** I have included the Pictures as links-- you just have to double click on the blue links throughout the post and it should take you to the appropriate pictures... Auntie Ruthie-- if you need some help you can call your mom- That 89 year old wonder I have as a grandmother will be able to show you on her Mac no prob:)
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Well, while the pitter patter of rain--more like pounding, can easily be heard through my window-- and door-- the forces are our out drinking free margaritas, riding bulls and watching a grand lady boy performance I figured it was about time I sat down and updated this blog!! After all a blog is not a blog if it is not written on!
Well, life has been challenging to say the least! I am going to blame it on a wonderful October holiday (I think that's last time I wrote!) and coming back to rooms full of talkative students and my desire to be back in Canada-- I think it's a certain someones fault I miss Winnipeg so much!) I'm sure in a few months I will be wishing for the balmy weather and the beaches, but lately I have been dreaming of a White Christmas--perhaps why the lack of writing.
Now that I have a few more beach pictures and I bit more time I will update! Since my last post I have finished university classes FOREVER! (Technically I have graduated!--Just waiting on the official thing in June!) Now I am just finishing up my contract with the school here... I will be done the end of February and have just booked a flight to New Zealand! (Book but not paid for --so if some of you were thinking long and hard about what to get me for Christmas.....tee hee)....
Some NZ friends I met in Winnipeg are getting married and some friends that have now moved from WPG are attending so it should be a lovely get together--and a holiday I am really looking forward to! I will be in New Zealand for 3 weeks and am finally home March 23rd-5:52pm to be exact!
December was a month blessed with long weekends! We had two long weekends in a row- with the Kings birthday and Constitution day we ended up with a 3 day week sandwiched inbetween! We decided it was time to check out downtown Bangkok and so splurged a little and stayed at a fancy hotel! It was WONDERFUL- we got to COOK our own meals! (HIGHLIGHT as we don't have kitchens in our apartments) and sleep on beds that felt like clouds--unlike the rocks that are somehow passed as beds that we normally sleep on! The beautiful international school with immaculate grounds, 2 swimming pools, 2 tennis courts, and a full sized track that we could see next door to our hotel made us a bit jealous--but alas it was grand. It was a perfect location to watch the smog- as well as the fireworks on the kings birthday WOW! As a bit of background info --the THAI people LOVE their king. The Thai King, King Bhumibol Adulyadej (King Rama IX) Thailand born 1927-12-05 ascended. 1946-06-09 ,has reigned 64 years, 188 days. The longest reigning current monarch. He is like a father to the Thai people and is much revered. Thus, there were huge celebrations for his birthday- a national holiday- and we chose to celebrate with Games in our gorgeous hotel room while watching the Fireworks around us.
The following long weekend we went to an island new to us-- and a definite new favourite- Koh Chang. It was BEAUTIFUL and a perfect mix of mountains and beaches...this time I chose to remain on the beaches and didn't do much exploring--except for a day of snorkeling, but it was FABULOUS- I can't complain about spending time with wonderful food and amazing people; a fun morning of snorkeling (Snorkeling Koh Chang Pictures) and lots of beach time! (See Links to pictures below!) A highlight of my weekend was getting a manicure and pedicure and foot scrub--totalling about 10 dollars, if the fact that I was lying on a bed-- on the beach-- looking out to the ocean while getting pampered wasn't enough I tried to hold back my giggles when a salesman (often found on beaches) of some sort of temporary tattoos stopped by. I was a little bit uneasy as I was sprawled out on the bed in my bikini (as of course the massage ladies were set up 10 steps from our bungalow-- which was on the beach: 4 steps from my bed to the sand-- I counted!!!)... anyway if the view and location weren't enough as this salesman passed by-- he actually sat down-- and get this- he was about age 15.. and it must have been his mom doing my nails- cuz he sat down at my other hand and started cutting my nails-- and filing my nails-- and painting my nails! Of course- all the while I was trying to hold back my giggles and I knew they were talking about me-- finally the boy touched my tattoo and the lady asked me- in Thai (somehow Thai people think that if I know how to say hello in Thai-- I know it all)... she asked how long I had it- how much it cost and where I got it done... anyway it was quite amusing... I never did find out if they thought my tattoo was nice or hideous-- but I"m sure if it was that bad they would have told me- as Thai's aren't afraid to tell the truth.
(KOH CHANG 1 Pictures) (Koh Chang 2 PICTURES)
Now as I await my 3rd Christmas in my life without snow (1. Uganda, 2. England...3. Thailand) - I am thankful for all the wonderful people- food- and hopefully I'll find a comfy bed --I am looking forward to returning to in Winnipeg. I think about the people that I love who will not be physically with me this Christmas... Some of you may not know, but my Grandma Mc Kinnon passed away in November. This Christmas I will choose to celebrate the wonderful times I have with her and those I love-- who I am not with this year. Last night one of the guys in our group, Damon, came over and we made fudge. Last Christmas his family had gotten together with his grandmother who always made fudge and she taught them how to make it--Damon recorded it on video. His grandmother passed away in the fall while he was in Thailand and thus in her memory he asked me to make fudge with him (as I have a hot plate AND microwave!)...it was a special time to also remember Grandma McKinnon and the many special times we've had together cooking in the kitchen, and visiting over the years...
I think I will celebrate Christmas at ''home'' in our ''apartments'' this year. My budget- or lack of-- is now New Zealand bound and keeps reminding me that my flight isn't really mine until I pay for it! Alas, as Christmas is not a holiday here (though it is DECKED OUT in Christmas decorations at the malls- and all our spoiled students will be receiving gifts from their parents, and our Buddhist centred school plays Christian Christmas carols in the mornings...)... I will be remaining at home. On Christmas eve there will be a supper put on by our school and hopefully we'll find a Christmas Eve service to attend... other than that I intended to do NO school work and just relax--maybe taking a run and a swim in the pool.
I don't want to admit it but as my time passes in Thailand- though I am absolutely grateful for this time in my life, I think I finally have a homing device back to Canada- I think it's time for my trips to be more of holiday lengths in weeks/months and not so much in years! On that note--see you in March! (If anyone has an extra, house- car- phone- bed-living supplies that they'd like to donate/sell to me upon my return I would be eternally grateful!) :)
Although I am terrible at communicating with you- Please know you are in my thoughts this holiday season! God Bless and Merry Christmas--and a Happy NEW Year!
ps. A few highlights of the Christmas season so far:
- Seeing a giant snowman in a back of a truck
- Setting up a Christmas tree at school
- Receiving a parcel from Shaun filled with chocolate (that was melted all over the box!)
