Boong and I and our reaction to the mini dinasour pictured below
Peace sign next to the face. The new cool pose in Thailand. Try it out!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
March 18
Today wasn’t that eventful. We taught in the morning, changed our schedule around and went to the park. We were able to more our evening class to earlier in the day which means that we won’t be at Mercy so late in the evening. A few other exciting changes to the schedule include teaching kindergarten twice a week, along with some other young students. Finally we get to teach some kids. Our schedule has been so jammed backed with young adults and staff at Mercy that we haven’t had much time to teach the children. So both Jodie and I are looking forward to teaching the kids.
I was feeling really drowsy and cranking all day and forgot that I had take a Tylenol cold and flu tablet in the morning. I don’t know if I’m coming down with a bit of a cold or if my body is just reacting to the pollution but I have been coughing quite a bit lately. So I took the pill and then spent the rest of the day with no energy. I literally fell asleep on the taxi ride to the park, and then again at the park two times. Those that know me, know that I never nap so having three naps in one day is quite unusual. I was really out of it and cranky. I feel bad that Jodie had to put up with it all day. We stayed at the park until supper time and then realized that we couldn’t go home because Si Jie had the key and since the boys aren’t home, we can never be sure if there will be other staff around to let us in. So we hung out at the park until dusk and then headed home. To walk from the park to soi 40 is about 35 minutes. It’s not too bad in the evening when the temperature has gone down but we try to avoid the trek during the day.
Anyways, i have to run to rec. Talk soon
Misty
I was feeling really drowsy and cranking all day and forgot that I had take a Tylenol cold and flu tablet in the morning. I don’t know if I’m coming down with a bit of a cold or if my body is just reacting to the pollution but I have been coughing quite a bit lately. So I took the pill and then spent the rest of the day with no energy. I literally fell asleep on the taxi ride to the park, and then again at the park two times. Those that know me, know that I never nap so having three naps in one day is quite unusual. I was really out of it and cranky. I feel bad that Jodie had to put up with it all day. We stayed at the park until supper time and then realized that we couldn’t go home because Si Jie had the key and since the boys aren’t home, we can never be sure if there will be other staff around to let us in. So we hung out at the park until dusk and then headed home. To walk from the park to soi 40 is about 35 minutes. It’s not too bad in the evening when the temperature has gone down but we try to avoid the trek during the day.
Anyways, i have to run to rec. Talk soon
Misty
Monday, March 17, 2008
How much thai have you picked up?
The boys here at the orphanage have left for the weekend. They have left for a week of meditation. I would tell you more about it, but I’m not sure of the details. I just know that our home is eerily quiet and we miss the boys very much.
The last two days of our weekend has been spent at our new favorite hang out spot. It is a park near Emporium. Our days at the park have been spent reading and lesson planning. A few reasons why I love this park so much: it is really close to the mall so whenever you need a break from the heat or you need to pick out a new book, then you can escape to the air-conditioned mall to rejuvenate yourself. Also within the park perimeters is a swimming pool, tennis and basketball court and a juice stand. So the last couple of days have been spent under a shaded, breezy palm tree. Not a bad way to spend a day. Jodie and I also realized today that we need to spice up our inner circle. We spent every waking moment together and experience everything together and we’ve talked each other’s ears off. So its time to seek out other English speakers, and our search began today. We had the pleasure of meeting and talking to a young Norwegian man who was visiting Thailand on vacation. He was a good first attempt, but really quite meaningless because he is leaving on Friday. So the search continues…. In other news, I took my camera to the SONY store here and originally they told me that it would only cost like 20 dollars to fix the lens but they called me yesterday and it is going to be more like 120 dollars. So I was like heck no. My camera still works but the zoom doesn’t work as well as it should but I’m not paying half the price of my camera to get it fixed. I guess I was just hoping that it would be cheaper to fix it here but I was wrong.
Anyways, that’s all for now. Today’s plans include, more teaching, a meeting to change our schedule and then a trip to Emporium to pick up my camera, maybe a little grocery shopping and who knows what else. I’m sorry for the lack of pics.
