It Is A Fact,

that over the years I have very bad luck with anything electrical,

especially computers and laptops, so this is a 'must have' for myself, a low-tech IT amulets that promise to keep computers from freezing and restarting randomly, as well as free from viruses and malware, the Kanda Myojin, is a popular Shinto shrine in Akihabara, Tokyo sells a variety of amulets and prayers, but none as intriguing as the “computer function amulet”. Consisting of a small, CPU-shaped sticker meant to be stuck onto the gadget in need of divine protection and a larger piece of cardboard meant to be worn by the computer operator, the amulet is one of the most popular items offered by Kanda Myojinm. If used correctly, the amulet will allegedly protect your machine from viruses, malware and random errors, as well as keep it from freezing up,

just the sort of thing that I need, the Kanda Myojin shrine sells its IT amulet for 1,200 yen via its official website, at today's rate £7.36 or $9.25, and offers domestic shipping as well, it sounds to good to be true, what is the catch?. unfortunately, there is no overseas shipping, so it means I will have to visit the shrine personally, I wonder how much a return ticket to Japan, is and the cost of a taxi to the Kanda Myojin shrine?

Never Drive Fast In The Rain,

as things can go badly wrong very quickly,

as the business man driving this 36 million baht ($1.1 million) black Lamborghini found out when driving in the rain at 150 kilometres per hour, losing control he hit a tree and the car split in two,

before the crash, the businessman said he stopped at a temple in Nakhonsawan province to make merit and his friend warned him that he should wear a Buddha amulet while driving a long distance, He then put on the amulet, well may be the amulet worked, amazingly when medics arrived the owner was standing by the roadside talking on the phone with his insurance representative, He sustained only minor injuries, but I think the crash was fatal for the car.

Our Next Stop,

the temple of the 300,000 baht coin Buddha,

I would tell you its name, but I do not know it!

I have searched the Internet, and found a few temples with a similar theme, but not this exact one, 

but then our guide Suwat did say he would be taking us to places seldom visited by tourists, 

before going inside, 

Diana was told that touching one of the temple terrapins would bring good luck, 

the trick is not to poke one in the eye,

beside the pond some statues, 

just outside, the Phra Naga Prok Mongkolkit will protect you, this image is often seen as a amulet, the image or statue is often referred to as the “Buddha Sheltered by Naga,” it is one of the most distinctive and revered images in Thai Buddhist iconography. The image portrays the seated Buddha, meditating deeply, while being shielded from above by the multi-headed serpent king, Mucalinda,

and a bit of fun, 

going inside there are statues representing 7 different days, one for each day of the week, this is Diana's,

the reclining Buddha,

covered in coins, 

the statue is huge, 

I am guessing some 35 or 40 feet long, 

all totally covered, 

in coins, 

I have no idea, 

what the thought is behind it,

but it is certainly impressive,

coins of different colours, 

are used to make highlights on the statue

at the foot of the statue, a footprint, that you can leave coins in, 

going behind the statue the back is also fully covered, 

I took a few photographs, 

of some of the other statues,

in the temple, 

then outside a strange surprise, 

this is a offering 'tree' what was surprising was that all of the notes here were from the Philippines, 

a last look at the reclining buddha, 

the staircase,

with Naga on each side,

it was a wonderful side trip to a unique temple, back into the mini van and we were on our way.

How Many People Remember The Masquerade?

the illustrated children's book written by Kit William over 30 years ago, it all began with Masquerade, a 1979 story about a love affair between the Moon and the Sun, and Jack Hare, their four-legged go-between who carried a treasure from one to the other, but lost it in transit, it took Williams three years to paint the book's 15 highly-detailed illustrations, just over a month to make the beautiful 18-carat-gold amulet, and one very dark night it was secretly buried, within the book were clues to it's location,

tens of thousands of people started digging up parks around Britain, spade in one hand, muddied book in the other, every so often stopping to study the beautiful illustrations which contained messages around their borders and to re-read the poem on the title page,

it wasn't just Brits: one German man sold his home and moved to the UK to compete in the hunt, others became so frustrated and obsessed that they needed psychiatric treatment, a man called Fred Hancock was so fanatical he drove 120,000 miles from spot to spot, digging as he went, apparently, you can still see the indentations on Plymouth Hoe where Hancock and a friend dug 17 holes,

finding the hare was everything, beautiful though it was, it was worth only £5,000, no one was ever going to get rich, except perhaps in spirit, whoever found the hare would possess a symbol that spoke eloquently of their effort and skill in finding, well I will not spoil the ending but if you want to know the full story go here, for me I remember well the story but I can hardly believe it was 30 years ago, how time flies!

