Thanks rojfitness: I am more like 'a Winter material' or perhaps with some BIG extensions (errrh exaggerations) 'a re-Spring material' ;-) So. yes, keep on looking...

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Hi พูลไท: Yes ภูเรือ was quite nice on my last visit. We did see some clouds below from the lookout on the mountain top. We also visited the 'legendary rock garden' nearby. We have not been to 'Betong'. The South is on our plan, next trip to Thailand. We will be checking out places of historical and environmental interests. We are not interested in 'shopping malls', best restaurants, or bars; but wooden works (of arts); local (indigenous) tools, technologies and buildings; local foods and ways of life, etc. I can't say 'when' yet; still waiting for a few things to clear up.

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Dear โอ๋-อโณ: Andy was 18 years old. We can't say exactly what he died from. We found him lying on the ground in the paddock one Summer morning 2 years ago. He was also salivating and foaming from his mouth. We gave hime some water and we pitched a tarpoline roof to give him some shade from the hot Sun. Half an hour later, he was gone. We could not find any marks or signs of injuries. We didn't think he had eaten anything poisonous (he had been eating everything we grew in the past 18 years). We checked for snake bites but could not find any bite mark. So, we still don't know. People say the most likely cause is a black snake bite. He was our 'lawn mower' and friend. Again, our people friends say he was a lucky bastard -- never had to do a day of hard work in his life.

Life and death are only seaparated by a thin thread of hope!