Children's' Day In Ubon

Ubon Rathathani, Thailand, January 6, 2006

Ted and I took a bus from Bangkok to Kohn Kaen and then over to Ubon Ratchathani on our way to Vietnam.

Linly is a 19 year-old college student we met on the bus. She was just heading to Ubon to visit her family and then return the same day. She was very excited to meet two Canadians. She told us she wanted to travel all over the world one day. I asked her where she would like to go most. Linly replied: "My dream is to twah-vell some whay with you!"

This is my very dear friend Joy, who I met last year in Ubon. We arrived on children's' Day so we had a chance to meet Joy's niece at a parade. I can hear my Mom muttering to herself: "Why do they need children's' Day? Every day is children's' day..."

This is 'Oy' (on the left); another woman I met last year. Joy, Oy, Loy, and Coy were giving out free Ice Cream to the children on this day as part of the festivities (okay I made up the other two names.).

These are some of the cutie pies who were dancing in the festival.

The costumes were wonderful and the girls could really dance!

These two girls were crowned as Princesses for the day. They were very excited to get attention from the visiting Farangs. I gave them tiny Canadian Flags just after I took this photo.

And how about this cutie patootie? (as my sister would say). This is another one of Joy's nieces.

This little guy was just too cute to pass up. Thai children are not shy at all at having their pictures taken.

Back To Canada

Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, May 5, 2005

I loved being in Thailand but I look forward to having a chance to reflect on this wonderful adventure and see if from the perspective of my own Country.

I arrived at Bangkok Airport at 5am. I have Two new pieces of luggage for the trip home; a garment bag with my Armani suit in it, and a second bag to hold my souvenirs and presents for my family.

As I was waiting to check in for my flight I noticed a Buddhist Monk on the other side of the Terminal. A few minutes later I found myself sitting next to him. This is Julian. He has been a monk in Wat Mapjun (Mapjun Temple) for the last 8 years. He's on his way to Nelson B.C. Canada to visit his parents. He hasn't seen them since he entered the Temple. He studies Theraradin Buddhism 'theraradin' referring to the goal of enlightenment. As we talked, I showed him my amulet. I got if from my dear friends in Ubon Ratchithani. Julian recognized the Monk as 'Luang Pu Tuad' who is one of the most renowned Monks in Thailand. As it turns out, this amulet is used as a protection for travellers. In my Post, 'Joy in Ubon', I told the story of how I had the impulse to take off my Saint Christopher's medal and put on a different amulet that I traded later that day for the one I wear now. So without knowing it, I exchanged one amulet for travel protection for another.

Julian and I both smiled at the irony as I told him that story. Thanks Julian, for helping me put another piece of the puzzle together.

My flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong took off at 8am.

Here is a view of Taiwan (I think)

I arrived in Hong Kong three hours later. I then had a 4 hour wait and then boarded an Air Canada flight for Toronto Canada.

Here is a view out my window as we flew over Northern Ontario.

Thomas was sitting next to me on my flight. He was in Hong Kong visiting his 92 year old grandmother who is very sick. He expects she will not be around much longer and wanted to stay but he had to get back. At least you had a chance to see her once more Thomas. Just after we had our first on board meal, Thomas became very ill, throwing up and feeling feverish. It turned out to be a very tough trip for him.

I flew for 15 hours straight before arriving in Toronto. When I arrived, I was met by my brother Michael, my sister Melba Toasty and my Mom; alias 'Squiddy'.

My whole trip back to Canada took a total of 26 hours. Here I am back at my Mom's home. "Welcome home, roomy" she said.

I want to say hello to my dear friends in Thailand who changed my life and my perspective, forever. As I left the Thai Jet, I was given this orchid, which is the official flower of the Buddha. I'm also holding a beautiful cardholder; a gift that I use to hold the cards that have my Blog address on them.

I brought this Thai Buddha back with me and it sits in the living room of my Mom's place now. This is my way to honor the beautiful people who have taught me so much and shown me that the secret of Paradise is not the place but the people. 'Cup khun Crup. Khun na rak mah'.

Ubon Family: Mar25

I was going to leave Ubon early Friday Morning to go to Ayutthaya, the ancient Capitol of Thailand, for the weekend. But small Oi insisted that I wait til the afternoon and have her husband take me in his Travel bus. He does a regular 12 hour trip from Ubon to Bangkok several times a week. So we all hung out at Oi's place and ate again. By this time these people had accepted me as one of the family so they all made me take special pictures with each of them.

Little Oi.

Big Oi. Or Oi Vay, as I call her.

The infamous Gai. Now you have to get past Joy and you have to get past me if you want to meet her!

I asked what the thing is all about that Pond keeps doing with his fingers over his face. Joy says it's his sign to mean that he's intelligent. Which he is by the way, very very intelligent. When they all saw how well Pond and I got along Oi said I should take Pond home to Canada and make him my son. What do you think Mom and Mliss? There's that spare room at Mom's place and we could all learn Thai...

It was impossible to have a picture taken where Pond didn't run in at the last moment...which was just fine with me.

This is small Oi's daughter.

