I've been so busy having a good time I haven't had a chance to tell you about it.

Where do I start?

First, I got an email from Karen Raught, our old librarian and my friend Joann Seiler's cousin . Apparently, Karen found out that I was in Thailand and sought out my email address and blog information from Joann.

It seems that Karen has an old KINDERGARTEN friend who has been teaching here since 1964! a) what are the odds that someone from Hawley is living here also, and b) who keeps in touch with their kindergarten playmates? Thankfully, Karen does.

In rapid succession, I received Karen's email, then an email and phone call from her friend Jim Westgate. Jim splits his time between Bangkok and Korat.   We had a long talk and he invited me to his lovely home in Korat last weekend.

I took the bus for 3 1/2 hours from Mahasarakham and there was Jim and his friend Noi waiting for me as soon as I arrived. We had lunch and then proceeded to his home. That's where the magic began.

I felt like I had been transported right into paradise .

His home is a series of teak buildings along a serene canal surrounded by dense vegetation. The houses are all glass walled and airy and look out over the canal. They're filled with antiques and mementos from friends from all over the world. Every piece is precisely placed to accent but not overwhelm. I think I could spend days just asking Jim about this history behind every single thing right down to the forks.

My bed was a antique looking day bed complete with mosquito net - I felt like a fairy princess, sleeping in the open air, watching monitor lizards swim across the canal, listening to the geckos' call.  

We crossed a wooden bridge over to Jim's friends' island and shared a delicious dinner with Pak Gorn, whose mother was royalty and grew up in the Grand Palace. He was the sweetest, most interesting man and I wanted to pick him up and put him in my pocket and take him home with me . 

Pak Gorn lived in Spain for some years, serving in the navy. Jim trained in the Peace Corps, and taught in Vietnam as well as having taught in the (Thai) Royal Navy and an international school in Bangkok.

Jim knows just about everybody - from Karen Raught, Miss Spall, and Miss Swingle to Thai royalty, the ex-husband of Nancy Chandler (of the Nancy Chandler maps), the originator of Cabbages and Condoms Restaurants (he promotes aids education in Thailand among other things), and Leo Buscaglia (the writer.) And me. I feel so privileged.

In the morning, we had fresh ground Vietnamese coffee and those dear men actually drove me all the way home to Mahasarakham, a journey that took over 4 hours one way (although I'm not sure why it took that long!)

Friends, I have been so honored by my new acquaintances I considered myself truly blessed. I only wish I could pluck my eyeballs out and show you the beauty I have seen. I'll do the next best thing. I'll download some pictures.

Admit it, now, don't you wish you were me?