Photo Idea: Moms Fight With Dementia

Been thinking of the best way to shoot my new used (when it arrives) Hasselblad XD1. The idea of doing a series of close up portraits of mom came to mind as she fights her dementia in the coming years. I would do a series of portraits detailing who mom is now and who she becomes later. This would be an extremely sad series for me to shoot, but it might be a good tribute to mom, a show of her individuality of spirit and how that is will eventually be lost. Could it lead to raising awareness on this terrible disease? Raising more funds for medical research? maybe!

I will start making portraits of mom as soon as the camera arrives, hopefully the end of next week. Will see where this leads. I wish I would have had the camera when dad was still with us, 4 years plus too late.

How many current photo series do I have in mind and am working on? 6? 8? 10?, LOTS!!

Quote: Mahatma Gandhi Canadian Foundation for World Peace (The Sun And Her Flowers)

"wish pure love and soft peace
upon the ones
who have been unkind to you
and keep moving forward

-this will free you both"

Photo Idea: Major New Photo Projetc Using ULTRA LARGE VIEW CAMERA In Thailand

Been thinking of a doing a major new photo project in Thailand. The current thinking is to call it "The Rhythm of Thai" (in Thai - I have the Thai word for that in my iPad, will post it later.  The photos would detail old Thailand and new Thailand. I would use new and old camera tech on the project as well. A Chaminox 16x20 camera (mostly for landscapes)and 16x20 film as well as a Hasselblad H1D 50 megapixel camera (mostly for portraits).

Lots more thoughts on his possible project. This would give 5 major photo projects in Thailand.

- "FAMILIES OF THE DUMP"
- "THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE UNDER THE FREEWAY"
- "SUKHUMVIT AT NIGHT". Sukhumvit road at night
-  "MA JON JUD" On street dogs in Thailand.

Link to my HYPER. first impressions on my 16x20 Chamonix...bought several years back when I had money, but still not used.

Chamonix 16x20 Box Opening


Here is the info thoughts I wrote up a while back when in Thai on the Large Camera project.
Dragging this huge machine around Thailand might be a bit overwhelming. Will see how it pans out.

16x20 Large Camera Photography Project Inside Thailand

-              To photograph unique landscape (only?) aspects of Thailand using the 16x20 Chamonix Camera.

-              To use dad’s 8x10 Deardorff to make portraits for the project?

-              Color 8x10 work?

-              Goal for 2020, travel the country in a car photograph various landscape subjects in the country. Using outstanding composition and lighting. Make photographs that can stand on their own.

-              Travel Thailand for 4 weeks making photos after Mae Sot dump work?

-              Only vertical photos? Or only horizontal? Or a mix?

Name?

-              Thai Yai (Big Thailand)

-              Thai Soo-Wai (Beautiful Thailand)

-              Siam-Thai

-              Pretit Thai (Thai Country)

-              Changing-evolving-adapting-turning Thailand (the Thai language word?). “Changing Thailand”

-               

Possible Subjects?

-              Buddha statues being built, and finished statues.

-              Phi Phi islands of the South (Man with the Golden Gun).

-              Unfinished ghost tower in Bangkok.

-              Abandoned airplane area Bangkok.

-              Hill Tribe Area Houses.

-              The Ocean.

-              Ayyuthaya.

-              Crazy Bangkok Traffic.

-              Klong Toey Slum.

-              Nana Plaza Go Go Bars shot form Nana Hotel? Or Soi Cowboy from above?

Gear

-              16x20 Chamonix

-              1 or possibly 2 lens

-              Large Leica Tripod

-               Strongest head (China made)

-              16x20 film changing bag (buy)

-              Filters?

-              Film type? AGFA? Or HP5? Or Tri-x?. Price out films, test films.

-              Spot Meter x 2

-              Reducing back to 11x14?

-              Brass lens for the 11x14 reducing back (buy?)

-              3 16x20 holders, at least 2.

-              Extra boxes and bags for exposed film.

-              Large Pelican type case to protect camera plus a 2^nd and maybe a 3^rd for film holders, lens, spot meters etc Tripod in a bag? My existing bag? (buy boxes-bags). Protecting gear very important, this might be a multi year project.

TEST EVERYTHING IN CANADA FIRST, AND BE FULLY COMPETENT WITH THIS NEW FORMAT SIZE AND GEAR BEFORE USING.