All these women drive motorcycles and that's how they get around town. I never managed to get a shot of them on their bikes though. I nick named them the 'Thai Angels.

When it was time to go to the bus I went to say goodbye to the ladies but they all just motioned me to get on Joy's bike and we all headed to the station together.
Joy and Gai waited in the bus with me and small Oi got me some water for my trip.
So just imagine. I was sent off in a bus that doesn't actually go to Ayutthaya, with a man I have only met a few minutes before, who doesn't speak any English, who is now going to see to it that I get to where I'm going.

As the bus was leaving I yelled out to Joy, "He knows I'm going to Ayutthaya right?". She yelled back: "No time to talk. Just you go." The door closed and away I went.

More Joy In Ubon: Mar24 (2)

After the Tour of Buddhist Temples we all got back in the Pickup Truck and headed to the local market to prepare for Gai's Birthday feast.

When I get back to Canada I would like to do a whole feature on the wonderful markets here in Thailand.

The produce costs almost nothing and there is so much variety.

And when you buy fish it is FRESH! These ones are bought live and then they knock them out and prepare them right before your eyes.

And the variety of fish! The Thai people eat such a good diet. A lot of fish and vegetables and fruit.

We loaded up all we could carry for our dinner.

As soon as we got back to Gai's place, all the women began preparing the food. No one had to tell anyone else what to do. They just all went at it and had it prepared in a very short time.

No food processors. No special equipment. And all done in half an hour.

The big pot in the middle is filled with water and the vegetables are placed into it to cook. Then we took small baskets with sliced chicken, pork and fish and placed them in the boiling water to cook. After a few minutes we would take the basket out and mix it with broth, chilis and other cooked vegetables to eat together.

More Joy In Ubon: Mar24

I have a passion for Buddhist Temples so Joy took me on the Motorcycle tour of Temples.

You can see the Naga theme repeated in these Temples and also the Chinese influence through color and the use of dragons.

I want to give these guys from Sony special mention. I showed them my camera and wanted them to see if they could replace the flash which I thought had burned out. The three of them looked at it for two seconds, pushed a button and handed it back to me all fixed. So my night shots are thanks to my new best friends here.

When ever I see a monkey I think of my dear friend from Bangkok and can't resist taking a picture for her. Here's to you Toi!

Joy and Gai are best friends and this is one of the best pictures I took of them. Joy kept trying to marry me off to her friends including Gai. For those of you looking for a great marriage partner, I highly recommend Gai. She has a beautiful spirit, a wonderful sense of humor and she owns her own home. Plus, can she ever cook. But remember, before you can meet Gai, you have to get approved by Joy!

Today is Gai's birthday. I got her a that stuffed dog and a birthday cake. Thais don't make a very big deal of birthdays but they love to celebrate. Gai said this was the best birthday she ever had. Joy and I both got Gai Birthday cakes but when I suggested we put candles on them Joy gave me a look of disgust. "We not like blow on cake with breath. Not good to spit on cake." I admitted I had never considered that but I couldn't resist pointing out that hers is the same culture that thinks nothing of eating food that has flies landing on it and grasshoppers are a delicacy here in Ubon. As if to make sense of the grasshopper thing, Joy said: "Yes, but first take legs off"

I felt like I was at a progressive supper. Joy, Gai and I got on motorcycles and went down the street where we met up with 'Oi' for a some lunch.

As we were eating, another friend showed up. I asked what her name was and as if they thought I was daft they said: "Oi! Her name is Oi!" I said: I thought the other woman's name was Oi. "Yes", Joy said. But that is small Oi. This Big Oi."

Then my buddy 'Pond'(pro.'Pone+D) showed up He's five. As soon as he saw me he sat right up beside me, I put my arm around him and that's how he stayed the rest of the day.
Pond's mother died at childbirth and his father died of Cancer before he was born. Small Oi already has two children and can't really afford to take care of him but Thais just take care of each other anyway. Oi's husband drives a bus and makes very little money and is also away alot so Pond really enjoyed having a man around on this day.

After lunch, we all got in a pickup truck and went to see some Temples.

This is a Jackfruit that was growing on the grounds of this Temple. Pond loves to have his picture taken. It's not that I kept inviting him into the shot. He just would run in to be in the picture. You'll see a lot of Pond on this day...

I had no idea what he was saying most of the time but I just did whatever he said. Just after this picture was taken Pond motioned me to take him to a walled in pond nearby. I lifted him off my shoulders and stood him on the top of the wall. I thought it was some kind of enclosed garden. I looked down and there below us, just a few feet away was a ten foot crocodile sunning himself. At first Pond looked scared but then he looked down at me and smiled. I guess he figured I would protect him so he relaxed. I have got to learn more Thai words!

We were in a Budhist Museum sitting in front of a wax figure of one of the most famous Monks in all of Thailand. Suddenly Gai's cell phone rang and everyone tried to shush her as she started talking.

Joy laughed so hard she fell down and then they all were laughing uncontrollably.

This glass case is also here. The skeleton is no one in particular. I asked Joy why this display was in a Buddhist Monk Museum. She told me it was to show us that there is nothing to fear about birth or death. She said that the inscription tells us that both are just a part of nature and not to be feared or run away from.