I have never seen these before today. 

 

 

We enjoyed Japanese flute and song beside a lake today here in Chiangrai. Truly a wonderful evening with friends. 

 

 

 

4 hours ago, villagefarang said:

I have never seen these before today. 

 

 

Looks like a Yellow Saraca (Saraca thaipingensis)

A friend of ours invited us to this Japanese cultural event and we really didn't know what to expect.  She came with her family and we ended up knowing several other people in the audience.  The Japanese lecture on pottery was only translated in Thai so I am not sure how much the westerners in the audience got but the flute music was beautifully performed in a stunning location at Mae Fah Luang Art and Culture Park.  The Japanese singer was quite good, too.  The two girls were the receptionists.

 

 

So yesterday was cultural exchange...today is going to be balloons. ????

 

There is more to country living than some might think.

Just watched the sunset here at the balloon festival.

They were 35 balloons today.  Here are just a few. 

 

 

I like those fields of flowers.  Similar to the Jim Thompson Farm in Korat last month.  Fields of gold and a blue, blue sky:

Here are a few more shots from yesterday.  We left before the concert started and before the night flights of the balloons because my wife had to get up at 4:30 am to go do some charity work in the mountains.

 

 

 

More from the North

 

Here is a video I took with my Mavic Pro at the coffee shop.

 

 

I noticed what I call rice-falls or collapses in the video.  We get those every year in the fields around our house.  One day you wake up and it looks like a giant walk through the fields overnight.  Here is a closeup.

 

 

 

I see them frequently as well VF. From the air you wonder how it got like that because there is no path to the area that has fallen.

17 minutes ago, JAFO said:

I see them frequently as well VF. From the air you wonder how it got like that because there is no path to the area that has fallen.

I was wondering the same.

Seems that all grass crops suffer. Probable cause is too much nitrogen fertilizer, unevenly spread.

https://www.agweb.com/article/high-yield_wheat_tips_to_avoid_lodging/

On ‎2‎/‎14‎/‎2019 at 10:02 AM, villagefarang said:

A friend of ours invited us to this Japanese cultural event and we really didn't know what to expect.  She came with her family and we ended up knowing several other people in the audience.  The Japanese lecture on pottery was only translated in Thai so I am not sure how much the westerners in the audience got but the flute music was beautifully performed in a stunning location at Mae Fah Luang Art and Culture Park.  The Japanese singer was quite good, too.  The two girls were the receptionists.

 

 

I have GOT to open a business there even if it's just to hire a receptionist. ???? 

On ‎2‎/‎15‎/‎2019 at 6:51 AM, villagefarang said:

They were 35 balloons today.  Here are just a few. 

 

 

Incredible. Thank you for sharing VF.

3 hours ago, JAFO said:

I see them frequently as well VF. From the air you wonder how it got like that because there is no path to the area that has fallen.

It happens in the US with various crops. Many used to try to drum up support that it was UFOs landing but those people have moved on. ????

Yesterday was gym day.  There are many small gyms in Chiang Rai but we like this one because it is big and has lots of equipment.  It only has fans and the changing room is pretty awful but the equipment makes up for it.

 

 

 

 

Nice hat the lady behind and to the left is wearing!!

Yesterday was gym day.  There are many small gyms in Chiang Rai but we like this one because it is big and has lots of equipment.  It only has fans and the changing room is pretty awful but the equipment makes up for it.
 

 

 

 

Sent from my SM-G920F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

You should get some glasses to help with that myopia, or at least hold the book higher.

Originally we used to go to a local Gym in town but my wife and I agreed to get a universal weight machine and an elliptical type treadmill for home and we use them regularly.  Great after a mountain bike ride in morning then some weights. Plus the view is much nicer. 

 

Regardless of ones preference, the intent is to enjoy an active life and remain healthy. 

 

I'd love to have a good lap pool.  I grew up a swimmer and California surfer. Wife is on the fence about a pool....????

I surfed the shore-break where we lived in Hawaii and parked my Hobie cat above the high watermark on the beach at my friend’s house.  Surprisingly I don’t seem to miss the ocean all that much.

3 hours ago, villagefarang said:

I surfed the shore-break where we lived in Hawaii and parked my Hobie cat above the high watermark on the beach at my friend’s house.  Surprisingly I don’t seem to miss the ocean all that much.

I dont really miss the ocean all that much now as well VF Again having grown up scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing and working as a deckhand for a few major charter deep sea fishing companies it was part of my life.  My parents had a beautiful 42ft sailboat in SF Bay area and I sailed with them many times up and down the coast but life changes and I prefer country living now with occasional trips to do some snorkeling. 