Maybe Bought Me A Hasselblad X1D

Starting to fall in love with digital photography. Saw some truly amazing work recently on Facebook, the photographer was using a Hasselbad H1D camera. I found one on ebay with superficial cosmetic damage (burn form an incense stick and bent battery from a drop.  The camera is in great working order with only 463 pics made. I can not afford a mint version of this camera but thought I would make a wild bid out of the blue. Found out on arriving in Canada that I had one the auction. The seller thou does not want to ship to Canada, will try to convince him to send it to me. The cost was very high for this auction win $4700 USD plus shipping and possible taxes. Wow..that is a lot of doe. I do not have those funds in my banks after my Thai trip so will have to work off the camera in the next months of security work.

Still it shoots beautiful world class images. Not sure if this a mistake or a win. Will take the camera with me next trip to Thai, if I can pay for it and if the seller will send it to Canada! The auction includes a 45mm F3.5 lens.

Update* Got the camera, just paid for it by credit card. I do not have enough money in the bank and no paychecks coming soon to pay it off, but will figure out something. The digital Blads cost was $4700 USD plus $49 for shipping. Am really pumped about using this camera over the next year, and into Asia next trip. Hope to make very large portraits with it. Have read online the cost new with 45mm lens originally (2017?) ran from $12000 to $1700 USD. It sells currently on B&H with lens USED for $6349.95 USD and NEW body only for $5750. I think the price I got for my cosmetically damaged used version is OK.

Maybe my new Blad

Here is the sellers advert info on the camera....

Hasselblad X1D-50c Medium Format Mirrorless Digital Camera with 45 mm lens.

It has a burn mark on the top of camera next to hot shoe from a incense stick falling on it. It is only cosmetic damage and the reason it being listed for cheaper than other sellers. Also one of the two batteries included was dropped and dinged as seen in the photos, but works the same. Otherwise a great and functional camera.

Whats included is the camera body, lens, strap, lens hood, lens cap, 2 batteries, and charger. Body cap and lens back cap are lost and not included as are the original packaging and instructions. 463 photos taken on this camera. Property sticker void residue will be removed before being shipped. Its just what was left behind when i removed my property stickers. 

My Ego Is Exploding, Now A Saint!

from facebook, comment on the lost luggage blog...

Andrew S wrote....

Sorry to hear of your troubles and discomfort Gerry, I hated flying and refuse to do it now. You did a lot of very good work out there, I'm sure they think of you as a saint. I hope your other stuff follows on without a hitch.

Gerry Yaum thank you Andrew...SAINT GERRY..nice ring to it :)......the flying there and back is always the worst part of the trip for me...love being in country..love being home..but flying..SUCKS! There telling me 2 days...hope it comes...worried as I have some camera gear int he bags, could not carry it all in the carry on luggage, too much stuff.

I Am Home, Bags In Taiwan!

A very painful flight home. 2 bags left in Taiwan, they missed the airplane transfer. After 2 delays, one while landing in Taiwan, one while going to the gate. Some one forgot to put my carry on bags onto the next plane.

I was squished in window seat, no walking or toilet for over 10 hours on the Taiwan to Vancouver flight. Extremely painful security re-checks in Vancouver before the Edmonton flight , took about 1 hour to get through. Lots of searching,swabbing, X-rays, real back log. Multiple old ladies getting their cosmetics searched. An old Chinese man in front of me had to open his bag of dirty laundry for a search, he was embarrassed.

Am rather exhausted, am on the last plane from Vancouver to Edmonton now delayed one hour plus There is a screaming baby in this plane, 10 rows or so back.. Oh the joys, the supreme happiness of international air travel?

Will be working a 12 hour night shift tonight! Got to eat me some pyrogies and koubasa when I get home. Too, too, too much rice this trip.
It is good to be home!

On the last plane, Vancouver to Edmonton (without my 2 check in bags)

Last Day "The People Who Live Under The Freeway"

Did a last day making pictures of "The People Who Live Under The Freeway" series. It was a good day. I was only  able to spend about 1 hour 30 minutes but photographed 5 different people in that time span, including 2 new men who were working as scavengers.

The best part of the day was that I was able to say goodbye to everyone and to tell them I would return next year. Lots of friendships and sad faces today. I have some new photos and videos I will post later as time allows. Need to spend much more time on this series next year. I feel very comfortable in the under the freeway world, so many connections now.

