Day 4 - A Flight of Tiny Creatures

I have begun printing and have 7 started thus far. I work on my prints in large groups and allow them to evolve together.  I have not yet gone to get the extra supplies I need in Chiang Mai, so I am working with what I have for now.

Across the floor of the studio, up the concrete pillar, through the bamboo branches, and occasionally, on my own skin infinite ants march in varying degrees of manic patterns.  There are more varieties than I can count - or even distinguish completely. There are the tiny black ants that have a treacherous highway with ever oncoming traffic along the bamboo trees. The slightly larger ants on the backsides of the climbing vines that work together building some sort of nest with fine white threads. There are the massive red ones I saw eating the remains of a scorpion that was killed along the road, and the tiny ones that bite, and are always squished before I remember to get a better look at them.

The geckos are not interested in this endless supply of protein on parade, but watch for the mid sided black bugs with large wings. They lay in wait on one side of the concrete pillar, or tree limb, until the winged thing buzzes just a little too close and snap! The gecko retrieves it on its tongue, leaving the wings outside its mouth while it chews. These little things are our house mates also, and since the bugs get in no matter how careful you are with the door, they are welcome houseguests.

Only for a minute, there was a bright red dragonfly the other day, so beautiful and vibrant, but as I moved to try to photograph it, the dragonfly darted off again and I haven't seen it since.

Butterflies are everywhere around the gardens and along the roadsides. Every color and size imaginable has danced through the garden and some, even swirling around one another as they dart from plant to plant. Eva and Maureen swear they saw a colorful butterfly that must have been a foot across a few days ago a the temple. I will have to take a walk over there one day and see if there are any more to be seen.

Day 2 - At Daybreak

I awoke to the roosters somewhere nearby crowing as the sun rose over the horizon. I ignored the first calls, but the sun peering through the skylights alerted me to rise when the second call came. It was 7am and the day had begun and I was missing the coolest part of it. As I sat before breakfast, the birds, lizards, and multitude of insects were already well into their daily doings.

I found my way to Doi Saket with Eva's instructions - it's a game of interpretation with the roads outside of the town center are winding and meet one another organically. I had already waited a bit too long into the day to make the journey on foot, so I quickly found what I needed, and checking the hardware store for some plywood I had foolishly hoped might be there.  Looks like I will need to travel into Chiang Mai to get a few things.

 As the heat of the day flared,  we dragged along at our labors. At lunch, it was decided that we would go swimming at a secret spot Ong and Maureen knew about at a reservoir. We packed up on two motorbikes, two on each with Lotion, one of the dogs, standing on Ong's handlebars; and made the journey past the dam and along pot-holed roads to the swimming spot. Although the water was significantly lower than it had been previously, the water was glorious - almost hot from baking in the sun. It was only cold about four feet down, where our toes dipped into the chilled water, and we stirred and kicked as we treaded water to bring the cold water up to us.

All around us, the jungle plants enveloped the ground, even though just a few months ago there had been a forest fire through some of this area; vines and large leafed plants had taken hold.  The milky green of the water and the burnt orange of the rocky ground was a world away from the place I had been just two days ago - stuck in the swamp of concrete and glass high rises - and now, the sky stretched out above us and the air clean and clear, and the birds calling back and forth to each other from somewhere amongst the green.

I will get to work tomorrow.