- Wearing a Santa Hat to teach-- every day this week... and boring my students by singing them Christmas Carols :)
- Making ''Grandma's Fudge''
- Receiving my one and only present from a student thus far, wrapped in paper that says ''Love-- kiss-- Love you-- and Sex'' (hmmm I guess I better teach them to read!)
-PPS. The GOOD things about everyday life have been(LIFE PICTURES):
-Making delicious sandwiches including BACON- feta cheese- tomatoes- boiled egg - A new Garlic/Herb spice- and cucumbers-- mmm mmm goood.
-Watching my students excited about a Mystery Writer during a letter writing unit.
-Walking up and down 78 steps to get to my 4 classrooms-- you get exercise whether you like it or not
-Running at the SE Asia University ''track'' across the street....just the road that goes through the UNI.
-Finishing University Forever!
-Collecting Shells on the beach (oh I guess this wasn't every day!)
-Drinking FRESH smoothies and Pad Thai off the street- totalling 45 Baht- about $1.50.
-Having a personal Taxi driver come pick us up every day ""Tok"" (pronounced Talk) speaks English and fancies my neighbour= rides every morning... and makes him a living!
ppps. OHH ya- we also did an ''AMAZING RACE" at the local outdoor market=Chatuchak Weekend Market - the world's largest weekend markets
lots of fun- Very HOT- and WE won best spirit! :)
THE AMAZING RACE PICTURES
pppps. Oh and I forgot about Loi Krathong-- a water festival where the Thai people decorate elaborate water features to set free into the rivers for good luck and to say sorry to the water for polluting it! (or something like that).. anyway it was a HUGE festival --the lanterns were definitely the coolest thing ever -- and most dangerous! (See picture links below!)
LOI KRATHONG PICTURES
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
The Holiday Sega... and links to pics!
Perhaps the tardiness stems from trying to encapsulate such wonderful moments on paper....or that I was busy playing nurse...the new addiction to an old tv show, now not an addiction as I spent all Sunday watching the final season (Prison Break...)... or jumping back into the swamp they call career and teaching. Whatever the excuse it's not a very good one.. but I think I'm finally ready to summarize the last 3ish weeks on the blog.
Now ... how to do that without boring you to death- I'm assuming if you're reading this you're mildly interested.
I will use the point form journal Shaun and I kept over our holiday as a jumping off point and go from there.
First Stop of holidays.... (after 2 weeks of ''nothing''/planning with show and tell for parents and a ''camp'' which was basically babysitting- at the beginning of October)
-First Stop Chiang Rai- Northern Thailand.
* After a weekend of browsing Bangkok we headed up north.
Initial thoughts of our place in Chiang Rai--Musty, Where ARE we? But great soup from the street. We proceeded to rent bikes the next afternoon and finding our way around- trying not to get lost...or ran over on the not so calm streets. We then decided Monday would include a bike tour with better bikes and a tour guide:) Though our self guided tour was pretty wondering seeing lots of soi dogs (street dogs- yuck!), a river, all the beautiful places we could have stayed and getting badly cut off by a car (but not ran over).... We also came across a great Italian restaurant that later that night served us some lovely baguette etc....
-MONDAY: All day bike tour-- with a 1:1 ratio of guides: Included a visit to a beautiful and very modern/new age ''White Temple'' done by an amazing artist, three visits to local businesses; a rice mill--SO interesting, a rubber ''factory (even MORE interesting), and a stop to the fisherman rubber boots and all netting tiny minnows for the market. We also came upon a Monk ceremony/lottery type ordeal in a small village where the monks were honored by locals making basically ''penny parade' type baskets that were numbered. Then the monks pulled a number and hoped to get the basket of the rich family in town (as the baskets were adorned with money!) This ceremony was neat to happen upon as it happens once every SIX years- in that particular village! AND being the only white people and GIANT (Shaun) we soon became the centre of attention-- which I always like :)
After a LOT of uphill climb- a rest stop in the middle of a rice field and lots of sweat we climbed up a steep path on foot to arrive at a beautiful waterfall. Eager to jump in we soon realized this would be detrimental to survival as the waterfall was VERY strong due to the rainy season-- so strong that when our guide took his shirt off the shirt was straight out like a flag due to the wind created by the waterfall!
Thankfully we had the next couple days to recover-- I mean some people argue that Shaun caught some Thai bug-- though symptoms showed *cough* maybe some heat exhaustion-- the bike WAS really hard-- it did provide a good opportunity to catch up on Canadian tv shows.
I will add a following entry regarding the rubber factory it was SO interesting!
jump ahead to THURSDAY-now in another norther community Chiang Mai: We visited a TIGER KINGDOM- where they don't drug the tigers but the tigers are raised in the 'tiger kingdom'' from birth so are trained-- I guess not to eat me! The rest of the day was spent at the Chiang Mai Zoo and Acquarium and FYI if you so choose to NOT take the tram in the Zoo it is a LONG walk UP HILL -- but you DO get the benefit of going to the redneck carnival as you exit the zoo-ie. shooting range and mini mini bike track (like the shriners ride--) AT THE ZOO?
FRIDAY was WONDERFUL we spent the morning fishing at a local fishing hole with Mr. Tuk Tuk. Shaun won the competition catching 8 fish...(he's read this and wants to edit- it was 9--9 fish) I came in a close second with 3+ the one (not joking) that got away- speculated to be about 25kgs! We did both manage to tie for biggest size at 16kg! Those things are pure muscle and it was quite an adventure to reel them in with the giant fishing pools we used! It was a great success after the initial disappointment of shore fishing vs. boat fishing (afterthoughts: Thank GOODNESs it wasn't in a boat-- I would have fallen out trying to reel those giants in and gotten eaten alive!)
SATURDAY included white water rafting with funny english-men, an australian, german, americans and of course us canadians.... After a LONGGGG drive up the mountain- we got out of the van and right back onto the raft-- on a flatbed-- we continued the climb up the mountain- got out for a Thai lunch and then on the river.WOW. What a ride! it was certainly a good season for rafting! We did have to get out of the river at one point-- they wouldn't let us go down the level 6 white water:( Saying that I will certainly fight for a life jacket and helmet that fits a little better next time-- cuz swimming down the rapids was a little terrifying!
Rafting was followed by ATVing-- lets just say after a long day I wasn't quite prepared for the steep inclines-- slippery rocks and muddy situations-- so I quickly decided I was good in the passenger seat:)
Moving on to the south--Phuket.
