"Won't you be my neighbor?" Our Santitham neighborhood.

[Hi! this is George posting]

Do you remember Mr. Rogers? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmplK_MOEnc

Well, I am no Mr. Rogers (maybe “Gaston”? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JG6f5_37tg) but for us, Santitham has been great to experience a Thai neighborhood. During the day, we’ve tried to at least wave “hello” to neighbors who are often working (laundry, hair salons, food cart vendors, grocers, etc.) and in some cases, have a very elementary conversation of our no Thai (yet), their smidgen of English, universal hand signals, and smiles. The Thais are always very courteous, friendly, and engaging.

Young, entrepreneurial couple - owners of Flips & Flips (see Christine's blog from 30 August)

Street food in Chiang Mai is cooked literally anywhere (unlike in Singapore hawker centres). These fellows are preparing food that will later sell in street carts. Whoa pardner, watch those peppers!  At about 100,000 Scoville heat units, each T… — Street food in Chiang Mai is cooked literally anywhere (unlike in Singapore hawker centres). These fellows are preparing food that will later sell in street carts. Whoa pardner, watch those peppers! At about 100,000 Scoville heat units, each Thai pepper is 40X hotter than jalapeño. Thais (and many Asians) routinely wear face masks for various reasons. I prefer to wear the NIOSH approved N-95 particulate respirator although it tends to provoke anxiety in the colocutor. When we informed this gentleman (no MAGA hats here) that we're from the U.S., he started chanting "Obama! Obama!" I'll skip what he gestured later about the current WH occupant.

Last night Christine and I ate dinner at a tiny restaurant one street corner away from our condo. Then we walked around the block during a pleasant, clear-sky evening. The small side streets are called "soi". For example, our condo building D'Vieng Santitham is on Hussadhisawee, Soi 8. Here’s our evening stroll around the neighborhood…

We ate dinner here. I often get my breakfast here, too, such as a plate of Pad Krapow Moo Saap (Fried Basil and Pork) over rice with fried sunny side up egg on top for 35 baht (US$0.92).  I sit on that red plastic stool. The husband c… — We ate dinner here. I often get my breakfast here, too, such as a plate of Pad Krapow Moo Saap (Fried Basil and Pork) over rice with fried sunny side up egg on top for 35 baht (US$0.92). I sit on that red plastic stool. The husband cooks from 7am to early evening. His wife (who must also have a day job) then cooks until 10pm while he motorcycles off to get more supplies. Young people are constantly stopping here to pick up a late quick take-away meal. Millennial Thai workers often live in the home of their parents -- "...NOT that there's anything wrong with that..."

There are several laundresses who are always managing enormous piles of clothes as most households here do not have washing machines. They work hard and late. The average monthly household income (2012 data) in Chiang Mai is a bit more than 18,000 b… — There are several laundresses who are always managing enormous piles of clothes as most households here do not have washing machines. They work hard and late. The average monthly household income (2012 data) in Chiang Mai is a bit more than 18,000 baht (US$575).
Notice the pictures of Thai Royalty including that of beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej who was the word's longest reigning king before he died last year. https://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1349239/tears-flow-openly-at-historic-cremation/ Thais deeply revere their King who is considered to be semi-divine and referred to as *Prachao Yu Hua*—“Lord above your head”. For example, one must never step on a Thai banknote because the King's picture is printed on it. We arrived in Chiang Mai the week after the "Queen Mother's Birthday" national holiday. Queen Sirikit is the Queen of former King Bhumibol and mother of reigning king Vajiralongkorn. Most buildings including D' Vieng Santitham were elaborately decorated to honor her.

Walking past this business, I waved at this late-working Dress Maker Tailor who waved back. She gave me permission to take this photo. Notice again the pictures of Thai Royalty on the top shelf. The Thai flag has stripes of red (Thai land and people… — Walking past this business, I waved at this late-working Dress Maker Tailor who waved back. She gave me permission to take this photo. Notice again the pictures of Thai Royalty on the top shelf. The Thai flag has stripes of red (Thai land and people), white (religions), and blue (the monarchy - double width). Earlier flags (when Siam) had a white elephant centered in a red field. The white elephant "chang samkhan" is auspicious in both Hinduism and Buddhism, and strongly associated with Thai kings. One of our friends recently emailed us a link to a U.K. story about a tourist playing with a baby elephant. The link was blocked by the Thai Digital Ministry for Economic and Social Affairs because of "inappropriate content".
The standing fan on left and white air conditioner on top right are necessities here - hot & humid as my growing up in Houston. In the other pics you'll usually see shoes/slippers outside and whirring fan inside. Notice the yellow sign outside asking people to remove shoes before entering. In Thailand one always removes shoes before entering a Wat, but also in schools, small shops, and homes.

Almost all the businesses in the neighborhood are tiny storefronts where work and living spaces merge. This seamstress has her dog and mannequin to keep her company into the night.

Barbershops are numerous, open until the late evening and almost everyday except Wednesday. Apparently the Thai king would traditionally have his hair cut on a Wednesday, and Thais thought it disrespectful to cut their hair on the "royal haircu… — Barbershops are numerous, open until the late evening and almost everyday except Wednesday. Apparently the Thai king would traditionally have his hair cut on a Wednesday, and Thais thought it disrespectful to cut their hair on the "royal haircut" day. I will need to visit a barber soon because my adorably adult children have said on WhatsApp video that my pony tail needs "to be shaped". Haircuts cost almost 300 baht in the expat area, e.g., Nimmanhaemin Road area. In our neighborhood it's usually 120 baht (US$3.67). But I'm still researching because I don't want to overpay. I found a cheap barber-tattoo shop nearby so it's possible I'll return home looking considerably different.
By the way, less than 15% of Thais use WhatsApp. Thai millennials live on their smartphones (see the barber), and social media is the totality of their web experiences. >80% of connected Thais use social media or instant messaging platforms on a daily basis, and >90% of them access via LINE, a Japanese instant messaging platform. Young Thais don't ask for your phone # or gmail address. They ask "What's your LINE?"
Also notice the farang https://theculturetrip.com/asia/thailand/articles/is-it-offensive-to-call-westerners-farang/ --- rare in the neighborhood but this one is pretty and seems quite friendly.

Back to our home base. I think it's time for a relaxing and cooling swim in the pool.   หวัดดี, George. — Back to our home base. I think it's time for a relaxing and cooling swim in the pool. หวัดดี, George.