Life in the Kingdom

Sawaadee kha,

The rainy season is upon us. Daily downpours which last for about 30 minutes are witnessed daily. The torrential rain causes traffic in the city to come to a snails pace... then the sun arrives and the pace of life picks up speed. The rainy season ends in October when the "cool" season arrives with comfortable temperatures in the 25-27 degree range:) that usually lasts until the end of February. This is also the peak tourist season in Thailand.

As we enter into our last year in Thailand we're mindful about how we'll plan to spend our time on this last leg of this journey. I'm reminded how daunting things seemed when we arrived here two years ago. The sights, smells, way of life all seemed so alien to us. Yet in time we found our way and have come to appreciate with gratitute all that living in a foreign land has to offer. The opportunities we've had and all that we're learning continues to reshape us... as well as middle age:)

A recent trip to Cambodia and Angkor Wat was incredible. Angkor Wat is a beautiful and fascinating place. Made by the Khmer kings in a process that lasts almost 4 centuries, this magnificent area had been abandoned and hidden by the forest. Re-discovered by a french man ( it figures..) about 150 years ago. There are two great complexes of ancient temples in Southeast Asia, one at Bagan in Burma, the other at Angkor in Cambodia. The temples of Angkor, built by the Khmer civilization between 802 and 1220 AD, represent one of humankind's most astonishing architectural achievements. From Angkor the Khmer kings ruled over a vast domain that reached from Vietnam to China to the Bay of Bengal. The structures one sees at Angkor today include more than 100 stone temples. We were awestruck with the intricate carvings and the symbolic representation of the Hindu cosmology. It was also interesting to see the changes in the design when the ruling King decided that the Gods of Hinduism had failed him and Buddhism became prevalent in the construction of the temples. The evolution of the change was seen as the Hindu decorations and deities were replaced by Buddhist carvings, statues, and other art.

One of the tucked away spots in Bangkok is its Indian neighbourhood, known as "Little India". This hidden spot in Bangkok's is full of food, interesting sights, and an impression of what it's like to walk down an Indian street. On entering the lane, there are food stalls selling hot snacks; while posters of Hindu gods sit alongside the shops. The sights and sounds of India are everywhere, as locals go about their daily business. We sampled some of the Indian dishes and visited a beautiful gurdwara, or Sikh temple. This is said to be the largest gurdwara outside India, and is built of opulent white marble. We were made to feel welcome. When visiting the temple we removed our shoes and covered our heads with the customary yellow scarves that were provided to us.

We discovered that Sikhism is one of the younger faiths of the world, as compared with religions like Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Christianity or Islam. It is a monotheistic faith, preaching the existence of only one God, and teaching ideals that may be universally accepted today : honesty, compassion, humility, piety, social commitment, and most of all tolerance for other religions. In my quest to learn about other world religions and my budding interest in "interfaith dialogue" I'm looking forward to participating in a study group in October on Comparative Religions.

About 80 kms outside of Bangkok in a place famous for its mango orchards we came upon a temple ground known for it's inhabitants - Bats or flying fox. When we looked up we could see dark things hanging from the trees. Just about every tree in the temple compound had bats hanging from the branches. We learned they ate fruit such as mango, tamarind and guava. They also ate the fruit and young leaves from the sacred bhodi trees in the temple. This is the tree that Siddharta Gautama became enlightened underneath when he became the Buddah. Apparently a monk indicated that the bats never touch the mangoes in the orchards in the temple and instead go to the neighboring district to eat:)

When visiting the south we ventured upon a rubber plantation. Rubber is one of Thailand's leading exports, third to shrimp and rice. In 1991 Thailand replaced Malaysia as the top producer and exporter of natural rubber products. This has been the result of a re-planting program. A majority of Thailand's rubber plantations are located in the southern part of the country.

Recently we enjoyed a day out with some friends to visit an orchid farm, fruit orchard and lotus farm. Thailand is famous for is orchid species. There are more than 1,000 species of orchids in Thailand, and these come in a dazzling range of colours - Probably the most beautiful are the white, the bright yellow and the brick - red orchids. The white orchid is highly prized because of its extreme rarity in the wild. Few have ever been discovered in the wild, and it is only through the efforts of Thai orchid nursery keepers to multiply it, that this gorgeous bloom can be seen. Many of the other orchid varieties are easy to grow, and abundant at any time of the year, thanks to the skills of the numerous Thai horticulturists. Typical of these common orchids is the violet bloom that is often given to visitors, for example to passengers travelling on Thai Airways international flights. Orchids bouquets are easily purchased from Bangkok street vendors for 30 -100 baht ( $1.00 - $3.00.)

The tropical climate and naturally fertile geography of Thailand is the home of some of the world's most exotic and delicious tropical fruits. The red hairy fruit in the photo are Rambutan. The flesh is white, succulent and has a large seed. They are widespread in all Southeast Asian countries, and Thai rambutans are grown particularly in the East and South. In Thailand , there are two varieties of rambutan, a fruit with a thick and hairy outer skin. "Ngoh Rong Rian" has sweet, succulent flesh that clings to the seed, while the oval-shaped Si Chompoo, the "pink" rambutan, has crisp, white flesh that comes off the seed easily. Rambutan orchards are commonly found in the provinces of the South.

Tailors and fabric shops are plentiful in Bangkok. A seamstress can whip up an outfit to meet your wish for any occasion within a couple of days. Famed for their swift sewing and competent craftsmanship, Bangkok tailors are trusted and chosen by many to have their clothes made the way they prefer. These birds were enjoying the feast from the yummy morsels uncovered when this rice farmer was turning his field. In the central area of Thailand it is common to see tractors doing the work that the buffalo does in the north.

Kelsey has settled into her apartment near the school she attends. Recently "Gulliver" joined her household.

Michel has taken on a couple of additional projects at Michelin. True to himself, he doesn't let work take over his life, however occasionally he'll be heard to lament " Work is beginning to interfere in my personal life" lol. His ability to organize and manage multiple projects is amazing!

Although the weekends and any holiday we have are our travel time, life continues to hum along in Bangkok. While Kelsey spends her week at school learning about hospitality and tourism and Michel at work, I am blessed with the privilege of engaging in work and activities that are personally "life giving". My work with the Thai Burma Border Consortium, teaching English, attending lectures on South East Asian culture, religion and history and occasionally volunteering as tour guide at the National Museum inpire me. Recently I picked up a short term project with International Child Support, a Netherlands based NGO who works with "underprivileged" women and children in Northern Thailand. As Vice President of the Canada Club of Thailand, my role this year is to provide leadership in organizing the fundraising event which raises the funds for the charities we support. Should be interesting indeed!!! Thank goodness I'll have the help of a group of Canadian women who are very talented in this area.

Due to the flu virus, the orphanage remains closed to volunteers. While I miss the children there I look forward to getting back soon.

We're excited about some of our Canadian friends upcoming visits with us this year. On Sept. 11th we're looking forward to Bill Denyars visit. In China on a visit he decided to take a week and come to see us. Michel is already planning to introduce him to the motorcycle taxi in Bangkok..... ( he'll be fine Dawn!) Stay tuned on the next blog posting for photos!!

Well that's all from here for now.... Until next time.

Blessings....Go well

Michel, Kelsey and Dorothy