any hotly contested race, there were some tears (though proximity to naptime may have played a factor). 

WATER-FALLING-IN-LOVE-AGAIN

Long overdue - here we are, at the tail end of our epic mountain roadtrip.  This waterfall is midway up Doi Intanon, the tallest mountain in Thailand.  Photo credit goes to my old pal Chris Grant.

Dad watching his family watching water fall down the doi, soaking (quite literally) in the refreshing mist from the falls.

FLYING WITH UNCLE TONY

 

We have liftoff!  The joy of flight, care of uncle Tony.  Ren, in particular, bonded with ole' Tone over the course of the visit.

  And did we mention just how awesome and beautiful Railay Beach is!?! 
Casting their magical spell, the cliffs are the southern-most tip of a range of limestone mountains - that stretch all the way along the Thai-Burma border.  The same mountain chain that we had enjoyed on our roadtrip way up north the week prior.

Above, Eam has the beach all to himself, as we wait for dinner to be served. Magic!

BKK JOURNALING

File under, 'What I did on my summer vacation'.  A silhouetted Ren scribbles away in our hotel window, with an amazing construction site in the background.  A deeply discounted stay at the riverfront Hilton made Bangkok in July almost bearable... especially the 5th floor pool that looked out to the river and the city beyond.

The writer again, this time showing off her new dress and purple hair braid from Pai.  Our little cutie.

BIRTHDAY AT THE FARM

 OK - been awhile.  We must be having too much fun ;)

These great pics are from a birthday party for Ren's friend Poppy waaay back in June.  The party was epic:  some painting, some eating, some rice planting, buffalo riding, amazing mud slide into a pond, and delicious cake, as I remember.

Our man Eam, living the dream, doing a little of the aforementioned water buffalo riding.  Fun!

RAINY SEASON

Umbrellas are out, as the rainy season - though still early and not that heavy - is here.  Typical days follow the pattern of climbing heat and humidity through the morning and early afternoon, brief shower, then cooler evenings.

And after the haze of April-May, we can see ALL the mountains again, which get greener by the day.  In all, a lovely time of year with the rain providing a nice, calming rhythm to most days. 

METTA SONG

Wait for the eyebrow!


(Or watch it on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv6cDb5N0ho&feature=youtu.be)

BAMBOO

Bamboo is a grass.  A very strong grass.

In preparation for a (long-overdue) paint job, our condo building has been wrapped in 7-storeys of bamboo scaffolding.  Has been impressive to watch the workers lashing it together and generally clambering about high above the ground.

LANNA HOUSE MUSEUM

 I guess it's only fair that the traditional wooden houses from around Northern Thailand share the bill with a host of amazing trees.  Above, kiddos enjoy the shade, while a couple houses stand on stilts in the background.

Can't believe we hadn't come sooner to the open-air museum, as it sits just across the canal road from our neighborhood.   Will be great to bring friends for a picnic next visit.  About a dozen or so wooden houses have been transported and re-assembled from towns throughout the old Lanna Kingdom, as part of an amazing effort by the traditional architecture faculty at CMU. 

Eamonn loved climbing up into and exploring each house, while Ren remained a bit more hesitant... It did feel just a bit like an intrusion to enter these century old houses, where generations of families have lived.

VISAKHA BUCHA DAY

Above, Eamonn waits patiently for the monks' arrival.

Last week, Ren and Eam's school celebrated Visakha Bucha Day - a holiday that commemorates the birth, enlightenment, and passing of the Buddha.  A big day, indeed, on the Buddhist calendar.

The school day began with saay baat, as four monks passed each classroom and accepted donations of food and drink, which the children placed into the monks' alms bowls.  Eamonn chose to donate his favorite milk boxes. 

Next came the wian thian, where the children walked three times around the school's shrine of the Buddha, carrying flowers, incense, and candles (wian means circle, thian means candle).  Above, Ren walks with hands in prayer (and sporting her beloved birthday watch).

