A very hot and sunny day.

We went into Na Klang to the big flea market they set up all along the highway. I took my good camera and had hoped to come back with some good pictures but taking photos mid day on a bright sunny day is absolutely the worst time. Especially if many of the subjects you would like to shoot are under tents with a bright background behind them. I have posted a couple of photos below just to give you a flavor of how they set up.

When we got back from town I went and laid on my bed, turned the fan on and caught up on some reading on my iPad. Of course that called for a nice nap. After my nap Phai asked if I want to go out to my farm. The answer is always yes to that question so off we went on the motorbike. My rice is looking great. Her son was at the farm and Phai always inspects everything and finds things he should be attending to. In the photo below she noticed the water was running out of the field into the river and had him close up the drainage holes in two places with mud. 

I am working on some information for both my clarification and to tell you about. I am researching the universal health care system here and why it seems to work so well. I also am exploring the social programs like welfare and social security. Both exist here but on a much different scale than in the States. I hadn't asked before but finally asked Phai how all these farmer families can afford to send their kids to day care. She told me it is all paid for by the government. My initial research found some very interesting reasons the Thai government provides free day care across the country. Hope to have more detail for you within the next week. 

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I am no expert on rice but I think my crop looks terrific. It is about two months away from harvest time.

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Phai's son plugs the water flow with mud and leaves. 

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I am going to miss things like walking into my backyard and happening on a rooster fight. This was on a practice session.

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Our son in laws dashboard and rear view mirror hangers. They sell the flowers at all the traffic lights in the city. They cost next to nothing and really make the car smell nice for a few days. He has a dish of fruit up on the dash to nibble on. 

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Tents and displays like this line the main road for about a mile. 

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A group of employees of Thai Watsadu (the new big Home Depot type store) have lunch at our restaurant.

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Phai laughs as one of the Watsadu employees poses for me. The store is about 20 miles away but they are sending out employees to the villages to pass out literature to drum up business. People don't get newspapers here so normal advertising doesn't work. 

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Phai and Ning shop out front for a new Mortar and Pestle to make Som Tom with. Som Tom is made with an unripe Papaya that is shredded and number of other ingredients is added. It is a favorite food in Isaan and is gaining popularity around the world. It is sweet, sour and spicy all at the same time. 


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