15 Jun

15 Jun - Wonder how many of the people watching HM the King's 60th anniversary dinner TV special last night - shown exclusively live on every Thai channel - could name more than three of the assembled royals from 26 countries. (I got Prince Andrew, the Swedish King & Queen and Prince Albert of Monaco. Not a clue on the others.) But the King of Tongo appeared to be having the most fun on his river boat ride up the Chao Praya whilst the Japanese emperor visited what appeared to be a museum to dead fighting cocks - skeletons, stuffed birds and all. (If I was a Japanese tax payer I'd be wanting to know if this was really necessary.) The Danes sensibly visited a shoe factory which made sensible Danish shoes and quite a few minor monarchs went shopping at the Jim Thompson house of silk.

No more updates for a couple of weeks as I'm out of the country and will have better things to do with my time.

You'd be amazed by the number of people emailing and finding it surprising that there might be rain in August, apparently many travel agencies fail to mention that pretty much all of SE Asia is rather damp between June-September. Clue: this time of year is known as the rainy season or, in more tourist friendly terms, as the green season i.e. the season when green stuff grows a lot.

Before I left KC I went to see a couple of plots of land that are now up for sale. On the east coast you can get several 2 rai plots by the beach for 6 million baht each - with Chanote land title. And . . . at the southern end of Whitesands, on the west coast you can get a 1 Rai plot with uninterrupted sunset sea view. The photo opposite was taken on the land, more info here. (Not sure of the price yet though.)