Sunday Monday and tuesday were spent on the BEACH== woo woo.....
-between surfing-a little (SHAUN)...lying in the sun a lot (CHRISTY)
-a tour to Phi Phi Islands where the movie- THE BEACH was filmed, as well as a different island where a Bond movie was shot-- including AMAZING snorkeling-- with fintail alligator fish! I LOVED the beach- the flourlike sands and the crazy blue waters were BEYOND belief and wonderful--
WEDNESDAY we spent figuring out how to get to our final destination Railay Beach-- once on the ferry we became storm chasers and actually spotted a TORNADO!! cool hey? (it wasn't too near us!) This day was full of varied transportation including: taxi, ferry, tuk tuk, longtail boat, foot...and 200 stairs to our ''resort'')
-upon arrival at our ''resort'' turns out we didn't have a reservation -- but it was pouring rain so decided to stay there anyway-- well- also turns out it was probably more of a resort 20 years ago and mold has taken hold- OH WELL- the view was GREAT and the pool was nice. The 200 steps up to the ''bungalow'' were especially nice as I spent the next couple days attending to Shaun as he was really fevered and NOT healthy--which took us to the hospital on friday- thankfullly he's now recovered (unfortunately now back in Canada.....thankfullly, safe and sound! PLUS although I knew it already it was really nice to have time to hang out with a really superb friend who likes to do all the same things as me!)
-Well that's the short version- Imagine what the LONG one would look like! and now... I'm back to school-- but I'm not ready to admit to that yet... so i'll just try to upload some pictures now :) .... wish me luck!
I figured out a much easier way to upload pics-- just click on the links below and they should get you to facebook pics- they are MUCH easier to download!
let me know if they are inaccessible!
xCLR
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=240570&id=502156238&l=9cfe9b9d36
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=240575&id=502156238&l=bb02c9abab
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=240572&id=502156238&l=8c6b6c419a
Now ... how to do that without boring you to death- I'm assuming if you're reading this you're mildly interested.
I will use the point form journal Shaun and I kept over our holiday as a jumping off point and go from there.
First Stop of holidays.... (after 2 weeks of ''nothing''/planning with show and tell for parents and a ''camp'' which was basically babysitting- at the beginning of October)
-First Stop Chiang Rai- Northern Thailand.
* After a weekend of browsing Bangkok we headed up north.
Initial thoughts of our place in Chiang Rai--Musty, Where ARE we? But great soup from the street. We proceeded to rent bikes the next afternoon and finding our way around- trying not to get lost...or ran over on the not so calm streets. We then decided Monday would include a bike tour with better bikes and a tour guide:) Though our self guided tour was pretty wondering seeing lots of soi dogs (street dogs- yuck!), a river, all the beautiful places we could have stayed and getting badly cut off by a car (but not ran over).... We also came across a great Italian restaurant that later that night served us some lovely baguette etc....
-MONDAY: All day bike tour-- with a 1:1 ratio of guides: Included a visit to a beautiful and very modern/new age ''White Temple'' done by an amazing artist, three visits to local businesses; a rice mill--SO interesting, a rubber ''factory (even MORE interesting), and a stop to the fisherman rubber boots and all netting tiny minnows for the market. We also came upon a Monk ceremony/lottery type ordeal in a small village where the monks were honored by locals making basically ''penny parade' type baskets that were numbered. Then the monks pulled a number and hoped to get the basket of the rich family in town (as the baskets were adorned with money!) This ceremony was neat to happen upon as it happens once every SIX years- in that particular village! AND being the only white people and GIANT (Shaun) we soon became the centre of attention-- which I always like :)
After a LOT of uphill climb- a rest stop in the middle of a rice field and lots of sweat we climbed up a steep path on foot to arrive at a beautiful waterfall. Eager to jump in we soon realized this would be detrimental to survival as the waterfall was VERY strong due to the rainy season-- so strong that when our guide took his shirt off the shirt was straight out like a flag due to the wind created by the waterfall!
Thankfully we had the next couple days to recover-- I mean some people argue that Shaun caught some Thai bug-- though symptoms showed *cough* maybe some heat exhaustion-- the bike WAS really hard-- it did provide a good opportunity to catch up on Canadian tv shows.
I will add a following entry regarding the rubber factory it was SO interesting!
jump ahead to THURSDAY-now in another norther community Chiang Mai: We visited a TIGER KINGDOM- where they don't drug the tigers but the tigers are raised in the 'tiger kingdom'' from birth so are trained-- I guess not to eat me! The rest of the day was spent at the Chiang Mai Zoo and Acquarium and FYI if you so choose to NOT take the tram in the Zoo it is a LONG walk UP HILL -- but you DO get the benefit of going to the redneck carnival as you exit the zoo-ie. shooting range and mini mini bike track (like the shriners ride--) AT THE ZOO?
FRIDAY was WONDERFUL we spent the morning fishing at a local fishing hole with Mr. Tuk Tuk. Shaun won the competition catching 8 fish...(he's read this and wants to edit- it was 9--9 fish) I came in a close second with 3+ the one (not joking) that got away- speculated to be about 25kgs! We did both manage to tie for biggest size at 16kg! Those things are pure muscle and it was quite an adventure to reel them in with the giant fishing pools we used! It was a great success after the initial disappointment of shore fishing vs. boat fishing (afterthoughts: Thank GOODNESs it wasn't in a boat-- I would have fallen out trying to reel those giants in and gotten eaten alive!)
SATURDAY included white water rafting with funny english-men, an australian, german, americans and of course us canadians.... After a LONGGGG drive up the mountain- we got out of the van and right back onto the raft-- on a flatbed-- we continued the climb up the mountain- got out for a Thai lunch and then on the river.WOW. What a ride! it was certainly a good season for rafting! We did have to get out of the river at one point-- they wouldn't let us go down the level 6 white water:( Saying that I will certainly fight for a life jacket and helmet that fits a little better next time-- cuz swimming down the rapids was a little terrifying!
Rafting was followed by ATVing-- lets just say after a long day I wasn't quite prepared for the steep inclines-- slippery rocks and muddy situations-- so I quickly decided I was good in the passenger seat:)
Moving on to the south--Phuket.
Sunday Monday and tuesday were spent on the BEACH== woo woo.....
