Really fascinating report!! I've always found the Thai royal family to be pretty interesting and seemingly very descent people (no, I don't know them personally-- haven't even seen them in person except in passing motorcades).

Last month, I visited the late Princess Mother's (the King's mother) house north of Chiang Rai, near the Burmese border. It was truly amazing to see how simply see lived. Notwithstanding the size of the house, grounds, etc., her private living quarters were extremely modest. She apparently spent most of her time studying astronomy and gardening and spent a lot of time pressing flowers and "adopted" the area in which she resided, initiating programs to reduce/eliminate slash and burn agricultural techniques.

I read an article about the Princess of whom you write earlier this year and was quite surprised to find out that she was living in L.A.

[This message has been edited by HKG_Flyer1 (edited 05-10-2001).]