Was able to give Khun Bia who lives in an old shack under the freeway 300 baht. Every time it rains he gets partly wet in his shack. Last night there was a hard rain, today when I went in his shack he had buckets set up everywhere with dripping water. Bia's bed also got partly wet as did his clothing. We talked for a bit about multiple subjects. When I gave him the 300 he searched for something to give me back, he gave me a small digital camera he had. I will put it in darkroom #2 as a remembrance of him.

Will miss all my friends under the freeway. Next year will return to photograph them some more and continue to tell their stories. Hopefully I can get a show of their photographs and raise some money to help them all.

Earlier photo of. Khun Bia

Dog Shelter Vaccine Day

Today was vaccine day at the shelter. It was a major effort getting everything coordinated and to the shelter. My plan was to get everything there around 2pm but ended up getting it done at around 6pm. It was a all day work affair to make it there for 6pm.

The available light was falling fast when I arrived so making the portraits of the dogs with the Rollieflex film camera was difficult. Did my best, will see how it all turns out when I get back to Canada and my darkrooms. I also shot the digital a bit today, which was fast and easy but not sure how good those photos are either. Wanted to do some good work to so I could promote and raise money for the shelter, but am unsure if I did that today. Might have to come back next year and spend several full days at the shelter just doing doggy portraits.

Khun Chai (the husband) and Khun Jew (the wife) who run the shelter were very happy with the donations of 73 vaccine sets, needles, syringes, alcohol and 3 large bags of dog food . Thank you C, L and S for your donations.

I made pictures of all the donated stuff and also did up some videos. A couple videos are of the injections vaccine. Khune Jew and Chai did only 2 injections today because it was late in the day. Those injections were done to show all of you how the vaccines would be used. The rest of the injections will take place tomorrow, it will be an all day thing. The way it all works is that there are 2 capsules that were injected into each dog, one for 5 common diseases and separate injection for rabies. I was told than in the past the rabies vaccine was done as part of the 5 common disease bottle (all mixed together) but for some reason the rabies vaccine did not work as well in that mixture so now it is done separately. All 100 dogs at the shelter will get 2 shots, one for the 5 common diseases and 1 for rabies.

I also made a video of my arrival at the shelter, complete chaos and the continuous barking of the 40 or so dogs in the main area, plus barking from other dog areas nearby. There are a total of 100 dogs in the shelter, about 40 in a large open area the others are kept in a second large caged area of the shelter, some dogs are in individual cages for various reasons, their own protection, if they are overally aggressive, illness, recovering form abuse etc.

Each dog has its own particular story., its own former life. I have a few cute dog stories, a few sad dog stories I will be sharing in the next few days as well.

It was a good day, a day to think back on later and smile. So much more important to do a day like today, versus laying on my fat ass on a beach somewhere. A good day.

Here are some photos of the shelter and the donations. Thank you so much again to all who helped, you are the heroes.

Khun Chai, and Khun Jew n their dog shelter with donations.

Photo Idea: "Ma Jon Jud", 'A Dog By Itself, Alone'

With all the dog stuff I have been doing of late here in Thai (donations to a dog shelter - with donators help - and feeding dozens of stray dogs here in Cha-am Thailand. I have decided to start work on a new series of photographs. I will call it  "Ma Jon Jud", which is Thai for 'A dog by itself, with no one to take care of it' (a loose translation).

Here are the first street dog photos, made tonight when I went to feed 11 strays on beach road. The first one one had an eye infection of some kind and was rather aggressive to the female dog I mentioned a few days ago, biting and her and barking loudly. The second dog was a small dog by itself who was walking the street near a 7/11 looking for food. He had a rumpled up type skin, a quite beautiful little animal. Not a dog guy at all, been a cat person all my life but I am starting to love these little guys.

Will post more photos in the coming days, if I have an Internet connection. Do not have any time to continue this series, will have to start it again next year when I return to "The Land Of Smiles".

Wish I had started this series earlier but is just occurred to me 15 minutes ago after seeing some of tonight's photo made up close with the 16mm on the Canon 5D M3, shot at 10000 ASA in very very low light. There is a sad lost innocence and vulnerability to these stray street dogs that I had not seen or felt deeply before (I have been coming to Thailand since 1996). I guess that was part of the cat guy thing. Sometimes you do not see what is right in front of your face.

