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1. Car stories ….in which I acquire a motor vehicle, and then discover driving in Thailand is a little different from sitting in the back seat of a taxi that someone else is piloting….. | |
| i) Getting the keys | ||
| ii) Should have read the road-rules book | ||
| iii) Lucky number | ||
| iv) Blessing the car | ||
| v) A weekend in the country | ||
| vi) Ooooops...a learning experience | ||
| vii) More police intercourse | ||
| viii) First service |
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| ix) To be forgiven | ||
| x) Twice in one week | ||
| xi) | ||
| 2. Country medicine …..in which we go off on a trip to find the local “traditional” healer , so she can administer her medicine to Na’s Mum….. | ||
| i) The trek | ||
| ii) Taking the Cure | ||
| 3. Soi stories …..in which I describe a few aspects of life as observed in one of the thousands of small, narrow lanes of Bangkok….. | ||
| i) Soi food | ||
| ii) Police presence | ||
| iii) Soi animals | ||
| iv) Soi floods | ||
| 4. Rendevous with Rama [5] …..in which I spend the midnight hours of my birthday huddling under a sheet of plastic …... | ||
| So.....here I am squatting on a wet polygrass mat | ||
| 5. Big Rock …..in which we embark on a long, long day trip to find and make merit at the fabled “Big Rock” temple in Chantaburi Province….. | ||
| i) Where is it? | ||
| ii) Getting to Big Rock | ||
| iii) Journey to the first station | ||
| iv) Ascent to the second station | ||
| v) World record attempt on slowest ascent... | ||
| vi) Big Rock...and friends | ||
| vii) The Return | ||
| 6. Nine temples tour …..in which we embark upon an unusual ritual of celebration of the Boy’s third birthday…… | ||
| i) Preparations | ||
| ii) Temple 1 | ||
| iii) Temple 2 | ||
| iv) Temple 3 | ||
| v) Temple 4 | ||
| vi) Temple 5 | ||
| vii) Temple 6 | ||
| viii) Temple 7 | ||
| ix) Temple 8 | ||
| x) Temple 9 | ||
| 7. Up-country Songkran…..in which I get an experience of up-country Songkran, where there is much more to the festival than the throwing of water… | ||
| i) Leaving Bangkok | ||
| ii) Beer for breakfast | ||
| iii) Meeting the Monks | ||
| iv) Monks (reprise) | ||
| v) The kitchen | ||
| vi) A simple shopping expedition | ||
| vii) Making merit | ||
| viii) Gone fishing | ||
| ix) More fishing | ||
| x) Washing the old folks | ||
| 8. Unplanned events…..in which I record the circumstances of the death of the Family Matriarch……. | ||
| i) A late night call | ||
| ii) At the hospital | ||
| iii) Waiting... | ||
| iv) The End | ||
| 9. Isaan funeral rites…..in which we conduct the 7 day funeral rites for Na’s Mum, and I get a few surprises…… | ||
| i) Two days of recovery and preparation | ||
| ii) Short story of a sad, old man | ||
| iii) ...even professional dishwashers | ||
| iv) Keeping the family together | ||
| v) The funeral procession | ||
| vi) The cremation | ||
| vii) Relics | ||
| viii) Stupa | ||
| 10. Tourist trap? ……in which I experience a few “tourist” services, and get what I deserve….. | ||
| i) Unintentional stand-up comedienne | ||
| ii) Over the hill? | ||
| iii) Jomtien...beach? | ||
| iv) Bangkok Segway tour | ||
| v) Elephant Roundup - Surin | ||
| vi) Erawan Falls | ||
| 11. Up-country...another country…..in which elements the "other Thailand" are exposed….. | ||
| i) Big boys' toys | ||
| ii) Negotiating sinsod | ||
| iii) Resident photographer's assistant[s] | ||
| iv) Something happened | ||
| v) | ||
| 12. Hunting the Ancient Sites…..in which we hunt for, and sometimes find, ancient building sites in Isaan and other parts of Thailand….. | ||
| i) Prasat phra wihan...nearly | ||
| ii) Prasat Hin Phimai | ||
| iii) Sukhothai | ||
| iv) | ||
| 13. Thai TV and Movies…..in which I give a couple of examples of material on Thai TV and Thai Movies that renders it unique….. | ||
| i) Pacifying the beast | ||
| ii) Mobile shock troopers | ||
| iii) Disney...NOT! | ||
| iv) Quiet day at the local Multiplex | ||
| 14. Bangkok…..in which I try to illustrate the nature of life in Bangkok, where it is truly an unusual day if I cannot recall anything that has caused me to pause and reflect on what a wonderful city it is….. | ||
| i) Ghosts of the massage parlor | ||
| ii) Service plus! | ||
| iii) Urinal assault | ||
| iv) Squirrel super-highway | ||
| v) Head & shoulders massage | ||
| vi) Taxi meter | ||
| vii) Motorcycle taxi | ||
| viii) Chatuchuk weekend market | ||
| ix) Motorcycle safety campaign | ||
| x) Another bridge to cross | ||
| 15. Bicycle Adventures…..in which I recount stories to illustrate the effectiveness of the bicycle for getting to know Bangkok..... | ||
| o) Bike hire in Lumpini Park | ||
| i) Cycling in the park | ||
| ii) Big bridge, by bike | ||
| iii) Impromptu cycling tour | ||
| iv) Splat! | ||
| v) Things one comes across in the neighbourhood | ||
| vi) Roadkill | ||
| vii) Soi Dog mafia | ||
| viii) | ||
| 16. Thai Cookbook…..in which I present evidence of Thai passion for food, and provide recipes and hints..... | ||
| i) Morning Glory | ||
| ii) Somtum | ||
| iii) Folk medicine | ||
| iv) | ||
| 17. A civilised Coup…..in which I describe one foreigner's experience of the event..... | ||
| i) Another Coup in paradise | ||
| ii) Travelling up-country in the after-math | ||
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