June 20,

We were up and about, having our Javas, and decided to make our own breakfast. Jeff diced a potato as I managed to crack open and scramble a couple of eggs with one left hand! I manage fairly decently. Anyway we had it all ready to go, until we tried to get the electric plate going. It would say it was “on”, but no heat emanated from it and when we tried a setting an error code displayed. We tried to use the gas burner plate, but the gas container was empty. HUMPH!!! Not acceptable!😒😒  So Jeff texted our host of the situation. Knowing this may not be resolved today… we covered the food stuffs and put them in the refrigerator.

Instead Jeff went to the Barbari Bakery and bought a baguette and two cinnamon rolls. The rolls were super fantastic – loaded with cinnamon, made with a denser dough, and topped with a crumble with nuts, not a glaze as such. As we were eating this yumminess, the host had responded and someone came with a replacement electric plate! Not only did the person have the replacement unit, but brought a big pot with a lid and washed it!! That is just an example of service attitude of the Thai people, in general!

Anyway, rest of the day was mostly planning. We did make up our egg potato dish for lunch. The replacement electric plate worked great! For supper we walked over to the walking street, about ¾ of a mile from us. We found mango sticky rice for 40 THB. Then we bought a papaya salad for 30 THB. Lastly we found meat! (caveman emoji) We bought six pieces, amounting to four kinds of meat on sticks: two kinds of sausages- one was spicy; two skewered pork; and two skewered chicken- without the bones… most times the bones are there. Just saying – it’s a thing! We watched a movie then bed… A day living, just someplace else.

     June 21,

I awoke feeling pretty good! I slept well; and my hand did not hurt. I had forgotten – rather didn’t remember – it until I went to take off my CPAP. I didn’t clunk myself in the head, thankfully!!😂🤣 My healing seems to be progressing, at least the bruising on my shoulder/chest and black eye is lessening. I can’t see my hand and that’s probably for the best.

Anyway, we got about, making our Javas. When we finished, Jeff went into the kitchen to do dishes – not really a chore I miss too much, by the way. He discovered we had no water at the faucet! Huh? So we had to WhatsApp text the host… “same, same, but different,” as the saying goes in Thailand. We made ourselves breakfast of the egg-potato dish, like yesterday also. As I write this it really is a deja vu of yesterday! There was communication back and forth. It was not the easy fix of the water tank being empty. So we decided we could safely go to the store for some filtered water, as we were out of this also. When we returned, a couple of men were looking at an electric panel, outside. One came in and introduced himself to Jeff. He’s a friend of our host. Anyway, it’s not the main electrical supply, which we already knew because we have lights. He then said he would be back with someone to look at where the water tank/electric comes into our building. So I blogged; Jeff read.

At 1120, the electricians came. It was a loose wire at the breaker inside the house, so it was fixed/tightened by 1140. We now readied and set out by 1300… An adventure awaits! – well at least getting out more than just the grocery store.🤭

We first went to the Pai Memorial Bridge. It has history tied to it from WWII. After an invasion and subsequent alliance with Japan… the bridge was built to get into Burma. Toward the end war the Japanese destroyed it, but the locals had come to rely on it, and rebuilt it. So what is standing has also been rebuilt, but the history is fascinating. I found the bridge a bit sketchy, but managed clinging to Jeff’s arm. It does span a fast flowing Pai River.

Next we went up a hillside or mountainside – I’m not sure which it is considered. Anyway, there is a white Buddha statue that we have been wanting to get to. It did not take us very long in our trusty car. We arrived at the Wat. The Buddha surrounded by scaffolding, and to boot it was not as big as it seemed. Qualifier here: we have now seen A LOT, as in many Wats by now – one has to really “WOW” us to gain our interest. HUH? Maybe, this is another reason for such opulence, besides the whole funding to help a Buddhist in another life. Don’t judge! Just thinking out loud! So needless to say, we did not climb up the massive staircase to get a closer look due to the scaffolding. We explored the two or three temples here at the Wat Phra That Nae Yen.

We loaded into our car and went to a waterfall. As we drove the road became dirt and pretty much one way/lane traffic only. Thankfully, we never met anyone coming out. When we arrived, it was closed. Probably, why we never had cross traffic. Duh?😂 So Jeff, capably did a three point turn around and we headed back to our place.

We were almost back when we discovered – about 100 m away from our place – a Saturday Market at a little park. He let me off and I explored the area for food as he took the car back. He met me, and I knew what I wanted. He agreed. We bought a Tomato-spinach Quiche, and a piece of Pumpkin Pie for 110 THB ($3.36). We went further and found a Fried Chicken Yellow Curry with potato and a spicy hot cucumber salad for anther 80 THB ($2.44). Taking these back, we had them for lunch. Yummy! For supper we had a Mushroom Cheese Puri from Barbari Bakery and a Green Tea Salad from Free Bird Cafe, as we had enjoyed these immensely the first time around. Tomorrow we leave Pai.