Daily Archives: March 19, 2006

A GOOD EXAMPLE

Posted on March 19, 2006 by | 1 comment

Just a quick (and THE LAST, I promise) reflection on the comment on my last blog (TIME TO GO).
I’ve been told to shut up on the ground I am falang and I can not simply accept it, isn’t it a form of racism?.
Who ever has the right to tell me,or someone, else to shut up just because I am expressing an opinion which is, by the way, shared by an increasing number of people in this country (recently also Law Society of Thailand and the Press Council of Thailand)?

I would like to add that in my village’s school where I am helping with the teaching I often have discussions with my fellow teacher about politics. Many of them are strong Takshin’s supporters. After school time we often discuss about the situation, we never agree, we speak and we drink few beers together, some whisky and when we leave nobody surely will ever change his opinion but never, ever, anyone told me to shut up, never!
And surely not because I am a falang!
They told me clearly that they think I am “tin ton nitnoi” but they respect what I say, the same way I do with them and they even like the way I care about their country even though I have opposite view than theirs.
This, as far as I am concerned, is a very good example of democracy!
So why shall a falang tell me to shut up?
I do not get it, if you do not like to read my posting… skip them… but tolerance, respect and education shall always prevail.

I feel that we are all living in the same world, boundaries shall be no limit, what it is happening in Africa, Nepal or Iraq is surely affecting me. I care about the fate of billions of people who live in the same earth we share, whether I have the same the passport or not… I do not care.
Does this mean that I have no right to profoundly admire and love His Majesty the King of Thailand? Or that I can not “nearly worship” Mahatma Gandhi as I am not an Indian?

No, I will not shut up, because I think I have the right to express my opinions unless I am hurting anyone and I strongly feel the state of our world shall be anyone’s concern.
No I will not shut up unless the admin of this blog will tell me to do it, in this case I will surely bend to their orders.

I am wrong? Am I right? I do not know, but just tell me just one more thing.
If nothing is wrong here, may you tell me why so many of you are afraid this blog may be “blacklisted”?
Isn’t “blacklisting” having something to do with dictatorship?
If Thailand is still and really a democracy why are you so afraid of being “Blacklisted”?

Peace and Love to Thailand and the whole world.

PS: I am thinking about giving 500 bahts to everyone who posts a positive comment about my blogs… ring a bell?

SURIN, March 19th, 2549

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Posted in Guest Writers

Isaan, Amphor Sahatsakan, Kalasin Province

Posted on March 19, 2006 by | 1 comment

The town of Sahatsakan in the Amphor of the same name is located about 30
kilometers north of the town of Kalasin in the province of the same name.
Not much more than a wide spot in the road, in a province that doesn’t even make it into the “Lonely Planet Guide” This amphor is well worth a mornings visit if you are ever in the area.

On top of the hill overlooking the town sits an enormous Buddha image with a span of nearly 11 meters across the knees.

Also right in town is wat Sakawan and an attraction signposted as Isaan Juraic Park. This small attraction has an excavation showing some of the dinosaur bones found in the area and some intersting displays in the same building. Behind the building you can see dinosaurs models being constucted and a fine little garden with a well tagged collection of local stone. This place is really well done in spite of it’s rather pretencious name.

Travelling north a few minutes brings you to a signpost for a silk village. No the village is not made of silk, but part of the OTOP program in the Province There is some beautiful handmade products here. In the average day a weaver can produce 2.5 centimeters of material. If one of the OTOP managers is around you can get a very interesting explanation of the weaving process and colour and pattern in the finshed piece.

Okay, so now it’s up the road a bit to Phra Buddha Saiyat Phu Khao and the recling Buddha image there. Just before getting to the wat there is an amazing wooden sala made of wood salvaged before the filling of nearby Lam Pao resovoir. The carving and artwork in the sala is quite beautiful, and a real challenge to photograph.

From there you can walk or drive up a Buddha image lined lane to the wat.

In the wat compound are a variety of interesting statuary, a sala lined floor to ceiling with an enormous amulet collection and then down the walkway to the reclining Buddha said to date to the 1600s. The unique feature about this image is that the Buddha is recling on his left side.

Kalasin Province is not big on the “tourist” circuit, but is well worth a visit if you enjoy quiet touring, without the crowds, noise or commercialism of the mainline centres.

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Posted in Isaan, Kalasin