Tonight I ordered basil chicken at one of my favorite vendor stands in Bangkok. I posted a picture of the family on a recent blog. They are a lot of fun.
Anyway, they gave me my food, and I could immediately tell it was spicier than I am accustomed to eating. Before long, I had to pull out a tissue to wipe my perspiring face, my watering eyes, and my running nose.
Suddenly I felt eyes on me. I looked up to see the whole family staring at me and laughing. "pet, mai?" they asked. (Is is spicy?). I could only laugh and nod. I was still crying, as they happily pointed out to me.
But then the daughter gave me some water, and I managed to down the whole plate. I asked the daughter how many chilies her mom put in the dish. She went to ask, and when she came back, she said "TEN!" But she was joking. I never did find out how many. My tolerance level seems to be about one fairly small chily.
It rained this morning. I first discovered that because I found a leak in the ceiliing where water was dripping down on my nice rattan furniture. I think this is the first in over 2 months that we've had rain.
This afternoon I went to Ramkamheng to teach English at the drug rehab center. I stopped to get an iced coffee, and while I waited I saw a bottle of juice concentrate; I liked the name.:)
The guys were full of life and energy today--maybe almost too much to do serious studying. So we ended with a little competition between them--learning how to say the date. Ohmygoodness, I just sat there and laughed. They LOVE competition; each team cheered at the top of their lungs every time they got a point. I think I will need to continue thinking up fun ways to teach, or their interest level might drop.
After class, I took a motorcycle taxi to the bus stop, where I waited for quite some time for my bus. Ramkamheng is an area with a larger Muslim population. The two gals below were also watching for a bus.
I got off the bus at Lotus to do some odds 'n ends shopping. While there I happened upon my friend and neighbor, Dang, so we finished shopping together and then she took me home. She also bought me my supper.
Meatballs in chili sauce served with fresh veggies and herbs. Anyone want to help me eat them?:) I can only handle about half of this!
This morning I woke up when I should have been leaving for my Thai studies. Not a great start.
While waiting for the bus, which was taking unusually long, and was unusally crowded once one finally came, a Thai man I had never met before invited me to go with him and his wife and grandchildren to Muang Boran, a park not far from here. Alas, I am busy.:) (These spontaneous invitations happen quite frequently in Thailand.)
On the way to The Well this afternoon, I stopped at a slushie stand where I often buy iced coffee slushies. Su, the girl working there, knew I had been sick and that I am still not completely back to par. She informed me that it is not good for me to drink cold beverages like this if I am still couging. Water, maybe, but not this. She stated that she is worrying about me. So I thanked her and went on my way without patronizing her business because of her concern.:) Only in Thailand....
While at The Well, I plunked myself in a chair next to a girl I didn't recognize and began asking her questions: what is your name, how long have you been here, etc. She looked at me incredulously and began laughing hysterically. She had colored her hair black from a more golden/blond look. She was not new!! OH MY GOODNESS! What will I do next?!!! She brought me a picture of her from her previous hair color, and asked me if I remembered her then.... Ughhhhhhh, what next?! What could I do but join the laughter?!
When I arrived back at my apartment, Kitti came up to fix my bathroom door which had started self-locking, which is really not good, because the lock is on the OUTSIDE. After he fixed it, he gave me two keys, one for the bathroom door, and one for my balcony door. He told me that when I need to throw out my boyfriend, I can lock him out on the balcony.:)
Tonight I had two young visitors from the community. I had previously met them, and they are really cute. Also not at all shy about asking if they can come see my room, which I allowed them to do. Kitti saw them and told me that children are not allowed in the building. Oops, I told him when I first came to Thailand I just signed the lease without having a clue what I was agreeing to. So he pulled out the lease and searched for the clause about children and showed it to me.
So after the children were there for about 10 minutes, I escorted them back out the door, but not before I took their picture.:) Here are Nahkah and Dtanyong. They want to study English....
