Summer is here. The weather skips spring altogether and moves from "winter" right into summer. You know it's hot when the Thais start complaining about the heat. It seems that hot weather for them is like rain for me; they're used to it but they don't like it. Not me however, I love the heat. I just love that every day is hot, every evening is warm. I never have to grab a jacket to go out at night. The weather is definitely one of the things I am going to miss when I move back to Canada. (Of course I am writing this from an air conditioned room. I might not be singing the praises of warm weather so much if I didn't have the air conditioning.)
With the intense heat has come some intense storms. When it rains it pours. But I don't mind because it is short lived, and the streets are dry in about an hour (crazy).
Thursday, March 30, 2006
Close to Jackfruit
I have really gotten a taste for Jackfruit. It's a fruit that's really hard to describe, so I'm not going to try. And I'm really going to miss it if I can't find it in Canada (and I don't think I will find it). Mind you, they import durian, and jackfruit is about the same size and not nearly as horrible.
If I haven't said it in my blog yet, I must say it now: I love the location of The Life Center Church (which is where I work)! It is close to everything you could need: good cheap Thai restaurants, photocopy place, hardware stores, coffee shop, computer store, night market (right in front of the church), corner store that is virtually always open, 7-11, 2 food night markets that serve food until late, pharmacy and a shopping mall -AND- The Jackfruit Lady.
The Jackfruit Lady is about a 1 minute walk from the front door of the church. She is there just about every morning, cutting a jackfruit to sell the pieces. 20 Baht (65 cents) will get enough jackfruit for breakfast and a snack later on. She makes me think about how society works (well Thai society anyway). Everyone finds a job to do and does it. The jackfruit lady cuts and sells jackfruit at one little location in one suburb of a big city. It's not a particularly busy place, during her hours (which is about 10:00am-noon) but the population is dense enough to sustain her. Well anyway, I'm really glad that at least for a couple months in my life I am able to walk a very short distance to buy as much jackfruit as I want.
If I haven't said it in my blog yet, I must say it now: I love the location of The Life Center Church (which is where I work)! It is close to everything you could need: good cheap Thai restaurants, photocopy place, hardware stores, coffee shop, computer store, night market (right in front of the church), corner store that is virtually always open, 7-11, 2 food night markets that serve food until late, pharmacy and a shopping mall -AND- The Jackfruit Lady.
The Jackfruit Lady is about a 1 minute walk from the front door of the church. She is there just about every morning, cutting a jackfruit to sell the pieces. 20 Baht (65 cents) will get enough jackfruit for breakfast and a snack later on. She makes me think about how society works (well Thai society anyway). Everyone finds a job to do and does it. The jackfruit lady cuts and sells jackfruit at one little location in one suburb of a big city. It's not a particularly busy place, during her hours (which is about 10:00am-noon) but the population is dense enough to sustain her. Well anyway, I'm really glad that at least for a couple months in my life I am able to walk a very short distance to buy as much jackfruit as I want.
Saturday, March 25, 2006
Testimonies
Hello all. I thought you might be encouraged to hear the testimonies of a husband and wife who recently became believers. They are members of an AIDS chruch called Bet L, and they were baptized in the ocean today.
Kwan (wife): I first heard about Jesus when I was in the hospital being treated for AIDS I was laying in bed and a nurse came and shared the Story of Jesus’ love and forgiveness of my sins. I was very interested in knowing more about Jesus so I went to Church in Bet “L” . I gave my life to Christ that Saturday. After I became a Christian, my life and my health changed dramatically. I never had to stay in the hospital again after that. My first husband died of AIDS but when I started going to the Bet “L” church and receiving medicine, I met another man with HIV and fell in love with him. After we were married, my husband became very sick. The Doctors told me that because his lungs were full of water and he could not go the bathroom anymore, that it was a 50/50 percent chance that he would live. That day, I laid my hand on my husband’s swollen stomach and began to sing and worship God. I cried out for God to heal my husband. In the evening my husband suddenly had to go to the bathroom. All his swelling went down and he was greatly relieved! The next day, the doctors examined him and were surprised to see that all his symptoms were gone. Apart from HIV, he healthy again and was told he could go home immediately!
Phuak (Husband): One day I met a friend in the hospital with HIV who told me about Jesus. She said, “If you believe in Jesus, you’re life will change” I had no other hope in life so I prayed and gave me life to Christ. I was very addicted to alcohol. The Doctors had told me to stop many times because it was so hard on my sick body. But I couldn’t stop drinking no matter how hard I tried. One day after I prayed to God, I went out and got very drunk and fell down. That next Saturday, I went to church and told them my struggle. I asked them to pray for me to be able to stop. Many people came around me, laid hands on me and prayed for me. After that day, I have never drunk again. I thank God for freeing me from the bondage to alcohol! Before I believed in Jesus I was so sick but after I believed he healed me so much that I was able to go and work in a factory. Now for the first time in my life, I have money enough money to live on and take care of my family.
Praise God people are being healed not just physically, but spiritually too!
