Happy New Year 2023: The Year of El Conejo!!!

As a crowd-avoidance strategy, we laid low at the house on actual Lunar New Year's day, 20230122. Back over to Central Plaza mall today, where it was relatively calm. Are you ready to leap into this new year with renewed enthusiasm? Happy Year of the Rabbit to you and yours.

In the Sacramento area, lunar new year means you are starting to see the earliest trees pop open and show their flowers. That is well-deserved this year after the deluge. There may yet be more rain, but I hope you will enjoy a beautiful early spring. I can only imagine the abundance of green.

Bing Wallpaper came through with this mountain hare in Derbyshire, England.

20230123

ปราสาทพนมวัน / Prasat Phanom Wan

On rare occasions, one actually learns something useful on the world-destroying Facebook website. In this case, I learned of Prasat Phanom Wan, which is not too far from the house. It is very well-maintained and in remarkably good condition considering that it was built in the 11th century. 

Just down the road from this ancient remnant of the Khmer Empire is a very nice restaurant with tables arranged around a small lake. For whatever reason, the people in this area seem to be exceptionally nice. If I can figure out how to safely use the flyover over the railroad tracks, I'll be going back for a closer look.

The amateur archaeologist on site.

Wat Phanom Wan, built right next to Prasat Phanom Wan.

Yep. This is where coconuts come from.

The nice restaurant nearby.

20230121

Sunset: with and without the usual streetlights and antennas and such...

I'm pretty much diurnal these days, which means taking my sunset photos from my own yard, with the view obstructed by antennas, bright streetlights, and the like. I did, however, make it over to the clubhouse and swimming pool area the other evening.

20230120

Vintage gear in Thailand: It's a hard life.

Came across some vintage gear the other day in a dim sum restaurant downtown. Accept the damage without too much criticism if you can. The heat and humidity here very quickly damage equipment and materials. (Corn Boys, too, which could explain why I'm looking quite grizzled in photos lately...)

TOSHIBA HIGH LOOK DELUXE television

Possibly Thai-made possible shortwave and AM radio

SEIKO 21 DAY clock

20230120

Jungle Jungle Restaurant out in the fields.

There we were out in the fields on the Yamaha Exciter 155 that is seeing service as a dual sport motorcycle. I set O&D Restaurant as our destination, but as we kept riding, it occurred to me that we were in the vicinity of Jungle Jungle. 

Can you believe that Google Maps actually got us there correctly? It was a rare navigational success. The food is good at Jungle Jungle. The ambiance is even better. What a lovely garden.

A jazz version of Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas really hit the spot. I think I quite like the extended Christmas season in Thailand. Why should a holiday have to suddenly end? Let it linger for a while until it quietly withdraws.

20230117

The Gray Moth.

This was a fairly large moth that fell out of the evergreen tree. I thought maybe it was injured because it just laid there where it fell, but the next day it was gone from there, and I saw it flying around our yard.

20230115

Home Sweet Home sunset.

Lots of sunsets in the world, but only one home sweet home sunset. I mean, home could be a hovel, but it would still feel good to return to it after a trip, right?

20230114

Surin Elephant World: So they have named it.

They call it Surin Elephant World. There are a lot of elephants there. I have endeavored to keep this post positive.

Climb to the top of this observation tower for a very good view.
Who knows? Maybe the elevator will be operational when you go...

Childrens Day festivities at Elephant Village Arena.

Elephant Dog
He's quite famous on YouTube, this one.

20230113-14

Bright colors on a Sunday afternoon.

There is a botanical garden at Suranaree University of Technology. I'm sure I'll go there one of these days. But for now, we're doing just fine with trips to the nursery, where they reliably blast us with all the colors of the rainbow.

I hope I was a decent conversation partner at lunch.

I didn't look at my phone.

But I was fascinated by these big ants crazy busy up and down a bamboo pole.

20230108