Tonight I had two English students show up. That's 100% increase from last week.:) Pen has been coming for several weeks now and is quite serious about learning. Mint is in university and already knows a substantial amount of English. I am not quite sure what to do about the wide gap between their levels. But they both seemed to enjoy the evening very much. I know I certainly did.
There must be at least one other farang on my street. Yesterday the motorcycle taxi guys told me a farang was asking them where I lived.
Then last night, as I was buying somtam along the crowded street, I heard someone behind me say something like, "Look, farang!" I turned around in time to see a farang man with his Thai woman walking by. He grinned and repeated, "Farang!" It was really funny! The Thai lady I was talking to asked me if I knew him. I told her no, he was just making a joke. She didn't get it.:) Maybe neither do you. It's one of those "you have to live in Thailand to get it" moments.:)
OK, so maybe I was desperate for some pictures to put on my blog this time....:)
A week ago I started with a sore throat and fever. I've cancelled a few things this week hoping the extra rest would speed my recovery, but today I finally gave in and went to see a doctor at Samitivej Hospital, your one-stop medical shopping mall.:) I think I've mentioned this place on previous blogs.
This hopsital feels really...plush?? classy?? Not sure what word fits. Below are a few pictures of Samitivej.
Hospital exterior
Starbucks on ground level as well as other shops--restaurant, 7-11, bookstore, flower shop, health food shop, bank, etc. (ATM's are all over the place in the hospital.)
Main lobby
Comfortable seating in waiting areas; most areas provide self serve sealed plastic water containers.
Cashiers at the service counter/pharmacy; I worked hard to get this picture--when I asked permission, the gal looked confused, uncertain, then went back into the pharmacy area to ask someone else. When she returned, she asked the guy to join her on the picture. She didn't want to be in it alone.:) Note how dressed up they are. (Actually they were wearing the colors Tim and Sue used in their wedding--green and grey).
The pharmacist asked permission from the back also, but she didn't seem to have as much hesitation about it. Note the cute little "gift" bag containing my meds.
By the way, the doctor diagnosed my problem as an infection and prescribed 3 medications: an anitbiotic, a plhegm-loosener, and a cough suppressant. I should be good as new in no time! I better be, anyway; I felt like I left a chunk of money there. Maybe still not as expensive as the USA, but still not exactly cheap. 2535 baht for the medical exam plus the meds. At 30 baht/dollar.....I'll let you do the math.
Here's how they dispense meds. Mostly in cute little ziplock bags.
I'm planning on these meds working quickly; I'm not cancelling my two English classes tomorrow!
I walked back out the street to the BTS sky train station and decided it was time to take pictures of yet one other type of transportation available some places. They're funny little vehicles that you have to bend down to get in, and the floor almost comes up to your feet; at least that's what it feels like. I've only used them a couple times. I prefer motorcycle taxis or walking to using them.
I took the sky train back to the On Nut station, where I often wait for a bus. Notice the uniforms. Bangkok has lots of uniforms, both for work and school, including university. I think high school is navy blue and university is black and white. And I don't know what the lady with hat represents.
College students often stand at the bottom of the BTS steps singing and taking donations for various causes.
One more view of folks descending the sky train steps.
When I got off the bus onTheparak Road, many street vendors were already set up for the evening. You have anything from fruit to fried fish patties to fried insects/worms to snacks to regular meal items to clothing. I am probably missing something in that list.:)
My friend who makes kanom crok, little sweet treats made out of coconut milk, had his wife with him this evening. I had never met her before, so it was fun to meet her, and I got an invite to go with her for a few days when she returns to her home province. (In Bangkok almost everyone comes from another province, so it seems. When I ask people where they live, most of the time they tell me the name of some unknown (to me) province, when all I was really asking is where in Bangkok do they live.:)
As I meandered along the street looking for something else for supper, someone from behind grabbed me, and yes, I jumped!:) It was Bpaa Dang, my elderly neighbor whose husband is doing poorly. She laughed and grabbed my hand to walk with her. Lo and behold she decided to buy supper for me, then sent me home to eat it and rest.:)
So, since it was still light on my street, I decided to take a picture of my motorcycle taxi friends. Only thing was, it turned out none of them were the guys I know, and they looked at me cross-eyed when I asked permission for this picture. But finally one of them said OK. So I went on my merry way.:)
So, once back in my room, I ate my supper of soup and rice. This particular soup is not at all spicy, so it was perfect for my poor throat. Geng jute, or something like that, it is called. It contains pork, cabbage, carrots, some sort of fish balls, and mushrooms. I've also had it in the past when gelled tofu is added. It is quite a tasty soup with flavorful broth.
