Today is when the Royal Ploughing Ceremony takes place – this is a government holiday only and an ancient blessing of the plants and ceremonial start to the new growing season. The action takes place on Bangkok's Sanam Luang in front of the Grand Palace.
Went to fertilise the trees on Plantation number one. This year they are going to get fertilised twice in the hope they will be ready for cutting next year. This will double our production .
The lake is slowly filling up again as water seeps into it from the water table. However it will take the onset of the rainy season to make any significant water level changes.
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In the meantime the remaining stock of catfish have been transferred to the smaller lake behind the dam.
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Yet again we have had to do some minor road repairs,. It took 3 truck loads to patch up the road. Although it is a public road we always seem to be the ones who have to maintain it.
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At the moment two of the most beautiful trees in Thailand are in flower. The first is called Dton haang nok juung – which translates as Peacock Tail Tree – Nok yuung being the Thai name for Peacock – It has bright red flowers and is easily recognizable . Its English name is the Royal Poinciana but it is also known by its common names of the Peacock flower tree, flamboyant tree, or flame of the forest
( Blah nok yuung or peacock fish is the Thai name for the fantail Guppy)
The second Tree is The golden shower tree (Cassia fistula L.) iwhich iss the national flower of Thailand ; its yellow petals symbolise Thai royalty. A 2006-2007 flower festival, the Royal Flora Ratchaphruek, was named after the tree, which is most often called dok khuen or ratchaphruek in Thailand.
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There was a big storm last night which came right over Bandung. I was in Eddies bar when it struck and the power was off for nearly an hour. The Big Palm tree in our garden has snapped falling into the garden diagonally opposite, fortunately it did not hit anything of any consequence . Another tree snapped near the top and the tree next door split in half, again fortunately it missed the telephone cables.
Number 2 and 3 rubber plantations have survived OK with just a few small branches being broken off the trees. Am still awaiting a report on number 1. This is the plantation that suffered badly two years ago when it was hit by a mini tornado and a lot of the trees were bent over.
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