-between surfing-a little (SHAUN)...lying in the sun a lot (CHRISTY)
-a tour to Phi Phi Islands where the movie- THE BEACH was filmed, as well as a different island where a Bond movie was shot-- including AMAZING snorkeling-- with fintail alligator fish! I LOVED the beach- the flourlike sands and the crazy blue waters were BEYOND belief and wonderful--
WEDNESDAY we spent figuring out how to get to our final destination Railay Beach-- once on the ferry we became storm chasers and actually spotted a TORNADO!! cool hey? (it wasn't too near us!) This day was full of varied transportation including: taxi, ferry, tuk tuk, longtail boat, foot...and 200 stairs to our ''resort'')
-upon arrival at our ''resort'' turns out we didn't have a reservation -- but it was pouring rain so decided to stay there anyway-- well- also turns out it was probably more of a resort 20 years ago and mold has taken hold- OH WELL- the view was GREAT and the pool was nice. The 200 steps up to the ''bungalow'' were especially nice as I spent the next couple days attending to Shaun as he was really fevered and NOT healthy--which took us to the hospital on friday- thankfullly he's now recovered (unfortunately now back in Canada.....thankfullly, safe and sound! PLUS although I knew it already it was really nice to have time to hang out with a really superb friend who likes to do all the same things as me!)
-Well that's the short version- Imagine what the LONG one would look like! and now... I'm back to school-- but I'm not ready to admit to that yet... so i'll just try to upload some pictures now :) .... wish me luck!
I figured out a much easier way to upload pics-- just click on the links below and they should get you to facebook pics- they are MUCH easier to download!
let me know if they are inaccessible!
xCLR
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=240570&id=502156238&l=9cfe9b9d36
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=240575&id=502156238&l=bb02c9abab
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=240572&id=502156238&l=8c6b6c419a
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Almost a month!
I just took a peek and realized I'm 10 days short of a month-- of posting on the blog! AHHH.... well I guess it's been almost a month since I've left Bangkok. In between then I've seen a ~7ft. snake in our apartment yard- it got zapped on the electrical wire, shorted out the power and fell dead- only to be discovered by the security guard- who called and of course I ran out to see it! What else- school has been winding down, it's somewhat of a summer break for the kids- they have a month off- but can choose to come to school for a 'day camp' of sorts. They had exams last week and this week was ''open housé'' also a somewhat optional week where parents can come in and we 'perform' for the parents and they watch what goes on in class. Today's show included me bouncing around the classroom making sure that the students- who have been having free time all week-- were on task and not writing inappropriate adjectives like the boys group including ''sexy''... well I guess that is an adjective so they are technically correct- but of course I put on my teachers face- tried not to laugh and asked if they'd write that if THEIR parents were there. So this week I've had lots of prep time for next term- which is great, but makes the week waiting for holidays- and Shaun to come VERY long. Only 8 sleeps until holidays- 7 until Shaun arrives- Next week will be ''day camp'' at school. Should be nice change- me and Lindsay are making pom poms and being cheer leaders...
Friday, September 17, 2010
Wonderful
I am reporting that I HAD A WONDERFUL DAY! Wonderful- from top to bottom? Is that a possibility? I know my memory is terrible, so I'm sure I forgot some not so great parts but overall a wonderful day. I think it happens when perspective changes and you realize some little students are actually people and have lives, and aren't just there to get on your nerves! What can change a wonderful day when you arrive at school at 7am to ''The Chicken Dance" followed by Sharron, Louis and Bram's Skid-amirinkidinkedink (sp?)you have an hour to prep before you have to be at ''hard court'' a daily meeting for the students where they repeat their Buddhist rituals and vows to the school- to be a good student (it's Scout's day on Friday so they all come dressed in Scout uniform, very cute, but at the start somewhat of a problem as their scout uniforms don't have their names written on them, but their school uniforms do).
Anyway hard court today was someone in our key stages turn to lead so we started the morning off with a rousing round of Y-M-C-A! Followed by my weekly trip to the very cozy and cute coffee shop around the corner from the school where I get a mocha Frappe. Well this morning was a special treat- last week they began serving breakfast and so today I partook in a delicious spread of ham, weiners, very thin and de-crusted bread, 3 slices of tomato and a lovely sunnyside up egg done to perfection in the shape of a heart! The deal is it is only 20 baht more (about 70 cents) than my regular drink I get...except I get breakfast too- go figure! (Somethings just don't make sense out here!)
The day continued well- my day teaching one less class than normal was a nice change- and I got to hear the bell chiming throughout the day (have I told you the school bell is to the tune of ''it's a small world afterall'' ? And although some classes were difficult I was able to navigate my way through the difficult students by giving talkings to- rather than yelling at them, and describing in detail how much it makes me sad when they talk the whole class or are not complete their homework-- Overall I got fairly good responses.
The school day ended with a lovely round of ''let's try to play dead for Mr. Damon'' Damon teaches after my last class on friday (he teaches a homework class-- incase going to school for 7 hours straight wasn't enough for them...) and yesterday he decided to try and get the students attention by lying on the floor and playing dead-- as nothing else was making them quiet... well it took them 3 whole minutes to notice he was even on the floor and then they looked at him quizzically and said, ''Mr. Damon, what are you doing on the floor!" Needless to say his method didn't work... Sooooo the homework students and I decided to wait quietly in the dark- playing dead for Mr. Damon to arrive.. Well it worked- except one of the student actors rose from the dead to yell at him as soon as he came through the door-- so he left and reentered- we were all quiet then and Mr. Damon started to sing a victory song- and we all had a laugh.
ANyway Spaghetti and such for supper- a quick clean of my room and then watching Erin Brokovich (sp?) with friends-- Ahhh what a lovely evening.
Well laundry should be done- and I'm off to console my neighbour who just returned from working late at school- only to tell me that she got locked into not only the school.. and had to escape through a window-- but then got locked in the school yard and the gates were even locked so the guard could not let her out-- and she had to climb the fence! Ha... what wonderful adventures--ha.. glad it wasn't me!
Well now that I've told you about a typical wonderful day I'm off to hang up my laundry and get to bed-- I'm teaching Saturday class tomorrow- thankfully We get to leave an hour later than usual! Woo hoo... isn't it sad when 7 oclock is sleeping in?!
:)Sigh....
Live well.
ps I even got a gift from a student today- I'll keep his last initial anonymous, as I have two of them in my class, but Gun (yes, his name is Gun) gave me a present today! It's in a beautiful box I think I'll dismantle and frame.. but check out the ingredient list (Moon Cake: Sugar, Cashew Nut, Salted egg yolk, sweet pork, wheat flour, squash, watermelon seed, white sesame seed, sweet apricot kernel, macadamia nut, vegetable oil and egg... hmmm scrumptious? I guess we'll see tomorrow!)
