The North Hotel Chiang Rai

... elderly Akha women in Baan Ruammit, a Karen village and elephant camp in Chiang Rai province.I found the one that I was looking for dressed in traditional Akha black shirt over a black knee-length apron/skirt and elaborate headdress. She was very friendy and allowed me to take her portriat photograph. Mission accomplished!!!

... pretty easy to do it on you own. We got picked up at around 12:30 and our guide, Ang, who stayed with us all the way, took us to the Boat Station. One of those long tail boats with an engine sticking out the back for miles took the three of us up river through some beautiful scenery for about 45 minutes and although it wasn’t particularly peaceful with the engine an’ all but it seemed a bit intrepid...sort ...

... being on holiday is a little unfortunate. I was also quite supprised by the attitude of the children to us volunteers and work in general, I have got to know them well now, however, they still don't do alot to help around the centre and are actually very priveliged for orphans considering they get given quite alot. Despite this, we are havnig a fun time and tonight we are all (volunteers) going out for a drink as it is Amanda's birthday, which will be cool.

... at that as I felt Dan was my friend. Thellie has been spending a lot of time recently flirting with the Thai Uni student interns. (He also spends lots of hours working). He has also started going out with one. Staff are strictly forbidden to have relationships with volunteers and it is quite inappropriate in Thailand for a mature staff member to date a student that is here supposedly being looked after by us and learning ...

... style -charped rice with fried chest (whatever) -grilled intestimes -french fried (instead of french fries) *last but not least, even with all this said and the utter frustraion caused by most things, i love the people and i wouldn't want it or them to change. everything is so different and shouldn't be like the west. its a beautiful country full of everything you could ever want and there is always somthing new and random around the corner. i am ...

... lady joiners" - yes, you are allowed to have a lady joiner, but you must pay an extra 600 Baht (about $20). Fortunately, since my name was on the reservation, Andy didn't need to fork over the 600 Baht for me. Chiang Rai is a quiet mountain town and it is low season due to the rain, so there is not a lot of action. We ate dinner in the middle of the night market ($10 for food and beers - thanks to Kate & Mark for ...

... at first, and the dishes he turned out for lunch and dinner on the first day were both delicious and very different from anything I would otherwise have had the opportunity to try:- steamed fresh bamboo (the first of the year's new shoots), banana flower soup, stir-fried forest mushrooms with baby fern fronds, spicy tuna flavoured with fresh mint, lemongrass, chilli & tea sprigs (only the top 2 leaves as favoured by the good folk ...

... with Apair. Apa was waiting also and could look after her and take her back to the village on his motorcycle. I gave him some money to cover his petrol costs and a bit extra for the time he had spent. I headed to Mirror Foundation to talk to Khun Moo (my boss), write an email to Gerald to ask about an idea I have for helping Apair, and do some other bits and pieces. Khun Moo is pregnant and due on 2 May. She is also concerned about me ...

... nam fhun and lang. nam fhun is a little three year old girl who latched onto me from the word go. she was in tears by the time i left, and it was hard to say goodbye (i'll add a photo of her, as well as other family members). lang is eight, deaf and mute, with one brown eye and one piercing blue. we were interested in seeing his school, and the family took us out one morning to visit it. it is the only school in vientiane which teaches deaf students - out of ...