Christmas Eve & baby monkeys

Ton, from Northern Thailand, was leading the Muslim children in songs at the Christian Christmas party this morning. Most of the young Thais that put it on were tsunami volunteers. Adorable toddlers came with mommies and daddies to join the fun, mostly watching while their older brothers and sisters played games and got presents. Almost all of the women and older girls had their headscarves off until it was time to go, which I thought was odd. Tasty Muslim food, a piece of curried chicken, saffron rice, clear broth with radish, a cookie and a soft drink, was served up to all for lunch. A baby monkey being trained to run up coconut trees to fetch coconuts for its owner entranced our children. On the way home they fantasized about bringing a baby monkey home to raise. I told them there was no way we were going to raise a monkey! "What if we could train it to use the toilet and not to bite? What if we found a baby monkey on the beach with its mommy and they loved on us and asked us to take them home?"