My dessert, of course, was my freshly cooked kanom crok. Yummmmmm! It's one of my favorite snacks.
And that is the end of my long boring blog about nothing!
I stayed home today. I have a sore throat/nasty cough that sets in every time I try to hold a conversation. I am taking lots of vitamin C, though I am missing my Airborne.:) So far not helping.
I had a DELICIOUS supper--butter and herb mashed potatoes that one of my friends from the US gave me. Oh, and I had a fruit called champoo, or something like that. It is very sweet and crisp. Interesting supper, I know. I'm too lazy to go out on the street to buy food; besides, I'll get detained talking to people and then will end up in coughing fits.
So, the other morning I rode the bus in to Bangkok. I forgot how noisy buses can be when they have young teenage schoolboys as passengers.
And one day, maybe the same day, I was walking in Bangkok and saw this sign that cracked me up. Winter sale, huh? In 80 and 90 degree weather??:)
Another day I went to Lotus in Theparak, not at all far from where I live. As I stood on the crosswalk above the road, I took this picture.
OK, you're going to have to humor me once again. This evening I ate at Lek's restaurant just down the street from me. She has a very cute 3-month-old puppy that she keeps there while she cooks.:) Of course, I had to get a picture or two.
Since puppy wasn't cooperating, someone behind me got his attention for the first picture.
Then I decided to play with the little guy, and he--as puppies do--grabbed a piece of my skirt and held on for dear life! I needed help from Lek's helper to get away.:)
Last night Candice, Anita, and I went into Bangkok for foot massages, then went out to eat at Charlie Brown's, a Mexican food restaurant downtown. We thoroughly enjoyed our meals of enchiladas, tostadas, and chimichangas. As most of you already know, I usually ask for a box because I can't eat everything. Well, last night I SHOULDN'T have eaten everything, but I DID!:)
Then along came the manager, and what a character he was! He was trying to talk us into dessert, and in the process, Candice happened to mention we were celebrating two birthdays. So, off he went, returning with 3 shot glasses of tequila--expensive tequila! We sat there laughing, not knowing quite what to do.
Mr. Manager proceeded to sit down on the bench with us and did a toast, telling us to down it in one shot. Which he did; the rest of us took a small sip and set our glasses on the table. He looked at us, incredulous, and said, "Didn't I say to down this in one gulp? Come on, don't tell me you don't drink. You aren't MISSIONARIES, are you?! You ARE, aren't you?!!!!"
Well, he didn't let that stop him from showing us the ice cream menu, which contained ice creams of various alcoholic drink flavors. He told us these were only 5 % alcohol, so that should be OK.:) And he let us pick out two flavors (since it wasn't Candice's birthday, she didn't get to choose any--just share ours), which he then brought to us for free, since we refused his expensive tequila! The two flavors we chose were rum raisin and toffee vanilla vodka or somethink like that.
Talk about exotic ice cream flavors! It was super delicious, and no, I didn't wake up with a hangover this morning!:) I think I might very well have if I had downed that whole shot of tequila, though. My one sip burned all the way down.
Here is our generous friend
Interesting side note: This guy claims that the two weekends before and during the Thailand elections, when the government banned drinking alcoholic beverages, people came to his restaurant and ordered these special ice cream flavors like mad. Things that make you go hmmm....
