Pictures that Captured 2013
2013 was a busy, fun-filled year. So many things were happening all the time that I didn’t blog very much at all. Here is a photo overview highlighting some memorable moments of 2013. It’s really a summary of what could have been about 20 blog posts organized chronologically for the year. Enjoy!
Starting out on January first with old friends, Cara and Katie, in Chicago.
Upon returning back to Chiang Mai, I said goodbye to the rice field in my backyard and moved into…
…this house in the city.
My new backyard…
kitchen
and upstairs outside patio
Moving into the city exchanged quiet solitude for active social life and lots more people visiting me at my home.
Visitors of all ages
Seeking some of the tranquil beauty, Kenny and I headed north to Chiang Dao.
Kenny chilling in the river next to the hot springs.
The weekend of 3 friend’s birthdays started with Kate’s 40th at The Four Seasons in Mae Rim. Ooh laa laa!
The celebrations continued with Rose’s birthday vinyasa with Vari at Wild Rose Yoga Studio…
…and finished with Anthony’s 30th at San Kampaeng hot springs.
Still teaching outside the city in nature at Panyaden School all day Monday – Friday, living in the city has helped balance out my former semi-reclusive life with a lot more time with friends.
To make students aware of where their food comes from, we took a field trip to a rice mill.
A plus about my house in the city is knowing the neighbors. An afternoon of haircuts by Guillaume, with Christophe, Rose, and Felicity, in my neighbor Christophe’s backyard.
After doing a fun run for Burmese refugees in the morning, I headed to Pai for a 3-day weekend in late February for some time to read and relax by myself.
The school year ended mid-March before Chiang Mai got too smoky and hot. This was one group student of projects – making their own vehicles.
Friends of Panyaden (our school’s PTA, with me representing the T part) had an end of the year picnic at the ‘sticky waterfall’.
‘The sticky waterfall’ is an unusual type of rock formation that doesn’t allow the rocks to become slippery. It is possible to walk up the waterfall, even for children. Very cool indeed.
An array of purple hues: birthday flowers, pretty lights, and lanna weaving.
Christophe and I took a holiday in Chiang Dao for his birthday, also in mid-March, but it was getting very smoky.
To escape the smoke of Northern Thailand in the end of March, it was time to head south.
Pong and I headed to a little island.
Our bamboo beach hut
Inside our bamboo bungalow
colorful crabs
beautiful beaches
perplexing pirate ships
This is how cashew nuts grow. It’s just the part on the end of a big fruit. They need to be harvested individually, the nut is then cut from the fruit, shelled, and dried. Quite a process. It explains why they’re expensive.
Caring for an injured hornbill
Thai style ceviche
Cute girls on a swing
Our canine travel companion
And the nightly beautiful sunsets made me want to stay in that special place for a long time. Thai ‘summer’ school break was coming to an end, and after almost 3 weeks on the beach with no internet, it was time to return to the Chiang Mai heat of mid-April…
Just in time for Songkran, Thai New Year and water throwing festival. Alana laughing with Pong, who is armed and ready.
This is who might soak you during Songkran.
Starting the new school year in May, my students wrote brochures on what they like to do in Chiang Mai province. This student gives clever tips on how to stay dry during Songkran.
Bekkah gives me a yogic lift
Dogs on motorbikes never cease to amuse me.
Rekindling an old passion, I took ceramic classes on the weekends. Here are some of my pieces, glazed but not fired.
My outstanding ceramics teacher Jern, showing me trimming techniques.
High tea with Alana at the Chedi. More food than we can eat.
Pong and Rose having a laugh over kanom jeen at Chiang Mai Gate.
Backyard blooming lotus in June
This stunning creature devoured most of my African Mask plants.
When I took my car to the mechanic because it was overheating, he fixed the engine problem. He was a better mechanic than driver, because he returned my car like this after he ran into my friend’s car. Don’t worry, he’ll fix it.
To learn about Thai culture and history, we took a field trip to a 700 year old temple in Chiang Mai.
