THE BRITISH THREAD II

A Smorgs sighting! We are indeed blessed today.

Two television aerials got married. The wedding was terrible, but the reception was fantastic!

Pavarotti
Had a big botti
But he could still pull the totti

Why doesn't that surprise me.

SPENDI ALSO WROTE

What do you see in journeying to places like that? Is it the pain?

Strange you should ask ask at this particular time Spendi. I have just been doing some work on a trek I intend making this winter. It will be nice and warm over there though. I will be driving a motorcycle from Chiang Mai to Chiang Khong. I am taking accommodation at the Mankhong Riverside Hotel for two or three nights, doing some touring in the area and then I will make my way to Ban Nam Keung which is some thirty kms or so from Chiang Khong. The Lu people live in this area, an ethnic minority originating from Southern China, mainly Buddhists. They traditionally live near rivers so finding their village by the Mekong is quite natural. The houses are built up on stilts to avoid flood damage, the underneath being used for storage in the dry season, such as fish, household tools, and other equipment. We will have to take accommodation in a family home here, which will cost a few bob, there are no hotels or guest houses in the area. We will spend a day or two in the village to become accustomed to these people and see their ways and traditions.

We will arrange for the motorcycle to be stored here and take a boat down the Mekong, this is an extremely remote area and it should be brilliant for viewing wild life as we go down river. We will make random stops at villages to meet the local inhabitants who are quite unique. We will obtain food at the villages and we have a particular desire to stop at Ban Huai Lam Pen, a Hmong village visited by an old friend of mine a couple of years back and he told us of some amazing sights there, which if we are lucky enough to see and photograph I will share next year. We will probably spend two nights in this village if they are kind enough to grant us accommodation. We then intend making our way to the small market town of Pak Beng, no doubt buying local fruits and anything in particular that catches our eye, as long as it is not too heavy, we will be doing a great deal of walking and excess weight is the last thing in the world we will require.

We want to visit Pak Ou Buddah Caves in this region, which apparently means a high difficult climb for us, but it is good to think of the challenge.
Apparently there are thousands of Buddah images in these caves dating back to the 16th century. Don't take these images lightly Spendius.
I understand a large supposedly concrete Buddah was found in a cave around Chiang Mai in the 1930's it was or had been hidden there during one of the many wars Thailand or Siam as it then was went through with Burma. Whilst being moved to Bangkok the Buddah was caught and a piece of concrete broke off the same, underneath it was noticed to be gold in colour. The Buddah was then found to be solid gold coated in cement to further disguise its value from the invading Burmese. It is now in the Royal Palace Bangkok and is priceless. There is rumour around that many such artifacts were disguised in this way, and I enjoy the fact that I never know what I am likely to come across out there. Every minute is an adventure so to speak.

Spendius also wrote

If the hairs on your neck stand forth watching the prancing primper what happens when you come across a crazy guy popped up on Yaabba with a panga in his hand?



I've had worse than that to contend with Spendius, but it is an issue that bears concern. The idea is to keep alert when in certain places. There are however places like Mae Sot a border town and law is not really an issue. The mercenaries abound here, life is cheap and nobody really gives a toss!

I could tell you some real stories about some of the guys out there which would make anybody's hair stand on end.. Trust me! But some things are best kept to oneself with regards to that neck of the woods in particular.



Steve Said:-

Thanks for sharing the opium processing mathos. I'm sure there is money to be made, are you in for it? I'll give £50 for some pots and pans


I get the drift Steve, but I enjoy living mate and my freedom. There are plenty in Lard Yao and Bang Kwang with ideas of being rich from opium etc. I know you don't mean it for one iota either!

'cos he had a lot of doshi...

x

Q. What do you call a fly with no wings and no legs?

A. A stay.

x

She means that when she has pulled the wings off flies, possibly butterflies or dragonflies, they can only walk and when she pulled the legs off they could only stay where they were. I presume. I hope she has no magic spells.


Mathos wrote-



What screeching bloody arrogance. To imagine you could become accustomed and see their ways and traditions in a day or two really does take the biscuit. No wonder you travel a lot if you wear everybody out at that pace.

I have not yet become accustomed nor seen the ways and traditions of the buggers round here who I have lived all my life among.

If she casts her dancing spell my way I'll be getting one of those screens they have in Dounreay.

you are right not enough bottle mate

but its tempting. There is a market for tri acetone tri peroxide right now. Should go like a bomb.

love it

my god you have a trivial sense of humour


smorgs stop it

it only encourages them

Mathos wrote in a post redolent with inchoate fun-



Don't be so daft. You couldn't cause one of my hairs to even twitch.

Anyway-- I asked what you got out of all this expensive pain and suffering which you are self-evidently slavering at the prospect of not the sodding itinerary. I could write an itinerary of tomorrow morning better than that load of self flattering pile of generalities.

Tell us about the pain. Or the potential pain which you will probably avoid by staying in a luxury hotel for the duration and making all this up which is a very easy thing to do.

My God, I've become a 'them'.

well this is the brit thread but you're welcome

Coolwhip wrote-



We are internationally renowned for welcoming people from other places to our shores. Especially tasty young damsels who speak with certain inflections and intriguing aliases.

An Island race needs to watch out for inbreeding. It can become a land of gumpy country bumpkins otherwise and our new PM wouldn't like that.

Gumpy country bumpkins could never provide the resources for his spending plans on which his fame and power rest.

You know Spendi you have a degenerative and insipid brain. Why don't you come with me, I've told you before mouth, I'd even pay for you! You won't though, because your a yellow bellied chicken little **** who mouths off at every given opportunity.

So lets all see if you can be a man for five minutes and take it on board. Tell you what, you come with me and spend one week in the jungles around Mae Sot; one week, that is seven nights in my book in tents and huts. I'll pay for it and if you last it out I'll give you a grand cash!

Oh, there's a bit of pain too Spendi, but I won't tell you about that now, you might think I was putting you off coming.

What you going to eat now mouthy... Corn?

What do I want a measly bloody "grand " for?

I wouldn't mind a Grand Piano though. Not a cheapo.

But saying that I'm a yellow bellied chicken little **** who mouths off at every given opportunity is the first time I've ever seen you get somewhere near a fact. I'm actually a lazy, idle, good-for nothing, yellow bellied little **** who mouths off at every given opportunity.

You should try it sometime. It's no good having a guilt complex about it. Any guilt concerning me is down to Ma and Pa. Had I had a choice I would have waited another ten thousand years. Maybe more.

Hey just read Mathos' travel plans....very interesting and not a little intrepid. I hope that motorcycle is there when you come back.
I like the sound of Bang Kwang, sounds a fun place.

Indo-China is not a place that ever interested me too much, a bit too jungly for my taste. What are the mosquitoes like? I have enough problems with Scottish midges.

Spendy you are being particularly miserable and thrawn of late. Anthony Burgess wrote three books when he lived out in that neck of the woods, have you read them?

And a jingle, jangle morning to you all!

I overslept.

x

These ladies, always in bed

Francis are you insinuating something