I thought I left all my brothers in America! But now I find I have at least 9 more! I love teaching the guys at The Shelter. They're such....BOYS!!:) Last week I handed out some Smarties to them and caught two of the guys fighting over the last one, so I laughingly suggested they cut it in half. Wouldn't you know it, they broke it in two pieces and shared it.:)
They are simply FUN! And excited to be learning English. And sometimes they all talk at once and I have no idea how to get their attention again. But once they actually realize I am trying to talk, they quickly hush each other up.
There are now 9 guys living at The Shelter. The newest addition to my class is named O. He has actually been living there for some time but had a job, so was never able to be a part of the class. Now he is on staff and therefore is able to participate. Last week a new guy came; he calls himself by a farang name, Johnnie. That's easy enough for me to remember. They like to give me a hard time because I can never keep their names straight. And I keep telling them I am "keyloom".:)
Below is the picture of the whole group. What a bunch!:)
Since I have quit going to the preschool in Pak Nam, I expected to have more free time on Mondays to study Thai and prepare for teaching my 3 English classes. But alas, thus far such has not been the case!
Yesterday morning I did laundry and began cleaning my (very) dirty apartment. I was unable to finish before I needed to meet a friend for lunch, and after lunch I went to a prayer meeting at Anita's new apartment. Following the prayer time, I returned home to finish cleaning my (very) dirty apartment but was interrupted twice by phone calls. I finally finished cleaning my (very) dirty apartment about 7:30, ran out to get some supper, and returned to help my friend Nui learn English. We talked together until almost 11:30.:)
There went my Monday! No studying Thai, no finishing Thai homework, no preparing for teaching English!
This morning I left my apartment about 8:00 to meet my Thai teacher in Bangkok for our 2-hour language session. After that, I had some time to kill before meeting Anita and her friend Lily to take them to The Well, so I got a foot massage. Ahhhhhh, sabai sabai!
Foot massage finished, I met my friends, and we went to The Well, where we stayed until about 5:00 PM. On the way home (the typical hour-long bus ride), I called my new friend Pen to see if she was planning on coming over tonight to study English together. She was delighted that I had called, and promised to come.
After getting off the bus, I walked down Theparak Road, where I found a little restaurant I had not yet tried. So I sat down and ordered kuitiyao, a popular rice noodle dish that can be made in a large variety of ways. I asked the two young girls there if they were sisters because they looked like each other. Somehow, that struck them as extremely funny. No, they are not related, but they went into stitches and made sure to tell everyone else around what I had said. They were really cute---typical young teenage girls.:)
As I continued walking down the street after supper, I met a factory worker who says she has talked to me before, but I have no recollection. Too many people stop me and talk. And, after all, as I tell everyone, I am "keyloom", or very forgetful.:) At any rate she took my phone number down and is excited about coming on Tuesday nights to study English. (I also got a phone call from Guy today--she is a street vendor near my apartment. She is interested on coming Tuesday evenings as well).
So, I had barely gotten home when Pen called, so I went back down my five flights of stairs (10, actually) to let her in the gate. She was laden with food! Oh my, if she does this every week, I will get FAT! No, actually most of what she brought was not fattening. She gave me a bag of fresh salad, a coconut filled with sweetened, thickened coconut milk and bits of raw coconut, a bag of fresh coconut milk to drink right away, and a type of fruit I have never heard of. She kept wanting to know the English name, but alas, I was of no help to her on that.
This is the coconut....
This is the exotic fruit...
...and this is my new friend Pen. At first she wanted to have me sit in the chair with her, but alas, as the Thais say, I have a "tua-yai" (large body), and my "tua-yai" didn't fit very well in the chair with her...:)
Today Anita and I went to Jai Samarn Full Gospel Church. I love worship times, and God really refreshed my spirit this morning through the youth leading worship. Yesterday was Children's Day in Thailand, so the guy who spoke this morning, if I figured it out correctly, was (maybe??) one of the older youth. He was easier to understand than some others I have heard. Or else my Thai comprehension is improving?? At least I'd like to think so.:)
I was intrigued by the decor that had changed at the front of the church in honor of HRH the princess recently deceased; many church attenders were also in black and white.