Note* The real benefit of making these social documentary photos might be that they raise awareness and help the dogs. Donations could lead to food, assistance at shelters, provide spaying and neutering etc. Who knows where this could lead. Maybe this series of photographs will  make some dogs lives a bit better. Will see how it goes, you never know how these things will pan out. Later today 100 dogs will get vaccines, so that is a good start!

Dog 1, "Ma Kang Tanon", Cha-am Thailand 2019

Dog 2,  "Ma Kang Tanon", Cha-am Thailand 2019

Dog Vaccine Ready!!

The 100 dog vaccines are ready (see photos). Will pick it up tomorrow (Friday) morning and then take it to the shelter for the 100 dogs in the afternoon. Will try to get some photos and videos of the, delivery, time with the dogs and inoculations etc, if I can. I am leaving Bangkok soon so am rushing to get this all done before I leave.

Note* Am also buying needles, syringes (not sure what they are called in English) and some alcohol. I expect the this extra to cost less than 500 baht, all this stuff is disposable one use. It is important that no infections are created when the vaccines are administered to the dogs.

100 dog vaccines, needles and alcohol ready for pick up tomorrow. Will pick it up tomorrow morning and then deliver it to the dog shelter in the afternoon.

Shipping case for vaccines

Extra Duties Almost Completed

Have been doing a few extra duties the last few days. I got my hair cut and dyed (now a dirty blond for the first time in my life) for $14 last night. This afternoon went to get my teeth cleaned for 800 baht ($34 CAD). Hair cutting and teeth cleaning is way cheaper here in Thai, so like to do that stuff in Thailand if possible. I would like to also get some more photographer name (business) cards printed if I can find the time.

Dirty blond boy.

Counted like 8 nurses in the small clinic I visited, the dentist (who cleaned my teeth) spoke fluent English.

Piam Suk Dog House Shelfter Info

I plan on trying to raise more money for the dog shelter on my return to Canada. I also have received direct information for people interested in helping. For those interested in donating money you can contact the clinic directly or if your worried about sending money directly, send the donation to me and I can give it to the shelter in the form of goods (dog food, vaccines etc.), when I return to Thailand in 2020.. I leave Thailand in a few days so am running out of time this year. Here is their direct contact info, with a bit of a back story written in so do English. Thanks!

Numtan is a quiet, friendly dog who likes to lick faces, desperate for attention with sad eyes. Lion is the tough looking, strong, independent alpha male leader of the shelter. He is the boss, and barked at me suspiciously but with some interest, especially when I called him by name (my accent when saying Lion must be different).

Piam Suk Dog House

Stray Dog

Been feeding stray dogs here every night on beach road here in Cha-am Thailand. Last night fed around 25 strays,  tonight another 10 or so.

This young white male was more curious than frightened by me. He was begging for food as all strays do here.

White male stray near the beach begging for food.

Nice Message From Dog Owner

Hi got a nice message today in regards to the work being done at the dog shelter. When people have a direct connection with an issue ( the love and caring for dogs for example) then they simply are more involved, more connected because  of a personal link.

When it comes to my future social documentary photography, I need to make  emotionally stronger pictures that have a deeper connection to the viewers personal lives. Only then can I make them care at a deeper level, which will lead to more help for those in need. I have to find that personal connection between my subject and the viewers heart.

Here is my Facebook conversation with the person I mentioned earlier and my response.

Black stray dog, beach road Cha-am, Thailand

Dog Vaccine Update

from Facebook....

DOG VACCINE UPDATE

Am trying to arrange the purchase of vaccines (to protect the dogs from 6 common diseases) for the dogs. The whole sale medication company in Bangkok requires 3 days notice, to prepare the vaccines. If we buy 73 units the price is 150 baht (they will not budge from that price), if we buy 100 units the prices drops dramatically to 130 baht.

I also wanted to buy some food for the dogs on my budget of $403 CAD. $150 CAD donated by C and $253. CAD donated by L. I could not figure out how to get this all done on my budget. I guess I donated too much to the Karian people yesterday. But had to help them, could not let that pass, it would have been wrong not to help.

With some effort we figured a way it will all work out still. Here is how we are going to do it (long story).

I spoke to the dog shelter about how to do things and found out they still have not spent their donated money for the 27 vaccines. They had not bought the 27 vaccine yet, they still had the cash waiting to be spent. The shelter was delaying until they could buy 100 doses at a time at the reduced rate (hoping for more donation money).

So we figured a way to do it all.