Kwan (wife): I first heard about Jesus when I was in the hospital being treated for AIDS I was laying in bed and a nurse came and shared the Story of Jesus’ love and forgiveness of my sins. I was very interested in knowing more about Jesus so I went to Church in Bet “L” . I gave my life to Christ that Saturday. After I became a Christian, my life and my health changed dramatically. I never had to stay in the hospital again after that. My first husband died of AIDS but when I started going to the Bet “L” church and receiving medicine, I met another man with HIV and fell in love with him. After we were married, my husband became very sick. The Doctors told me that because his lungs were full of water and he could not go the bathroom anymore, that it was a 50/50 percent chance that he would live. That day, I laid my hand on my husband’s swollen stomach and began to sing and worship God. I cried out for God to heal my husband. In the evening my husband suddenly had to go to the bathroom. All his swelling went down and he was greatly relieved! The next day, the doctors examined him and were surprised to see that all his symptoms were gone. Apart from HIV, he healthy again and was told he could go home immediately!Phuak (Husband): One day I met a friend in the hospital with HIV who told me about Jesus. She said, “If you believe in Jesus, you’re life will change” I had no other hope in life so I prayed and gave me life to Christ. I was very addicted to alcohol. The Doctors had told me to stop many times because it was so hard on my sick body. But I couldn’t stop drinking no matter how hard I tried. One day after I prayed to God, I went out and got very drunk and fell down. That next Saturday, I went to church and told them my struggle. I asked them to pray for me to be able to stop. Many people came around me, laid hands on me and prayed for me. After that day, I have never drunk again. I thank God for freeing me from the bondage to alcohol! Before I believed in Jesus I was so sick but after I believed he healed me so much that I was able to go and work in a factory. Now for the first time in my life, I have money enough money to live on and take care of my family.
Praise God people are being healed not just physically, but spiritually too!
Thursday, March 16, 2006
The Land Of The Good Enough
One common theme that I've noticed throughout Thailand is that NOTHING is perfect. Everything is a little crooked, a little off, not quite straight etc. Where Canada is the "Land of the perfect", Thailand is the "Land of the Good Enough". The Thai workmanship stops when it is functional, not when it's perfect or beautiful. If it works...good enough.
Coming from a country where everything is done "right", it sometimes gets frustrating at the workmanship of the tradesmen. It's like they finish it good enough so it won't break while they're still there, and it will last just long enough so that if/when it breaks, there will be some question as to whose fault it is (and they will absolve themselves of blame). The same goes for the manufacturers. It will work long enough for you to get it home. Or things like the plastic will be so cheap and brittle that any slight mistreatment and the thing shatters.
The Thai wiring may look like a web spun by a giant drunk spider, but it works, so they leave it. The light switch might be upsidedown, and in the far corner of the room (or even better, in the next room over), but it turns the light on so that's good enough.
You can NEVER assume that two adjacent rooms will be at the same floor level. Way too often there will be a subtle, unmarked, 2" step. Not enough to see, but enough to trip over. Sometimes the floor level will change within the same room, so you must always be alert to this. On staircases, top stair or bottom stair (or both) will be a different hight than all the others. Like no one bothered to do the math to make all the stairs even. Sometimes you will get stairs unusually narrow and/or steep. Unsafe for sure, but it gets you from one level to the other, so what's your problem? It works, good enough.
The only place where they don't say "Good Enough" is with their cars. All the cars and pickups are perfect and they wash and wax them. There are very few "beaters" that I've seen (except for commercial vehicles). Strange.
Coming from a country where everything is done "right", it sometimes gets frustrating at the workmanship of the tradesmen. It's like they finish it good enough so it won't break while they're still there, and it will last just long enough so that if/when it breaks, there will be some question as to whose fault it is (and they will absolve themselves of blame). The same goes for the manufacturers. It will work long enough for you to get it home. Or things like the plastic will be so cheap and brittle that any slight mistreatment and the thing shatters.
The Thai wiring may look like a web spun by a giant drunk spider, but it works, so they leave it. The light switch might be upsidedown, and in the far corner of the room (or even better, in the next room over), but it turns the light on so that's good enough.
You can NEVER assume that two adjacent rooms will be at the same floor level. Way too often there will be a subtle, unmarked, 2" step. Not enough to see, but enough to trip over. Sometimes the floor level will change within the same room, so you must always be alert to this. On staircases, top stair or bottom stair (or both) will be a different hight than all the others. Like no one bothered to do the math to make all the stairs even. Sometimes you will get stairs unusually narrow and/or steep. Unsafe for sure, but it gets you from one level to the other, so what's your problem? It works, good enough.
The only place where they don't say "Good Enough" is with their cars. All the cars and pickups are perfect and they wash and wax them. There are very few "beaters" that I've seen (except for commercial vehicles). Strange.
Everything In A Bag
I guess we do this in Canada too, but I find it funny that everything you buy--no matter how large or small--gets put into a bag. The standard Thai bag is a white semi-transparent crinkly plastic bag. They come in various sizes but most of them are pretty small. The best is when the the item is already packaged in a bag, and then they put that into a bag when you buy it. Or when you're in the market and you buy some deep fried whatevers, they put it into a small heat resistant plastic bag, and then put that bag into the standard Thai bag. By the way, the bag also makes a great substitute for a cup. A lot of fruit shake stands will give you a fruit shake in a bag rather than in a cup.
Tinglish
I've noticed that when I talk to Thai people in English, I don't speak proper English, but more of a dumbed-down simplified English. I know that it's not really good if the Thai person is trying to learn to speak English properly, but if you use the "extra" words in your sentence, it just confuses them. It is butchering the English language for the sake of communication. Most of the time I want to convey a message. How that message is conveyed becomes secondary. Examples (to English speakers, to Thai speakers):
English: Where're you going?