The young preacher was also dressed in black.
After leaving church, Anita and I headed to Sunrise Tacos for lunch. Somehow, we were both in the mood for Mexican food, so we had some really HUGE burritos. The atmosphere felt quite western, especially since Amy Grant music played in the background almost the entire time we sat eating and chatting. My former roommate would've enjoyed that!:)
We then stopped at Swenson's Ice Cream on the way home, where we shared a 4-scoop hot fudge sundae made with some sort of chocolate ice cream and sprinkled with fresh banana chunks, mini peanut butter cups and caramel-filled nougats. Now that was yummy!
You may have heard in the news that HRH Princess Galyani Vadhana, the older sister of the King of Thailand, died on January 2 at the age of 84 after a 6-month battle with cancer. It has been interesting to note the impact her passing has made on the Thai people.
Many people are currently wearing black and/or white to show respect. Some people will do so for a period of 15 days, but if I understand correctly, government workers will wear these colors for 100 days, the set period of mourning for the Princess.
It is amazing to me how quickly clothing shops make specific colors available, depending on the occasion.
Up until just a few days ago, set up at various public places were tables where people could go and sign their condolences. I happened upon such a station at Seacon Square, a mall not far from where I live.
Closer up
Business women in black at the Times Square Mall in Bangkok
One of the girls from The Well dressing in honor of HRH (her royal highness)
A couple students from one of my English classes with their black and white outfits
Little Chompoo at The Well is too cute for her own good. She LOVES having her picture taken and she can really ham it up. My dear sister-in-law Sue sent me a care package and included a bag of gummy lifesavers, so I decided to share them with the girls at The Well. They all loved the treat, especially Chompoo; she was more than happy to pose with the lifesavers.
At break time I went outside to say hi to our friendly fruit vendor. Lo and behold, the 2 household pet rabbits were contentedly sitting under the fruit cart nibbling on watermelon rinds.
As I attempted another shot, guess who ran and stood directly in front of the rabbits. Yup, you guessed it. Cute little Chompoo herself! So I gave up on photographing the rabbits and focused on her.:)
Isn't she a cutie?!
OK, this first one is not on the side of the street; it is on a crosswalk ABOVE the street. This guy is making insects and fish and whoknowswhatelse out of--palm leaves?? He said it is a leaf very similar to the leaf on a coconut tree, at any rate. 10 baht per beast. So, sucker that I am, bought one since he allowed me to take his picture.:)
Walking further on to find a songtaew, I asked this woman's permission to photograph her flower stand. These are very beautiful; it is sad that people buy these to bring good luck, keep them safe, etc. But still they are beautiful.
The dear woman told me I needed to show this picture to my farang men friends; she wants a farang husband. I told her all of my older brothers are already married, and she laughed heartily. After chit-chatting a bit longer, she insisted on giving me one of her flower creations. It was very fragrant as well as beautiful.
This afternoon I decided to walk further down my street to explore. I made a couple nice discoveries, a little coffee stand, for one, that makes iced coffee the Thai way (instant coffee, sweetened condensed milk, lots of ice). I have almost become addicted to that stuff.
There is also a little icecream shop where hopefully I can go when I get my coconut milk icecream cravings. That is one of my favorite sweets in Thailand. You can buy it in at least one Thai restaurant in Columbus, but a scoop there costs something like $4.50, and here I can buy a small scoop for about 5-10 baht (10-20 cents).
As I ventured further down the soi, a couple ladies at a somtam shop called to me. Wow, it had a real village feel there, much different than my apartment area, which somehow feels more caught up in the rat race of life. These ladies--and some men--worked in between talking. They told me I should live in their apartment building because it's cheaper and because everyone knows everyone.:)
We exchanged phone numbers, and they asked me when I could come back to visit. Ummm, wow, I feel like I may not have time before next Monday again. But I hope I can go then.