Anyway hard court today was someone in our key stages turn to lead so we started the morning off with a rousing round of Y-M-C-A! Followed by my weekly trip to the very cozy and cute coffee shop around the corner from the school where I get a mocha Frappe. Well this morning was a special treat- last week they began serving breakfast and so today I partook in a delicious spread of ham, weiners, very thin and de-crusted bread, 3 slices of tomato and a lovely sunnyside up egg done to perfection in the shape of a heart! The deal is it is only 20 baht more (about 70 cents) than my regular drink I get...except I get breakfast too- go figure! (Somethings just don't make sense out here!)
The day continued well- my day teaching one less class than normal was a nice change- and I got to hear the bell chiming throughout the day (have I told you the school bell is to the tune of ''it's a small world afterall'' ? And although some classes were difficult I was able to navigate my way through the difficult students by giving talkings to- rather than yelling at them, and describing in detail how much it makes me sad when they talk the whole class or are not complete their homework-- Overall I got fairly good responses.
The school day ended with a lovely round of ''let's try to play dead for Mr. Damon'' Damon teaches after my last class on friday (he teaches a homework class-- incase going to school for 7 hours straight wasn't enough for them...) and yesterday he decided to try and get the students attention by lying on the floor and playing dead-- as nothing else was making them quiet... well it took them 3 whole minutes to notice he was even on the floor and then they looked at him quizzically and said, ''Mr. Damon, what are you doing on the floor!" Needless to say his method didn't work... Sooooo the homework students and I decided to wait quietly in the dark- playing dead for Mr. Damon to arrive.. Well it worked- except one of the student actors rose from the dead to yell at him as soon as he came through the door-- so he left and reentered- we were all quiet then and Mr. Damon started to sing a victory song- and we all had a laugh.
ANyway Spaghetti and such for supper- a quick clean of my room and then watching Erin Brokovich (sp?) with friends-- Ahhh what a lovely evening.
Well laundry should be done- and I'm off to console my neighbour who just returned from working late at school- only to tell me that she got locked into not only the school.. and had to escape through a window-- but then got locked in the school yard and the gates were even locked so the guard could not let her out-- and she had to climb the fence! Ha... what wonderful adventures--ha.. glad it wasn't me!
Well now that I've told you about a typical wonderful day I'm off to hang up my laundry and get to bed-- I'm teaching Saturday class tomorrow- thankfully We get to leave an hour later than usual! Woo hoo... isn't it sad when 7 oclock is sleeping in?!
:)Sigh....
Live well.
ps I even got a gift from a student today- I'll keep his last initial anonymous, as I have two of them in my class, but Gun (yes, his name is Gun) gave me a present today! It's in a beautiful box I think I'll dismantle and frame.. but check out the ingredient list (Moon Cake: Sugar, Cashew Nut, Salted egg yolk, sweet pork, wheat flour, squash, watermelon seed, white sesame seed, sweet apricot kernel, macadamia nut, vegetable oil and egg... hmmm scrumptious? I guess we'll see tomorrow!)
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
What happens in Koh Samet...
Nothing like a good bake on the beach- but who would have thought a couple hours by the pool would result in Christy turning into Larry the Lobster! It is amazing what a weekend out of the smog can do! It was lovely to go away for the weekend and do absolutely nothing.... but lie by the pool! Saturday was filled with going out for breakfast- getting an hour massage, $6 this time, sleeping by the pool in the cool breeze and eating- can't forget eating!!! It is SO nice to get out of the smog!
That first paragraph was written after last weekend- - - but then I went away again (the last time until Shaun comes in 30 sleeps!).... I went to an EVEN BETTER place- where I kept my skin fully saturated with sun screen (well more like my molting skin- I've never peeled before in my life!)
I went to an ISLAND-- yup that's right... a lovely warm ISLAND in Thailand- for a weekend. I didn't do much at all, except it was one of the best weekends of my life!
We got there Friday night via 2 hour-ish taxi and speedboat ride and walked 5 minutes off the beach to our guesthouse - ''the lost resort". We got ready and literally danced the night away, the pub where we ventured to (of course on the beach) was filled with tourists and Thai's alike ready to have a fun time, and the live music was amazing!
The weekend was wonderful to get away with 4 other people I didn't know so well and be able to be in such a small group that I actually got to have some great conversations and now I have 4 closer friends! Saturday we woke up late- wandered out for breakfast on the beach and spent the day lying on the beach/ getting massages - on the beach, and foot scrubs, and then I ventured to do something I"ve been thinking about for a long time and it's finally come to fruition- a tattoo.
I have been thinking about it for quite some time and wandered down to a place some of my friends had previously been, so I knew it was safe and good and such. They said I could come back in a couple hours to see the drawing he'd come up with. So I ventured back down the beach- bought a water ring-- and ended up traded it for a floating water bed! (much nicer:) Then we got all cleaned up and went out for a lovely supper- sitting on the beach. I ate RIBS! with AMAZING sauce and a baked potato....though apparently western food fills me up- so I had 2 ribs left and tin foiled them up and put them in my bag for later (...things I learned from grandpa Roberts!)--they later came in handy later after doing some exhausting dance moves!
So we ate supper and watched a CRAZY fire show! The show was almost a whole hour and included throwing of fire, fire balls, standing on shoulders while holding things that were on fire etc. etc. I"ll try to upload some video clips. The Thai boys/men that were doing it were also so in shape I have never seen anything in real life like that before! (I thought people with Abs were only in the movies!)... it was a very well done show.
Then we ventured off for the tattoo. I'll spare you the details of how much it hurt, how much my arm hurt from tensing it over my ear so I couldn't hear the process. It was nice to have my friends come with me and support me...they hung out for 2 hours whilst I got it done! It turned out really well- though I'm still feeling the new haircut feel---do I really love it?! It is very well done and not too painful while it's healing. BUT while we were in the tattoo parlour me and my pirate friend :) Martha decided we'd like to get our noses pierced. Well, since I had endured a painful 2 hours anyway I decided I'd go first- what a mistake! Not sure if it's because the Roberts' nose has 12x more cartilage than other noses, but I think it was the most painful moment of my life! It hurt SO bad and Martha decided she wouldn't be getting one for herself- I also recommended that she didn't...as the tears would not stop flowing. At least he felt bad for me and decided to give me the piercing and earring for free! So that was nice!
