THANK YOU FOR SUPPORT AND GOOD WISHES

Especially the daily visits from Tin-Tin and Nee made my days lighter and brighter. 

I suffered a heavy attack on my leg by some very
angry bacteria and after one week at Bang Saphan
Hospital with antibiotic treatment, I signed out and 
traveled 400 km up to Bangkok where the doctors 
at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital performed 
an emergency operation in order to save my leg.

After that it was changing of bandages every day till the wound was ready for skin-graft.
The skin-graft operation itself was no problem, but I was "living on" Morphine pain killers for the following week. The "mother graft" was just a section of raw meat. I can safely say that I now know what real pain feels like.

So, now I'm back in sunny Bang Saphan, reporting to the local hospital every second day for changing of bandages. 

Hopefully I will be back on the beach, having a dip in the ocean by the end of March.

THAIGRANBO

QUOTE OF TODAY

THE CHIMP AND THE TIGER CUBS

THE CHIMP AND THE TIGER CUBS




When hurricane "Hannah" separated two white tiger cubs from their mother
Anjana came to the resque.



Anjana, a chimp at TIGERS in South Carolina became surrogate mother
and playmate to the cubs, even helping with bottle feeding.



But here is the truly amazing part ; this is something Anjana does all the
time, having helped raise leopard and lion cubs on several occasions.







"Be kinder than necessary because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle".

The DAVID is returning home to Italy

A bit of cultural news for a welcome change .....

The DAVID is to be returned to Italy;

After a two year loan to the United States, Michelangelo's DAVID, the most famous sculpture in the world, is being returned to Italy.

HIS PROUD SPONSORS WERE :

Thaigranbo today: AYUTTHAYA WORLD HERITAGE & RED CROSS FAIR 2010

Thaigranbo today: AYUTTHAYA WORLD HERITAGE & RED CROSS FAIR 2010: "AYUTTHAYA WORLD HERITAGE & RED CROSS FAIR 2010 During December, Ayutthaya celebrates the splendour and glory of it's past with disp..."

AYUTTHAYA WORLD HERITAGE & RED CROSS FAIR 2010

AYUTTHAYA WORLD HERITAGE & RED CROSS FAIR 2010

During December, Ayutthaya celebrates the splendour and glory of it's past with displays of traditional culture and lifestyles, various entertainments and a memorable light and sound show -all with the fitting backdrop of Ayutthaya's ancient ruins and templesThe Ayutthaya Historical Park was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the 13 th. of December 1991. The Park covers much of the old town of present-day Ayutthaya and includes most of the important temple and palace ruins from the Ayutthaya Era (1350 to 1767)

The LIGHT AND SOUND SHOW at Wat Mahatat will depict the history of the Ayutthaya Kingdom period of 417 years. This year, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Rajabhat University will be responsible for the performence's production, which will deploy at least 350 - 400 performers. The audience will be able to admire the talent of elephants in the different scenes. Each round of the show has a capasity of 2.500 seats.

At Wat Langka Khao the reproduced atmosphere of the Ayutthaya Kingdom period (San Sin Thin Moradok Lok) will be provided for people to enjoy before seing the LIGHT AND SOUND SHOW at Wat Mahatat.

The reproduced atmosphere of a retro market that will showcase a market with vendors wearing the old Ayutthaya style clothing and the use of ancient coins (Phot Duang) in exchange for Thai food and desserts.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVAeD705cew

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi2niQIR7oY

www.elephantstay.com

NEWS FROM ELEPHANTSTAY

LAITHONGRIEN MEEPAN (PI OM) RECEIVED THE "TAN KHUN PAN DIN" AWARD.

Tan-Khun-Pan-Din Project has been held continually for four years.

The project selects candidates from various career fields whos creative works and profile are inspirational, benificial to -and recognized by the public in the long run according to the Ministry of Culture, Thailand web-site.

Underneath Laithongrien Meepan (back row, 5 th. from left)and 75 fellow social contributors are posing for photos during the Tan Khun Pan Din ( Outstanding Social Contribution Award) presentation at the Centara Grand Hotel. In collaboration with various organisations, Nation Multimedia Group Plc. organised this project.

MR. LAITHONGRIEN MEEPAN

was born in 1958. A qualified zoologist and with a Masters Degree in Community Development, he is the Founder and Director of the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Elephant Kraal Village and the "Phra Kochabaan Foundation". He has lived on site in the village with the elephants, overseeing and directing everything since it's inseption. He is one of the world's foremost experts on Thai elephant history and culture.

Meepan is the largest private elephant owner in the world, with over 150 elephants. He is the foremost world expert on captive elephant bticereeding, having personally bred more than 40 calves succrsessfully in only 10 years through exper natural breeding. His ex expertise extends to training, unique nutrition development and meeting the special needs of elephants of all ages, character and temperaments, including retraing of elephants that have killed people, to live in free contact with humans.

Meepan personally researched and started a farm to grow special food for elephants. He specialises in training elephants for films, including work with Jackie Chan and Oliver Stone. In addition he trains elephants for theatre productions that include re-enacting elephant fighting during war time. He was the consultant on the "Blue Elephant", Thailand's first animation feature.Meepan also advises the government departments on elephant problems. This includes advice and solutions for street elephants -and wild elephants that have been injured and require relocating and rehabilitation.

Most importantly, Meepan encourages the development of mahouts and staff to raise the status of elephants and their keepers to the noble po once held in the Thai society.

As usual; all the information comes from www.elephantstay.com own Ewa Narkiewicz and Michelle Reedy