Psalm 18(1-2)
Misty
The last two days of our weekend has been spent at our new favorite hang out spot. It is a park near Emporium. Our days at the park have been spent reading and lesson planning. A few reasons why I love this park so much: it is really close to the mall so whenever you need a break from the heat or you need to pick out a new book, then you can escape to the air-conditioned mall to rejuvenate yourself. Also within the park perimeters is a swimming pool, tennis and basketball court and a juice stand. So the last couple of days have been spent under a shaded, breezy palm tree. Not a bad way to spend a day. Jodie and I also realized today that we need to spice up our inner circle. We spent every waking moment together and experience everything together and we’ve talked each other’s ears off. So its time to seek out other English speakers, and our search began today. We had the pleasure of meeting and talking to a young Norwegian man who was visiting Thailand on vacation. He was a good first attempt, but really quite meaningless because he is leaving on Friday. So the search continues…. In other news, I took my camera to the SONY store here and originally they told me that it would only cost like 20 dollars to fix the lens but they called me yesterday and it is going to be more like 120 dollars. So I was like heck no. My camera still works but the zoom doesn’t work as well as it should but I’m not paying half the price of my camera to get it fixed. I guess I was just hoping that it would be cheaper to fix it here but I was wrong.
Anyways, that’s all for now. Today’s plans include, more teaching, a meeting to change our schedule and then a trip to Emporium to pick up my camera, maybe a little grocery shopping and who knows what else. I’m sorry for the lack of pics.
Psalm 18(1-2)
Misty
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Dreaming of Snakes and Poop
March 15th
(Sorry no pictures this time. Posting here at an Internet cafe in Bangkok)
Jodie and I slept in for the first time in a long time. We finally got around to cleaning our room. It was quite disgusting! We then travelled to Siam square which is another massive shopping are. We are beginning to understand why Bangkok is a shopping mecca. There is both the Siam Discovery Centre which consists of hi so (high class) shopping. The kind of shopping that Jodie and I can’t afford and I would describe as museum shopping. The other was the MBK shopping centre which consisted of branded knock off’s. For lunch I ate some great Indian food and dreamed of eating pâté (sp?) everyday of my life instead of rice. As evening rolled around, Jodie and I went to a movie. We saw Step Up and it was actually pretty good. I mean I thought it was going to suck, so it definitely exceeded my expectations. I left just wanting to go dancing. RCA is definitely in our future plans.
Interesting fact, when buying movie tickets you have the choice of cheaper or more expensive tickets in relation to where you want to sit in the theatre. Also, after the commercials and previews run, just before the movie starts, everyone in the theatre must stand while a movie montage of the King plays. We’ve heard about this, but tonight was our first experience and I must say I loved the King too after I watched it.
It is hard to really understand the idolization of the King, and I can only try and describe to you his stature here in Thailand. There is a picture of the King in every building you enter. There are large billboards and pictures on large skyscrapers of the King. Similar to live strong bracelets, many people were “Long Live the King” bracelets. The anthem plays twice a day over speakers in the streets and you are expected to stop whatever you are doing and pay your respect. There are sections of the city where the architecture related to the King is designed in gold. All I have to say is that Queen Elizabeth has nothing on this guy!
EVEN BETTER THAILAND FACTS
Jodie just reminded about Thai dreams interpretations. Boong and Dew informed us yesterday that if you dream about poop then it means you are going to win the lottery. Boong backed it up by saying that she has personally experienced this. Dew also told us that if you dream about snakes than you will find your soul mate. Needless to say, Jodie and I went to bed dreaming of snakes and poop……..hahahah. And I think I’m going to end this post on that note.
Misty
(Sorry no pictures this time. Posting here at an Internet cafe in Bangkok)
Jodie and I slept in for the first time in a long time. We finally got around to cleaning our room. It was quite disgusting! We then travelled to Siam square which is another massive shopping are. We are beginning to understand why Bangkok is a shopping mecca. There is both the Siam Discovery Centre which consists of hi so (high class) shopping. The kind of shopping that Jodie and I can’t afford and I would describe as museum shopping. The other was the MBK shopping centre which consisted of branded knock off’s. For lunch I ate some great Indian food and dreamed of eating pâté (sp?) everyday of my life instead of rice. As evening rolled around, Jodie and I went to a movie. We saw Step Up and it was actually pretty good. I mean I thought it was going to suck, so it definitely exceeded my expectations. I left just wanting to go dancing. RCA is definitely in our future plans.