Thai: Where you go?
English: I'm going over to Lamthong Mall.
Thai: I go to Lamthong.
In English we have two ways of saying verbs. For example, you can say it the simple way "I go" or the more complex way "I am going". Unfortunately, for some reason conversational English dictates using the complex way for most cases. And that requires a more complex form of the verb. Most Thais know only basic English, so if you want to be understood, you have to use the simple form of the verb. (Yes, yes, I know you might be thinking "Or you could just learn Thai"--I'm not there yet.)
To keep things simple, you have to cut out all the non-essential English words, such as : a, the, am, are and -ing endings.
Also, if you want to be understood better, you will have more luck if you say things in the butchered English way that the Thais say it, rather than saying it using proper English pronunciation. For example, there is a large department store here called Lotus (The full name is Tesco Lotus). I have asked the Songtau drivers to take me to Lotus (LOW-tus) and they give me a puzzled look. If you want to be understood you have to say TES-go Lot-AAAS. If you tell the van driver "Royal Ping Resort" he will not understand, but if you say "Loyl Ping", they will know what you are talking about.
Their English also takes some getting used to. For example, in Thai if a word ends with a consonant, you end the word with your mouth in the shape of the consonant as if you were going to say it, but you don't actually say it. Pronouncing the last consonant is a foreign concept to Thais, so they often don't do it. That means they don't say mouse, they say mou, and science becomes sien (silent n). Then theres the pronunciation of two consecutive consonants that really throws me. If they see two consecutive consonants, they try to put a vowel between them. So "st" becomes "set", "sp" becomes "sep", "tr" becomes "ter", "sc" becomes "sec". So the name "Scott" become "Secott", and "Sprite" becomes "Seprite". One time a student was telling me what software programs they use in school, he told me he was using Ill-you-set-ter-rater. That one really threw me. Eventually I figured out he was saying "Illustrator", but he was separating out those consecutive consonants (and butchering a perfectly good English word).
What I have learned is that learning another language goes deeper than just the different words and the accent. It means learning a number of rules about the pronunciation that we just don't have in English. The rules are foreign to us, but a lot of our rules are foreign to them. And it helps to explain why they have an accent.
English: Where're you going?
Thai: Where you go?
English: I'm going over to Lamthong Mall.
Thai: I go to Lamthong.
In English we have two ways of saying verbs. For example, you can say it the simple way "I go" or the more complex way "I am going". Unfortunately, for some reason conversational English dictates using the complex way for most cases. And that requires a more complex form of the verb. Most Thais know only basic English, so if you want to be understood, you have to use the simple form of the verb. (Yes, yes, I know you might be thinking "Or you could just learn Thai"--I'm not there yet.)
To keep things simple, you have to cut out all the non-essential English words, such as : a, the, am, are and -ing endings.
Also, if you want to be understood better, you will have more luck if you say things in the butchered English way that the Thais say it, rather than saying it using proper English pronunciation. For example, there is a large department store here called Lotus (The full name is Tesco Lotus). I have asked the Songtau drivers to take me to Lotus (LOW-tus) and they give me a puzzled look. If you want to be understood you have to say TES-go Lot-AAAS. If you tell the van driver "Royal Ping Resort" he will not understand, but if you say "Loyl Ping", they will know what you are talking about.
Their English also takes some getting used to. For example, in Thai if a word ends with a consonant, you end the word with your mouth in the shape of the consonant as if you were going to say it, but you don't actually say it. Pronouncing the last consonant is a foreign concept to Thais, so they often don't do it. That means they don't say mouse, they say mou, and science becomes sien (silent n). Then theres the pronunciation of two consecutive consonants that really throws me. If they see two consecutive consonants, they try to put a vowel between them. So "st" becomes "set", "sp" becomes "sep", "tr" becomes "ter", "sc" becomes "sec". So the name "Scott" become "Secott", and "Sprite" becomes "Seprite". One time a student was telling me what software programs they use in school, he told me he was using Ill-you-set-ter-rater. That one really threw me. Eventually I figured out he was saying "Illustrator", but he was separating out those consecutive consonants (and butchering a perfectly good English word).
What I have learned is that learning another language goes deeper than just the different words and the accent. It means learning a number of rules about the pronunciation that we just don't have in English. The rules are foreign to us, but a lot of our rules are foreign to them. And it helps to explain why they have an accent.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Visa Run
If you are going to stay in Thailand for any length of time over 30 days, most likely at some point you will have to go on a "Visa Run". You leave Thailand and cross the border into some neighbouring country and then turn around and re-enter Thailand. It is a pain, but that's what is required when your Thailand visa expires.
From Chonburi, the nearest border is Cambodia. It takes about 3 1/2 hours to get there. It is the most confusing border I have ever seen. There are people everywhere selling stuff, and it isn't very clear exactly WHERE the border is. There are buildings but the whole time we were just hopping from one building to the next, never sure when we actually crossed. Maybe the whole thing is intentionally confusing. That way, you feel the need to hire a guide, which will hold your hand through the whole process, for 200 Baht a person.
The most annoying part is that there is no free short term visa for Cambodia. When you enter Thailand, you automatically are granted a free 30 day tourist visa. For Cambodia, you have to pay 1000 Baht (about $25) and fill out a page long visa application, WITH a passport photo attached (I didn't know that, so I had to pay an extra 100 Baht). In a few minutes your Cambodian visa is added to your passport. Then you can go to the next building to get it stamped so you can get in.