 

Btw, we had a rogue storm blow through the area the other day and we had hail.  Crazy.  Was 85 out, wind picked up, clouds came. Temp dropped radically and we had hail.  Some people on the local town website showed buckets full of it.

27 minutes ago, JAFO said:

I dont really miss the ocean all that much now as well VF Again having grown up scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing and working as a deckhand for a few major charter deep sea fishing companies it was part of my life.  My parents had a beautiful 42ft sailboat in SF Bay area and I sailed with them many times up and down the coast but life changes and I prefer country living now with occasional trips to do some snorkeling. 

 

Btw, we had a rogue storm blow through the area the other day and we had hail.  Crazy.  Was 85 out, wind picked up, clouds came. Temp dropped radically and we had hail.  Some people on the local town website showed buckets full of it.

I agree with you both about not missing the ocean. I used to live on the coast in Florida and hadn't seen the ocean in a number of years. I was heading to Virginia Beach a while back and was getting excited to see the ocean. When I did it didn't have any effect on me. Kind of just a shrug. I suppose it's kind of like one of those "been there, done that" moments.  

9 hours ago, villagefarang said:

Yesterday was gym day.  There are many small gyms in Chiang Rai but we like this one because it is big and has lots of equipment.  It only has fans and the changing room is pretty awful but the equipment makes up for it.

 

 

 

 

I would have never thought they'd have that size of gym in Chiang Rai. Impressive. I prefer a gym with just fans. I'm going to work out so I expect to sweat. I hate going to these places where you have an air conditioner overhead blowing down on you or where the temp is set to 70. I realize that sort of thing keeps people from sweating all over the equipment but not my favorite place to exercise.

 

VF, in regards to the last photo I only have one word...… OUCH!!!!! ???? 

 

 

4 minutes ago, HuskerDo said:

I would have never thought they'd have that size of gym in Chiang Rai. Impressive. I prefer a gym with just fans. I'm going to work out so I expect to sweat. I hate going to these places where you have an air conditioner overhead blowing down on you or where the temp is set to 70. I realize that sort of thing keeps people from sweating all over the equipment but not my favorite place to exercise.

 

VF, in regards to the last photo I only have one word...… OUCH!!!!! ???? 

 

 

I feel miserable if I don't do that regularly.  I need to stretch.????????️‍♂️

7 minutes ago, villagefarang said:

I feel miserable if I don't do that regularly.  I need to stretch.????????️‍♂️

I couldn't agree more. I try to stretch most days. Afterwards, even without doing any exercising, I feel tremendous. I haven't done splits like that(that low) in many years. I think you just gave me some inspiration and a new goal.  ???? 

 

Or you can ride your bike like I do around my town to stretch.  Did this vid the other day on my mountain bike with my GoPro Hero 7 in Time Warp mode.  

 

 

2 minutes ago, JAFO said:

Or you can ride your bike like I do around my town to stretch.  Did this vid the other day on my mountain bike with my GoPro Hero 7 is Time warp mode.  

 

 

If you don't mind me asking JAFO do you live in Chiang Rai?

19 minutes ago, HuskerDo said:

If you don't mind me asking JAFO do you live in Chiang Rai?

No problem asking HuskerDo, I live in Lampang. 

1 hour ago, JAFO said:

No problem asking HuskerDo, I live in Lampang. 

Can you tell me a little about it and why it's appealing to live there? You and VF are seriously making me reconsider my thoughts about making Chiang Mai my forever home.

 

Thanks JAFO!!

Pleasant thread with great pics. A description of a life in harmony, fulfillement and peace of mind. Clearly, OP "has got it made".
In stark contrast to most of my Farangs Friends, that started out with the best of intentions, envisioning a life similar to the one the OP has the privilege to experience.
Sadly, most marriages of my Farang friends have failed. They have left and their Mansions/Estates look like a tornado has ravaged the place after having been left to the care of the former "Thai-Family".

- Perhaps I have the wrong friends or they didn't have the right "Karma" to begin with.

As much as I like this thread, strongly focusing on the positive sides of living in Thailand, it may produce a negative side effect:
After reading this thread, a farang with no or little "Thailand-Experience" may be tempted to pull up stakes, sell everything including his kitchen sink and head straight for paradise (what could possibly go wrong?)
A Farang with no or little "Thailand-Experience", but having been infected by "Thailand-Fever" will disregard negative threads concerning Thailand as a matter of principle, favouring tales of harmony, fulfillement and piece of mind.

As welcome as positive threads are, the authors of such threads should not disclose their geographical location. The day may come when a gang of discruntled elderly Romeos may appear in front of their house, acting like a lynch-mob and shouting "you made me doing it".

VF: Keep those pics coming. Next to your pets, guard dogs can make good pets too. ????