To massage or not to massage
September 17th.
Here we are at the end of week one and we've already finished both houses! We will start on the 100th house here Monday after a weekend visit to the Northern province of Chaing Rai. The affiliates here were so pleased, they invited the Director and Chairman from Bangkok up to visit our sites. The families are thrilled and we will officially have the house dedication on Wednesday. Gang, I cannot tell you how much we get done before 10:30 in the morning! The families have to provide the land that the houses will actually be built on, so many of the structures are within an extended family compound. I have been able to meet aunts, uncles, cousins that have joined the help. The past two days have been "bucket brigades" in which everyone lines up end to end and we fill walls and floors with concrete and gravel. I wish I could say I've developed some serious muscle tone, but all I can boast is sore shoulders... thus - the trip to an herbal spa on the outskirts of town.
Our team leader, Ramsay and his wife Boots have a house here in Lampang (as well as Tyler, Texas if you can believe that!) so we look to them for the cool restaurants and curios. This is the group's second trip to the herbal spa. The massages are 150 Baht (about $3.50). You have to change into these cotton pajama type pants & top and sent to a group room where you are pulled and pounded and stretched for about an hour. I had the "herbal ball" treatment last night. Basically, you are pounded with hot camphor and it is the perfect relief for sore muscles. I can't think of a better way to end a day of hard labor!
More about Thai food. We are so lucky here. I didn't know what to expect when I signed up for this trip. I really just looked at the dates that would be good for my schedule, packed a bag (yes, just one) and then repacked it after a quick conversation with LeeAnn, missed my flight and arrived\ in a crazy city. Seriously, I thought we would be roughing it, but instead, we are treated like visiting royalty. Everyday at the jobsites, we are cooked for by a group of women who provide great snacks and the freshest of fruits and meals. Just yesterday we had blended lime coolers and the day before than, ice coffee. Ok, that was my request!
We break every morning at 10:30 when these lovely little sweets laid out with cool drinks. These are either sticky rice with sugared banana inside, crispy rice with a caramel type drizzle, mini egg white pancakes with sugar and chives. The sugar and chive mixture is popular here and is very nice on the palate. Something to try at home. Last night, I had coconut meat braised in sweet basil. Delicous! I have been trying to learn how to properly say that in Thai and phonetically speaking, I think it's "Lum Thai -r Thai-r" but everyone laughs when I eagerly exclaim that!
We've all be given nicknames as well, and not surprisingly, mine is "Maow" for "cat". Everyone loves that!
Went to Chaing Mai for the evening and saw this live show of "traditional Thai dance" which was the equivilent of one of those big Hawaiin luaus. The boys performing the instruments could hardly keep from laughing. The structure was beautiful, however, and the highlight of the evening was sending off these homemade hot air balloons that eventually burn up. You put all of your negative thoughts into the balloon and send it away. It was lovely to see the wind take each one into a straight line and we stayed to watch these burning lanterns get carried further and further away like an illuminated kite tail.
We leave for Chaing Rai in about an hour to stay at a military "retreat" on the border of Burma. It sounds really cool and once again, I have no idea what to expect. There are a lot of trek groups that hike up in the northern thai regions among the surviving hill tribes. From what I've learned, the King (yes, descendant of the same King from "The King & I") has been really trying to curb the opium growth in the mountains and his mother, concerned about the people's welfare, built a summer palace there with beautiful gardens as well as coffee & tea farms for the people to tend too. It sounds spectacular and I'm really looking forward to seeing more of the lush and colorful foliage. The King and Queen are very beloved and I've gathered from the locals that the government is extremely progressive in it's care for the Thai people. I find the social practices that have been enacted really moving. It goes to show you that government works can really benefit the people.
I'm having a really hard time getting my photos posted, but don't fret. Hopefully by next publish, they will be somewhere on this blog!
Saweeta ka!
Kat
Here we are at the end of week one and we've already finished both houses! We will start on the 100th house here Monday after a weekend visit to the Northern province of Chaing Rai. The affiliates here were so pleased, they invited the Director and Chairman from Bangkok up to visit our sites. The families are thrilled and we will officially have the house dedication on Wednesday. Gang, I cannot tell you how much we get done before 10:30 in the morning! The families have to provide the land that the houses will actually be built on, so many of the structures are within an extended family compound. I have been able to meet aunts, uncles, cousins that have joined the help. The past two days have been "bucket brigades" in which everyone lines up end to end and we fill walls and floors with concrete and gravel. I wish I could say I've developed some serious muscle tone, but all I can boast is sore shoulders... thus - the trip to an herbal spa on the outskirts of town.