Cambodia is a very poor country. My only memory of it was observing that they drive on the right side of the road. That's all I know because as soon as I got my passport stamped to get into the country, I walked across the street to the other building to get it stamped to leave. In total I was officially in Cambodia for 5 minutes.
I guess it's neat to be able to add another country to the list of places I've been, but I don't look forward to the day-long affair, the next time my visa expires.
From Chonburi, the nearest border is Cambodia. It takes about 3 1/2 hours to get there. It is the most confusing border I have ever seen. There are people everywhere selling stuff, and it isn't very clear exactly WHERE the border is. There are buildings but the whole time we were just hopping from one building to the next, never sure when we actually crossed. Maybe the whole thing is intentionally confusing. That way, you feel the need to hire a guide, which will hold your hand through the whole process, for 200 Baht a person.
The most annoying part is that there is no free short term visa for Cambodia. When you enter Thailand, you automatically are granted a free 30 day tourist visa. For Cambodia, you have to pay 1000 Baht (about $25) and fill out a page long visa application, WITH a passport photo attached (I didn't know that, so I had to pay an extra 100 Baht). In a few minutes your Cambodian visa is added to your passport. Then you can go to the next building to get it stamped so you can get in.
Cambodia is a very poor country. My only memory of it was observing that they drive on the right side of the road. That's all I know because as soon as I got my passport stamped to get into the country, I walked across the street to the other building to get it stamped to leave. In total I was officially in Cambodia for 5 minutes.
I guess it's neat to be able to add another country to the list of places I've been, but I don't look forward to the day-long affair, the next time my visa expires.
Living in an Orphanage
Well I'm not really an orphan, and it really isn't an orphanage...yet. But I'm living in an orphanage. Team 2000 and TLC Church have been working on a project to start an AIDS orphanage. If you know Ricky and Karen Sanchez, you may also know that they were in Canada for 4 months last year, doing almost nothing but fundraising for this orphanage. It worked, they raised over $100,000 USD (which is staggering when you turn it into Baht). Now the process has started and it is just a matter of logistics, setting up and running an orphanage.
The current situation is that they do not yet have any AIDS orphans, however, they do have a townhouse rented and partially furnished. But until the rest of the logistics work themselves out, I will be living there. It is more room than I need, and it is definitely more room than the 1 room apartment I was sharing with two other guys from the TREK team. Now I've got a king size bed, the room has A/C and a large front deck. It is unlikely I will be there when the orphanage gets going. (I am not a caretaker, and that is not why I'm here anyway). But I think I finally have a place to call my own, for now.
The current situation is that they do not yet have any AIDS orphans, however, they do have a townhouse rented and partially furnished. But until the rest of the logistics work themselves out, I will be living there. It is more room than I need, and it is definitely more room than the 1 room apartment I was sharing with two other guys from the TREK team. Now I've got a king size bed, the room has A/C and a large front deck. It is unlikely I will be there when the orphanage gets going. (I am not a caretaker, and that is not why I'm here anyway). But I think I finally have a place to call my own, for now.
Sunday, February 26, 2006
Ice Cream On A Bun
Well I got daring enough to try it. Yes, ice cream on a bun. More specifically, here is how the order went: I tell the street vendor one ice cream on a bun (by pointing), she starts with a bun and puts two scoops of sticky rice on the bun. I tell her mai ow (don't want--I couldn't imagine adding sticky rice to the mixture), so she removes the sticky rice. Then she adds 5 small scoops of "ice cream" onto the bun, and tops it with what appears to be corn. This concoction was only 10 baht, thankfully. Although it was cheap, I think it was a waste of money. The ice cream didn't taste like ice cream, it was more like bun flavour (I guess to compliment the bun it was sitting on). The corn didn't help any and the sticky rice definitely would have been too much. Anyway, I didn't finish it. I couldn't.This may beg the question, "why put corn on your ice cream?" Well over here, corn is actually considered a dessert. It is put on and in things, as one would do with fruit. I once bought yoghert and the label showed various fruits and corn. I thought, "they couldn't have put regular corn in the yoghert!" Well they did, and it tasted as much--not something I enjoyed. But apparently the Thais like it this way. I've seen one booth at a food court where all they sold was cups of hot corn kernels.
There may be other questions such as "Why put ice cream on a bun?", "Why put rice with your ice cream?" One of the missionaries told me his motto: "Why ask why?". It's not bad or immoral, it's just different. THEY probably don't know why they do it, they just do. They would probably ask you, "Why DON'T you put ice cream on a bun?"
His name is Bun... Spelled PLE
Everyone in Thailand has a nickname, which is a good thing since everyone in Thailand has a REALLY long real name (first and last). Their nicknames usually have nothing to do with their real names. Usually they are just common words or things, and some are in English and some are in Thai. One of the girls here has the nickname "Ying" which means (conveniently) "girl". Another one has the name Goong which means "shrimp". One of the guys around here has the English name "Beer". And another guy has the name "Bun"--spelled PLE. His name requires a bit more explanation.
Bun's nickname is actually from the english word "apple". But in the Thai language, they don't end words with "L". They can't, it's a foreign concept to them (much like it is a foreign concept to us to start a word with "ng"--which they do with ease). So instead of saying "l" at the end of a word, they will say something like "bun". So this guy's nickname is really the last syllable of the word "apple" and thus the spelling "Ple", but the Thais can't pronounce a word ending with "l" so his nickname is pronounced "Bun". You see, it totally makes sence when you understand a little bit of the language.