Wat Jed Yot
On those sultry summer days in July, a Thai tea really hits the spot.
Kru Jeab captivating her K2 students at Panyaden.
A week off in the end of July took me to these turquoise waters off the coast of Ko Adang National Park.
Lovely Mon Chaem just north of Chiang Mai
One of the coolest insects I’ve ever seen. Anyone know what this iridescent orange, turtle shaped beetle thing is called?
Planting rice with Kru Neung and our students on Thai Mother’s Day, August 5th.
We will eventually eat this rice at school.
The green season sure is lovely. View from Panyaden School.
To make Panyaden even more beautiful, we thought we’d attract some more birds by building them houses.
My nickname has made it to Thailand!
Detail of the silver wat in Chiang Mai.
Surfing in Chiang Mai at Art in Paradise.
Pong gets some wine
Good thing I had the bridge. The little kid didn’t quite make it.
October in the countryside outside of Pai
Spirit house Samui
Fantastic Thai massage from Pi Niam in an unlikely spot – on the beach in Ko Samui.
My day of luxury at Saree Samui
The lovely new detail to my gate.
An October day out at Huay Tung Tao with Rowan
Acroyoga in the park with Emily
Acroyoga in my living room with Emily, Zahara, Neko, and Vari.
Leading my students on a walking meditation at Panyaden
Taking the students hiking and playing in the river at our Doi Inthanon overnight field trip.
Moths of unusal size
Doi Inthanon trip
Near the top of the highest point in Thailand, Doi Inthanon
Hike at Doi Inthanon
In November we made krathongs at Panyaden for Loy Krathong
Students dancing for Loy Krathong
Letting my krathong go
Floating krathongs on the lake at Panyaden.
The Yee Peng festival at Mae Jo University. 10,000 komloys let off at once.
Lauren and I made our own krathongs to float on the Ping river for Loy Krathong
Letting off a komloy from a rooftop in Chiang Mai with Kenny.
Funny signs in Chiang Mai (there are lots of these – blog post coming soon).
Kate and I thinking we might have an Owen Wilson sighting as they film The Coup in Chiang Mai. Alas, we didn’t see him.
I had about 30 people to my house for Thanksgiving dinner. This is only a small part of the feast.
Some of the Thanksgiving friends, Abby, Mark, Jessica, Sarra, and Balaram.
Amazing insect
‘Iron chef’ judges tasting our creations for the cooking competition at our Doi Inthanon staff outing.
No question that nature is the best artist. Unbelievable chrysalis.
Father’s Day rice harvest with Kru Jan on December 5th.
Does Kenny have happy saliva? NAP fair in Chiang Mai.
Beautiful Chiang Dao at Yang Tone Farmstay.
Super smily girl in the hot spring.
Teachers and students at Panyaden raising money for the Philippines by singing.
Our staff costume party. The theme was a childhood book character. I won second prize, probably because I spoke in rhyme.
Cat in the Hat and Snow White/zombie.
Silly breakfast shot at Good Morning Chiang Mai with Joe, Zsa Zsa, Johnny, Rose, Lorenzo, and Emily.
Fun day out in Warorot Market and at Thamel Tea House with Rose.
Fun to see Armando, who I met here two years ago, and meet his girlfriend.
Lovely, yet chilly, Ayurveda and yoga retreat at Om Waters.
Yoga at Om Waters
Angie, Dao, Heather, Balaram, Yan, Hannah, Sarra, Rose and Surya for our Om Waters retreat
Temple dogs in sweaters
Having old friends Dan and Mila visit for Christmas
Dan and PJ jamming silly songs in Chiang Dao
Happy birthday PJ in Chiang Dao. Very chilly December 28th.
Lots of love and gratitude to everyone who made 2013 such a wonderful year. Happy 2014!
I’ve stayed in all types of rooms there – from the national park dorms with students, to Karen homestays on the ground of a bamboo hut with a tour group, to basic bungalows with friends, to slightly more upscale rooms with colleagues – each one gives a different experience of the park.
And the things that are quintessentially Thai…
Land of Infinite Possibilities 
