Rangsit, Nakhon Nayok, an Elephant Downtown, and Rain

2/11/06
We had a relaxing day today, I finished two books and did some photography. In the evening Jit's dad brought in a large catfish, or at least it looked like a catfish. I would guess that it was 15 or 16 inches long. The fish was in a bucket of water. In the morning I asked where the fish was, it was still in the bucket. Nobody wanted to kill it because it was "Big Monk Day". Somebody said Star would kill it. We decided to let it go so Tone emptied it into the canal. I later saw it "resting against a log, its head was above water. I was told the water was salty and the fish needed to breath. The fish later moved to a different log, I took some pictures, and later in the day it was gone. With the very high tides lately it is possible that the water is salty.

Friday night the tide was also extremely low, coming back from the trip to the Regional Center the tide was probably 10 or 12 feet lower then the dock, we had to climb many stairs to get to the concrete path.

2/12/06
Juke, Star, and Nook came by and asked me if I wanted to go to Rangsit, I said "sure:. We drove to Rangsit and picked up Juke's sister. I really did not know where we were going or why, but I went along because I like to spend time with the family.

Jit stayed at home. In the morning there was a Tambon meeting and Jit participated. She had a bunch of papers to look at.

After picking up Juke's sister we drove along a long canal that paralleled the high way. The canal went on for miles. There were many floating rice barge restaurants on the canal, some of them were tilted. There were bridges that crossed the canals and led to subdivisions. There were large, old, signs advertising real estate for sale. We were going towards Nakhon Nayok.

Juke's mother lived in one of the subdivisions. We passed a temple fair, made a U turn, and then went through a security gate. There were a string of multi-story shop houses, then some newer single family homes, some abandoned, and then a long street with streets branching off on each side. The side streets were about 150 yards long. Some of the streets were occupied other streets were abandoned. Some of the construction was finished, others row houses were incomplete. I assume I am seeing more remnants of the 97 crash. We go to the end of the road, there were 62 cross streets. Juke's mother lives on the 60th street. They have a small row house with a store on the covered porch. We sit and visit for awhile, she is very happy to see her kids. Nook and I walk around and take some photographs. There are many empty houses. I peek over the fence that surrounds the subdivision and see rice fields. I assume I am seeing some one of the many subdivisions that I see from the air when landing in Bangkok.

Moit and Chulagorn are playing with their cousin. They run and run and play tag. They do that counting game with their fists to see who is it. Chulagorn is pretty active and they tip over a plant. Juke take a thin stick and whacks him. Chulagorn is mad and crying, he should be. I think physical discipline is common in Thai families. It makes me feel uncomfortable. I asked Nook is she was disciplined like that when she was young, she said yes.

Nook is improving her English and I am, sort of, improving my Thai. Nook is the person who tries to understand my language. We do communicate. I respect and like Juke, I wished sometimes I could communicate better with him. I have many questions and ideas I would love to share.

The horizon looks dark, like it might rain. I discount that idea because we have not had any rain for months. Well I was wrong, it did start to rain. Coming back it rained hard. This morning it is still raining. It is refreshing. Driving at night, when it is raining hard is very dangerous. Juke has driven the roads for years and is a safe driver. The roads though are very confusing, there are things sticking out in the road and I would have wrecked a hundred times. Visually it was very confusing.

We stopped to eat at one of the rice barges, noodle soup. It was, as usual, very good. There was a man fishing with a net in the canal beside the highway, the old way and the new way.

Coming home we stopped at the Klong Toey market to get oranges for orange juice. Juke's family makes orange juice to sell at their school. We buy some each morning. The family also makes white pollution masks to sell. I think it is to build character for the girls. Nick and Nook are wonderful to be around.

When we go to the market I get very confused, I know we are not going the normal way home and I am not sure what is going on. I eventually figure it out. Not knowing the language makes me very dependent. Many things are a puzzle and I need to watch closely to figure things out. It is a good experience.

We make it home. Jit is working on community papers. I go to sleep.

Today is supposed to be a holiday, Big Monk day. I am not sure what on Earth that means, but I will learn.

On the way home, right in downtown Bangkok, on a dark rainy street, there was an Elephant. I did not see it at first, Nook pointed it out. An amazing site. It was the first Elephant I have seen in Bangkok. A man was leading the Elephant. I am not sure about anything else, why or how, but it was there.

Sometimes I do not want to go home, sometimes I do. I am already thinking about when we return to Thailand.