Bun's nickname is actually from the english word "apple". But in the Thai language, they don't end words with "L". They can't, it's a foreign concept to them (much like it is a foreign concept to us to start a word with "ng"--which they do with ease). So instead of saying "l" at the end of a word, they will say something like "bun". So this guy's nickname is really the last syllable of the word "apple" and thus the spelling "Ple", but the Thais can't pronounce a word ending with "l" so his nickname is pronounced "Bun". You see, it totally makes sence when you understand a little bit of the language.
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Change of Plans
As I mentioned in my prayer letter, I wasn't able to help out in Chiang Mai the way I had hoped. The English/Thai/Computer training center had not been set up when I got there. Russell Schmidt was able to rent a place in the beginning of February but it still needed renovations. The end result is that it was decided that I would be better off in Chonburi. There is more to do there. So on Feb 17 I flew to Bankok, and then made my way to Chonburi. There is lots going on in Chonburi (more specifically The Life Center in Bang Saen). So I will be working with Team 2000 and the TREK team that is here.
This is a sign on the back of a Tuk Tuk in Chiang Mai. I would have ridden with him if I only had somewhere to go. (Farang means "foreigner" in Thai).
This is a sign on the back of a Tuk Tuk in Chiang Mai. I would have ridden with him if I only had somewhere to go. (Farang means "foreigner" in Thai).
A Bit About Northern Northern Thailand
While I was in Chiang Mai, a team of pastors and businessmen were visiting from North America, touring all that is going on with MBMSI in Thailand. They also came up to Northern Thailand, and I was able to go with Russell to meet them. They flew (we drove) to Chiang Rai, which is 3 hours North of Chiang Mai. From there we drove to Chiang Khong. That is almost as far North as you can go in Thailand. It was really cool because the guest house we stayed at was right on the Mae Khong River, and right across the river was Laos.
We visited several Khmu villages and met with several Khmu pastors. Russell Schmidt's connection with the villages is that he disciples and encourages the Khmu pastors. The Khmu villages are tribal villages, very rural and very poor. But people are really turning to the Lord! It was cool to hear how several people on several different occasions, prayed and received healing. After they were healed, they turned to Jesus. Traditionally their religion was spirit and ancesstor worship. But they have seen the power of Jesus, and those who have turned from it say they are never turning back.
We also toured the "Golden Triangle". This is the border area (not strictly defined) of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). It is more of a tourist trap than anything. We went on a boat ride up and down the Mae Khong River. Then we stopped on an island that is actually part of Laos. The whole island is full of Laocian tourist shops, selling tourist junk. But on the plus side, I can say I've been to Laos. And actually I think I've been to Burma too, although only borderwise, because I never really was on Burmese soil.
After being in Northern Thailand (and Northern Northern Thailand) and seeing all the work that Russell Schmidt is involved in, I must say that he sure has a lot of "irons in the fire". The unfortunate part about his work is that it is so spread out, and there is a considerable amount of time taken up just travelling to the various villages, and even around Chiang Mai. But I am glad to have seen it and I'm glad I was able to serve in a few small ways. God is blessing the Schmidt's ministry in Northern Thailand and I pray that the love of Jesus spreads like wildfire through those villages.
For a more visual tour, please check out my pictures.
We visited several Khmu villages and met with several Khmu pastors. Russell Schmidt's connection with the villages is that he disciples and encourages the Khmu pastors. The Khmu villages are tribal villages, very rural and very poor. But people are really turning to the Lord! It was cool to hear how several people on several different occasions, prayed and received healing. After they were healed, they turned to Jesus. Traditionally their religion was spirit and ancesstor worship. But they have seen the power of Jesus, and those who have turned from it say they are never turning back.
We also toured the "Golden Triangle". This is the border area (not strictly defined) of Laos, Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). It is more of a tourist trap than anything. We went on a boat ride up and down the Mae Khong River. Then we stopped on an island that is actually part of Laos. The whole island is full of Laocian tourist shops, selling tourist junk. But on the plus side, I can say I've been to Laos. And actually I think I've been to Burma too, although only borderwise, because I never really was on Burmese soil.
After being in Northern Thailand (and Northern Northern Thailand) and seeing all the work that Russell Schmidt is involved in, I must say that he sure has a lot of "irons in the fire". The unfortunate part about his work is that it is so spread out, and there is a considerable amount of time taken up just travelling to the various villages, and even around Chiang Mai. But I am glad to have seen it and I'm glad I was able to serve in a few small ways. God is blessing the Schmidt's ministry in Northern Thailand and I pray that the love of Jesus spreads like wildfire through those villages.
For a more visual tour, please check out my pictures.
Being Sick
I guess it's all part of life, but I was sick. And that drastically decreased my motivation to blog, or do anything. It ended up being some sort of throat infection, which is why the caugh syrup and other pills didn't do anything. I got some antibiotics and that started to clear things up pretty quick. So I got to learn how medicine works in Thailand. It's funny how there are no "prescription drugs". Everything is available. In fact if you tell the pharmacist your symptoms, they will diagnose you and give you the drugs to fix it. The antibiotics I needed were sitting in a box on top of a bunch of other drugs, in one of the aisles. Nothing is really "behind the counter". The other thing that's different is the price. It's cheap. Maybe because it's not the real thing, but as long as it works I guess I don't care. 7 days worth of antibiotics cost 100 baht ($3.00 CAD). At least it's not expensive to get well.