Interesting fact, when buying movie tickets you have the choice of cheaper or more expensive tickets in relation to where you want to sit in the theatre. Also, after the commercials and previews run, just before the movie starts, everyone in the theatre must stand while a movie montage of the King plays. We’ve heard about this, but tonight was our first experience and I must say I loved the King too after I watched it.
It is hard to really understand the idolization of the King, and I can only try and describe to you his stature here in Thailand. There is a picture of the King in every building you enter. There are large billboards and pictures on large skyscrapers of the King. Similar to live strong bracelets, many people were “Long Live the King” bracelets. The anthem plays twice a day over speakers in the streets and you are expected to stop whatever you are doing and pay your respect. There are sections of the city where the architecture related to the King is designed in gold. All I have to say is that Queen Elizabeth has nothing on this guy!
EVEN BETTER THAILAND FACTS
Jodie just reminded about Thai dreams interpretations. Boong and Dew informed us yesterday that if you dream about poop then it means you are going to win the lottery. Boong backed it up by saying that she has personally experienced this. Dew also told us that if you dream about snakes than you will find your soul mate. Needless to say, Jodie and I went to bed dreaming of snakes and poop……..hahahah. And I think I’m going to end this post on that note.
Misty
Friday, March 14, 2008
Kow Pat (Fried Rice)
Quick Hello
Yesterday we spent the morning and early afternoon teaching and then we set off on a search to find post cards. We went to Emporium which is a massive five story shopping mall here in Bangkok. We indulged in a few luxuries during our time there. Jodie got her hair cut at a Salon. We also treated oursleves to ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. Later we met Si Jie at the mall and we headed over to Tokoyo Bar. There is a blues festival going on there this weekend and this bar is one of Mercy Centre's sponsers so Si Jie asked us to go along with her. Oh I forgot to mention that Si Jie and I went for a quick bike ride to visit one of Mercy's kindergraden classes in the afternoon. When we arrived when all the kids were napping, so we didn't stay long. What made this bike ride a wee bit interesting was the fact that temperature was like 36 degrees and i had a semi-flat tire. So i broke out in a sweat the moment i started peddling. I decided that my original idea of someday doing a bike tour through Bangkok didn't seem so appealling to me after this hot and exhausting experience. A motorcycle trip though Bangkok still has potential!
Today we dragged ourselves out of bed and to Mercy Centre. In the morning I taught my adult class and in the afternoon we decided to take Dew and Boong on a class trip to Limpini Park (sp?) We went out on paddle boats and then headed over to Central World to continue our seach for post cards. The girls seemed to really enjoy their first paddle boat ride and their reactions were priceless.Our plans for the weekend are still up in the air but we are hoping to check out the markets and go to the movies. The only girly western movie playing here is Step Up 2. So I imagine that's what we will seeing. Anyways, that's all the news for now.
Sending love from Thailand,
Misty
Yesterday we spent the morning and early afternoon teaching and then we set off on a search to find post cards. We went to Emporium which is a massive five story shopping mall here in Bangkok. We indulged in a few luxuries during our time there. Jodie got her hair cut at a Salon. We also treated oursleves to ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. Later we met Si Jie at the mall and we headed over to Tokoyo Bar. There is a blues festival going on there this weekend and this bar is one of Mercy Centre's sponsers so Si Jie asked us to go along with her. Oh I forgot to mention that Si Jie and I went for a quick bike ride to visit one of Mercy's kindergraden classes in the afternoon. When we arrived when all the kids were napping, so we didn't stay long. What made this bike ride a wee bit interesting was the fact that temperature was like 36 degrees and i had a semi-flat tire. So i broke out in a sweat the moment i started peddling. I decided that my original idea of someday doing a bike tour through Bangkok didn't seem so appealling to me after this hot and exhausting experience. A motorcycle trip though Bangkok still has potential!
Today we dragged ourselves out of bed and to Mercy Centre. In the morning I taught my adult class and in the afternoon we decided to take Dew and Boong on a class trip to Limpini Park (sp?) We went out on paddle boats and then headed over to Central World to continue our seach for post cards. The girls seemed to really enjoy their first paddle boat ride and their reactions were priceless.Our plans for the weekend are still up in the air but we are hoping to check out the markets and go to the movies. The only girly western movie playing here is Step Up 2. So I imagine that's what we will seeing. Anyways, that's all the news for now.
