Troopwest: Jan 20 Just outside Chiang Mai in Bor Sang Village

Umbrella City:
Umbrella makers that puts Seattle's bumper-shoot festival to shame...most definitely ...and the girls seem more beautiful in full costume than the stuff you see at the 'go naked if you can' festivals in Seattle... real family atmosphere despite seeing kids with no helmets on front and back of motorbikes and motor scooters.
Lots of evidence that the bicycles and pedicabs were once very prominent. Great pics and video of pretty girls on bikes in full costume...holding decorative umbrellas. Bought three beautiful hand painted, small umbrellas.Hand painting of umbrellas is exquisite and fun to watch at all steps in the process ...all umbrellas are made from scratch in 'umbrella city'.
Thai school age kids, boys and girls dancing separately in very beautiful folk dances...all day long. Have. Plenty pics and video of this activity...including drummers.
In Bangkok, Chaing Mai, and Luang Prabang there is plenty of evidence that our cellphones are recycled to good use. In all three places, texting and driving and dodging one another on the road and sidewalks has become an art form ...Seattle style politeness ...without any traffic controls to speak of. Stepping out in traffic is essential to cross the street.
Side walks, with exception of the World Heritage areas, are full of hazards to keep you on high alert...DO NOT DAYDREAM. If you are over five-nine feet tall 'mind you head and shoulders or you will get routinely snarled with metal posts and awnings and tree limbs and wires. Sidewalk vaults are never even with the sidewalks...got good insurance?
Helmet laws exist in Thailand but are not often enforced...they are trying however.
Oh...did I mention, that for 'yanks' it is important to remember that Thais drive on the left side of the road and in Loas they drive on the right...Cambodia???...my guess that it will follow whatever they do in France. The trick is to always look both ways and keep at least one group of tourists between you and any vehicle that might be in striking distance...lots of 'blind' corners.
Never give a police officer a whistle in this part of the world...they will never stop blowing it.
Also never give a local politician a microphone in this part of the world, they not only use it non- stop...they string out their speakers at every 50 yards all along the parade route. Apparently loud is better and non-stop means until every tent is taken down?
A few steps into a side street and the noise abates, thankfully.