And that brings me to today-- AFTER I got the tattoo and painful piercing we STILL decided to go back and go dancing....so needless to say I'm a little tired still...afterall I am getting old so 4-6 hours of sleep a night just doesn't cut it for me!
I guess I can't really complain: I got a leopard print sarong, a new floaty bed, a tattoo, a nose ring AND on the way home I asked a group of tourists if I could have one of their shirts-- so I got a FREE bright pink tshirt - that is way to big for me... that says I (heart) Fun and Partying- (the fun and partying part is written in Thai)...
Soo... needless to say, I am a very tired girl.. but a very happy one at that! What a wonderful weekend spent in creation, meeting new people- solidifying work friendships...and the rest is history... after all what happens in Koh Samet stays in Koh Samet--- don't worry I really didn't do anything else....except wade in the water on Sunday and take a few pics!
Hope your weekend was almost as rewarding as mine- though my dad says he wouldn't recommend tattoos to anyone...and right now may be the first time he's heard about the nose ring.....
Quote of the day, "Enjoy each day like a picnic in the park- brief, yet sensational!" -CLR
That first paragraph was written after last weekend- - - but then I went away again (the last time until Shaun comes in 30 sleeps!).... I went to an EVEN BETTER place- where I kept my skin fully saturated with sun screen (well more like my molting skin- I've never peeled before in my life!)
I went to an ISLAND-- yup that's right... a lovely warm ISLAND in Thailand- for a weekend. I didn't do much at all, except it was one of the best weekends of my life!
We got there Friday night via 2 hour-ish taxi and speedboat ride and walked 5 minutes off the beach to our guesthouse - ''the lost resort". We got ready and literally danced the night away, the pub where we ventured to (of course on the beach) was filled with tourists and Thai's alike ready to have a fun time, and the live music was amazing!
The weekend was wonderful to get away with 4 other people I didn't know so well and be able to be in such a small group that I actually got to have some great conversations and now I have 4 closer friends! Saturday we woke up late- wandered out for breakfast on the beach and spent the day lying on the beach/ getting massages - on the beach, and foot scrubs, and then I ventured to do something I"ve been thinking about for a long time and it's finally come to fruition- a tattoo.
I have been thinking about it for quite some time and wandered down to a place some of my friends had previously been, so I knew it was safe and good and such. They said I could come back in a couple hours to see the drawing he'd come up with. So I ventured back down the beach- bought a water ring-- and ended up traded it for a floating water bed! (much nicer:) Then we got all cleaned up and went out for a lovely supper- sitting on the beach. I ate RIBS! with AMAZING sauce and a baked potato....though apparently western food fills me up- so I had 2 ribs left and tin foiled them up and put them in my bag for later (...things I learned from grandpa Roberts!)--they later came in handy later after doing some exhausting dance moves!
So we ate supper and watched a CRAZY fire show! The show was almost a whole hour and included throwing of fire, fire balls, standing on shoulders while holding things that were on fire etc. etc. I"ll try to upload some video clips. The Thai boys/men that were doing it were also so in shape I have never seen anything in real life like that before! (I thought people with Abs were only in the movies!)... it was a very well done show.
Then we ventured off for the tattoo. I'll spare you the details of how much it hurt, how much my arm hurt from tensing it over my ear so I couldn't hear the process. It was nice to have my friends come with me and support me...they hung out for 2 hours whilst I got it done! It turned out really well- though I'm still feeling the new haircut feel---do I really love it?! It is very well done and not too painful while it's healing. BUT while we were in the tattoo parlour me and my pirate friend :) Martha decided we'd like to get our noses pierced. Well, since I had endured a painful 2 hours anyway I decided I'd go first- what a mistake! Not sure if it's because the Roberts' nose has 12x more cartilage than other noses, but I think it was the most painful moment of my life! It hurt SO bad and Martha decided she wouldn't be getting one for herself- I also recommended that she didn't...as the tears would not stop flowing. At least he felt bad for me and decided to give me the piercing and earring for free! So that was nice!
And that brings me to today-- AFTER I got the tattoo and painful piercing we STILL decided to go back and go dancing....so needless to say I'm a little tired still...afterall I am getting old so 4-6 hours of sleep a night just doesn't cut it for me!
I guess I can't really complain: I got a leopard print sarong, a new floaty bed, a tattoo, a nose ring AND on the way home I asked a group of tourists if I could have one of their shirts-- so I got a FREE bright pink tshirt - that is way to big for me... that says I (heart) Fun and Partying- (the fun and partying part is written in Thai)...
Soo... needless to say, I am a very tired girl.. but a very happy one at that! What a wonderful weekend spent in creation, meeting new people- solidifying work friendships...and the rest is history... after all what happens in Koh Samet stays in Koh Samet--- don't worry I really didn't do anything else....except wade in the water on Sunday and take a few pics!
Hope your weekend was almost as rewarding as mine- though my dad says he wouldn't recommend tattoos to anyone...and right now may be the first time he's heard about the nose ring.....
Quote of the day, "Enjoy each day like a picnic in the park- brief, yet sensational!" -CLR
Sunday, August 29, 2010
A day in the life of....
When talking to Shaun on Friday- I mentioned I was happy to have had my first whole good week at school... he promptly reminded me that I had had a horrible day on Monday but concluded that one good day is better than none. I am excited to find little bits of happiness in my week; receiving assignments on time, having students write a whole page of work- though somewhat grammatically incorrect I was happy to read in a few autobiographies, ''Now, I am in P6 my favourite subject is English. Miss Christy is a beautiful and fun teacher''. Now that's something to smile about!
I'm not sure if I've mentioned it before but the Thai people are very honest. They will tell you if you are fat....they will ask ''why is your hair so messy'" they will say ''you should not eat that you will get fat'' etc etc.. It's sort of refreshing in a way, because they don't mean it to be mean, they are being honest. I think in a lot of our western society we have stopped telling the truth and supporting each other, because we are scared that if we are honest we won't like it. I mean I don't want anyone else to tell me I'm fat-- but I do enjoy when they say I'm beautiful! (Though on one occasion a student approached me shortly after exams and kept repeating something I did not understand- I finally realized that he was saying ''Miss Christy you are beautiful'- can I have extra points" He wanted to solidify he was going to pass his exam- ha. pretty funny.
Recently in one of our university classes we were talking about injustices in the world. I have just found an injustice. As I sit down-- attempting to work, but really getting my blogging done-- I purchase my favourite Starbucks drink- a caramel frappachino, and realized with disgust and amusement that my purchase was the same price as a one hour massage- THAT is injustice.. but I still bought it as not much can compare with a little bit of heaven in a cup!