Oh, yes they do have doctors. But if I would have gone to one, I would have paid in the order of 2000 Baht, so I was just as happy to not visit a doctor.
Oh, yes they do have doctors. But if I would have gone to one, I would have paid in the order of 2000 Baht, so I was just as happy to not visit a doctor.
Thursday, February 09, 2006
The Buddism of the common Thai
Maybe I'm not one to really comment on such a thing, but it seems to me that the average Thai person is Buddhist, BUT not in a devout sense. I get the impression that the spirit houses, the little offerings and the status of being Buddhist are more to keep the status quo than to really make great strides for Buddhism. And I guess they do their duties to make merrit, but I don't see it really changing their lives. They do what they have to do to keep their families happy and to keep the status quo. Satan's got them right where he needs them. As long as they stay Buddist out of fear of shaming their family, they will never turn to Christianity. But these are just my thoughts, probably more naivety than anything.
Spiritual Update
If you have been keeping up with my blogs, you may have noticed a lack of spiritual entries. It would seem ironic, since I am on a "missions" trip. The truth is, I don't feel any more spiritual here than I do at home. I write about my experiences. Currently my experiences are more comparing and contrasting Thai culture to Western culture. I'm sure God is teaching me things. But recently I haven't had any major revelations in my daily devotions.
One thing that I have started doing consistantly is bowing my head and praying before every meal. So often I have prayed in my head as I started to eat the meal, or just skipped praying altogether. I have been convicted that if I can't do that simple act, I must be embarassed or ashamed to show my Christianity. But I need to be unashamed of that which I believe. And part of that is through prayer. Not to mention that the food here actually needs praying for! You never know if the next meal is going to make you sick. So far so good, but I'm not taking any more chances.
One thing that I have started doing consistantly is bowing my head and praying before every meal. So often I have prayed in my head as I started to eat the meal, or just skipped praying altogether. I have been convicted that if I can't do that simple act, I must be embarassed or ashamed to show my Christianity. But I need to be unashamed of that which I believe. And part of that is through prayer. Not to mention that the food here actually needs praying for! You never know if the next meal is going to make you sick. So far so good, but I'm not taking any more chances.
Beer Shampoo
I needed to buy shampoo today, so I went to a drugstore in the mall. Some of the cheapest shampoo was also the strangest. It's funny what kinds of things they use to enhance their shampoo. I could choose between: Henna, Avacado, Yoghurt, Honey and Beer. What part of honey can you extract that would NOT be sticky? As for Avacado and Yoghurt, those are foods. So I choose Beer, because when is the next time I am going to be able to buy Beer Shampoo? (Bob & Doug McKenzie would be proud--there is a reference to beer shampoo on their album). The silly thing is that if I put any of those things in my hair, I would use shampoo to remove them. So why would I want any part of those things IN my shampoo? I guess it's just another one of those Thai mysteries.
Monday, February 06, 2006
Random Stuff
Saw a dog get run over and die. I don't want to witness that again.
Fortunatelly(?) it was the owner that ran over his own dog, so there is no tension between any neighbors. His kids were crying and all, but I learned that later on that day they got a new puppy, so the mourning period was extremely short lived.
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I can't understand how the Thais are able to talk on a cell phone in such noisy places. I've seen many a Thai, carry on what I can only assume is a coherent conversation, on a cell phone, standing right beside--or in--the middle of a busy street. The vehicles around here aren't quiet either. It would be like talking on a cell phone while standing beside a vaccuum cleaner. When my cell rings and I'm on the sidewalk, I have to cover the other ear, and even then the conversation is difficult. So I've come to the conclusion that all Thais are born deaf in one ear :-) (no offense intended, I actually marvel at their ability to block out huge volumes of noise).
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Sidewalks often don't live up to their name around here. The side "walk" is often the side "obsticle course", filled with uneven surfaces, poles, signs that are too low--even for a Thai person, wires, cars, motorcycles--both stationary and moving, plants, tables and chairs, street vendors, bags of garbage, store displays, dogs, cats, and oncoming pedestrians. Most of the time there is a path through the maze, but it's usually only wide enough for one person to pass through. Half the time I give up and just walk on the road.
Fortunatelly(?) it was the owner that ran over his own dog, so there is no tension between any neighbors. His kids were crying and all, but I learned that later on that day they got a new puppy, so the mourning period was extremely short lived.
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I can't understand how the Thais are able to talk on a cell phone in such noisy places. I've seen many a Thai, carry on what I can only assume is a coherent conversation, on a cell phone, standing right beside--or in--the middle of a busy street. The vehicles around here aren't quiet either. It would be like talking on a cell phone while standing beside a vaccuum cleaner. When my cell rings and I'm on the sidewalk, I have to cover the other ear, and even then the conversation is difficult. So I've come to the conclusion that all Thais are born deaf in one ear :-) (no offense intended, I actually marvel at their ability to block out huge volumes of noise).