Amazing to think that the last time we celebrated Visakha Bucha here in Thailand, we were only a family of two ;)

OUR NEIGHBORHOOD CAVE

Above, our intrepid explorers, (mostly) undaunted by our march through the neighborhood underworld.

When it's (really) hot outside, why not head to the neighborhood caves?  And so we did - making the short trip down the road to Wat Tham Chiang Dao - the cave temple that gave our neighborhood its name.

A shrine room sits just below the entrance to the cave - with cracks allowing slivers of daylight to stream in.  From there we had a guide lead us by lamplight through a series of 'rooms', with some scrambling/crawling/ducking through the connecting portals.

Unfortunately, my phone camera - and need to have hands and eyes on Eam - didn't lend itself to photos.  Plenty of rock formations in the form of animals, decent amount of bat guano, slight dripping sounds - an immersive experience.  Then back above ground for some well deserved ice cream :) 

REN IS SEVEN !!

 The birthday girl!  Holding two carrot 'flowers', and missing her two front teeth. (Well, not totally, as her new adult tooth is making progress...)  We celebrated at the Good View - which boasts waterfront seating and a house band that plays everything - including a special Happy Birthday for Nong Ren.

Here is Ren, back home at the end of the evening, with her awesome balloons care of Mui and Buu.

Eamonn even managed to enjoy himself - driving vespas and diahatsus with his pal Arun.

MAKHAMPOM

 

While mom and Mui conducted interviews in the big, open space of the gallery, surrounded by water,

 

 Eam (and Ren, apparently camera-shy the day I took pics) enjoyed themselves by swinging on swings, reading on hammocks, playing invented instruments, and hanging with all the sculptural animals that reside at the Makhampom Art Space.

 Located across the Ping River from the main drag of Chiang Dao, the space was pretty amazing.  And they made pretty good ice cream.

COUNTRY LIVIN'

 

From riding banana leaf horses...

 

To shootin' banana stalk three-shooters...

To eating at the crossroads, a good time was had by all during our weeks in Chiang Dao.

(VERY) REMOTE OFFICE

New corner (of the veranda) office here in Chiang Dao for April, while Fee conducts her 'rural' research.  There was a point in the initial days where we had internet but no water - a very 21st century hierarchy of infrastructure.

EAM'S HELLO SONG

Love this little performer.  One from his school repetoire :)

EAM'S NUMBERS

Not to be outdone by Ren's alphabet skills, Eamonn does a little counting, but can't quite escape his big sister's shadow ;)

REN's G-K-K's

...or, her Thai ABC's.

Ren has been a quick study of the Thai alphabet, and shocked her mom and dad with a full recitation last week.  And her penmanship is as lovely as her roman letters.

As we spend the April school holiday in the mountains of Chiang Dao (more on that later), Ren and Eam have plenty of Thai practice with our friends Buu and Mui, who are offering great help with work and kiddos. 

NEW SMILE

Now this is a proper gap! ;)  Ren starts her summer break with a new smile.

SUTHEP AT NIGHT

Finally had a chance to take a quick snap of the street scene that pops up every night on Suthep Road.  Dozens of food carts roll out to form a long row of mini-cafes, each lit with their own strand of lights.  So great to have all these options right outside (ok, maybe 100m) our door.

SCHOOL'S... OUT... FOR (THAI) SUMMER

Ren, sporting a widened gap in her smile, heading out to celebrate the thai summer school holiday - as of yesterday, the kiddos are off for the next four week.  We (the gang + Aunt Peggy!) all shared a huge bowl of not-quite-ice-cream at the Japanese dessert place in the neighborhood. 

POOL DAZE

This just about sums up our late afternoons these days - the condo pool is the best way to beat the heat!

EAM'S SEA CREATURES

 Eamonn came home from school last week with a bag full of sea creatures!  Some finger paint and googly eyes - et voila - whale, octopus, sea turtle, penguin. 

 Rounded out with a rain cloud - the only one we've seen around here for a while. 

And had to include a picture of the artist (and builder) himself.  Here seen realizing Eam and dad's Saturday morning goal of building an arch big enough for Eam to walk through.