Our team leader, Ramsay and his wife Boots have a house here in Lampang (as well as Tyler, Texas if you can believe that!) so we look to them for the cool restaurants and curios. This is the group's second trip to the herbal spa. The massages are 150 Baht (about $3.50). You have to change into these cotton pajama type pants & top and sent to a group room where you are pulled and pounded and stretched for about an hour. I had the "herbal ball" treatment last night. Basically, you are pounded with hot camphor and it is the perfect relief for sore muscles. I can't think of a better way to end a day of hard labor!
More about Thai food. We are so lucky here. I didn't know what to expect when I signed up for this trip. I really just looked at the dates that would be good for my schedule, packed a bag (yes, just one) and then repacked it after a quick conversation with LeeAnn, missed my flight and arrived\ in a crazy city. Seriously, I thought we would be roughing it, but instead, we are treated like visiting royalty. Everyday at the jobsites, we are cooked for by a group of women who provide great snacks and the freshest of fruits and meals. Just yesterday we had blended lime coolers and the day before than, ice coffee. Ok, that was my request!
We break every morning at 10:30 when these lovely little sweets laid out with cool drinks. These are either sticky rice with sugared banana inside, crispy rice with a caramel type drizzle, mini egg white pancakes with sugar and chives. The sugar and chive mixture is popular here and is very nice on the palate. Something to try at home. Last night, I had coconut meat braised in sweet basil. Delicous! I have been trying to learn how to properly say that in Thai and phonetically speaking, I think it's "Lum Thai -r Thai-r" but everyone laughs when I eagerly exclaim that!
We've all be given nicknames as well, and not surprisingly, mine is "Maow" for "cat". Everyone loves that!
Went to Chaing Mai for the evening and saw this live show of "traditional Thai dance" which was the equivilent of one of those big Hawaiin luaus. The boys performing the instruments could hardly keep from laughing. The structure was beautiful, however, and the highlight of the evening was sending off these homemade hot air balloons that eventually burn up. You put all of your negative thoughts into the balloon and send it away. It was lovely to see the wind take each one into a straight line and we stayed to watch these burning lanterns get carried further and further away like an illuminated kite tail.
We leave for Chaing Rai in about an hour to stay at a military "retreat" on the border of Burma. It sounds really cool and once again, I have no idea what to expect. There are a lot of trek groups that hike up in the northern thai regions among the surviving hill tribes. From what I've learned, the King (yes, descendant of the same King from "The King & I") has been really trying to curb the opium growth in the mountains and his mother, concerned about the people's welfare, built a summer palace there with beautiful gardens as well as coffee & tea farms for the people to tend too. It sounds spectacular and I'm really looking forward to seeing more of the lush and colorful foliage. The King and Queen are very beloved and I've gathered from the locals that the government is extremely progressive in it's care for the Thai people. I find the social practices that have been enacted really moving. It goes to show you that government works can really benefit the people.
I'm having a really hard time getting my photos posted, but don't fret. Hopefully by next publish, they will be somewhere on this blog!
Saweeta ka!
Kat
posted by katsninelives at 7:42 AM
3 Comments:
hey Cardon! Actually, the bugs are plentiful. Tracy would not be having it here. We have had to have our room fumigated and I found a roach embedded in my knapsack. Mosiquitos are out there, but not as bad as I thought. The Avon lady's skin-so-soft has been a gift. I did not want to use the mind numbing Deet I brought along. We are spending the last few days here at the Elephant preserve where we will be in charge of our own animal to keep for three days! Isn't that cool? I believe riding will be involved!
Wow Kat! It all sounds so amazing, and back breaking at the same time. Phil and I have been tempted to go eat Thai food everytime you mention those sticky rice-sugared bananas..mmmm. The massage sounds fantastic too! Are you anywhere near the ocean, or are you right smack in the middle of the country?
Hey Kat! Wow - what a life you are living right now! I love reading about all of your adventures. I'm so excited for you. I'm very impressed that the King is a real descendant of the King from The King and I - it always comes back to theater with me :) Tonight I'm going to listen to "Shall We Dance" in your honor... Have lots more fun!
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