-----
Sidewalks often don't live up to their name around here. The side "walk" is often the side "obsticle course", filled with uneven surfaces, poles, signs that are too low--even for a Thai person, wires, cars, motorcycles--both stationary and moving, plants, tables and chairs, street vendors, bags of garbage, store displays, dogs, cats, and oncoming pedestrians. Most of the time there is a path through the maze, but it's usually only wide enough for one person to pass through. Half the time I give up and just walk on the road.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Prices
I just got back from an awesome lunch. Sweet and sour chicken, on rice, with fresh vegitables. It was so tasty. To complement it I had a Mango Shake, made with fresh mangos (I know because I watched them make it). The total for the meal was only 45 Baht ($1.29 CAD). I've often thought "something this good should not be this cheap". What's the opposite of highway robbery?
Some other Chiang Mai prices for you in Baht (and Canadian):
- 1L Water: 5 Baht ($0.14)
- Ice Mocha (Starbucks quality): 55-65 Baht ($1.57-$1.86)
- 1.25L bottle of Coke: 27 Baht ($0.77)
- Ice cream cone (prepackaged): 20 Baht ($0.57)
- Typical noodle or rice dish: 25-80 Baht ($0.72-$2.29) The price really fluctuates depending on the attractiveness and location of the place.
- Typical fresh fruit drink: 10-20 Baht ($0.29-$0.57)
- Bag of fresh fruit (Pinaple or watermelon or others): 10 Baht ($0.29)
- Cell phone: 2,200-15,000 Baht ($60-$430)
- Cell phone minutes (anywhere in Thailand): 5 Baht/min 1st minute, 2 Baht/min after (14.3cents, 5.7cents)
- Cell phone call to Canada: 10 Baht/min (29cents/min)
- High speed internet: 30 Baht/hr ($0.86/hr)
- Trip across town on a Tuk Tuk (3 wheel covered cart): 80 Baht ($2.29)
- Trip across town on a Song Tao (pickup truck with benches in the back): 30 Baht ($0.86)
- Trip around town on an air conditioned city bus: 12 Baht ($0.34)
- Small motel room in downtown Chiang Mai--Prices vary, using mine as an example (Hot Showers, TV, Fridge, Air Conditioning, queen size bed, and a 4 foot by 4 foot balcony): 300 Baht/night ($8.57/night).
- 2 hr boat ride up the Ping River (includes herbal drinks): 250 Baht ($7.14)
- A day trek (bamboo river raft, elephants, lunch, hill tribe villages): 700-1600 Baht ($20-$45).
Keep in mind those prices include tax. There is a 7% Value Added Tax (VAT) but it is built into the price on everything you buy. With prices like these, it's no wonder this place is crawling with tourists.
Some other Chiang Mai prices for you in Baht (and Canadian):
- 1L Water: 5 Baht ($0.14)
- Ice Mocha (Starbucks quality): 55-65 Baht ($1.57-$1.86)
- 1.25L bottle of Coke: 27 Baht ($0.77)
- Ice cream cone (prepackaged): 20 Baht ($0.57)
- Typical noodle or rice dish: 25-80 Baht ($0.72-$2.29) The price really fluctuates depending on the attractiveness and location of the place.
- Typical fresh fruit drink: 10-20 Baht ($0.29-$0.57)
- Bag of fresh fruit (Pinaple or watermelon or others): 10 Baht ($0.29)
- Cell phone: 2,200-15,000 Baht ($60-$430)
- Cell phone minutes (anywhere in Thailand): 5 Baht/min 1st minute, 2 Baht/min after (14.3cents, 5.7cents)
- Cell phone call to Canada: 10 Baht/min (29cents/min)
- High speed internet: 30 Baht/hr ($0.86/hr)
- Trip across town on a Tuk Tuk (3 wheel covered cart): 80 Baht ($2.29)
- Trip across town on a Song Tao (pickup truck with benches in the back): 30 Baht ($0.86)
- Trip around town on an air conditioned city bus: 12 Baht ($0.34)
- Small motel room in downtown Chiang Mai--Prices vary, using mine as an example (Hot Showers, TV, Fridge, Air Conditioning, queen size bed, and a 4 foot by 4 foot balcony): 300 Baht/night ($8.57/night).
- 2 hr boat ride up the Ping River (includes herbal drinks): 250 Baht ($7.14)
- A day trek (bamboo river raft, elephants, lunch, hill tribe villages): 700-1600 Baht ($20-$45).
Keep in mind those prices include tax. There is a 7% Value Added Tax (VAT) but it is built into the price on everything you buy. With prices like these, it's no wonder this place is crawling with tourists.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Financial Update
Wow. I received a financial support update today and couldn't believe what I saw. Several more people sent in generous donations after my previous support update. Not only am I fully funded, I'm overfunded! When I originally made up the Support-O-Meter, I made the scale up to 125%. To be honest, I didn't think I would make it to the 100% mark. But God has blessed me almost $1000 over my budget! That goes outside the bounds of my Support-O-Meter's range. I can't believe it. All I can say is PRAISE GOD and thank you for your donations!
It is another testimony of God's faithfulness. Blessing me more than I could imagine (note the Support-O-Meter's size). It is also another confirmation that I am where I'm supposed to be.
It is another testimony of God's faithfulness. Blessing me more than I could imagine (note the Support-O-Meter's size). It is also another confirmation that I am where I'm supposed to be.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Tourist for a day
It was suggested to me to go on a "Trek" while I was in Chiang Mai. A good idea indeed. I wasn't sure how I would do that since I had no idea about where to go, what to do or anyone to go on a trek with. But I think God had His hand in how it came about.
