Alligator fish

Hello

One day my friend took me to a restaurant near Muang Boran. They had a pool with fish in it. My friend said, 'Look, that's an alligator fish.' There were several of them in the pool. I'd never heard of them before. They looked like fish with alligator heads. Maybe they were there so you could order them at the restaurant. I don't know because the menu was in Thai and I don't read Thai very well yet.

I looked on the internet to see if I could learn anything. I found there is a fish in America that is called an alligator gar. It looks very much like this one. Perhaps someone brought some to Thailand. They grow quite big. This one was about a metre long but they grow much bigger. There are photos on the internet of alligator gars that are over two metres long. It says they can grow up to four metres. And sometimes they do bite people.

So, next time my friend takes me to that restaurant, I don't think I'll bother to put my hand in the pool.

love from your Grandpa John

Witches of Phanom Rung

Once upon a time when Grandpa John was visiting Muang Boran in Thailand, he went to visit the Phanom Rung sanctuary. Grandpa had been walking around Muang Boran all day and was feeling a little tired so he needed a rest. He sat down on the ground in the shade and had almost fallen asleep when woooosh.

Grandpa opened his eyes and looked up. There were two witches flying around on broomsticks. They must have flown really close to Grandpa to wake him up like that. Grandpa knew it was dangerous to stay around but he also knew that if he told you this story without a photo you might not believe him.

He watched the witches for a while. They didn't seem to be paying him any attention. They were just having fun flying around the old ruins, chasing each other, playing tag. So Grandpa got out his camera and carefully tracked the witches with it. As they came close to the ground he got this shot for you.

Grandpa would have got a few more photos but just then the witches noticed him. They started to ride towards him really fast. Do you think they wanted to be friendly? Grandpa didn't wait to find out. He picked up his bag and ran. Grandpa might be old be he can still run fast. He ran faster than those witches flew until he was out of the sanctuary.

When Grandpa had run a long way and was out of breath he stopped to take a rest. He looked back to the sanctuary. Those witches were flying above the sanctuary and laughing so hard they probably peed themselves. Grandpa thought about going back to see what they would do but he decided to go on and look for other adventures instead.

The end

Anondha fish

Once upon a time when Grandpa John was visiting Muang Boran in Thailand he decided to to to Sumeru Mountain which is the pillar of the world and the centre of the universe. The mountain is supported by the giant Anondha fish. If you look at the left of the first picture, you can see the tail of the Anondha fish. The fish goes right around the mountain. Your Grandpa knew that it would not be smart to mess with the Anondha fish. But not everyone is so clever as your Grandpa.

The Anondha fish lies with its mouth open and out of the water. Because it's a magic fish it doesn't need to stay underwater. Because it lies so still some people think it is a statue. They think it is safe to climb on it and some are even silly enough to walk inside its mouth.

This man was looking pretty smart inside the fish's mouth. But he didn't stay there long. Grandpa took this photo then looked away.









When he looked back the man was gone. The Anondha fish had swallowed him.

If you ever visit Sumeru Mountain, take your Grandpa's warning. Look at how big the Anondha fish is. It didn't get this big just lying there and holding up the mountain. Don't mess with the Anondha fish.

The End

PS: If you click on the pictures, you'll see them a little bigger.