Our dogs

Since I mentioned that I am a dog lover, here are some pictures of the pack. Pixie is the oldest, she came with us from Germany, but she is a street dog from Spain. She is 14 years old now. Yoda is a temple dog from Bangkok, and Puna lost a leg during the red shirt protests (but it was a car accident, just took place at Ratchadamri during the protests). Pimmy and Pipa are both from Laos. We found Pimmy more dead than alive on the side of the street as a few days old puppy. We got Pipa from our friend Noy, she survived distemper as a puppy.

They live with us in the house, but we walk the dogs at least two times a day, and they can go into the garden whenever they want – or told. Other than most dogs here in the compound our dogs are NOT in a cage, and never will be. 

The way most dogs treated here in the village is just cruel and just not good for the dogs. Single dogs are locked away in the back of the house, others are never allowed to go even outside the house (in particular so called toy dogs). We have a Labrador living in the next street who never walks – even when I offered to walk the dogs, the owners refused. A beagle and a retriever are living alone in the yard of another house, only getting food two times from a maid (at least). 

I am not sure if 170 house and from there around 20 dog owners are a good representation of the state of pet dogs in Bangkok. I actually hope not. It sees that every street dog has at the end a better life than most of those in our Moo Ban.

Puna

Pixie

Yoda

Pipa

Pimmy

 

Sunday noon ride. Hot, but ok with the right gear

Sunday noon ride. Hot, but ok with the right gear

Ride from Samrong to Paradise Park and Rama IV Park

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New beer garden, nice place

New beer garden, nice place

The new beer garden at On Nut

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The new beer garden at On Nut

It took me a while to find the new beer garden that replaced one of my favorite places just next to the BTS station On Nut in Bangkok. Until a few months the beer garden was very local, very improvised but had it's own charme – and a great selection of food and drinks. But it's gone, making space for some entertainment center.
Alternatives came up quickly: Just next to the BTS, still opposite Tesco, opened a small place around a pond, with Thai food stalls and two beer bars. Nothing special but does it for a quick beer.
BUT: The real beer garden experience moved a bit further down. Just take a motobike taxi at the corner of Soi 81 and go for 10 baht around 500 meter. Once you cross the bridge the new beer garden is on you left hand. The On Fire shop moved here, serving excellent German style sausage and German style meatballs as well as fish and chips and different fries. A pizza shop opened as well. Two bars are serving drinks, and several Thai food stalls give you the spicy experience. Plenty of space to sit as well, and still the old price structure (Coke Zero for 20 baht is a real deal). They show even CTH on two big screens
In contrast to the old beer garden you can expect clean toilets here, and they are for free.

In summary, the new place is a bit further away but still in a walking distance and a good alternative to spend some time for dinner. It's a bit better in quality than the old space, what is not a bad thing, just needs a few more food stalls with more variety. It isn't as fancy as W-District, but the advantage is that the hordes of young teachers haven't discovered it yet.

Good morning from Bangkok

Good morning from Bangkok

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The wild honey sellers

It seems that a parking strip opposite our Moo Ban exit is a popular drop off place for street sellers. Nearly every morning we see a pick up truck unloading either pillows and bed covers, mattrasses or - honeycombs.

The guys who are selling the honey and the combs are provided with a bicycle that was also unloaded from the truck and have to roam the street the whole day.

From what the combs looked like I guess it is wild honey that was collected in the forests – and maybe illegally.

Not sure if it actually a good idea to take the combs out large scale because it destroys a bee colony, and bees are so needed for pollination. 

The ultimate guide for exercising in Bangkok

Just in case you want to know, how you can loose some weight or get back into shape, have a look on Karsten Aichholz recent blogpost. He covers nearly all, from running to biking (I provided some routes), workouts inside and outside a gym, Yoga, you name it.
So, no excuse anymore that you just don't know where to start. Move your a**..