Well I believe it's 47-nope just checked 46 sleeps until Shaun arrives, hopefully we are going away once inbetween to get some work done beside a pool somewhere close to the city (it only costs about 7 dollars to get there and 15 dollars to stay for a whole weekend).
SOOOOoooo if anyone wants to send a little note with him you have 45 days to get on it... let me know and he shall bring it along:) (He doesn't know I've volunteered him as a mail man yet!)
Well, not much from this neck of the woods- I always think of exciting things to say when I'm not near a computer or when I'm too tired to type- I'll try to be more interesting next time :)
Just went to a very cute Thai love film! Just in case you were wondering...
Friday, August 20, 2010
Phnom Penh Cambodia
SORRY this whole BLOG uploading picture does NOT work very well... so here are the explainations of pics below in mass order-- it might be reversed.. who knows how they upload!
-football in bare feet
-Tuk Tuk with Wanna
-Tuk Tuk with kid
-Carleigh and Christy and Blush Wine...
-Lamb! MMMM
-Moldy Toilet - not working
-HUGE water carrier with motocy
-Monk with matching umbrella- for the sunshine!
-Tuk Tuk with Matresses
-Tuk Tuk with Fruit!
- Building Depot
- Brick? Wall.
- For Shaun: You no longer have to worry about broken mixer, they mix like this all the time
- Bike with Bannanas
- Truck with rolls of paper!
- Pol Pot Genocide Killing Fields
- Cart with metal rods
- Construction with bare feet!
- Kid driver
- Genocide Museum; counting prisoners
- Upon returning to Guest house-- they are pouring cement over levelled floor- done with crushed up reused bricks and garbage and glass....
- Palace in the RAIN
Well I made it to and from Cambodia safe and sound! What an experience. Very different from the other weekends away I have had Cambodia was a nice mixture of culture and food, and more food, and history and more food! YUM. Cambodia has a big French influence over the years so we got to eat many fresh cheeses and sandwiches on fresh fresh baguette, rye and french rolls- scrumptious, along with fresh ingredients; pesto and eggplant and BACON and such! A highlight of our time in Cambodia was staying in a very small guest house called the Blue Dog. This was basically someone home, and it was nice to be taken care of so well! The owner of the guest house ended up taking us out on Saturday night to a local Cambodian BBQ (where you have meat and veggies on a hot plate!) Quite like Christmas at the Sawatzky's :) We then proceeded to go out dancing for Sarah's birthday- it was pretty funny at the end of the night that we realized why we were the only girls seemingly in the club- I think we walked in on a gay night at the bar- no wonder none of the guys were interested in us. We felt safer that way anyway- and it's so great to have a group of 8 that no matter where you go, we are a built in party!
DISTURBING: DO NOT READ IF YOU GET QUESY
It was great to experience a new culture. Phnom Pehn was a much more relaxed city than Bangkok, and much less progressed or developed than Bangkok. This has much to do with the Pol Pot regime and Khmer Rouge Rulers that took control in the late 70's and annihilated the working class of Cambodia. This is something I learnt that I don't feel overly comfortable writing about, but was really hard to see. This group of people decided they wanted Cambodia to be returned to a natural agricultural society so they decided to kill anyone with any sort of education, or who looked educated. They killed anyone with any type of degree or that had gone to school...doctors, lawyers, teachers, the king.... So the history of the area was very sullen and VERY recent. We saw two of the historical sites, one was a killing field where they took people to be mass executed- It was horrific, you could still see some teeth on the ground- where they had tortured people by pulling out teeth and bones protruding from the ground as although the graves were excavated around 1980-85 some of them were not and now erosion is uncovering new things. We also visited a large school that was used as a prison and torture chamber, it was disgusting to see the actual stalls were people were kept and pictures of the bodies as they were found- some chained to a bed, of that same bed that was sitting before us. It made my heart hurt wondering how many other people around the world are going through the same injustices today and no one is doing anything about it.
This was only 30 years ago and so now Cambodia is still rebuilding physically (as many monuments were destroyed and schools were turned into concentration camps and prisons) as well as educationally. We got the opportunity to experience such eager learners with nearly everyone we met wanting to learn English and glean information. We were pleasantly surprised to have our fears of safety minimized when we were taken such good care of by our Tuk-Tuk drivers (a mode of transport where a small motorcycle/crotch rocket pulls a big cart/hut in which we rode around:) It is a great way to see the country side!
Anyway now back to school a bit of a rough week, but I had TWO good days in a row, with some breakthroughs as how I can better help individual students, so that's encouraging. We now don't have any long weekends before our 2 week holiday in October but this week ended up being short as I'm now sitting in an immigration office waiting to finalize my work permit- or something, not too sure as the school is very organized in this manor and a Thai teacher has come with us and is organizing everything for us. All I know is that I'm wearing a cute outfit instead of a uniform and I'm getting some time to write a blog entry- so I'm happy! It's now 10:30 am and we left school at 7:20... maybe we'll be done soon.. I'm not too sure?!
Well Shaun comes in just less than 2 months (So if you want to bake some cookies and send them along that'd be great!) until then we just got a TO-DO list of final exams, and evaluations and such we have to do before then (a LONG to-do list) and then completing 2 university courses before that-- so 3-2-1 work! At least I don't get bored here and it's nice to have our pool up and running again...too bad it's covered though so no nice tan!
-football in bare feet
-Tuk Tuk with Wanna
-Tuk Tuk with kid
-Carleigh and Christy and Blush Wine...
-Lamb! MMMM
-Moldy Toilet - not working
-HUGE water carrier with motocy
-Monk with matching umbrella- for the sunshine!
-Tuk Tuk with Matresses
-Tuk Tuk with Fruit!
- Building Depot
- Brick? Wall.
- For Shaun: You no longer have to worry about broken mixer, they mix like this all the time
- Bike with Bannanas
- Truck with rolls of paper!
- Pol Pot Genocide Killing Fields
- Cart with metal rods
- Construction with bare feet!
- Kid driver
- Genocide Museum; counting prisoners
- Upon returning to Guest house-- they are pouring cement over levelled floor- done with crushed up reused bricks and garbage and glass....
