http://s935.photobucket.com/albums/ad200/jnelson1944/46thSFCA_20100817/ Photo's from my day witht the 46th Special Forces Association. An article is coming soon.
http://s935.photobucket.com/albums/ad200/jnelson1944/Tachileik_MaeSai/ The last Visa run. See paragraph below.
Non Profit Organizations
Thailand has several excellent NPOs (Non Profit Organizations), and a few that aren’t all that and a bag of chips. Some of you know the story about my coming to Thailand to teach English. It’s proof that you should do your homework, check references and remember that on the internet anyone can say anything. I applaud your desire to help the world be a better place, just don’t waste your precious resources. Below are two of my favorites:
1. The 46th Special Forces (Airborne) Association http://www.46thsfca.org supports some 26th schools in Thailand. All these schools have two things in common. They are poor and they are fairly remote. They need help. Here’s a thought: When you come to Thailand fill up your extra suite case with school supplies. Pencils, pens, flash cards, crayons are easy to transport and always needed. You bring them and we’ll get them to the kids. You may also contact the association directly and maybe even visit one of the schools. It's sort of tradition to treat the kids to a special lunch when we visit a school.
Reed Johnson watches the kids
A happy lunch bunch!
2. The Elephant Nature Foundation is an organization that does what it says, an organization that is run by people who care and who are honest. Unfortunately there have been at least two organizations pop up with the stated purpose of raising funds for the Elephant Nature Foundation. Monies were raised but never given to ENF. The amounts are quite substantial! If you want to help the Elephant Nature Foundation, and I hope you do, please contact the foundation directly. If you are tempted to go through another organization; please check with the real Elephant Nature Foundation first, check references, do a little homework and you can put your money where it will actually help the elephants! Please visit http://www.elephantnaturefoundation.org/
Elephants need your support
Cigarettes: There was a piece in the Thai news not long ago talking about corrupt officials who had taken bribes from American big tobacco. I glanced at it and thought, well that just figures. I’m not going to rehash all that. If you have an interest you already know more than me; and of course a quick search on google will provide a bushel of those sorts of stories. For years the American government has required labeling on cigarette packages. The print is small and designed to be ignored. The Thai government takes a different approach. I knew you’d find it hard to believe so the last time I had breakfast at the Seven Suns I took the photo’s below.
Now ths is truth in Advertising!
Photo’s were posted in http://s935.photobucket.com/albums/ad200/jnelson1944/Tachileik_MaeSai/ As you can see the cigarette packs didn’t meet Photobucket standards. Did they think I was trying to support cigarette sales or are the images just to gruesome for their tender senses?
Tachileik Myanmar
Last Friday I made another trip to the border for a “Visa Run”. This time I decided to spend a couple of hours doing the tourist thing. The first temple contained several Budda images. The driver made it a point of showing me the one that give the illusion of following you as you walk past.
See Photobucket for the series of three
There are also murals around the walls that tell the story of Buddha. One here, the rest in the photo bucket link below.
Buddha Mural
Next we went to the Shwedagon Pagoda. It’s really cool.
Shwedagon Pagoda on a rainy day
Shewdagon Pagoda as seen from Mesai Thailand
Inside the Wat next to the Pagoda were people having lunch. I love this Burma Baby. His face tells me he just might be a very old soul in a very young body, or not. At any rate he’s worth a photo moment, eh? 
Burma Baby
Cinderella
One of the many dogs that has been rescued by Sangduen Chailert is a little three legged gal named Cinderella. She came to the ENF office totally terrified of everyone and everything. She was given a bed with some private space in the gift shop. The other day, she ventured out into the main office! This is real progress. Every time I’m in the office I speak to her. One day she may let me get close enough to pet her. As of now the comfort zone seems to be about 1 mete, down from 2 meters a couple of weeks ago.
Cinderalla
This morning might as well have been Buddhist Christmas. Maliwans new sewing machine arrived. As I’m finishing this article she’s on the porch trying to make heads out of the instruction book. When you buy something in the States the Instructions are always in three or four languages and if your lucky one will be English. Maliwan’s instruction book is in English only. The machine is a Singer, manufactured in Thailand. Go figure. No problem the purchase includes instruction and the instructor will be here this afternoon.
Abundant Blessings,
Jerry
Maliwan
After her visit with her family in Nan Rong, Maliwan and I visited the Elephant Nature Park. The highlight, for me, was the walk in the morning. There will be a whole article coming soon.
Maliwan and Jokia
This morning might as well have been Buddhist Christmas. Maliwans new sewing machine arrived. As I’m finishing this article she’s on the porch trying to make heads out of the instruction book. When you buy something in the States the Instructions are always in three or four languages and if your lucky one will be English. Maliwan’s instruction book is in English only. The machine is a Singer, manufactured in Thailand. Go figure. No problem the purchase includes instruction and the instructor will be here this afternoon.
Assembly Smiles
Jerry
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