In the guide books Chiang Rai didn't have much to show for its self and yet we had a weird desire to go there. As we walked around the small town I felt a stillness. There were not a lot of tourists and we were forced to figure out local transportation if intended to get around. It was fun solving our own problems and empowering to know we could do even if we don't speak the language. One night we wandered into an outdoor pavilion where people were sitting eating meats and veggies cooked on a domed table top cooker. Feeling adventurous we sat down. The kind workers showed us how to select our meats and veggies and then how to cook them all together on the table. It was our first "hot pot" experience and it was a successful one at that. In the evenings we would walk the streets and talk, which is something Jaims and I are really good at doing. Maybe because we were mission companions for 8 months and spent every moment together. We need little to spark new ideas and interesting discussion. Even after months apart we can still talk as though we saw each other the day before. I am really blessed to have such a beautiful kind and patient friend.
One of my favorite nights of the trip was when we happened upon a buddhist temple during a service. We quietly slipped off our shoes and went to kneel in the back. We sat for almost an hour (or until our knees ached) being filled with the peaceful spirit and chants of the monks. Thailand for me is a place of peace and pondering. Surrounded by beautiful nature it is easy to contemplate life and the paths we desire and choose to take. Although I am not buddhist I learned how to take time to be still. If anyone knows me they know that stillness is hard for me, but as we sat in those temples it was easy to stop thinking for a few minutes. I believe that when we stop thinking, we are actually opening ourselves up to true inspiration and guidance from God.
In Chiang Rai we did go to one very touristy temple- although most of the tourists were domestic there were a few clearly foreign ones as well. The temple itself was creepy and not worth the trip out there but it was fun to learn how to jump on the local bus and meet more people from the area. I think more than going to sites, I really like simply meeting people and experiencing culture firsthand.
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| *I love tourists because for many it means being pushed outside of their comfort zone to learn and grow- way to go tourist with the bright floral umbrella, no shame!* |
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| *as a public health and international development student I couldn't pass up the opportunity to visit Cabbages and Condoms- check them out as they are doing awesome things in preventing HIV!* |
6/23/11
hey everyone! doingreally great here! reallyreally love thailand and the thai people! I love love meeting new people and hearing their stories. on the bus on our way to the ferry to the island koh phang nan we sat in front of a few scottish guys that were playing hte guitar abit an i turned around and expresed my disappointment that they had stopped playing hte weezer song I loved so much, then one of em started playing falling slowly fro mthe once movie and i started singing along they he handed me the guitar and I tried to teach him blackbird...no dice :) I got a wax job yesterday and it was the best waxing experience I've ever had b/c this woman was so so so sweet, huge hard, huge smile, and we're now good friends and I'm gonna give her a pass along card. she runs an italian restaraunt here and a massage and wax and nails place - everyone here is kind of a jack of all trades,Her biggest dream is to go to italia, venice - and just sit on the gondola boats and see the city - I told her Id send her a post card. her name is Dia. There is a whole world of people to discover nad get to know out there - all it takes is for us to open our mouths and be willing to treat them like people and like our brothers and sisters. i love seeing more of God's creations that I've never seen before - different plants, animals, food, sunsets in different countries, remnants from past civilizations, different religions and how many similarities there are between each religion.
We went fishing one night and I caught a fish! the man fried up all the fish right there on the boat and we ate them and some raw squid dipped in this great chili sauce, yum!!! then we practiced scuba diving in the pool and went snorkeling and got massages on the beach by these adorable women and this older woman saw me admring her little plastic windmill creations and she pointed to one of the girls and said saomething to here and the girl comes over and hand it to me! can you believe that! I gave her a hug and she kissed me on the cheak. I've discovered that hugs and smiles are universal happy inducers and it just disarms people so quickly, I love that! we ended the day with a bonfire on the beach that night.
We're now in chiang rai, up north, a little town, and while exploring last night we ewalked past a temple with a big golden buddha in it and women and maonks praying, we didn't even say anything, we just looked ate ach other, took off our shoes walked in and sat down with them, it was sucha neat thing, and so relaxing to just think while listeningto them sing.
I've discovered that my favorite fruit is here - so many fun different great kinds! I love food and trying new stuff - fired bananas are a favourite as well hee hee!
love you all so much and thin of you often!
jaim