When it was time for me to leave, they could hardly have it that I wanted to walk back; they said it was much too hot, and taking a motorcycle taxi would only be 7 baht. I told them, no big deal, I don't mind walking. But about that time a man was ready to go pick up his daughters at school, so my new friends sent me off with him. He is actually one of the motorcycle taxi drivers that has taken me places.
I have to laugh because when Thai people find out I am not married, they very often ask if I want to marry a Thai man. And this man found out my age earlier in the conversation, so he made a point to tell me that he is no longer married. Not anything to laugh about, but funny because of his implication.....
I think I can actually finish covering Korat this blog! Yea!!:)
Wednesday morning, Jan. 2, we rose early to be ready for a full meal at 7:30. This is the meal for which all the food prep was taking place.
View of the house from the road
View of tables set up in front of the house
It seems quite a few elderly people were invited, and they were the first to show up. Anita and I had fun chatting with them while we waited for the meal to be served.
One lady particularly attached herself to Anita, and one to me. We ended up eating with our adopted mothers/grandmothers.:)
The lady in the photo below runs a beauty salon in the village. She came a bit late, but ended up sitting at my table.
Once everyone had eaten, the tables were cleared, the monk arrived, and the merit-making ceremony/speech began. But before the actual program started, I took this picture of the monk having a look at a globe.:)
Tawan was the moderator welcoming everyone and introducing her father and older sister.
Her father then made an extended speech which I couldn't follow.:)
And somewhere in that speech he presented the principal of the local school with a package (presumably containing the generous donation).
Almost immediately after the ceremony was completed, people began leaving for home. The two ladies who latched themselves onto Anita and I insisted that we come visit their homes. So off we went!:) At the first home, the lady's daughter, friend, and children were there, so we sat on a mat on the floor and visited for quite some time.
Finally, we decided we needed to get going if we were to stop at "my" lady's home. She told me to call her Mother Im. So off we went in the opposite direction. When we arrived at her home, she instructed us to sit down on the large square matted bench??? I don't really know what to call it, but it was quite comfortable.
Before Anita and I knew what was happening, Mother Im had motioned another even older woman in her 90's to stop by. This woman then performed a string-tying ceremony for Anita and I and our "mom". I felt a bit uncomfortable, knowing that it is a Buddhist ritual, but not really knowing what it is about. And we really didn't have any say in the matter.:) Our God is big enough to protect us from the unknown, right?:)
We ended up walking to the home of the third lady to visit just a bit before we felt we needed to return home. Mother Im accompanied us the whole way and stayed to help us with some remaining cleanup duties before walking back to her house.
I almost forget what else we did that day, but I believe cleanup took a while, and I took an afternoon nap. The family kept a few of the chairs and tables for a remnant who ate with them for the evening meal. The farang folks in this picture are from Denmark. Tawan's oldest sister is married to a man from Denmark and has lived there for at least 10 years now. So some of her husband's friends had also come to visit Thailand. Anita and I had quite an interesting conversation about religion with the one guy. He called himself a "provoker" and is an atheist. But we were able to talk in good humor without getting upset.:) Even though I am not an intellectual arguer, I find I thrive on being a part of such conversations, I suppose with the hope that God will use me in spite of myself to shed His light, love, and truth in some way.
Tawan "sent" us to bed early that night, telling us we had gotten up too early in the morning and needed our sleep. So we went to our room and chatted for quite some time before falling asleep.
The next day while Tawan's family worked out details of a spontaneous vacation at Rayong, where her one brother lives, Anita and I crossed the street to chat one last time with our somtam-making friends: two sisters who look quite almost like twins.
Sometime after 1:00, the family had finalized their vacation plans, and we set off in two vehicles, one going straight to Rayong, the other going to Bangkok (that would be the car I was in:). We truly had a wonderful time with Tawan and her family and friends. I am becoming ever more convinced that there is no out-doing Thai hospitality.
Wow, I wanted to cover two days per entry, but it feels like each day had more happening. Brace yourself--this blog will be long, I'm afraid....
Tuesday morning (New Year's Day), Tawan took us out to the shed where her younger brother was processing rice. The machine was a maize of wheels and pulleys.
