Thai trip

Well, I've actually been back for a week and a half and had intended to write before this, but I came back very sick. Sick enough that I couldn't even wait to see a doc on Monday, but went to the ER on Sunday morning when I got up after a fairly sleepless night, which had followed a mostly sleepless 24 hours of travel. Praise God it was nothing serious, but they did give me some meds to ease the pain from the deep, dry cough as well as to break it up. When I returned home from the pharmacy I took the meds and then for the next 67 hours or so I slept, except for the times I got up to eat. I had some chicken broth from a dear friend and some eggs for breakfasts. Each time I was up for 1-2 hours to eat and a few times I would watch a half hour of TV, but then I was falling asleep and it was back to bed. The rest of the week (Wed-Fri) at work was rough, but I made it through and was in bed each night and asleep by 7pm. Finally, today I really feel mostly back to myself. A few residual coughs, but glad that it's this week and not last week. And yes, this means my birthday was miserable and no fun! Oh well, you can't win them all.

Thankfully, I didn't start feeling badly until really the last day in Bangkok, so we had a really wonderful time. We had back/shoulders/head massages twice, plus Mom and I did a full afternoon spa package (herbal steam, body scrub, aromatherapy oil massage, facial, manicure & pedicure) one day. We got my salwahr kameezes made - Mom had bought the fabric when she was in India last fall for 2 outfits, and we went to a seamstress that lives near one of the Thai girls that works in the office. A week later we went back and they were done and they fit perfectly. I even wore one of them the first afternoon we were in Bangkok because you had to have long pants for the Emerald Palace tour. They are actually very comfortable and I can't wait to wear them around here. I'm planning to wear the fancier one for Easter.

Let's see... We went to several market areas for shopping and I bought a few things for me and several things for the family here. The day I arrived we went to church, so I got to meet some of the folks that Mom and Dad know from there. We also had 3 afternoons of teaching English to the children in a very poor area and it was just delightful. We went to dinner one night with a couple that Mom and Dad have Bible study with and another night most of the office staff went to a Thai Cultural Center for dinner and a show of some of the traditional dances.

Saturday we borrowed a company car and Dad drove us up north toward Chiang Rai (and the Myanmar border). It was a really nice day and a nice drive up into the mountains and out of the city. We stopped one place at Hot Springs where there is a market of the hill tribes. Then we drove further to a nice resort place on the river that has delicious pies - this is not something served in the normal Thai culture and there are few places to get them. We had lunch there - and of course, we had pie... one piece there and one to go for each of us!!

Sunday was really just a day of rest. We stayed around the apartment the entire day and just hung out. Monday we did a day trip with the lady that had taken Mom and Dad on their border run to Myanmar last fall. We saw an orchid farm first - orchids are very abundant over there and you see them everywhere, they are absolutely beautiful! Then we stopped at a place that makes elephant dung paper! It was very interesting and something I never would have thought of, but you really can't tell the difference between it and the mulberry paper. I bought a few sheets to use when I do my scrapbooking pages of this trip!

Then we went on out of the city to an elephant camp. We got to ride the elephants, and it was a nice long ride probably 30-45 minutes. Then we rode an ox cart back to where we had started and they even let me drive the ox cart for a short time! We then got to see them wash the elephants in the river before they did their show for us. They played sports, showed how they get on and off, showed how they can carry and move heavy logs, how amazing their balance is, and one of them even paints pictures holding the paint bruch in the end of his trunk! After the show, we went around and had a buffet lunch at a place on the river, then relaxed on a bamboo raft ride down the river, again probably 30-45 minutes long. This was no tourist trap place, it was really well done on all counts!

On the way home we stopped at a family owned lacquer place and watched them at work. We learned that they use eggshell bits to create their mosaics. They also painted some pieces. It was a very interesting place and many beautiful pieces. Lastly we stopped at a Celadon place and again were able to watch them at work on the pieces. Amazing artistry and craftsmanship that you don't see too much anymore in this country. Beautiful, beautiful pieces! I got some chop stick rests for the chopsticks I had bought earlier at one of the markets. It was a long day, but very nice and so pleasant without having to think about where to go, Pontip, our guide took care of it all.

Thursday morning we left early for the airport and headed to Bangkok. We arrived there and took a cab to the Marriott where we were staying - that was a little harrying, but we made it safe and sound. We had just enough time after we checked in to run across the street to grab a sandwich that we took back to the room to eat and then changed our clothes for our afternoon tour. We saw the Grand Palace and grounds as well as the famous Emerald buddha. We didn't stay in the temple very long. After walking around there we headed to our next destination which was a canal tour. It was a very, very hot day and we had to slip in the 7/11 as we went through the market and stand in the A/C for 15 minutes or so with cool wet towels so that Mom and I could come back to normal. Then once we got to the canal boats the rest of the day wasn't bad as we spent most of the day motoring on the canals and enjoying the breeze. We also took in the barge museum where we saw the ceremonial long boats that they use, and one other temple place we stopped at. It was neat because one king built it and then another king (many years later) decorated it, and the decorations were mosaics done with old broken pottery! There really is nothing new under the sun!

That night we ate at the Japanese steakhouse in the hotel and it was delicious! I had lamb (the high class places get lamb and beef from Australia) as my main dish and it melted in my mouth! Friday we toured for the day out to the floating market and around some more canals, then to the Rose Garden resort for another buffet lunch and then their cultural show which was very nice also. It was different from the one in Chiang Mai and we enjoyed it from fairly cool seats. Again that night we ate at the hotel, this time choosing the cafe restaurant that had a huge, huge buffet. We all ate way too much there, but it was delicious as well!

The next morning it was early rise and off to the airport. We got me checked in and had breakfast together - we had brought bread and cheese and fruit for this purpose - before we had to say good-bye so they could get checked in and we all could get through security and to our gates on time, since our flights were actually due to depart at the same time. It was hard to come home, but I'm thankful for the time we enjoyed together and the things I was able see and learn and experience about God's people on the other side of the world. I'll see about doing another post or two maybe with some reflections about some of the things, but at least wanted to share the basics of the trip this time around.