Before I get going, I wanted to mention the new poll about where we should move next. We'd love your input!!
The most recent stressor was our water bill this month that is 1,000 baht more than it has ever been. Justin thinks it's some kind of broken pipe underground somewhere. We were given the option of moving into another house for the last month or to just turn our water whenever we aren't using it. We're opting for the latter since we have internet in the house that we'd have to pay for and not be able to use.
There is also a lot of political upheaval about the current prime minister- Samak Sundaravej. The PAD (People's Alliance for Democracy) say that he's just a puppet prime minister for Taksin - the former Prime Minister. Taksin was kicked out of the country for some shady business practices involving taking money from the Government for his own personal gain.
So now there are some semi-violent protests in Bangkok and some airports and trains are shut down because of strikes. There may be a coup or at least a resignation by Samak. We'll have to wait and see.
I hope that Claire- who comes in next Monday- doesn't have any trouble getting down here.
On the up side!!! Last weekend we went to the Ratchaprapa dam at Khao Sok for Shaun's birthday weekend. It was awesome!! We stayed on the lake in these floating bungalows. We swam, floated, and canoed all day; drank all night. It was so calm and beautiful! Here are some photos . . .
The ride out.
Our lodging
Evening festivities.
Justin in our room.
Andrea and I floating in the lake.
For the rest of the photos you can click here
We miss everybody and can't wait to be home soon!! Hope everyone's having a happy beginning of fall. And Happy Birthday Daniel aka My Brother!!
3 comments:
hey guys!!! it sounds like everything is wrapping up nicely. sounds like things are politically, pretty heavy over there. i hope that claire gets down to you guys ok. i'm sure it will be great to see someone familiar again!! khao sok looked just as beautiful as i remember! i recognize so much of the pictures. those little huts and the floating "restaurant" or whatever that place was. beautiful! i miss you guys so much and wish that i was able to come meet up with you guys in slovenia. jealous!! by the way...i totally voted for boulder on the poll. it would be a blast if we all lived out there at some point soon!! anyway, love to you guys. can't wait to hear how everything else is coming to a close! LOVE! jess :)
Hi Justin and Aleza: Sounds like you guys are very busy wrapping things up. Also looks like a great time on the lake at Khao Sok. It's great to see you pictures and remember being there ourselves! You both look great and happy. We voted for Boulder on your poll. We're working on bike routes this week for slovenia. We are so excited to see both of you. Can't hardly believe that you have been there a year and that you are almost done and will be home before long. What a fabulous adventure you two have had! We love you and miss you and will see you very soon.
Love, Dan
Justin and Aleza!!! I'm not really anonymous--it's me, "Aunt" Nancy. It was just the easiest way for me to send this. Although you've not heard from me in ages, I've still kept up with your blog. What an adventure! I'm mad at you though, because at 56 I'm saying all that "Shoulda, Woulda, Coulda" stuff that is not good. But I'll get over it and be REALLY glad for the two of you grabbing life by the balls and going for it while you are spring chickens. But I guess I can't complain too much. I've always managed to have a pretty good time wherever I am or with whatever I'm doing. I've been retired since November 30, 2006 (a great day)and am just now getting settled into this overwhelming freedom. Pretty cool. My first retirement act was to buy a riding Mule--Rueben. After 3 days in the hospital with a concussion, I sold him and bought a drop dead gorgeous, well broke Tennessee Walker--'Rippleriver', but after one more ride in the ambulance to the ER---I got out of the Equine business-as they say--for health reasons. One of those shoulda woulda couldas that tells me I needed to buy Rueben when I was 26, not 56. I gave it a shot anyway. And I'm taking riding lessons on a really good ol' horse in the hopes that maybe this old dog can learn a new trick or two. Your list of things to do before you are 30 is great and I highly encourage it. Better that than a bucket list. I voted for Oregon on you poll, because it is a state on my Bucket list and it would be good to have a guide to the local bars (coffee and alcohol). But I recall some good times in Boulder and it is closer too. I did the Blackhills, Deadwood, Spearfish Canyon and the Badlands this summer. I could easily move to some little cabin near Spearfish. I may need to consider a move like that so I won't say shoulda, woulda, coulda and end up in Marion, IL for the rest of my days (Yuck!) Both of you are an inspiration for getting what you want out of life, doing a little good along the way and giving me hope for the young people of the world. Speaking of good young people, my nephew's brother-in-law, Rob Stroh, Sr. at SIU, got an internship to spend a semester studying Gibbon Monkeys in Thailand. I so wanted him to hook up with you at some point, but he doesn't leave for Thailand till December. You'll be in Slovenia, Greece, London, or passed out in some Irish Pub by then--or maybe back at C'Dale. When you do get back to Carbondale, I'm going to demand some face time with you before you begin the next adventure. I've got to see Justin in the flesh to make sure it's really him. The latest pics show some Jungle bod with Justin's face. (It's a good look, Justin.)That could be your new "J" name for juggling. "Justin, the Jungle Juggler!" And if the limes are getting juggled a bit much, it could be "Justin the Juicy Jungle Juggler" And if you add music to your routine, it could be "Justin, the Jazzy, Jammin' , Juicy, Jungle Juggler!!!" And at Christmas time you cold add Jingle bells and be "Justin the Jingling, Jazzy, Jammin' Jungle Juggler" PLEASE!!!!Stop me now!!
Love you Both!
Safe, fun travels! See you soon.
"Aunt" Nancy
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