I will buy 100 doses of dog vaccine at 130 baht a dose. That works out to about $565 CAD (am short about $162 CAD). I will then take the vaccines to the shelter packed in ice. The shelter will use their 27 donated vaccine money to buy rice for the dogs. They should be able to buy about 4-5 sacks of rice (the shelter has a deal to buy rice cheap at a local factory). The shelter will then give me the rice (as part of our donation), I will give them the 27 vaccines. The shelter folks need to make a picture for the original (27) vaccine donators. They promised to buy vaccines with that donated money not rice/food for the dogs. The picture should satisfy those donators that their money was used correctly.

So by doing it this way we will get he 100 vaccines at a cheaper rate, and food for the dogs. Both sides of donators will be respected, their money was used correctly and as promised. Everyone is happy, including the dogs :).

In the end our side will be donating 4-5 sacks of rice to the dogs along with 73 vaccines (the other donator here in Thai is paying for their 27 equalling 100 total does). The total cost on our end will be $565 CAD (depending on the daily fluctuating exchange rates). I will make up the difference of $162 using my security guard money savings. The donated money for "Families of the Dump" will remain independent and protected for next years trip. I will not use any of that money.

Once again. In the end the 100 dogs will get 100 doses of vaccine and 4-5 bags of rice that will be mixed later with dog food.

Does that make sense? Think it does. Sometimes this donation thing is complicated. It all makes my head spin a bit!!

I am ordering the vaccine today, it will take 3 days to prepare, will post pics and videos of the delivery later on. The medical wholesale company wants 100% of the money up front before they will make the vaccines, I will try to pay only 50% or 70% up front. They seem like a very reputable place with government contracts etc

I have less than a week before I return to Canada, need to get this all completed before I depart. When I am back in Canada it will be good to know the dogs are happy and protected.

Photographing In Karian Village

Photograph from today taken by Khun Ghosin. Using the Rollie twin reflex with close up filters to photograph a young Karian girl.

Making A Portrait

Karian People Donations

The donations went well today with the Karian people I visited. It is always rewarding to help good people in need. The set up was more coordinated and repeatable than in the dump (they dressed up in traditional clothes and sang some songs for us etc.) but it was still all for a good and important cause. Donated all the food and other supplies pictured yesterday.

Also donated 2000 baht to the man who helped me and is helping the various groups in the area, Khun Ghosin. Mr. Ghosin works with hundreds of people in need in 10 different groups. He provides food and builds homes, washrooms. My plan is to work with him again next year. We might do some overnight camping at a more distant group location. Where the photography and donation work will continue.

Note* The donation today was with funds from a coworker who told that I could use her $300 CAD anyway I saw fit. 1500 baht went to the dog shelter, $50 CAD to "The People Who Lived Under The Freeway" All the rest went to the Karian people today and to Khun Ghosin to help people in need in the area.

Today's donation at. a small Karian village in Thailand

New Donation To New Burmese Refugees

Am doing a donation tomorrow at 9am, in a new area, in Southern Thailand. Will be using the money donated by a friend I work with for this donation.

The people who will receive the food are from a Burmese minority ethnic group. I have been told there are many orphaned children in this group and they need most everything. Did a food buy of, 120 eggs, 5 - 5 Kilo bags of rice, canned fish, cloths washing detergent, toothpaste, shampoo, noodles and lollipops.

Total cost was 772 baht plus 1353 baht for a total of 2125 baht . That is approximately $97.00 CAD.

I included a hand written receipt from the wholesale store where I bought the eggs. The rest of the things were bought at a Mini Big C convenience store.

More info, and photos on this new group for donations tomorrow.

Hand written receipt from local whole sale store

Tomorrow donations

Quote: Victor Arnautoff (Painter - Muralist And New Deal Artist Who Assisted And Studied With Diego Rivera)

 ‘Art for art’s sake’ or art as perfume have never appealed to me. The artist is a critic of society.”

5 "Famiiles of the Dump" Photos To Be Exhibited In Delhi India

Got some news today, do not know all the details just yet. 5 of the "Families of the Dump" pictures will be exhibited in Delhi India as part of a group exhibition in August. They also want a self portrait and a biography (Boy I hate writing these, me me me things. Why do photographers need to talk about themselves?).

It should be a good deal thou, a free opportunity to tell the story of the families to a larger audience. Raising awareness, telling stories, spreading the word and causing positive change is what social documentary photography is all about.

