OMG!!

What have I done?
I remember having a nice strong coffee, then feeling good, as you do. I could do anything. Then up popped an email from a friend doing the City 2 Surf. Next thing I know, I find myself registered, linked to a charity and I'd bought the T Shirt!
I haven't run since the army days (40 years); I'm not very good with crowds and this is mixing with 88,000! Why am I so susceptible to a caffeine-induced whim that seemed like a good idea at the time? Oh well, I'll just have to suck it up and feel the pain. If you have any sympathy please consider flicking cancer research five bucks or so for my efforts. Here is the link.  I better go and run around the block, see if I remember how to do it...,.

The Days Are Long

I love Zits; it often reminds me of the wisdom within the dagginess of real life. This one borrows from a great one minute video
The Years Are Short by NY lawyer and author Gretchen Rubin.

Wait! There's more!

I've started a new blog called Daily Painting PPI, in line with the course I'm doing at Sydney Uni called Applied Positive Psych.
And .... I thought I'd use this blog (CSC) to record the highlights of what I'm learning in that course as I go. That will get some great ideas (I think) aired and maybe help me prepare for the exam in May.

Which wolf wins...

One evening an old Cherokee chief told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people. He said, “My son, the battle is between two wolves. One is Evil. It is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.” “The other is Good. It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith. ”

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked, “Grandfather, which wolf wins?  ”The old Cherokee chief simply replied, “The one you feed.”

How do you feel....

... when you watch this video.

'There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth…not going all the way, and not starting.’    
~  Buddha

Some water colours

Flower seller in Can Tho, South Vietnam

   Prayer writer in Hanoi, North Vietnam 

                                Angkor Wat

 Fishers in Ha Long Bay

Pastel of Kerrie's snap at Dr Sketchy's

Thailand - Udanthani

We drove for 8 hours from Chiang Mai to Udanthani, about 500 km - 4 people, snug in a new Honda Jazz, with luggage.
 

... dodging the elephants.

At Mahasarakham University the Dean of Law was very interested in working with BABSEA to set up a legal clinic.

Bruce and Don went on to give another presentation at nearby Rajabhat University. Wendy and I flew to Bangkok.

Thailand - Chiang Mai - Flower Festival

I borrowed Wendy's bike and rode around the city. It is very different to my last visit in 1984, but I remember this 13th century city wall and moat that protected Chiang Mai from the Monguls.

I was very lucky to co-incide with the Chiang Mai Flower Festival, the one day of the year. 3000 exotic orchids on display.

.... and food

for every taste...

except mine.

Nagas riding amazing 3 headed elephants! Made only of fresh flowers

... and a real Flower Queen.

Thailand - Chiang Mai - BABSEA CLE

In Chiang Mai I was hosted by Bruce and Wendy of  BABSEA CLE.  They train local and Western law students in Human Rights and Access to Justice issues.

Bridges Across Borders South East Asia - Clinical Legal Education -HQ. Recently they said good-bye to a bunch of interns from QUT.

BABSEA CLE’s role is to assist, support and to further strengthen CLE programs throughout Southeast Asia – one of the clinics is at the Chiang Mai University.

Laos - Vientiane

King Anouvong reigned from1805 to 1828. Famous for trying to liberate Laos from the Siamese Barbarians. He failed and the Thai ransacked Vientiane, took the king to Bangkok where they tortured him to death publically in a metal cage. 
This new statue is seen as a political statement against the Thai who still see this king as a minor historical rebel who opposed their civilising programs.

 I hired a bike to tour Vientiane and found Wat Sisaket. Built by King Anou around 1810, it was the only Wat to survive the Thai's sacking of the city in 1828.

Lining the portico are thousands of Buddha images.

Many were destroyed in the American War and looters who break off the head in a search for relics.

Beautifully golden, Prathaluang Pagoda, just outside Vientiane. The original stupa contained a rib  ('bussom bone') of the Buddha. Dating from 3rd century, it was rebuilt by King Xaisethathirath in 16th century. 
Note King Anou sitting forever on guard against the Barbarian Siamese.

More visuals from Ha Long Bay ... by request

Ha Long Bay, in Winter

About 6 hours bus East of Hanoi is the mystical Ha Long Bay.

 Climbing up to a limestone cave on one of the islands, I looked back.

My room on the 'Elizabeth Sails'.

Phallic? Or is it just me...

Squid fisher.

Ngoc Son (Jade Mountain) Temple

                   

On an island in the beautiful Hoan Kiem Lake in

central Hanoi, this temple is dedicated to Tran Hung Dao.

Wildlife on chilly Hanoi Lake.

Tran was a 13th C. war hero who lead the Vietnamese in defeating  Mongul Emporer Kubla Khan's invading army of 300,000.  He wrote some treatises on warfare that may well have helped tiny Vietnam later defeat the US.

The lake also is home to these giant water tortoises.