============================================================== To reach ALL SJD members, please send to sjd@satjadham.net ... Do NOT include any other addresses when sending to the list... Include as LITTLE of the original messages as possible........ Message sent by: LanXang Siengkhene *** Announcement: *** Please send your member fee to Victor if you haven't done so. ============================================================== Getting back to Thakek, I was glad that I returned in time to welcome the king and queen to this quiet town. As I remembered, the students lined up the streets from the airport to ChaoKeng's house where they would reside in. For our school, especially my class, we lined up in front of the house where they held a Pakut fighting next to Wat Nabo. When the king's and queen's car passed by, we wildly waved the paper flag though we didn't even have a glimpse of them because their car windows were all black and rolled up. It was curious to see that the policemen standing beside us turned their faces in opposite direction as the car rolled by. Later did I find out that they did so in other to protect the royal family better. As usual, the king and queen stayed at Chao Kheng's residence which was next to the soccer stadium and by the Mekong river. Talking about Chao Kheng, he once held a very lavish wedding party for his daughter (maybe son). Of course, I wasn't invited ((only my parents were) but I was curious enough to go and see what was going on. Wow! There were lots of Benz Mercedes parking there. I guess all the Mercedes in town were gathering there. I also heard that one of the wedding gift from a wealthy Chinese merchant was a Benz Mercedes! Did I mention that there was a Pakut fighting next to Wat Nabo? Yes, I frequented that place a lot especially during the weekend. They had tens of big Pakut which I could only imagine possessing one. One time, I went fishing for Pakut (to be correct, catching Pakut with either bare hands or a little net) in the swamp outside the town. In fact, it was not exactly a swamp but a collection of small holes in the uncultivated fields. It was the first time that I could get many Pakut, though little ones indeed. Some of them were good fighters (they fought until their fins were badly torn) but a majority of them just didn't fight when facing the rivals. What was funny was that some really showed off when I put them in different bottles in opposite to the rival bottles. But as soon as I put them in one bottle, they just swam away with their fins down. Maybe, with no luck in securing the good Pakut, I didn't go there any more. Besides, my parent didn't like the idea that I came home dirtying my clothes. I almost forgot to mention that, during the trip home, we climbed a tall electricity pole. It was not the pole made of log but a steel one and it was very tall. It was built with four legs and had stairs onto the top. Most of my friends climbed almost to the top while I could manage to only half the way. Still, the view below and all around were spectacular. I could see the Mekong River running by from afar, Nakhon Phanom on opposite side, and of course, the whole town of Thakek. To say the least, that was my great feat considering that I was a height phobia. Looking down from a high place usually made me nausea. Even thinking about it made my head swirl. (to be continued) __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger. http://im.yahoo.com _ ***************************************************************** Visit SatJaDham Homepage at: http://www.satjadham.org (or .net) *****************************************************************