—Chapter Fifteen—
Salaburi was a frenzy of activity. People descended upon the village like ‘wolves on the foal’, and walked around with cameras, theodolites, clipboards and various types of electronic equipment They measured and probed around the village and surrounding tropical forest.
Small Bell and Robinson R22 helicopters buzzed around the sky like wasps, as they surveyed planned routes. The occasional transporter helicopter arrived with men, women and heavy machinery.
It had been that way since Vitchae, Cenat and Taksin had returned a few days ago, bringing with them the five men from the stateroom, and the lady who the King had given Vitchae’s ornament too.
It was mid afternoon when the large Sikorsky S92 from the Royal flight landed. As the large aircraft approached, the villagers gathered, in the hope of catching another glimpse of their King. The side door slid back, and out stepped Vitchae, Cenat Taksin and the others, but no King.
Although disappointed, they were happy to see the two monks, but unsure about the other strangers, who unloaded electronic equipment from the chopper.
The two monks and Taksin approached the remaining monks and Wai-ed them. The monks noticed, as did the other villagers, that Vitchae had walked unaided from the helicopter, and towards the standing monks. He addressed each one individually, and looked directly at them. The villagers noticed the look of surprise on the older monk’s faces, and the look of horror on one young monk, who used to pull faces at the once blind master. A murmur sounded through the gathered villagers. Vitchae faced the crowd and gave a long respectful Wai.
“Vitchae can see,” a voice said, followed by a crescendo.
“Vitchae can see.”
“The King has cured Vitchae.”
They all bowed their heads and were jubilant, although not surprised the King had given back Vitchae’s sight, after all, he could make *rain, so curing blindness would be easy for the great King.
Vitchae, Cenat and Taksin spoke with the village elders and family heads and arranged to meet with them all the following morning, which would give the team of researcher’s time to do a bit of work and prepare. Cenat asked the villagers to assist them with their preparation and it would be discussed more thoroughly in the morning.
The woman who had arrived with the team was the head of geology at the Bangkok Department of Agricultural and development. She gathered her belongings and, along with her two assistants and some equipment, headed off into the hills and mountains with a local man to act as their guide.
With the team and Taksin busying themselves with their preparations. Vitchae and Cenat knew it was time for them to lay out the plans for the Tinju’s survival. With heavy hearts, but positive for the outcome, joined the other six remaining elders in the temple.
It had been discussed that the Tinju would carry on as a separate order of monks, but with some changes. They would still be a combatant force used in a case of emergency, but also now a ceremonial and display team, similar to the Shaolin monks of China. However, the assassination side of the training would cease.
The monks would not be chosen as a birthright, but positions in the order could now be granted on merit from volunteers, who wanted to continue in the life of a Buddhist monk. Most Thai boys are conscripted into a temple at a young age, usually 12 years-old. They had to serve a few years as a monk, to learn Buddhism and the Buddhist way. A few stayed on, making it their lifetime calling. The best of these would be eligible for Tinju admittance.
Martial artists and the best Muay Thai fighters in the Kingdom would be brought in to train and support the monks, until the trainee monks were competent enough to become instructors, These were be the new Tinju and it would be how the original Tinju had been created millennia before
The current young Tinju monks would be re-united with their families. Vitchae knew the identity of the family’s. These younger monks would be given the opportunity to stay with their family, or continue with the Tinju. It would be their family’s choice.
The other elders remained silent while Vitchae outlined the plans and then he and Cenat sat in silent meditation and awaited the elder’s comments.
After several minutes one elder spoke. “When will this take effect, Master?”
“Immediately,” announced Vitchae, “his majesty has put the word out amongst the other Wat’s, we should have a willing group in a couple of days.”
“And when will the little ones be returned?” asked another elder.
“Again, immediately,” said Vitchae, “and if you are in agreement we will start now.”
“Well then, Master,” said another smiling elder “Let’s make it so.” The other elders nodded their agreement.
That evening, the village was filled with joy as some families were reunited with their sons. Families and friends from the village congregated in the meeting area at the side of the Wat, all brought food and drink. *‘Sato’ and ‘urban whisky’ went down well among the villagers and the newcomers.
The monks stayed inside the Wat to meditate and pray.
The bleary-eyed villagers gathered the next morning at the large village altar, on the large stone table were laid out plans, drawings, photographs and laptop computers with 3-D images on the screen. The woman geologist and her team had returned the previous evening and joined in the celebrations, but had left at first light.
Taksin was the first to speak, followed by each of the five remaining specialists.
The proposal was to make a roadway and connect the village to Pong-Nam-Rom. They would have electricity and running water supplied to the village.
The road would stop at Salaburi, it would wind its way to the village around the jungle and hills. They would lose virtually no jungle to construction and the surveyors would plan the best route to ensure this.
