I have to backtrack a bit for Dad and Mom: we left Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. on my Vespa scooter with my (fellow bank-employee) Prince "Mom" on the rear seat,

The gentle rain had just stopped and riding at a decent pace we soon reached Nakhon Pathom with its large pagoda. Nothing extraordinary happened except that I barely missed a reckless individual crossing the road, the fool... Anyhow, the heart palpitations soom subsided and the rest of the weekend I only had to cope with suicidal chickens and dogs. Especially the chickens are very stupid, starting out running in the right direction but at the last moment trying to get under your wheels.

Of every three houses, two are coffee shops. There also are a lot of dressmakers and barbers. Most villages border on a river with the main street parallel to it and narrow lanes perpendicular to it. These lanes are crowded with vendors and their temporary shops. The rears of the houses often overhang the riverbanks.

The villages are always busy. Under the tree, little old ladies sit and cackle with their toothless mouths which are some ugly color of red and black because of their chewing beetlenut. The elderly women still wear some type of folded pants as are still worn by dancers, which looks pretty hot considering the climate. Children as well as adults ride their bikes in all directions, a life threatening proposition. About the only thing that sets Bang Po apart from other Thai villages is the endless number of baskets all over the place. These are locally woven and some are big enough for all of you to move into.

Last year the entire village burned down to the ground, something which happens regularly in this country. Then the King, passing through on his way to a summer residence, stops by to ask the Governor how things are going, and gives him a check for fifty thousand baht to aid.