Fixing a Monk's Modem, maybe!

Today was Jit's dad's birthday. In the morning the Monk came to do a brief ceremony and to get our offering of food. Because it was Jit's dad's birthday we prepared extra food and a basket of necessities. There was also a longer then normal chant and a ceremony with water. My computer was on, I was checking email, and the discussion turned to his computer at his Wat. The modem was not working. Jit offered for us to walk over later in the day to look at it, so we did.

I found out that there are three Bang Krachow Wats, Bang Krachow Nok, outside, Bang Krachow Kang, middle, and Bang Krachow Nai, inside. We were going to Bang Krachow Kang to see the monk. We walked on the road from the park and got a ride with a motorbike to the first concrete path. We walked on the path by many homes and farms until we got to the river. We saw Bang Krachow Nok, by the river and took some photographs. The Wat is around the bend from where we normally cross the river. There is another ferry there. We looked around and then walked to Bang Krachow Kang. I had been to that Wat before for the Kathin ceremony. It was near the other Wat. There is a large palm oil refinery near the Wat. It seemed much closer to walk the concrete paths then it was to drive to the Wat.

We met the Monk, who I guess at one time worked for Jit's family. He used to take drugs and drink, but now he is pretty solid, except for smoking. Most of the monks I see smoke! Anyway we went into his room, which was really nice, older, with polished wood floors and many decoration. His computer was running Windows ME. There were a couple modem installations. After fooling around with configurations and the install disk we got it to work. It still is pretty marginal, it does not seat well into the motherboard, but it dialed and made all the appropriate noises. We did not have the correct password for an Internet service, but it did seem to work correctly. After fixing the modem we got to meet the Abbot who is over 80 years old. He has suffered a stroke so he is a little limited. He was watching Thai daytime television. We also got a tour of the temple and the Wat or ceremony hall with the Buddha statues and very nice painting on the back wall. I took quite a few pictures. The colors of the windows and doors were bright red. It was beautiful, real, and relaxing. Jit and the Monk talked for awhile. The Monk told us how to walk back home on concrete paths until we reached the park, so we did. We walked past Bang Krachow Nai where there was a Children;s Day celebration with loud music. The walk back was long, but interesting. We ended up in the park, I had seen the path before, but thought it only led to a house. There was even neighborhood store on the path. I love walking and exploring the concrete paths. You really see the homes of people and how they live. We encounter a few barking dogs, but they are used to people walking by, so if you ignore them they back away and leave you alone. I discovered many new places today.

I Thailand people can start stores and sell things anytime they want. In the Untied States you need zoning, licenses, and health inspections. I think I agree with the zoning, but I am not sure of the value of the licenses and the health inspections. In Thailand people do not get sick often from eating at all the creative and entrepreneurial places that people create. I wonder if the regulations end up just limiting opportunity and creativity. I know it is frustrating when people from Thailand come to the United States and face all the regulations and rules for running a small home based business.

Ome, the little girl, about 12, who is slightly disabled, takes care of kittens and puppies. Today she found one of the kittens dead, she picked it up and put it in the garbage, it was a matter of fact acceptance of the reality of the kittens death. In many ways Ome is being used by her Aunt, she does not get any education, is expected to work and help all the time, and yet she has a great spirit. She smiles and kids me all the time. I believe that her parents are dead from AIDS. We have invited her to go with us, but her Aunt wants her to work.

Tomorrow we leave at 4:30 for Supan Buri. It will be a long day!