We Know It Is Not Yet Halloween,

but as it was Saturday we decided to hit the town,

so a 'Happy Hallowen' to everyone, but back to the morning, straight on with the post as there is a lot of pictures,

first thing and we were painting again,

the security grill around the water meter,

inside and out,

just in case,

then we were off with friends to the National Stadium on Soi Chaiyapruk,

we were going there for a National sale and authentication of Thai amulets, these are made by many temples and are worn on a chain, they have different properties bestowed upon them such as life safety, invincibility, good luck, wealth, fortune, attractiveness, evil protection, but before we went inside I noticed there was a band, the outside is also used as a training ground for marching bands,

also outside there were a number of food stalls,

once inside I was amazed at the number of stalls,

the hall itself was big enough for almost any indoor sports to be played,
 

so we started our walk around,

every stall had many different types of amulets on display for sale, some in metal but most made of clay,
 

this was the sign behind the main viewing area,

in the front of it a group of experts photographing and authenticating amulets,

as I mentioned before the hall was huge, we arrived in the early afternoon, by then a number of stall holders had already left, but there was still so much to look at,

table after table with different amulets,

as I mentioned by now many had left,

one thing I had expected to see here was some examples of Thai 'bullet' money, but I did not see one example of them like the ones above, in 1857, England's Queen Victoria became aware of the coin shortage in Thailand and sent King Rama IV a coining machine as a gift, this was used to produce the first machine-made Thai coins, until then Mexican coins were especially popular for international use because Mexico was the biggest silver producer in the world, bullet coins continued in use for many years, and were finally withdrawn from circulation in October 1904, it just seemed strange that there were none on display here,

we then went outside for a drink, like some of theses novice monks,

Diana with an ice coffee, if you look closely you will see a battery powered flapping bird just behind her,

then after looking at the amulet exhibition and sale our nest stop was the Saturday/Wednesday market in Soi Khao Talo, if you go towards Sumkivitt on Thepprisitt Road turn left at the lights then right at the next set, over the railway line and it is about a mile along on the right hand side,

 

like most markets there is always a household goods section,

 

but mainly the stalls sell food,

both prepared,

and fresh, now when I go out on a boat fishing why do I not catch fish as big as these?

 

as I am eating more salads it was nice to find some small radishes,

as well as peppers,

 

and tomatoes,

we also found some nice fresh garden peas to nibble on,

lots of grapes too,

and some nice fresh lemons,

did I mention there were clothes stalls there as well?

 

some cooked bamboo shoots,

 

although people do not seem to use it much nowadays this is betel nut and the leaves you wrap it in to chew it, I tried it once and was completely unimpressed by it,

there was plenty of dried fish on display as well,

these it appears at just 25 baht a bundle,

we then called in to see Juu, Diana just loves the play animals,

but she is a bit too big for a ride!

meanwhile I was looking at the fish,

they are getting huge,

this is their food, twice a day,

one splash and it is gone!

then as the moon came up,

it was glad rags on and we were off to town,

 

we walked along Second Road to Soi Diamond,

and into Walking Street,

past the neon signs, it was still before 07.00 in the evening so cars and mobile stalls are still in the street,

under the Samsung television,

to Pattaya Beer Garden, this is the view along the bay from the walkway to it,

 their card,

and map,

each table has a small light, but a torch is provided to read the menu,

out in the bay one of the floating restaurants,

the view along the other side of the bay with me in the way of it,

 

Diana decided on a margarita,

whilst I settled on a beer, we also ordered a plate of Thai starters,

we both liked the way the fish came wrapped,

 

time for another beer,

we then ordered some chicken strips, we both thought that there would be a couple of thin pieces of chicken as finger food, but there was so much of it,

 

that I just had to have another beer!

the moon was now in view over the bay,

then margarita finished,

Diana decided to get into Halloween spirit and order a Zombie,

and nice it was too,

then before I knew it I was out of beer again so Diana helped me,

our main course then arrived, garlic cooked prawns for Diana, curried chicken and rice for me,

 

we were by now completely full so it was then time for our walk around town,

 

a group of party goers in the Halloween mood,

it also appeared that there was a Halloween party going on at the Cavern,

we walked along the street past the big tree,

lots of neon lights as we then started on our way back,

 

I must admit I thought there would be many more people dressed up for Halloween, but we still had a great Halloween evening, so then home,

 

and feet up for another episode of Silent Witness, then from us,

'Happy Halloween!' for us we were off to bed.