Day trippin

Today we went adventuring. We had to wake up at 6:30 as our taxi driver was to be here at 7 so we could get a jump on the day. We headed to Farm Chokhai which is a big cattle ranch outside of Bankok. We had an hour and a half cab ride to get there. I was hardly awake so I decided an energy drink was in order so my breakfast consisted of energy drink and this crème filled cake. Needless to say it didn't really settle my stomach. I have developed terrible sleeping habits here. I sleep a lot during the day and usually go to sleep around 3-4AM. Which is ok and I can get away with if I am staying in all day, but having to wake up early was killer after only a couple hours of sleep.

The farm was cool. It really was a bit hokey, but it was really fun being there with Mae and Nue and it absolutely made the trip. They turned it into a western theme, and its fine, but there is something about Thai cowboys that just doesn't quite feel authentic. they take you on a tour of the property. They show you how they milk cows, and talk about their breeding programs and their green initiative.  I didn't really know what was going on for he most part as the entire tour was in Thai. It really was a fun time.

We jumped back into our can and we drove to the sunflower fields. This was actually really cool and quite beautiful. I will post pictures they really speak for themselves.

After that it was a long cab ride back to the house. I am so lucky to have this family to stay with. Their kindness and hospitality seems to know no bounds. I really love being able to go and do fun things with them.

 Waiting for the tour to begin.

 Tour on the tractor pulled cover wagons.

 crops with mountains in the backdrop.

Mae. They were freezing most of the morning.

 This is how Dragon Fruit grow

 Thai Cowboy

 Giddy-up

 Pretty believable. Watch out! She's dangerous.

 Tractor pull

 The sheep dog first ran across the top of the sheep then ran between their legs.

 Like I said. It was pretty Hokey.

 Feeding the cows. While I was feeding this guy another cow started sucking on the bottom of my shorts.

 Sheep

 Flowers in Saraburi

Seafood

There used to be a joke about being on the seafood diet where you see food and you eat food. I am pretty sure that is where I am at. I need to get this post written before I go into a food induced coma and go down for a long winter's nap.

I haven't posted for the last couple days and again not a lot to post about. I am really trying to take it easy and get all healed up before I go to Indonesia on the 26th. The other night I needed to get out so I ventured out on a quest to get a foot massage and some food. We always go to the same place to get massages so they are starting to recognize me. Its not hard when I am probably the only farang (what Thai people call white folks like myself) that frequents the place. The massage was great and the food was good as well. Thailand's cool for so many reasons but I really like the might atmosphere. Street vendors stay open late and they have these areas where people just sit and eat and socialize. In South Africa at dusk everything shut down rather quickly. Just something I noticed I guess.

that brings me to tonight. I was headed for another day spent on the couch when Nue asked if I wanted to go with her to pick up Mae who was visiting her older sister. I jumped at the chance. I met her sister and as is apparently customary in Mae's family they greeted me with food. Fried Bananas. They were quite good. we walked around for a bit then headed home, but on the way decided to stop for a seafood dinner. I don't know what to order so I just sat there while they ordered everything.

The food comes out and I was relieved because it was fried rice with crab, a fried sea bass and some mussels. I wasn't terribly hungry so I figured we could handle it between the three of us. I am told that they don't eat rice so I guess the fried rice is my responsibility. Then more came. A plate of 4 giant prawn, and glass noodles with more prawn. It was too much, but then more came. Another dish of mussels and mango sticky rice. Well I am glad to say that we crushed it. We ate it all. I wish I wasn't the one who ate most of it, but it was so good. I left the Mango sticky rice for the end because I figure there is always room for that. Anyway it was an incredible meal. Great company and ended up being a really fun evening.

 Its Blurry, but this Mae's house that she has so graciously opened up to me.

 The night market area I ate the other night

 "Jewish Tacos" Its crepes with cotton candy inside. Really good actually, and quite addicting. Kind of hard to find unless you are in Ayuttyah but Nui found them somehow.

 Jewish Taco

 Dinner with Mae an Nue. First round of food.

 Then more comes.

 And More

 Playing with my food

 And we finished it. So much food

Everyone feeling full. Which was one of the first thai words I learned to say, and delicious.

Hospital visit part 2

I know I didn't post yesterday, but I can assure you that not a lot has happened since the last time I posted. I got fatter probably about sums it up. Today was a good day though. I went to the doctor again which was more useless than the first. They tested me for rheumatoid something. Arthritis I guess. The doctor had a really hard time understanding that I was dumb and jumped off of something way to high. I was lucky to have Nui to help me navigate that mess.

I wanted to go to MBK after. Its a giant mall, and I guess every once in a while I need a reminder that I truly hate malls, I am glad to say I got that today. I like open air markets, but there is something about malls that drives me crazy. I bought a movie. Still have plenty of down time. Besides that I just walked around for a bit. The mall here are massive. This one is 7 stories of just stuff everywhere. Its impressive... If you are impressed by that sort of thing.

Probably he most fun mart of it all was navigating the train system. It was 3 trains there and 3 trains back. They have a really good train system here. Easy to follow and navigate. I even made it back Mae's house.

One thing that did come out of the mall experience was they have Wednesday fight night. Muay Thai right outside the mall. They are vicious. I watched 5 bouts and all of them ended by knock out in the second round. Some them pretty intense. It was fun. After that I caught the 3 trains back towards Mae's house. I walked down one of the streets that had a lot going on. Lots of shops set up on the street. Then I took a Tuk tuk back to Mae's house. It was a really great night.

 Holiday decor

 Pretty good proximity to the ring.

 This guy got knocked out right in front of me.

 Lots of tradition in Muay Thai.

 Train ticket.

 The market I walked through. This was the seafood sections. Tons of mussels and shellfish

 Tuk-Tuk

JJ market

We went to a giant open air market yesterday. It is huge and only open on the weekends. Finding parking alone was quite a chore. Once we got parked we went shopping. The market is insane. If you looked long enough you can find anything. They sell everything from exotic pets to pirated DVDs to clothes to food. I got some clothes. I need a few things. I also picked up a couple DVDs. Its nice because I am mostly just hanging out on the couch or on a bed these days.

After the market we went for massage and ice cream. Just for an idea of prices it was less than $12 for two of us to get an hour long massage. Not too bad.

 Swensens round two with Smiles and Nui

 Christmas Décor. Felt like it should be in a club

 

The Hobbit and China Town

So yesterday I mostly just took it easy, but I did get to go out and about. We went and watched the movie the Hobbit 2. I am sure it has a real name, but I really don't care to know it. It was good. About what you have come to expect from the movies. We then went to China Town. We had a really nice seafood dinner. We even had the prawns that you have to pull apart. I sucked the juices out of the head cavity because it was what I was told you do. It was really fun. We had fish and crab cakes as well. Everything really was good. We went and got ice cream and I got coconut/jackfruit ice cream.

It was really nice to get out and get off the couch. I had a lot of fun. I am excited for today. More food and rest and we are supposed to go to the market.

 Prepping for the Chinese wedding

 They seriously put this in front of me and said this is for you eat. I was the only one.

 Pre movie

 China Town

 Prawns

 Fish on a skillet

 Not the best picture

Prawn head.