I guess the folks in charge of the exhibition take the sent digital files and makes prints onsite to exhibit in their gallery. No charges to me and the work gets seen, and the stories told for more people, good, good and good again!

Thank you so much for this opportunity my new Indian friends!!

More to follow, will probably be using this newly shot oh so flattering self portrait. Looks like I am about to collapse.

Self-Portrait at the dump, June, 2019

$200 USD Donated For The Shelter Dog Medicine

Great News! A friend from Texas, photographer Larry H donated $200 USD ($253. 24 CAD) to pay for the rest of the vaccines for the dogs at the shelter. Now all 100 dogs will receive their vaccines, 77 vaccines which were paid for by Larry and an anonymous donating friend on Facebook who gave $150 CAD.

Photos and Videos to follow. I expect to be back in the shelter on about Wednesday..

Thank you!

Update* Added this extra money to the dog shelter donation link at left, the total donated so far sits at $403.25 CAD.

Doggy Thoughts, Shelter And Street

from Facebook...

Photo with some of the dogs at the shelter from a few days back. The blue tray device is for the dog food, it spreads the food all out all out so there is no fighting between dogs, everyone gets there share. There are a number of these feeding trays throughout the shelter. The dogs get as much as they need.

One of the gated off areas in the shelter has the older dogs in it. This area has fans to help these weaker dogs cool down some what. Will make some photos-videos in this area next trip. Separating the dogs into different spaces allows for more room for all, they do not all bunch up in one area, less, growling, barking and fighting etc.

Note* When I was at the shelter there was extra uneaten food in the trays. This is so different than when you meet strays on the streets. The last 2 nights in beach area of Cha-am (where I am staying now) I have been feeling stray dogs with food from the local barbecue sellers. Gave them chicken, wieners, meat balls, fish strips (type of desert here), and just breaded treats. The street dogs the, strays just ate it all up, everything I offered. I started with one stray ended up with 4. The nearby street dogs would hear the feeding and come running, 1 dog would turn into 2, then 3, then 4. It was the same when I fed the dogs in other areas at other times, multiple dogs came and ate everything up. It sort of becomes a feeding frenzy. You run out of food with the multiple dogs wanting more, the last dog to arrive (number 5) often gets nothing.

When you feed dogs on the street, they often fight over the food, that same thing happened when I saw dogs in the dump scavenging for food in the garbage or when I tried to feed them. It is survival of the fittest, the older weaker dogs just die off slowly. It is so sad to see the weaker ones. One dog I fed in Mae Sot was in a village area but was near starving, all bones, with most of her fur gone. Only had a bit of Kanom (desert) to feed her but she ate it all up before another stray could get to it. Another common feature in these types of dogs is that they are much more afraid of people, many I believe have been abused through the years.

The dogs at the shelter were fatter and in much better shape, they had been saved and are living a better life. They also seemed happy, not sure how you tell if dogs are happy but most of the dogs at the shelter that I saw, seemed that way. There were a few sad and down looking animals but most all the dogs seemed rather filled with vigour an enthusiasm (at least that was my impression). You just got to help people that help animals like that. Will try to continue to raise money to help the shelter when I return to Canada. Need to learn more about the shelter, learn more about the people running it, make more photos and videos for later use Will try to do some doggy portraits as well :). Am running out of time thou, got to return to Canada soon. Thanks everyone for reading this rather long winded post. I am not a dog guy (like cats) but gosh when good is being done, it is important to jump behind those doing the good.

Gone to the dogs!

A Letter To A Work Colleague

Hey J--...

Had a good day today, felt the need to share it. Got a $150 CAD donation from a good hearted Facebook friend for the dogs at the Thai shelter. I spoke to the husband and wife team who run the place, asked them what they needed. Will buy rice, dog food (a mix they make for the dogs as dog food alone is too expensive) as well as a special vaccine that protects the dogs from 6 kinds of the the most serious diseases. The shelter needs 73 of these vaccine units for their 100 dogs (they have 27 vaccines bought already). I should be able to buy around another 25-30 using the donation money depending on the cost per unit (100 to 150 baht per unit). They will still need another 40+ vaccine units but at least another 25-30 dogs will be protected.  Every little bit helps! Cannot help all the dogs with the vaccine but another 25-30 being protected is definitely a good thing.

Today there was also a $100 donation given for the "Families of the Dump" from a good photo club friend of mine. I will not be able to use that money until 2020 when I return to the dump. That money will be then used to buy more headlamps and boots etc. Will keep that $100 in the bank until I return.

