At the clubhouse swimming pool...

Sometimes I remember to count my blessings: We are damn lucky to have access to this swimming pool and fitness center. I will continue to enjoy outdoor exercise as long as this weather lasts... Grateful!!!

20230210

A rare sunrise sighting...

Once in a while, it happens. I see the sunrise. And it is magnificent. I should do it more often, to be sure. Plenty of time for the old grizzled retiree to sleep in the heat of the day.

20230209-0658

Hua Thale and east along one of the canals.

There I was moping about, "It's so hot. Blah. Blah. Blah." But then I realized that a high temperature of 33 degrees with only 60% humidity was going to be as good as it gets for a while. I've always wanted to explore หัวทะเล / Hua Thale. So I did. 

I started at บึงหัวทะเล / Hua Thale Marsh, which was impressively big. Plenty of people fishing there (without shade). Then I followed a small canal all the way to Friendship Road. I hope all the residents along the canal are okay with me cutting through their neighborhoods. I mean no harm. 

I feel like they might think of me like the motorcycle rider in the in the Jonathan Glazer film Under the Skin, even though I am not like that guy at all, But how could the residents know that? It must be very strange to them to see a guy riding the canals wearing full motorcycle safety gear. The truth, if I had a way to tell them, is that I just like being out in the rice fields. I have always liked being out in the rice fields.

20230206

Dan Khun Thot: More travel while the weather is good.

Squeezed in another trip before the relatively cool weather is gone. ด่านขุนทด / Dan Khun Thot is a nice little town. They have one of the biggest lakes I've seen for a small-size town. If you were to walk all the way around it, you could call that your exercise for the day. Nice market area and downtown. Nice people.

20230130

Ride to โนนสูง / Non Sung.

I had been wanting to ride up to โนนสูง / Non Sung for some time. I took advantage of some rare, relatively cool weather. (Not melting hot.) Non Sung is a nice town. The train station features prominently. Google Maps took me to the Non Sung train station three times as I attempted to go even further north. I guess I'll save that area for another ride maybe next year when there's another week or two of good weather.

Non Sung clock tower across from the train station

I wonder why the air quality is so bad today?

Did you ever take a photo and then later thought: "I have no idea where I took this?"

Google can help you with that.
Joho Lake, near the coffee shop.
Thank you, weather gods, for letting me exercise outside.

Another visit to the Natural Agricultural Park.

My wonderful partner! Not only does she tolerate my eccentricities (mostly?), but she even joins in from time to time. This was a very windy day, but wonderfully, mercifully cool. I loved it.

Old school canoe.
I think they cut them out of palm trees.

Remember what I was saying about letting Christmas linger?
The quiet withdrawal is underway, but it's an imperceptibly gradual process.

20230128

The beautiful Natural Agricultural Park.

Did you ever go somewhere where you liked the place and the people right from the start? That's how I am with the area around Prasat Phanom Wan. I hope they like me as much as I like them because I have been hanging around there a lot. Why wouldn't I? Beautiful canals and fields with rice, lotus, and birds--lots and lots of birds. So much so that it is officially a Natural Agricultural Park. 

If you happen to go out there (I won't be taking you unless you're in my inner circle), please respect country rules. Never, ever interfere with the farmers.

The "adventure bike" parked in front of the coffee shop after the adventure.

20230127

Oraphim Hill

During the one to two weeks of nice weather in Thailand each year, one must be outside as much as possible. Having visited the area around Prasat Phanom Wan, I couldn't wait to get back. Plus, on the first trip, we missed เนินอรพม / Oraphim Hill, located east of the main temple complex. 

20230125

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