Big fish from the Mekong

This morning, just down the road from our arts guest house on the banks of the Mekong River in NE Thailand, everybody was discussing the big fish that one of the fishermen had caught.  They rang the restaurant just downstream from us and the lady on the left came with her motorbike to buy it and take it back for this evening's menu.

Our neighbour's farmhouse.  Most people have a house like this on the farm as well as in the village.  Often the men will stay there overnight.  I suspect this is to drink Thai whisky and get away from their wives.

We have an arts retreat guesthouse in NE Thailand where I teach painting and photography. My wife introduces our guests to Thai village life and local food.
http://thailand-painting-holidays.com

#painting #holiday #thailand #travel #vacation #photography #culture #experience
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Early morning in the village of Ban Pho in Isaan NE Thailand, where we take our guests to see village life and meet Waree's family.

I teach painting and photography. My wife introduces our guests to Thai village life and NE Thailand cooking.  We provide full board and guided discovery trips limited to 4 to 6 people at out arts guest house in NE Thailand http://thailand-painting-holidays.com

#painting #holiday #thailand #travel #vacation #photography #culture #experience
http://www.jeremyholton.com
by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

Blessing during my wedding in NE Thailand

This is our wedding and show's my wife Waree's mother tying magic string around my wrist while she says words of blessing, which I can't understand as she is speaking Thai/Lao.

Waree supports my arm and I hold my left hand up.

This is a great tradition in NE Thailand and every time we return to Australia we have many strings around our wrists from the good luck blessings we have had from family, friends and neighbours.

 Visit our art and photography arts retreat guest house in NE Thailand

http://thailand-painting-holidays.com

by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author
   

The terrace pergola and the river at Mekong House our painting holidays guest house in NE Thailand.  This  was taken in January by November the terrace will be complete.
#thailand #painting #holidays

http://www.jeremyholton.com
http://thailand-painting-holidays.com
Visit our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand
https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

A temple market in the village of Ban Pho, NE Thailand
We take our guests here from our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand
http://thailand-painting-holidays.com
 #painting #holiday #thailand #travel #vacation #photography #culture #experience http://www.jeremyholton.com
by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

Immediately after having a baby village women lie in a room with a cauldron of hot steaming herbs for several weeks.  They believe that this makes their bodies recover from the birth more quickly.

Visit our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand http://thailand-painting-holidays.com
#painting #holiday #thailand #travel #vacation #photography #culture #experience
http://www.jeremyholton.com
by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

People in the village of Ban Pho in NE Thailand.

Visit our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand http://thailand-painting-holidays.com
#painting #holiday #thailand #travel #vacation #photography #culture #experience
http://www.jeremyholton.com
by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

A Thai village wedding with two essential features. Everybody ties 'magic string' around the wrists of the couple to bring them luck and the pot of money gifts.  Money is especially important and in some weddings they announce the value of the gifts over a PA system.  Apart from gifts the groom's family have to pay a 'bride price' to the bride's family and this reflects the value of the bride and the wealth of the groom.

Visit us in our guest house we arrange visits to weddings where possible.

http://thailand-painting-holidays.com

#painting #holiday #thailand #travel #vacation #photography #culture #experience

https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

The view of the Mekong River in Phon Phisai NE Thailand from the Bonnard guest room.

I teach painting and photography. My wife introduces our guests to Thai village life and NE Thailand cooking.  We provide full board and guided discovery trips limited to 4 to 6 people at out arts guest house in NE Thailand http://thailand-painting-holidays.com

#painting #holiday #thailand #travel #vacation #photography #culture #experience
http://www.jeremyholton.com
by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

I love the sound of Isaan music especially the haunting tunes from the bamboo pipes.  They are often played during events in the villages and in the outdoor music and dancing stage shows.

This is one of the local headmen who is our electrician and I count as a friend even though we have no language in common.

#painting #holiday #thailand #travel #vacation #photography #culture #experience

Waree my wife and co-host at our Thailand holiday guesthouse getting breakfast.
#painting #holiday #thailand #travel #vacation #photography #culture #experience
jeremyholton.com
thailand-painting-holidays.com
Visit our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand
by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

Fishing boats on the Mekong River in NE Thailand.  This was taken in the morning from the river below our guest house which is on the banks of the Mekong.

Throughout the day you can watch lone fishermen casting their nets in the wide river.  In the distance you can see Laos.

#painting #holiday #thailand #travel #vacation #photography #culture #experience
jeremyholton.com
thailand-painting-holidays.com
Visit our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand
by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

Whenever I come across a roti vender with his motorbike and sidecar, I can't resist buying some.  Its delicious and I am sure they can't be too fattening!  They are cooked with dough, egg, butter and condensed milk, then wrapped up in paper so you can eat your way from top to bottom.

Visit our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand
#painting #holiday #thailand
jeremyholton.com
thailand-painting-holidays.com

by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

Girl at a traditional village wedding in Isaan NE Thailand

From our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand

#painting #holiday #thailand

jeremyholton.com

thailand-painting-holidays.com

by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

Dawn at the village of Ban Pho in NE Thailand where I have my old studio.  Now we have our arts and photography guesthouse on the banks of the Mekong not far away in Phon Phisai, but we take our guests to the village.

#painting #holiday #thailand
jeremyholton.com
thailand-painting-holidays.com

by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

The rice fields of Isaan have huts on stilts where the farm workers eat their lunch which is provided by the owner of the farm.

Sticky rice is the staple food of Isaan and quite different from the rice eaten in other parts of Thailand. .

#painting #holiday #thailand
jeremyholton.com
thailand-painting-holidays.com
Visit our art and photography guest house in NE Thailand
by Jeremy Holton https://plus.google.com/u/0/104359568476968412848?rel=author

Photograph by Irwin Olaf 'Hope in the kitchen' #photography #jeremyholton

www.jeremyholton.com

Posted via email from Jeremy Holton's paintings

Photograph by Richard Avedon 'Nastassja Kinski and the Serpent' #art #photography #jeremyholton

Photograph by Richard Avedon 'Nastassja Kinski and the Serpent' - beautiful isn't it?  I love the harmonious curves.

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Posted via email from Jeremy Holton's paintings

Mona Breede "Last Entrance" #art #jeremyholton

 I assume this is a photograph, although it has the power of  painting reminding me of Jeffrey Smart  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeffrey_Smart It looks posed,but it works.

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Posted via email from Jeremy Holton's paintings