http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/ http://images.fotki.com/logo3.gif http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/ http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005225.html View from the plane window as we arrive at Bangkok's new airport. It is good to see that the King is still well-loved.
]]> http://images34.fotki.com/v1147/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5225-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:12:30 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005227.html Our kite team always travels light...
]]> http://images35.fotki.com/v1132/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5227-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:12:33 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005228.html Welcome to Thailand!
]]> http://images31.fotki.com/v1101/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5228-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:12:35 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005230.html TAT had a spacious truck to tote all our stuff to the festival.
]]> http://images33.fotki.com/v1115/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5230-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:12:38 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005232.html Loading the truck with the American team kites -- eventually the truck would fill up with kites and gear from over a dozen countries.
]]> http://images33.fotki.com/v1137/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5232-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:12:40 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005239.html Sunrise over Bangkok
]]> http://images36.fotki.com/v1161/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5239-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:12:43 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005243.html Orchids grow off a tree in front of the Emerald Hotel in Bangkok. Not where we stayed, but across the street.
]]> http://images34.fotki.com/v1149/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5243-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:12:46 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005246.html Apparently the guys constructing the tower on the left suddenly noticed the shop on the right....
]]> http://images33.fotki.com/v1139/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5246-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:12:50 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005251.html In front of a business, a display showing reverence and respect for the King.
]]> http://images36.fotki.com/v1156/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5251-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:12:54 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005252.html No durian allowed. I don't know if it is because they smell horrible, or whether this is in response to stories of muggers using them as a weapon (think a coconut with spikes) but either way it is a good idea!
]]> http://images36.fotki.com/v1157/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5252-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:12:56 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005257.html Spirit house in front of a business in Bangkok.
]]> http://images36.fotki.com/v1158/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5257-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:12:59 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005259.html Spirit houses are everywhere -- this one on a balcony of an apartment.
]]> http://images34.fotki.com/v1126/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5259-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:13:02 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005261.html Boarding the bus to go to Cha-am and the festival.
]]> http://images34.fotki.com/v1124/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5261-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:13:05 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005264.html View from the window of the bus
]]> http://images36.fotki.com/v1156/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5264-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:13:07 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005266.html One of the very many temples in Bangkok
]]> http://images31.fotki.com/v1093/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5266-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:13:10 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005267.html Oops.
]]> http://images36.fotki.com/v1160/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5267-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:13:13 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005274.html Passing a salt-drying flat along the road to Cha-am. Wind-power is used to pump water from into the flats, where it dries and leaves salt behind.
]]> http://images33.fotki.com/v1139/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5274-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:13:16 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005276.html Workers collecting the salt.
]]> http://images34.fotki.com/v1124/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5276-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:13:18 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005283.html Mountains between Bangkok and Cha-am.
]]> http://images33.fotki.com/v1137/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5283-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:13:21 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005287.html Buddha and scaffolding, as viewed from the bus.
]]> http://images36.fotki.com/v1159/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5287-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:13:24 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005288.html A spirit house store.
]]> http://images33.fotki.com/v1137/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5288-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:13:26 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005290.html A lizard. Seriously.
]]> http://images33.fotki.com/v1142/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5290-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:13:29 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005291.html Arriving at the Methavalai Hotel in Cha-am, we are made to fee welcome.
]]> http://images33.fotki.com/v1137/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5291-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:13:32 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005292.html Hotel lawn set up for a welcome dinner for the kite fliers.
]]> http://images31.fotki.com/v1095/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5292-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:13:35 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005294.html Me in a typical tourist photo -- "This is the lovely Methavalai hotel balcony, where we stayed in Cha'am."
]]> http://images34.fotki.com/v1123/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5294-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:18:06 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005295.html View from the room at the Methavalai
]]> http://images33.fotki.com/v1142/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5295-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:18:09 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005297.html View of the Methavalai hotel in Cha'am.
]]> http://images33.fotki.com/v1142/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5297-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:18:12 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005298.html The Methavalai supplies lovely house slippers for wear in the rooms, but did not count on big Westerner feet.
]]> http://images30.fotki.com/v473/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5298-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:18:15 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005300.html Thai musicians perform at the welcome party.
]]> http://images32.fotki.com/v1091/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5300-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:18:17 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005301.html Serpent kites flying along the edge of the lawn at the welcome party.
]]> http://images34.fotki.com/v1122/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5301-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:18:21 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005305.html The fruit carving lady, carving fruit.
]]> http://images33.fotki.com/v1068/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5305-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:18:25 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/100b5312.html Thai dancer
]]> http://images33.fotki.com/v1137/photos/4/425885/6012997/100B5312-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:17:42 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005370.html Welcoming diner party at the Methavalai
]]> http://images31.fotki.com/v1099/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5370-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:18:28 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005374.html Sign at the hotel in Cha'am
]]> http://images32.fotki.com/v1109/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5374-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:18:32 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005381.html Thai dancers at the welcome party
]]> http://images33.fotki.com/v1116/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5381-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 14:18:36 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005386.html After dinner, we head to the tailor shop, the traditional American hang-out in Cha'am. This year, Australians, British, French and Spaniards joined us. Next time, the tailor will need a bigger shop if this keeps up.
]]> http://images32.fotki.com/v1107/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5386-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:18:40 GMT http://public.fotki.com/JMartJr/kite_fests/10th-thailand-inter-1/arrive-in-bangkok-a/1005387.html Mike, wearing the shirt made for him last time, gets measured for more custom tailoring.
]]> http://images31.fotki.com/v1097/photos/4/425885/6012997/100_5387-th.jpg Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:18:44 GMT