On Sunday I went to an international church. It was nice to hear a fully English sermon. It could have more depth than the sermons at TLC because it wasn't being translated. As soon as I walked in I was greeted by 4 other guys who (I found out later) were there for the first time as well. They were in town for a conference of Christian English teachers, of which there were over 600 people from all over Asia. After church we walked around and ate lunch together. Along the way, they were pricing out day treks, and it occurred to me that it would be cool if I went along with them. So we signed up. 700 Baht (20 bucks) bought us a trip to 2 mountain villages, a trip to a waterfall, lunch, a trip down a river on a bamboo raft, and a trip on the back of an elephant. Not bad for one day!
It is fun to be a tourist once in a while. I sometimes have this "better than you" tourist attitude because I know that I'm being catered to as a tourist. And now I think I'm better at spotting the good price and the tourist price. It was funny when I paid the van driver he told me not to tell the other people in the van how much I paid, because they had paid much more for the same tour. He he.
First stops were the hill tribe villages. Whatever those hill tribes used to do, they don't do it anymore. I think they're main source of income is tourism. But they still live in rural houses. The first village was about a 1/2 hour walk, way up into the mountains. It actually reminded me of hiking in BC in the summer. We get up there, and I'm walking around and I spot a pickup truck! I know he didn't get up there on the trail that we hiked on. That's when I realized that this village is maybe not as rural as I first thought. In any case, I enjoyed the exercise.
The waterfall was nice. The waterfall was a bit too cold for my liking. It was like visiting Cascade Falls in the summer. I think its too cold for the Thais too. But hey "bring the foreigners, they don't know the difference!" The Thai lunch was great, rice with various toppings. Then a trip down the river on a bamboo raft. The rafts were made of about 10 thick bamboo stocks, about 20 feet long. They held the raft guide at the front, 2 in the middle and someone at the back. It was mostly calm and quite relaxing. A stark contrast to the elephant ride. The elephant ride was neat, but it is very much "hold on for dear life". The two seater on top of the elephant becomes one with the elephant, so it rocks every which way. And elephants don't come with shock absorbers. A good day had by all.
Here's the God part. Unbenounced to us, the trek company has several vans, and each person is pre-assigned to a van, usually based on which hotel you're staying at. The vans are staggered so only one van is at any activity at any given time. I ended up in a van with 3 couples and one other single girl, who was also looking for her friends. At the first stop I started talking to her and found out that she was in town for the same Christian teachers conference as my friends were (from church the day before), and soon found out that her friends were the same friends I was looking for. Fortunatelly, we found the others at the first stop and they had room in their van, so we all got to enjoy the day together. It was cool to be able to hang out with a group of likeminded Christians. I will probably never see them again, but it was cool that at just the right time, God provided me some friends to go on the trek with. Thanks God.
On Sunday I went to an international church. It was nice to hear a fully English sermon. It could have more depth than the sermons at TLC because it wasn't being translated. As soon as I walked in I was greeted by 4 other guys who (I found out later) were there for the first time as well. They were in town for a conference of Christian English teachers, of which there were over 600 people from all over Asia. After church we walked around and ate lunch together. Along the way, they were pricing out day treks, and it occurred to me that it would be cool if I went along with them. So we signed up. 700 Baht (20 bucks) bought us a trip to 2 mountain villages, a trip to a waterfall, lunch, a trip down a river on a bamboo raft, and a trip on the back of an elephant. Not bad for one day!
It is fun to be a tourist once in a while. I sometimes have this "better than you" tourist attitude because I know that I'm being catered to as a tourist. And now I think I'm better at spotting the good price and the tourist price. It was funny when I paid the van driver he told me not to tell the other people in the van how much I paid, because they had paid much more for the same tour. He he.
First stops were the hill tribe villages. Whatever those hill tribes used to do, they don't do it anymore. I think they're main source of income is tourism. But they still live in rural houses. The first village was about a 1/2 hour walk, way up into the mountains. It actually reminded me of hiking in BC in the summer. We get up there, and I'm walking around and I spot a pickup truck! I know he didn't get up there on the trail that we hiked on. That's when I realized that this village is maybe not as rural as I first thought. In any case, I enjoyed the exercise.
The waterfall was nice. The waterfall was a bit too cold for my liking. It was like visiting Cascade Falls in the summer. I think its too cold for the Thais too. But hey "bring the foreigners, they don't know the difference!" The Thai lunch was great, rice with various toppings. Then a trip down the river on a bamboo raft. The rafts were made of about 10 thick bamboo stocks, about 20 feet long. They held the raft guide at the front, 2 in the middle and someone at the back. It was mostly calm and quite relaxing. A stark contrast to the elephant ride. The elephant ride was neat, but it is very much "hold on for dear life". The two seater on top of the elephant becomes one with the elephant, so it rocks every which way. And elephants don't come with shock absorbers. A good day had by all.
Here's the God part. Unbenounced to us, the trek company has several vans, and each person is pre-assigned to a van, usually based on which hotel you're staying at. The vans are staggered so only one van is at any activity at any given time. I ended up in a van with 3 couples and one other single girl, who was also looking for her friends. At the first stop I started talking to her and found out that she was in town for the same Christian teachers conference as my friends were (from church the day before), and soon found out that her friends were the same friends I was looking for. Fortunatelly, we found the others at the first stop and they had room in their van, so we all got to enjoy the day together. It was cool to be able to hang out with a group of likeminded Christians. I will probably never see them again, but it was cool that at just the right time, God provided me some friends to go on the trek with. Thanks God.
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