View allAll Photos Tagged Rai...,
Images from a pleasant stroll through the night markets of Chiang Rai (wish I'd bought one of these lantern/lampshade things now, saw them all over but couldn't decide on a favourite).
Jaina Lefevre nods a little. "She likes you a lot. Like you is one of her special peoples. If you ask, she can teach us both, okay?" She reaches up to touch his face. "We gotta stick together, Rai. I know I ain't in a dress, but can you bring me down to meet the King, please?"
Rai Pawpad nods. "Yeah, that'd be good. I think I'm gonna need to know." He smiles a little, tilting his head into her hand. "Of course we're stickin together. But... I think he's sleepin again now. He doesn't wake up so often."
Jaina Lefevre caresses his cheek, then leans in to let the hood hide the little cheek rub before she whispers. "Can you show me anyway? Please?"
Rai Pawpad twitches his ears nervously. "I guess I can show you. Where he is. But.. you got to keep it secret, okay?"
Jaina Lefevre nods and watches him. "I'm not gonna say nothing. You trusts me, right?"
Rai Pawpad nods. "Of course I trust you." He feels a little bad for even asking. He stands, having made up his mind. "Sides, it's a good thing for you to know about. It's safe there. You can always be safe there."
Jaina Lefevre reaches out to hold his hand and follows quietly.
Rai Pawpad: "Smells kinda bad in some parts." he warns her.
Jaina Lefevre looks up at him. "Rai...I hid in the sewers before. As long as I don't get it all overs me, so Moms gets mad, it's okay."
Rai Pawpad nods. "Just stay outta the water."
Prominent dance school Nrityanchal, led by Shamim Ara Nipa and Shibli Mohammad, stage their acclaimed production "Rai Krishna Padabal”. Inspired by Rabindranath Tagore's "Bhanusingher Padabali", noted Bangladeshi poet Sheikh Hafizur Rahman wrote the original dance-drama, which was directed for Nrityanchal by Sukalyan Bhattacharya (India).
Photos: Sheikh Mehedi Morshed
Professor Michael Banton adding his own contribution to the recollection of the RAI during the 1960's.