Thailand

Had never been to Thailand until this week. Seems its a country that loves it coups. I believe 10 or so since 1971. We had been watching it simmer for a couple of weeks and were wondering if the lid would blow off. Well it didn't quite blow off but boiled over enough for us to convince the desk to drop the Stockwell Day visit for a quick trip to Bangkok.

We were having lovely evening feast at Mark McKinnon's house. Lamb shank. The best meal since I got here. Just as dessert was appearing the buzzing of blackberries interrupted us and people started to shuffle off to do their jobs. Ben left at 10 and I hung on til 11 then off to the office. I was about 4 am when I finally got home and we were do for Photo op at 8 am. We did catch up with Stockwell at 9:30 am and where back in the office around 11. We then pitched the idea of going and the desk said yes about 1pm and by 3 we where heading to the airport.

We arrived in Bangkok around 11 pm and were met by a friend of a colleague, Melissa. She works for the UN in Bangkok. Now I think she wants to be full time fixer/producer. Off to the hotel to drop the bags then off to the demonstrations which where mostly drunken hooligans. Quick stand up then back to file with AP (wire service) pictures. Another 4 am night. By the way it was 30C
at night.

Tuesday morning we headed off to find the "red shirts" and eventually found them burning buses and in a bit of a standoff between police. I was warned by a friend, Jim, to watch out for the sling shots. Lots of rocks had been thrown, but fortunately I missed the bulk of the violence.

By late afternoon things seemed to had calmed down and the country was back on a normal even keel. Well as even as Thailand can get.

Was pleasantly rewarded for putting about 45 hours in 3 days with Wednesday off in Thailand. Ben flew back Wed as there was only one seat available.

So it simmers while I take a week off and head home to see Maggi and my dog and have a few meals with my family. Above are a few snaps from Melissa. She was kind enough to give them to me as was a victim of a pick pocket and had my cell phone and digital camera pinched. But that's another story....

The Great Wall

"Location Scouting" is the term I will use for our little hike today. Steve and Sean were my leaders on this death march. We went to section that is not very touristy or "improved" like the regular areas. So we get out at this recently upgraded village. Nice buildings and a decent road. We pay our 25 RMB or about $4.50 and off we go. Now I'm not in the best shape I could be. Granted I do work out a bit and have OK cardio. Yeah, well I thought so. We head up a trail followed by a little dog that seemed to like us. It's a steep scramble but once I catch my breath, we are rewarded with this view.

It's a pretty rocky trail along the top of a ridge, it eventually leads to the top of the wall. We are on and off, up and down the wall several times for the next hour and a half. We eventually hit a more regular and less overgrown area of the wall. The dog keeps coming back to check on my as I'm trailing Steve and Sean most of the time.








We run in to only other people that we see that day, other then a couple of people who are doing a little repair on a section. Well and Laura are from England and taking some time before they start there full time careers as Lawyers back in England. They were actually feeling lost and where happy to see 2 asian guys and very excited when I stubbled along and said "how's it going?" in english. Seems they followed the path through the village and where able to shave 1.5 hours of the difficult part of the hike.

So the five of us kept going on the top of the wall until we hit the military section that is off limits.



Down through the valley, up and down over the hills and far away. We weaved in and out of some cultivated land. As we started back up my legs start cramping up like you wouldn't believe and not much option other than to limp through it. Here is a little shot of hut that was on the way down.













It seems to just go on and on. Can't believe the history that I was walking over. The number of people and years to build it, let alone the armies that sat on it watching and waiting or had to cross it.








We did eventually get close to one of the more tourist oriented areas where Steve's drive was waiting for us. Then off to a truckstop for some home cooking. I past on eating the intestine. The rest of it was good though.