The provenance of Channarong is attributed to Arjan (also Archan, meaning, "Teacher") Villathep (also Veeratep). Allegedly, only 30 images were produced.

W. now informs me via Messenger that the image is approximately two feet, which won't fit inside the present shrine. I might have to look for another shrine.

Long ago I decided that the name of my second kuman thong would be Channarong, which means "Experienced Warrior".

I should wait and see but, thinking aloud now, I wonder if Channarong will have an external manifestation as Mongkut externally manifests as Jaymark.

This afternoon, on the blog Siam and Beyond, I read that a typical kuman thong statuette "depict(s) a young boy in traditional Ayutthaya era attire. Kuman has his hair done up in a little topknot and will often be holding a small sack of gold."

I borrowed this photo from Lee, and also sent it to my sister Sylvia:

Attuning to the second kuman thong. It is in its double-box. W. packed it in one box, which went inside the box the shipping company packed it in. With lots of bubble wrap. W. and the company took care that the metal would not shatter in transit.

According to W. this one is really heavy. He had to get off his bike and tote the bag containing the kuman thong in his arms like a real child after he bought it.

Unlike Mongkut, I sense no fear in my second kuman thong. He is an experienced warrior. He does not fear the dark and the enclosed space he is in. He seems to know where he is being brought--W. most probably told him or he must have heard W. conversing with the packers--and is waiting it out patiently.

I've been reminding Mongkut that his brother is on his way here, and that he won't be so lonely with a brother for company.

Sometimes Jaymark buys candy at D.'s store. I take it as a cue that Mongkut wants some sweets, but Jaymark has no clue about that.

Wednesday, November 30, Bonifacio Day. Went to Farmers Market with Jaymark. The banks are closed because it is a national holiday. Changed some USD and sent a moneygram to W. for my second kuman thong. I now feel that it is completely mine, now that I have paid for it.

I had a dream about Thai magic last night, but I did not bother to record it upon waking. I remember only snatches of it.

The Dream:

The dream is set in the old apartment I lived in 30 years ago. I am in the kitchen, which, in this dream, has a door that leds to my bedroom.

Lee is in this dream. She shows me a catalogue of talismanic objects from Chiang Mai. I am deciding between two miniature, male figures that seem to be made of clay. I feel that Lee will sell me only one figure and will give me a hard time before allowing me to buy it. I am therefore most delighted to see that she leaves me a bilao to which both figures are fastened. I am getting both after all. I stand on the bilao, but I don't know why I do that.

Then, my sister Sylvia is in the dream. I tell her about the talismanic objects that I am buying.

My Interpretation:

There are bridges between the dream images/events and things that happened in my waking life.

Lee has been elusive. I ordered a kuman thong from her but she has been very unresponsive about it.

Yesterday my sister Sylvia showed me photos of a kuman thong she was planning to buy for herself on-line.

Last night W. sent me photos showing that he'd already bought the second kuman thong I wanted and was shipping it to me.

The night of the dream W. sent me a photo of the shipping receipt.

There are two male figures in the dream representing Mongkut and my prospective, new, kuman thong.

Bought sweets for Mongkut at D.'s store last night, and placed them on his shrine. All sweets are inside a translucent, plastic bag.

Yesterday, Saturday, November 26, 2016, W. sent me photos of the second kuman thong I asked him to buy for me. It's a blue, "vampire-teeth" kuman thong. He will keep his brother Mongkut company, and will be in charge of protecting our home and our family. Yes, we need a warrior to keep us safe.

Mongkut knows that I aim to eventually have five kuman thong.

Awaiting the shipment and W.'s costing for everything.

Earlier tonight at dinner I discovered that Angelique, Aubrey, and J. don't like Turkish Delight candy (the commercial, chocolate-covered jellies, not the real Turkish Delight from Turkey).

I ate those and gave them Hershey's chocolate chip cookies for dessert instead.

I intuited that Mongkut doesn't like the chocolate-covered jellies too.

Tuesday, November 15, 2016. Sylvia and Rey visited from Sydney, Australia. Lots of goodies, and candies among them. Gave some to Mongkut.

Wednesday, November 16, 2016. Lunch out with my sisters and Australia folks. We were scheduled to leave the compound 11:00 AM. Jaymark usually arrives later than that, and I thought that I would have to leave him behind. He arrived 10:48 AM, however, and was able to join us for lunch. I believe that Mongkut made this possible.

I am now very certain that Mongkut made Jaymark his external manifestation.

This morning Mongkut reminded me to light joss sticks and his paraffin oil lamp.

This afternoon, I received good news from W. The second kuman thong will be mine November 26, and Mongkut will have a brother.

Mongkut asked me to make certain changes at his shrine today:

1. Hang our electric, faux-Moroccan lamp in front of the shrine. I remembered later that the lamp was made in Thailand.
2. Place the paraffin oil lamp on a red saucer and stow away the antique, clay, lamp stand I'd initially placed it on.
3. Turn on either the electric lamp or light the paraffin oil lamp, but not do both at the same time.
4. A message for me came in: Do not accept former students back into the house.

I've been lighting joss sticks at the shrine upon waking up in the morning.

No response from W. about a prospective, second kuman thong to welcome into our home and be Mongkut's brother. That one is super expensive.

This evening, however, a lady from Thailand who sells kuman thong sent me an unexpected message.

Waiting to see which kuman thong becomes available first.

Lighting the paraffin oil lamp and joss sticks at Mongkut's shrine has now become a comfortable habit.

I was worried all night last night because of a missing ring, a brass copy of an original in my possession, the original being an antique, sterling silver with a single, black star sapphire cabochon from Afganistan. When I turned 60 I had several copies of these made with colored, faceted, crystal stones, to give away to relatives, close friends, and fellow artists.

I discovered that the brass ring was missing only yesterday evening. Early this morning I asked Mongkut to help me get the ring back. I lit the paraffin oil lamp at his shrine. When I retired to my bedroom, I heard his voice, very clearly, in my mind: "Father, wear the ring." I understood him to mean the original, silver ring, which I slipped unto my finger.

Half an hour later the missing brass ring turned up.  

Today I conducted a Spirit Quest at a house in BF Paranaque. I conversed the with elemental king of a bamboo grove in the back yard of the house. The grove is a wonderful kingdom, and the family are fortunate to have it there.

The Bamboo King had messages for the woman of the house and her four sons. They were messages that had to do with fatherhood and sonhood, and I could not help but reflect, upon arriving home, that there could also have been a message regarding my relationship with Mongkut.

I promised Mongkut that I would get him a brother this month, and so I ordered another kuman thong. Am still awaiting word from the seller. I still feel that I will end up with five. I note from other kuman thong owners that they have sets of nine and twelve, but that number is quite high for me.

Went to the opening of Kanade Yagi's exhibit at Artery Art Space, across the street. Her work was inspired by Filipino sculptor Guillermo Tolentino's mysticism.

Nice meet-up with old friends.

Rushed home to have dinner with Aubrey and Jaymark. Angelique is still at university and will be eating out.

Mongkut asked me to give two bags of candy and two Kinder Joy eggs to Jaymark to take home to his little sister.

Mongkut asked for a second Kinder Joy egg today.