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Published: October 21st 2004
The King
This is one of the only photos i could find of him on the net, well the others wouldn't let me copy them. ok so far i've been here in chiang mai for about a month and three weeks.i'm starting to feel less and less like a stranger to this place and am somewhat fitting in. some of the food vendors on my street are starting to recognize me and it seems as though less people are staring. although that could be just me imagining and hoping that less people are staring.
so here are some things i've picked up along the way.
Thailand is a newly industrialized country due to an economic boom that happened in recent decades. There are many implications of this boom, mainly a huge level of deforestation (while the government has tried to keep at least 37% of the country forest in 1988 that number has been impossible to maintain)
Thailand also has a long history, much longer than that of Canada's. It has a king and the current one, King Bhumipol is the 9th. He is extremely well respected throughout the country, and while he holds little political power the government will seek his approval on important issues. He is a renowned jazz musician, you can even buy some of his cd's and i think he wrote the
Congregation at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, near Chiang Mai
I didn't actually see this and my camera is choosing not to work right now so i'm stuck with internet pictures. but it was taken at the top of the mountain that surrounds the city national anthem and has played with louis armstrong and others; he campaigns for environmental and human rights issues and travels throughout the country, seeing the Royal Projects and other projects are doing good. As he is quite old, and holds the position of the longest reigning monarch in the modern world there is a question over who will be is successor. Many would like to see his daughter take the throne as she shares his compassion instead of his son.
Ok so i had planned on writing a bunch, but figuring out how to post all this stuff has just been more time consuming that i thought it would be. so i'll try to write more another day. the last thing i'll say is about the monks. the deal with them and me and that i can't touch them and many are careful not to get in any situation where you would touch them. you can talk with them but if you want to give them something it must be passed through another male first. anways every morning at about 7 they come down from the mountain (i think anyways) where they stay at the temple and there are stands along my street where offerings of food are given to them. i had the opportunity to witness this last friday as i got up early to go to the village. anways they do this every day and i believe this is what they live on. james told me they don't not eat after 1200 noon and if they do it is food less than the size of your fist\!
ok so i'm tired but i'll try to get my camera working again so i can send along some of my pictures!
oh and matt you can look on the little map to see where i am . . . up in the north!not in bangkok!
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anonymous
non-member comment
Very interesting!
Wow, sounds amazing! I love hearing all of the interesting facts associated with the country! When I read them I ran out to the living room and started repeating them to my roomate, he was really impressed too! Especially about the monk thing! I might become a monk, I was studying buddhism this summer! Actually, I don't know if I could deal with the whole not eating after 12 thing, I love my food as you know! Anyways, I miss you so much and wish that you were here. Keep up the interesting facts and tidbits of info!! Luv you lots, Lindsay