The creature on the top right looks like a Turtle-Crab!

And that's just the side of it!

I love seeing them still attached to the bamboo-like stalk thingy.

I bet the people that lived thousands of years ago would love bright red soda.

I thought it was expensive too. Maybe they got the price mixed up with the Jaju Pa Dak which was less than a dollar.

Happy New Year, Bo and Gregg.

I don't think so. Two things: the flowers on the plant I saw are wide open and on the talipariti they are more trumpet-like. And the leaves aren't right. The other thing is that I really don't think this one becomes a shrub or small tree. I think it remains smaller. I think John Solem has it.

Wow, thanks.

Me too! I love sticky rice baskets. There are elements creeping in, however, that I don't like. Like the bottom part of the larger black and white ones is plastic. And all the carrying cords are plastic now days. I liked the natural fiber ones but they seem to be gone.

Not so sure if trading plastic wrapped rice straw bales for burning stubble is such a good idea. Plowing the straw back in though..... chickens are truly birdbrained, haha.

I've never pursued the difference, probably because we never cook. And, I don't know enough Thai to really have a conversation about eggs.

Another person suggested candle wax which I think would work well. But a light coating of the sewing machine oil every now and then seems to work well too. I think a hard soap might as well.

I wish you still had the Volvo 444 too.

Happy New Year, Cornelia. Thank you so much for your wonderful comment. Doing a journal like this every day is a lot of work but when people like you enjoy it, and let us know that you enjoy it, all the work it takes is worthwhile. Have fun in the Alps!

Yes, and the ginger and garlic in Thailand is a slightly different version than in The States. It's tastier by far. Not to mention super fresh. I can't get enough of either.

The Thais can out-retro the best of us. They are good at ironic too.