Thai Rice

The Thai King has sponsored a scientific programme to discover the genes which produce the aroma in Thai rice. The genes have now been patented and the King has called on the nation to keep being true Thai and to continue to eat Thai rice and not imported rice. Thailand is the world biggest rice exporter, Vietnam is a close second and the Thais are worried that they will overtake them. Apparently the Vietnamese are exporting a strain of rice taken from Thailand in the past and Thailand may be able to control this problem with the new patent.

 
Another amazing Thai fruit is Mangkud also very delicious

 
Many wonderful Thai fruit in the market these are called ngorh, very delicious

Some History for You

On this day June 24 1314 (695 years ago), Robert the Bruce of Scotland defeated the English army under Edward II at Bannockburn, near Stirling. I have mixed feelings about this, my Scottish side feels that the Union of Scotland and England in 1707, nearly 400 years later, was a good thing, and my English side feels the pain of being hacked to bits by swords while surrounded by the harrowing sight of several hundered dead bodies of my fellow men.

 
Some of my friends on the cycle circuit tonight, 8 laps (40 km) in 100 minutes, I drank 4 mugs of tea after this !!

Phitsanulok, พิษณุโลก, (in English - Vishnu's Heaven)

Phitsanulok is an important and historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago. It is probably best known as the birthplace of King Naresuan, who freed the country from Burmese domination in the late 16th Century, and his brother and successor King Ekathosarot (Sanpet III). As the cross-road between the northern and central regions of the country, it has long been important both for political and strategic reasons, and was fought over many times in centuries past. Phitsanulok was the capital of Thailand for 25 years during the reign of King Boromma Trailokanat of Ayutthaya. Located on the banks of the Nan River, the city was originally a small Khmer outpost known as Song Kwae, before the Khwae Noi River changed its course in the 11th Century A.D. Phitsanulok was also a provincial center of the Angkorian Empire during the Angkorian period.[1] Phitsanulok is home to Naresuan University and Pibulsongkram Rajabhat University, as well as to a major Royal Thai Army base.

 
Seven circuits of the track this evening