ça daube! durian

Good morning Sunshine, again...time for holidays, to read newspaper with nice coffee and a croissant. I found a topic in the news paper. It’s so funny! It said “No more durian storms, just ‘mungkut ones”

The name durian brings back bad feeling about the damage that Tropical Storm Durian caused to the Philippines. A team was set up to chose an alternative name. They came up with mungkut, a tropical ball-like fruit with translucent flesh inside a reddish-brown skin which is the Thai word for mangosteen.

The World Meteorological Organization’s Typhoon Committee accepted the change last month. Durian has been replaced with ‘mungkut'

'King of Hearts'

Drawing by a child who lives in Klong Toey

Anuchai Secharunputong, my favorite Thai photographer had been busy covering the country’s 76 provinces in his personal mission to take the photographs of the King’s portraits that hang from the walls of every local household. Each photograph, it seems; says a thousand words of love and devotion the people have for their ‘King of Heart’

“I could sense right at the instant that the portraits that hang from the walls of every household are not just any photograph. The underlying message those photographs is always a clear of loyalty the people in those houses have for the King”

See some his Photograhic

Lovely Pai, Mae Hong Son

How lovely this small town. It’s surrounded by mountains. We walked across a small bridge. Here is Pai River. It was about 11 am. There is no sunshine, very good to walk. After the bridge, It was the rice green fields. I took a deep breath, to take in the fresh air. (My vacations are beginning here now). The gate of the sun hut was made of bamboos lovely resort with vegetarian food. Inside there are a lot of trees which are decorated as well. Lovely front reception! A friend of mine recommended this place. Thank you Mink! (i know how much you miss Pai)

It was still drizzling. I was feeling so free when my motorbike got down the mountain. How it would be if we can let our life just along the way, just let it goes, no planning, no destinations, no future, no questions...it's holidays...

HERO is in you

There's a hero if you look inside your heart. You don't have to be afraid of what you are. There's an answer if you reach into your soul and the sorrow that you know will melt away. And then a hero comes along with the strength to carry on and you cast your fears aside and you know you can survive. So, when you feel like hope is gone look inside you and be strong and you'll finally see the truth that a hero lies in you. It's a long road when you face the world alone. No one reaches out a hand for you to hold. You can find love if you search within yourself and the emptiness you felt will disappear. And then a hero comes along with the strength to carry on and you cast your fears aside and you know you can survive. So, when you feel like hope is gone look inside you and be strong and you'll finally see the truth that a hero lies in you. Lord knows dreams are hard to follow, But don't let anyone tear them away. Hold on, there will be tommorow. In time you'll find the way. for me for you and for everybody who is looking for.... Hero!

Bangkok's 9th International Festival of Dance and Music

La traviata (The fallen woman)

The actor was greeted by a round of applause before the curtain was drawn. Then, the hall was silent. It seems that there is only the actor on the stage. The actor started to playing their role with accompany by orchestra. It’s so melodious. I didn’t understand what they said and sang but I felt in the story. I felt as the sound of soprano was thoroughly absorbed when the actor was moan about the lover, the contradictory between their families since the ancestor, the obstacle of aristocracy and bourgeoisie or proletariat. The stories are never far from a kind of these things. Almost 3 hours. I can’t blink my eyes. All the costumes are fascinating. The movement of dancers was graceful.

How the actor feels when they see a thousand audiences concentrate them? Or they are in the other period as the costumes and the stage scenery, they can not see us? Anyway, I love the applause which never ends…

Come and gone....

I still remember my first arrival here. I don’t know anybody. It was difficult for me to work with the people who have not the same tradition, who have the different language. I was wonder how they work with Thai people (local people who do not speak English at all!!) or they might be communicating with the people with their heart! Anyway, I know they have sense of volunteer!! It’s very difficult this feeling. But they said to me ‘You will see the new one. They are all very nice and kind’. We always said “See you in France or one day in Thailand. I’ll be back here one day” About one year or a little bit more; we learn to know each other. I teach them the words necessaries in daily life in Thai. They teach me the expressions in French also the slangs. Again and again, people come and gone. Again and again we transport their baggage. Again and again the Taxi arrives in front of the house and takes them away. Again and again we say good bye! …This is the way that we love… Like its forever… Then live the rest of our life… …But not together…

Merci Alexandre, Anne, Thérèse, Guillaume, Etienne, Loïc, Véro, Claire, Thomas et Géraldine de Monpeurt.

Songkarn 2007, Vientiane, Vangvieng and Luang Prabang

Happy Songkarn Holiday, Laos

The Greatest Love Of All

The Greatest Love of all is the song of Whitney Houston. It’s one of my inspiration songs.

“I believe the children are our are future

Teach them well and let them lead the way

Show them all the beauty they possess inside

Give them a sense of pride to make it easier

Let the children's laughter remind us how we used to be

Everybody searching for a hero

People need someone to look up to

I never found anyone to fulfill my needs

A lonely place to be

So I learned to depend on me “

At Praow district near Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai, I meet a father who works for the missionary. He brought us to meet the children in the center. About 20 Km. from Praow district (on the mountain). How he calls the shed without a support as you see in the picture “a center for the children” with contains about 30 children. The children welcome us with a song and father played a guitar. What a wonderful! As a moment the happiness was occurred in to my heart. I was looking around the place. There is nothing! But why the children can sing the beautiful song with the power which came from their hearts.