This, they were informed, would bring prosperity to the village, whose crafts, carvings, and jungle produce, could be sold to make money to improve their lifestyles, and bring them in line with the rest of the country. The villagers had been given brochures of cars and pick-ups, which amazed them. The pictures were soon ripped out of the brochures to be framed and hung in their home later. They would all be given ID cards and therefore find jobs and borrow money from banks, anywhere in Thailand. The King would personally provide four pick-up trucks, for the village in order to transport fruits and other produce to the border market. The jungle herbs and medicinal remedies would be researched for the benefit of the world and, any profit from discoveries would be given to the village.
The villagers listened and looked at the images of what it could be like, on the simulations on the laptops and drawings.
Taksin then concluded by reading out a message from the King that ended with ‘My beloved people of Salaburi, the decision is yours to make.’
Silence descended, followed by murmuring amongst the villagers, who were confused and apprehensive about any change to their lifestyle. However, change had already taken place with the return of their young Tinju, and if the Tinju could change, so could they. A villager asked.
“What do you think, Master Vitchae?”
Slowly Vitchae thought and then replied,
“Our King has thought about this and decided that it will be good for us all” he paused and then announced “I agree with him, we must change in order to survive.”
The villagers became silent again, until one of them asked.
“Where can I get one of these?” Holding up a picture of a gold coloured Toyota Vigo D4D.
The villagers burst into roars of laughter and held up the pictures that they had removed from the now torn and discarded brochures.
“I want one too,” said another villager
“Me too,” came the shout from individual villagers. Vitchae turned and looked at Taksin.
“I think that’s agreed then Khun Taksin.”
Taksin picked up a digital satellite transmitter and dialled, and
on receiving a reply announced.
“Your majesty, the village has wholeheartedly agreed.”
The next few days brought men and equipment in droves, followed by the arrival of small surveying helicopters that mapped the area between the village and Pong-Nam-Rom. Everyone either helped with feeding the newcomers or carried equipment to and from the now familiar, and no longer monsters from the sky, helicopters.
The elder monks stayed in the Wat preparing for the arrival of the new Tinju, they meditated and cleaned the weapons that would be used in time for ceremonies and demonstrations.
Vitchae and Cenat spent many hours together, mainly discussing Pon and they prayed he would be safe in fulfilling his ‘duty’, and the last duty of the Tinju. Vitchae had been troubled that he’d sent this brave warrior monk to kill his brother and recover the holy relic.
Vitchae still had one family to visit. He went into the Wat and prayed, then went into the village.
The geologist returned to the village the following afternoon and headed to Taksin. She looked excited about something. She and her assistants laid out machines in front of a thoughtful looking Taksin. She spoke and showed Taksin a screen, or graph, which he studied and nodded at the geologists. When the conversation was over, Taksin thanked the geologist, who looked fit to burst as she gathered up her equipment and headed back into the hills.
Taksin tried to find Vitchae and went into the Wat. Cenat informed him that Vitchae was in the village at the home of one of the monks’ families, and when he mentioned whose home, Taksin respectfully delayed his news for now. He mentioned to Cenat that he had to depart for Bangkok that evening, and excitedly told Cenat with a large smile, “The village would become extremely prosperous.”
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*THE KINGS RAIN
This little known or publicised fact is true. King Bhumipol Adulyadej of Thailand can make rainfall. He invests a lot of money in agriculture and development and although Thailand can have a lot of rain during the rainy season, some areas of Thailand can be dry if the season isn’t too wet or long. With the Opium trade turned now by the King to fruit growing, these areas require more rain.
In 1956, the King formed the royal Rainmaking research and development project. Its task is to research into making artificial rain. They were successful and in 1969, the first artificial rain came down on the northern provinces of Thailand.
The process is relatively simple. Light aircraft locate a suitable cloud high up in the atmosphere over an area that requires rain. The cloud is then permeated with ‘seeding chemicals’ and the base of the cloud is sprayed with liquid Nitrogen, ‘Dry ice’, which when mixed with the seeding chemicals produces precipitation and lowers the now rain filled cloud. As the cloud gets lower to the ground, it releases the rain. The same as a natural cloud.
So not only can they make rain, they can pretty much determine the area to receive the rain. King Bhumipol of Thailand holds the patent on this technique and three other patents in agricultural innovations. This is one reason why he has the title ‘The Great’ and one of the reasons why he is well loved and respected by his people.
Any sceptics amongst you, just ask any Thai person, or research yourself on the World Wide Web about THE KING OF THAILANDS RAIN.
*Sato is a Thai moonshine made from rice, cloudy yellow in colour and tastes similar to Sake, its Japanese, better know equivalent.
Urban whiskey or Loa Khaw is fermented tree bark, dark amber in colour, and the more aged vintage jar, tastes similar to port or sherry and is regarded as a natural ‘Viagra’. Both drinks are very potent, going from ‘sober’ to ‘wankered’ in four or five small glasses.