“Has winter finally started in Belgium ?”, Nicole asks us. “Here in Kamphaeng Phet, the climate is tropical, we really struggle and sweat a lot. The sun is our biggest adversary, Ingrid complains. Both men and women wear thick shawls on their heads – some even wear twisted pullovers on the head. They are dressed the same way as we do….. in winter ! Thick black pants, vests and head-gear. The only thing that you see is their eyes, says Nicole.


“This week we were frightened to death when a tractor came our way with twelve men on it.
All dressed in black and armed with…. Bamboo sticks, pitch-forks and spades. They jumped off the tractor and surrounded us. We immediately thought : this is an hold-up !
But nothing came of it ! They looked at us and gave us the Ultra Bright smile ! Seemed that one of them spoke some English. He told us that they were on their way home after having worked on the field all day. He had noticed us and told his fellow workers. He wanted to know all about us.

We’ve learned something from these men ! When the sun is scorching on your head you have to cover it ! That we knew, of course ! Not only by wrapping your head. No, these men use an ice talcum powder. When you rub it on your skin, it gives you an ‘ice cold’ feeling and it reduces your body temperature. They even gave us a tin.

On one of our sight-seeing tours we visited Suk-Hot-Tai, the ancient capital of Thailand. We there saw something special : a praying Buddha, 15 meter tall and covered by greenery. Exactly eighteen years ago, we stood here too.”

They told us emotionally : “Nicole and Ingrid are born here.”