As I recall, there are basically 3 steps in the process. First, the chaff is loosened from the rice; next the chaff is separated from the rice (and used for bedding for their pigs). Thirdly, the rice is somehow changed from the color brown to the color white (though I don't remember how this is achieved).
For the sake of you guys, I took two videos of the machine, one from the bottom and one from the top--I had to climb a ladder much like ladders in the barn on the farm where I grew up. So much of this trip reminded me of life on the farm--a breath of fresh air--or sometimes not so fresh!
Following the rice demonstration, we ventured into the back yard, where we discovered the chickens were kept. Many, many chickens everywhere: mother hens with broods of chicks in various stages, setting hens, and even a small thatched roof chicken coop with what appears to be Rhode Island Reds like we used to have in the barn at home in PA. And they were even in cages quite like the cages where we kept our white leghorns. Yep, talk about nostalgia....
Tawan then deicded to put her "girl scout" skills to use and built a fire in the back yard so we could warm ourselves there and roast something very like sweet potatoes as well.:)
Relaxing by the fire, I just had to take a picture of the huge "pot" that served as their water reservoir (I think).
Then Tawan had to take her sisters-in-law to market, so Anita and I had the afternoon free to do as we pleased. I decided to take a walk.
I saw plenty of fields of manioc...
...and couldn't resist taking yet another picture of bouganvillea against a beautiful blue sky.
Don't think you're done yet--there's more in the extended entry!:)
When I returned from my walk, Tawan's sister approached me and asked if I would like to accompany her, her brother, and his wife to the wat (temple) to make merit. So we jumped in the car and drove the five minutes to the local wat.
I was a bit uncertain what was expected of me, but when I expressed some concern, they told me "no problem--just watch". I would've loved to take pictures, but when I asked about the propriety of that, I was told it would not be polite to do so.
I watched as my friends bowed low to the ground in front of the monk and presented him with both a basket of food bought there at the wat and an envelope with money. The monk proceeded to ask them questions and do a variety of chants.
He also occasionally asked me if I understood and tried to speak a little English for my benefit. At the end of the ceremony, he asked me if I wanted to become a "chii", or Buddhist nun. I just smiled, wasn't quite sure how to answer that one! I was very impressed with the respect he showed me and the way he tried to include me as he was able. I've always thought women were to keep their distance and not talk to a monk more than necessary.
After leaving the wat, my friends treated me to noodles at a local noodle shop on the way home.
The next order of the day was to begin preparations for the merit-making ceremony to take place on Wednesday morning, when Tawan's parents would have 40-50 guests over for a meal, then present a monetary donation to the principal of the local school. More about that on Day 5's blog.:)
A large tuk-tuk arrived holding the chairs and tables to be set up outside the house.
Then a few of us jumped on the back of a pickup to return to the wat and pick up pots and serving dishes from the warehouse there.
In the picture below is monk laundry, I'm assuming.:)
And here is a "chii", or Buddhist nun. Nuns dress in white, and they do not have the same status as monks who go out on the streets collecting food every morning. If I understand correctly, women become nuns more for their own benefit than anything else. Occasionally I will see a nun out on the streets, but with no one approaching her to make merit or receive a blessing.
Once all the dishes and utensils were loaded onto the pickup, we drove back to the house. Then food prep began in earnest. It seemed like everyone in the neighborhood had come to help with the preparations, especially chopping the meat from the hog that had just been killed that day.
This video is extremely bad, taken at night. But if you want to know the sound of many knives methodically chopping various parts of pig, then you might want to upload it. If not, don't bother.:)
Tawan, Anita, and I were assigned the task of "husking" more garlic cloves than I have ever imagined using in one meal! Since the knives were all in use, we had the "privilege" of using spoons instead. :)
And that about does it for New Year's Day. What a memorable way to spend my birthday!;)
We were woken up Monday morning by Tawan calling us; she had just discovered that the daughter of one of her relatives was getting married that morning, and she wanted to take Anita and I to see a little bit of the ceremony.