- Palace in the RAIN
Well I made it to and from Cambodia safe and sound! What an experience. Very different from the other weekends away I have had Cambodia was a nice mixture of culture and food, and more food, and history and more food! YUM. Cambodia has a big French influence over the years so we got to eat many fresh cheeses and sandwiches on fresh fresh baguette, rye and french rolls- scrumptious, along with fresh ingredients; pesto and eggplant and BACON and such! A highlight of our time in Cambodia was staying in a very small guest house called the Blue Dog. This was basically someone home, and it was nice to be taken care of so well! The owner of the guest house ended up taking us out on Saturday night to a local Cambodian BBQ (where you have meat and veggies on a hot plate!) Quite like Christmas at the Sawatzky's :) We then proceeded to go out dancing for Sarah's birthday- it was pretty funny at the end of the night that we realized why we were the only girls seemingly in the club- I think we walked in on a gay night at the bar- no wonder none of the guys were interested in us. We felt safer that way anyway- and it's so great to have a group of 8 that no matter where you go, we are a built in party!
DISTURBING: DO NOT READ IF YOU GET QUESY
It was great to experience a new culture. Phnom Pehn was a much more relaxed city than Bangkok, and much less progressed or developed than Bangkok. This has much to do with the Pol Pot regime and Khmer Rouge Rulers that took control in the late 70's and annihilated the working class of Cambodia. This is something I learnt that I don't feel overly comfortable writing about, but was really hard to see. This group of people decided they wanted Cambodia to be returned to a natural agricultural society so they decided to kill anyone with any sort of education, or who looked educated. They killed anyone with any type of degree or that had gone to school...doctors, lawyers, teachers, the king.... So the history of the area was very sullen and VERY recent. We saw two of the historical sites, one was a killing field where they took people to be mass executed- It was horrific, you could still see some teeth on the ground- where they had tortured people by pulling out teeth and bones protruding from the ground as although the graves were excavated around 1980-85 some of them were not and now erosion is uncovering new things. We also visited a large school that was used as a prison and torture chamber, it was disgusting to see the actual stalls were people were kept and pictures of the bodies as they were found- some chained to a bed, of that same bed that was sitting before us. It made my heart hurt wondering how many other people around the world are going through the same injustices today and no one is doing anything about it.
This was only 30 years ago and so now Cambodia is still rebuilding physically (as many monuments were destroyed and schools were turned into concentration camps and prisons) as well as educationally. We got the opportunity to experience such eager learners with nearly everyone we met wanting to learn English and glean information. We were pleasantly surprised to have our fears of safety minimized when we were taken such good care of by our Tuk-Tuk drivers (a mode of transport where a small motorcycle/crotch rocket pulls a big cart/hut in which we rode around:) It is a great way to see the country side!
Anyway now back to school a bit of a rough week, but I had TWO good days in a row, with some breakthroughs as how I can better help individual students, so that's encouraging. We now don't have any long weekends before our 2 week holiday in October but this week ended up being short as I'm now sitting in an immigration office waiting to finalize my work permit- or something, not too sure as the school is very organized in this manor and a Thai teacher has come with us and is organizing everything for us. All I know is that I'm wearing a cute outfit instead of a uniform and I'm getting some time to write a blog entry- so I'm happy! It's now 10:30 am and we left school at 7:20... maybe we'll be done soon.. I'm not too sure?!
Well Shaun comes in just less than 2 months (So if you want to bake some cookies and send them along that'd be great!) until then we just got a TO-DO list of final exams, and evaluations and such we have to do before then (a LONG to-do list) and then completing 2 university courses before that-- so 3-2-1 work! At least I don't get bored here and it's nice to have our pool up and running again...too bad it's covered though so no nice tan!
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Rain Rain and Buriram
There is NOTHING like a 2 hour ride home when it rains. Funny... because it rains here for a LOT of months during the year and yet when it rains things seem to stop here.... not just slow down but come to a standstill. I haven't quite figured out yet if it is the wetness- the lack of vision- or what, but it's very interesting. Don't get me wrong- sometimes the rain is so hard that you can't see. Thailand is very different than Uganda in that regard- though in Uganda the rainy season would have hard rain for about an hour mid morning. The rain in Thailand always seems to come JUST when we're getting out of school so we either have to race to the other side of the street to catch a cab home before it comes or we wait until it settles down before stepping outside (the Thai's will NOT let us leave the school if it's pouring---even though I quite enjoy a good down pour!)
Currently I am in a cab-- typing up a blog entry while I'm waiting in the rain in a cab, on my way home. I came home with a friend to pick up some stuff I bought off someone- once getting all the way here- it ends up the things the person said would be there--- aren't there and there are only a couple of small old things- not really house supplies at all- what a rip off. BUT I am choosing to look at the bright side which is I got to experience a real flash flood- thankfully my feet didn't touch any mysterious items in the murky water as I was in the cab-- but the water went up to the tops of bicycle tires and up to store fronts (as high as 4 stairs up)- in a matter of 15 minutes. It wasn't like that everywhere, just on the one street we had to turn down... but was AMAZING to see!
I am excited for the new term-- did I just say that word- excited?! We have just began a new class for University and the one class we had was great- We have a VERY passionate prof who is very expereinced in community work and building and working in inner city Winnipeg. For the first time in months-- and probably for about a year.. I felt that little tingling inside that said'' you could be like that- you can be passionate about teaching- about working in inner city Winnipeg-- there ARE areas of teaching you LOVE and that are useful!" It was a wonderfully refreshing feeling after the last couple months of feeling inadequate and having to adjust to so many news things at one time.
I am looking forward to spending the weekend (and taking my one personal day; I can take off)...at a Thai friends home- 6 hours from Bangkok. It was an honour to be asked-- so I figured I'd better head out there- and it will be lovely to be in a Thai home!
Other than that- I am excited to have plans for my 2 weeks off in October- I've book some flights around Thailand to explore both inland and off course get some beach time in! Anyway I think it's naptime for the rest of time I"m in here:)
Probably another hour until I get home!
Ops! I forgot to upload this by the time I got home!
Update: My weekend away to Burirum--pronounced Bull-lam) was great. Mostly it was great to be with a family and breathing fresh air. I got to see a few local sites, take a motorcy ride up a large hill to see a giant golden buddah and an old mouth of a volcano, take a long Saturday ride with Prame's family to the Cambodia border, through a forest and almost up some very steep hills (we didn't quite make it). I think my favourite stop was at a freshwater lake with large boulders by the water....reminded me of the Canadian Shield in northern MB :) Besides that I got to feed some elephants ( bartering to get the best price for the feed they sell you to feed it), and try some wonderful Thai food including Thai barbeque!). Thankfully we got to ride in air conditioned buses, unfortunately 6 hours seemed to take forever and the air conditioning was freezing!
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