The father was introduced an old man who lives here with the children. Many years ago the old found there are many children can’t go to school because there are no schools in the mountains. It’s quite difficult to get down the mountain every day for school. One day he built up a shack and invites the children who want to go to school. The children can stay here during the week for school. The old man has no work, on salary! But he can take care the children! He plants some vegetables, raise some animals such as chicken, pig, duck to be the food and the children need to bring the rice. It’s the sufficiency economy way! Really!

Today we brought a good new for them, 30 children were sponsored by god parents in France which mean in each month they will receive some money from their parents to be use for their educations. The old man can smile…money isn’t the big things here but some time we need it for an emergency case. If somebody get sick! If the rain won’t come that mean no rice! Etc… This is some thing that people can make for other. Many people never find the happiness because they look across the small things around them; they never know the word “giving”. One another day, I’ve succeed my work with my happiness and smile of the children. I found the greatest love in my heart!

I'm feeling you

Sometimes, I imagine the world without you

But most times, I’m just so happy that I ever found you

It’s a complicated web, that you weave inside my head

So much pleasure with such painHope we always,

always stay the same

I’m feelin’ the way you cross my mind.

And you save me in the knick of time.

I’m ridin’ the highs, I’m diggin’ the lows

‘Cause at least I feel alive.

I’ve never faced so many emotional days.

But my life is good. I’m feelin’ you. I’m feelin’ you

You go, and then I can finally breathe in

‘Cause baby I know, in the end you’re never leavin’

Well we’re rarely ever sane,

I drive you crazy and you do the same.

But your fire fills my soul.

And it warms me up like no one knows

I'm feeling you!

First Mission 2007

We have one program at Ban Lak Taeng, Thai-Burmese border (northern Thailande, province Chiang Mai) Lifestyles of local people is a highlight, especially "Tai" or Shan tribe who speaking a different dialect and use unfamiliar Burmese scripts. I saw all the smiling faces, full of local charming, hospitality. This is the special history!

Photo by: Loïc

Model: Véro et Ou

Oop! Cambodia

Finally I back home as well! Hello from Cambodia! Sometime I should listen to my loved ones; they said…you should not go alone to Cambodia!!! I said.. It’s ok, some one will pick me up at the border. Everything is gonna be all right. But the thing was changed. Nobody wait for me at the border (Poi pet)! I have to take a taxi by my own. It will be easy if the taxi is normaly taxi! Not Camry…On my first taxi at Cambodia, Poi pet to Sisophon I had 8 people in the Camry taxi! So crazy!!! normally one car is for just 4 people! And No Taxi Meter, Bus!!! Of course! The driver told me the price, i can't accepted that so high. I negotiated with ten men stand around me. My friend Cambodian told me that just 100 THB to go to Sisophon, after I said that every body walks away from me!!! ah…ah I’m still want to go! We can talk about the price please don't walk away! Finally they accepted at 150 THB. I paid 200 THB. He gave me the change in reils. it’s about one hour to reach to my destination. Anyway I reached to destination as well with the last fighting with the driver. He said I didn’t pay yet! Oh my god! TAXI NO METER NewArrival! only at Boat-Mini Mart Tonle Sab, Cambodia.

This trip I got to know new career! When I was in the middle of the lake (Tonle Sap), there were 3 people in my boat: boat driver, a guide and me. In this picture, 2 merchants that you see, row their boat as fast as they can to get closer to my boat. I was a little bit scars me…why my boat is slow down and Oh! Other boat will attack me!!! They will rob me??? I was a lone just a girl so oh on! Nothing! The Man said: “Would you like some drink or some banana?” Look inside the boat it’s the ….selling boat…. It was surprise me! How much they can sell a day? So I bought them the most expensive Coca Cola 1 US dollar. 1 US dollar/day The best time was at Gusthous and on riding. Bicycle is one thing pretty good in Siem Reap!

Grill fish and French bread are not compatible!

Postcard: 2 for France, 7 for Thailand, 2 for Singapore to compelet my trip!

I should not tell all about my experiences in Siem Reap. Try your own, it’s surprise!

• Visa 20 $
• Guesthouse 4 $
• Bicycle 1 $
• Boat 15 $
• Break fast 3 $
• Coca-Cola 1 $
• Dinner 4 $ etc……

But The experiences can not estimate!

Underneath Thai's Sky

For the end of the year 2006, I've done 2 trip. One at Cambodia another at Kanchanaburi Thailand. At Cambodia, it's the first time during the trip that I felt missing home (So much)! I'm back home early to see my friends and my family(it's not in the plan). But it's excellent to be together with my sisters. Kanchanaburi is our aim for camping! We prepared all the things we need for three days two night. It seem that will we move out!!!

This is the completly trip--not too far from Bangkok--family trip--the last thing is get to konw more the new member of our family (sister's bf). and also i would say Thailand is the country full option! To reach to Huaymaekamin National Park. We have two routes of choices. The first is just drive along the road, the seconde is on the road and on the ferry! As you see in the picture, the sky is so clear, the water is green.

When is the last time we spend time together? Long long time ago....If even i'm going to 30 years old this time i'm still being a girl in my family. We arrived to destination about 3 pm. There are some people are enjoining their camping already. We found the best location under the big tree, with three bed room, one dining room and lounge! Perfect Place! We put up our three tents here.

while my sistets are setting up the tents, the girl like me need to go to discovery with riding bicycle. There are 7 levles of water fall near by our tents. The highest is just 1320 m. from our place. To go to each levle you can ride a bicycle, along the way is the forest of bamboo. So calm! I can hear the sound of bamboo to crowd together ied ied ied!!! which means relaxing!