I will be using part of the money ($300 CAD) S----- donated to help the dogs and also for some Karenni people refugees (Myanmar-Burmese refugees). S----- said I could use her donated money anyway I wanted, so figured this would be the best way to go. Do not know to much about these new people. I know that there are refugees of all kinds (orphaned children etc.) and that they are hard to reach, muddy roads that are far off the main track. They need foods of all types, clothing of any kind and things like female napkins for the younger girls. I guess the napkins are very expensive and not easily available to them.

Will divide the donation money up as best I can, follow the donators wishes and try to figure this all out, Might be doing more donations with this dog shelter and Karreni refugee group next trip, am unsure at present. I will see how it all shapes out. Trying to make the money and donations do as much good as they can do.

Will be doing these last donations over the next few days, then will head back to Bangkok before flying back to Canada and my job there with you at ----.

Anyway feeling great, hope all is good with you there as well.

It was a good day :) "Ain't Photography Grand!!!"

Gerry

"Familes of the Dump" DONATION, $100

I received another donation today from a good photo club friend, Thank you so much J----, your a great guy for helping out the people in need at the dump. I am running out of time to return to Mae Sot this trip but will keep it in the bank (with other left over donated funds) for my 2020 dump trip.

Thanks again :) my friend.

Update* I added another $100 CAD to the total of money earned for the "Families of the Dump" in 2019 to $1810 ($300 of which is being spent in other donation ways, Karenni refugees and the dog shelter as per the donators wishes.

Mau-Baun-Mee-Boon DONATION, $150

Started a new donation link on the left of page for the dog shelter I have been writing about lately. A good Facebook friend donated $150 CAD for the dogs which I will use to buy medicines, foods etc on her behalf.

Thank you so much ...... .... ..... for your incredible kindness.

"Mau-Baun-Mee-Boon, "Dog Home (House) of Good Karma

from Facebook...

Found a place to try and raise some money for. It is a home for stray dogs. Bangkok Thailand if home to thousands upon thousands of strays, many malnourished, no fur and diseased. This home helps forgotten dogs from the streets or dogs people do not want anymore the place is called "Mau-Baun-Mee-Boon which translates in English to "Dog Home (House) of Good Karma This small refuge for these forgotten-unloved animals houses 100 dogs and is run by a husband and wife team. (They have a new name for the dog rescue home now, not sure what that is, will find out).

I did a surprise visit of the place a few days back and found the dogs well cared for and loved. All the dogs seemed happy, and were very well fed and active. They had plenty of food-water and medical care as well as a large area to live in The dogs in the photos with cages or gated off areas were isolated for medical reasons or because they had been mistreated and needed special care. Many of the dogs that come to the home are in very poor condition, often having been beaten or were slowly starving to death.

I donated $1500 baht (around $70 CAD) and will return in a few days with several large bags of dog food. The husband and wife team are desperate for donations, they currently mix the dog food they have with rice to save money. There is a rice factor nearby where they can get discounted rice at a whole sale price. Will be posting more information in the coming days. Will try doing some dog portraits with the twin reflex camera on my return. Will also be posting more photos later.

Note* One of my donators from work told me I could spend her donated money any way I saw fit. She donated $300. I am using 1500 of that money for this dog shelter, plus will use some of her donated money to buy dog food in the coming days. The 1500 was added to the spent donation money total today.

Multiple dogs in open area. Some did not like me and barked at me whenever I stood up. Others like this small one on the table wanted me to pet her and tried to lick me. At the dog home there is a large open shade area (under the roof pictured). Many of the dogs hung out here, allowing them to keep out of the very hot midday sun. there were probably 35-40  dogs in this area. Each dog has a name known by the husband and wife care team. Am trying to learn some of those names for you. My fav name so far is "LION", a big tough, slightly savage looking male (he did not like me).

This dog was super friendly and wanted to be petted. They had her isolated because she was near starving, all bony when they first got her. She is fat and filled with love now

Same dog as earlier.

2 dogs int he isolation area.

Center dog has an eye infection. Did not go into this section of the home but will try to enter there next trip. These dogs were isolated from the main group.

Art Gallery Of St. Albert Annual Report 2017

Found this today, was part of the 2017 annual report, which is nice.

http://artsandheritage.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/AR2017-FINAL.pdf

Artist Talk On The Photos Of My Father