Sending love from Thailand,
Misty
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Thoughts
Hi all,
Here's the link to our video which we made for our Equity class. It will probably only be up for a few more days due to privacy issues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gxuV13ka2Q
Quote from my journal
"Perseverance defines the children here at Mercy Centre. They live life with the kind of exuberance that inspires one to re-evaluate what is really important in life. To be humbled is an understatement. Visiting with the AIDS patients is nothing less than heartbreaking, but amongst their suffering, there is a special light that radiates from each one of them in the form of a smile, a touch, a laugh or a hug. So I walk away from this moment changed, renewed and inspired."
Here's the link to our video which we made for our Equity class. It will probably only be up for a few more days due to privacy issues.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gxuV13ka2Q
Quote from my journal
"Perseverance defines the children here at Mercy Centre. They live life with the kind of exuberance that inspires one to re-evaluate what is really important in life. To be humbled is an understatement. Visiting with the AIDS patients is nothing less than heartbreaking, but amongst their suffering, there is a special light that radiates from each one of them in the form of a smile, a touch, a laugh or a hug. So I walk away from this moment changed, renewed and inspired."
Pics of Ko Chang
Back at work, but dreaming of the beach
A proud graduate!
This picture was taken yesterday at the kindergarden graduation! Me, Boong and Dew
BEACH!!!!
Ray Ban knock offs!!!! Love them
Romantic supper on the beach! "Another romantic moment wasted on Misty" -Jodie
Little Thai girl selling these puengmalais
Jodie and I....sunburn and ALL!!!
A little boy Jodie played with in the water. Quite the little trouble maker
Good Place, Nice People! Enough Said
View from further down the beach
One of restaurants on the beach
Pic taken by Jodie on our long bus ride to Ko Chang
View from our hotel, the evening we arrived
View of the island of Ko Chang from the Ferry!Pictures are more interesting than words. So a short recap of the weekend starts now. We took a bus to Ko Chang, we attempted to catch the 7:45 bus, but missed it by minutes, so we had to wait at the BTS until the 9:45 bus. The bus trip was 5 hrs long. We were actually about an hour away from Cambodia. Pretty cool eh?Ko Chang is an island, so after our long bus trip, we had to take a ferry across to our final destination. At this point in the trip, it is not really that warm and I am scared that the weather isn't going to cooperate. I am also tired of travelling and all I want is the beach, but the sun is setting and we still have to find our hotel. So the trek continues... Jodie and I get on the back of truck with other tourists and we begin the steep climb up and over the mountains that cover the island. My first reaction was, this island is beautiful!!! So my mood begins to change and I realize that I'm thrilled to be away from the hussle and bussle of Bangkok. The taxi driver drops us off and continues on with the rest of the tourist. We assume that we are near our hotel, so we proceed to ask for directions and of course, find a way to get lost. We eventually find our room and we ask the hotel manager if he wants a deposit and he replys "No, you can pay when you leave" We were a little shocked but were surprised
On to more important details about our room. In our luxurious room, there was a SHOWER....including a shower nozzle! We also had cable TV! What more could two girls ask for?? We went swimming immediatley and went on a search for yummy western meals. That seach continued for the rest of the weekend. Rice wasn't on OUR menu for the weekend.
We spent all of Sunday on the beach. Yes, we wore sunscreen but no, not enough! So the result my friend was a nice lobster sunburn. Jodie got especially burnt because that fair skin of her's hadn't seen the sun in months.
A few shockers of the trip
-Saw WAY to MANY old old men with young young Thai girls(60 year old man, 20 year old girl)
-Saw a few too many topless old ladies
Both of these just come with the territory, but still a shock for these two young canadian girls.
We shopped a bit, I bought 2 pairs of knock off Ray Bans which was exciting. One for Tiffany, one for me. Then on the way home, one pair broke. So now, I am left with one pair, in hopes that Tiffany will fly here and buy a pair herself.
The rest of the trip is just mundane details that will probably bore you. We laid out more, we ate more and travelled home. All and all, a great weekend. We saw a whole new side of Thailand and got to sit back and relax for a short time.
Anyways, if you are looking for more, check out Jodie's blog
Sending love from Thailand,
Misty
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