It was a very small, simple wedding, Tawan explained, because the bride and groom had already been living together. If they had not previously lived together, the wedding would have been much bigger. (It appears to me, however, that the norm is for the couple to live together quite some time before getting married. Or maybe that is only the norm for the Bangkok area???) Below is a picture of the young couple. They make a cute pair, I think.:)
After we returned home, we ate a late breakfast, then drove approximately 1 1/2 hours to Payao's home and met her parents, . We stayed only a short time before heading on to our next destination.
Payao joined us for the trip to Pii Mai Historical Park, another good hour's drive away. Pii Mai contains the remains of an old castle from and earlier era in Thailand.
Anita, Tawan, Poom Puung (Tawan's younger sister), and Payao
Doorways and more doorways....
Sisters....:)
The ruins seemed to extend on and on...
Showing this window because I LIKE this picture.:)
Guess what? Thailand does have a few changing leaves!
It also has frogs on lily pads!
We headed home, dropping Payao off on the way. Awaiting us back at the farm was a tasty Korean style barbecue meal that we ate outside sitting on mats on the ground.
Later that evening, a bunch of us ladies took mats out on the ground and watched the stars. I had told Tawan I used to love watching the sky as kid, so she humored me. I even saw one very tiny shooting star, gone in the blink of an eye. And we all had fun just lying outside chatting. Wow, that kind of thing is good for me; I don't realize how much I enjoy such things until I have a chance to do them again.
Eventually we turned in for the evening. It was actually chily outside that night; it felt good to snuggle underneath a warm blanket.
Around 10 AM last Saturday morning, Tawan and a carload of friends picked me up to travel to her family's home in the province of Korat, normally a 4-hour drive from Bangkok.
Anita, me, and Payao took up the back seat, while Poompung, Tawan's younger sister, sat in front with Tawan.
Holiday traffic was unbelievable; we didn't arrive in Korat until 8 or 9 that night. That's more than twice as long as usual!
The weather in Korat was refreshingly cool (even got downright chilly in our time there!). The next morning Tawan took us by motorcycle to see various plots of land that her father's family farms. Can you see the little rider sitting in front of Tawan? That's Mot, her 1 1/2-year-old neice.
The pig farm--sure smelled like it, too!
Exploring more of the farmland
Tawan then dropped us off at a tree with a hammock and a mat to stretch out on. Anita and I stayed there for probably an hour or more just relaxing. It was WONDERFUL!
When Tawan came back, it was to take us back to the house for lunch. Then we were off to see more land belonging to her dad. This time her mom, nephew, and neice came along, and our transportation was a pickup.
These folks were relatives who farmed this particular area, and they stayed in this house as needed when working the crops.
Tawan's mom decided Anita and I needed to taste young coconut milk and meat.:) It's very filling.
In the evening, various members of extended family decorated the porch for New Year's Eve; we had an uninvited "guest".:) Wow, what a big guy!
Today I went to the office to pay my rent and spontaneously asked if I could bring cake to celebrate my birthday sometime this weekend. Kitti instantly agreed and the time was set for 7:00 tonight. Only he told me his wife would cook duck for me.
When I arrived in the office this evening, a huge spread lay before me. Kitti told me that he had invited my landlords to come as well, and though they couldn't come, they told him to make sure to give me a delicious meal.
So we had a crab dish, 2 shrimp dishes, and squid stuffed with pork. They kept telling me this is a special day, so I need to eat a lot. And Rung, Kitti's wife, kept peeling shrimp and crab for me. Did I ever feel pampered! Kitti even joked that his wife was taking better care of me than him. But he balanced that later on by telling me what a good wife he has.
I ended up spending most of the eveing there in the office, and we never got to the cake, so they are insisting that I return tomorrow night for the cake. Not sure if they will include a meal this time or not. I'm a little afraid to eat too much beforehand because I suspect they will at least have a little something else.
Regarding my trip to Korat, I had a WONDERFUL time. I hope to do a few blogs about that trip tomorrow.
