Wow - this is a fantastic thread. Very witty, insightful and well-written. I read it from page 1-15 in one sitting. Such a shame Ed is no longer living in Chanthaburi - actually it is only there in the mountains that it is so wet...we have a place there in Kung Wiman close to the sea and are there every weekend. Funny that he's now gone to live in Isaan...my husband comes from Ubon and he says Chanthaburi is like Isaan was in the old days in terms of nature and wildlife. Unfortunately they cut down most of the trees. Case in point, during the "sadao" (neem) tree season in February, his Isaan relatives take the flowers from our place back home for a treat. They hardly have any of those trees there any more.