Take a bath in front of the whole neighborhood

That's what my wife does in her Southern Thai village, doesn't think a thing of it, carrying on several conversations at once. The Thai bathe at least twice a day, and in all the years -- more than 50 -- I've been here, I've never smelled a single case of B.O., even on crowded buses in the heat of the afternoon in Bangkok. Remarkable how at the end of a hot day, everyone's shirt seems as freshly pressed as in the morning.

It was a shock to move from Thailand in 1963 to England, where many people bathed once a week. Standing in line next to nice English ladies one day at Sainsbury market, I actually thought I might be downwind from the cheese department.

Take a bath in front of the whole neighborhood

That's what my wife does in her Southern Thai village, doesn't think a thing of it, carrying on several conversations at once. The Thai bathe at least twice a day, and in all the years -- more than 50 -- I've been here, I've never smelled a single case of B.O., even on crowded buses in the heat of the afternoon in Bangkok. Remarkable how at the end of a hot day, everyone's shirt seems as freshly pressed as in the morning.

It was an olefactory shock to move from Thailand in 1963 to England, where many people bathed 
once a week. Standing in line at Sainsbury, you thought you were in the cheese department.

True tropical paradise: cool green and lush village morning today

True tropical paradise: cool green and lush village morning today in southern Thailand. Vs. dessicated hot Isaan last week. Temp this morning here in Nakorn Sri Thammarat only 28 v. 30 up north. Difference: year round rain here creates real jungle. View from my bedroom at wife's house.

Rubber price in drastic decline but have't heard a complaint yet. Most of their focus on kids.

A scene from Paul Gaughan

True tropical paradise: cool green and lush village morning today

True tropical paradise: cool green and lush village morning today in southern Thailand. Vs. dessicated hot Isaan last week. Temp this morning here in Nakorn Sri Thammarat only 28 v. 30 up north. Difference: year round rain here creates real jungle. View from my bedroom at wife's house.

Rubber price in drastic decline but have't heard a complaint yet. Most of their focus on kids.

A scene from Paul Gaughan

Escape to Isaan heat

Temp 40 C (104 F) at our farm house today, radiant wall temps to 43 deg. Wet rags under fan cool to 27 (thankfully)