My 2nd year in Thailand went by so fast, I forgot to take time to write this before the big day. Now I’ll just record some of the highlights and some of my thoughts after the fact. Much of my time has been dedicated to volunteering to help the elephant and trying to learn the Thai language. Although I realize that one can only do what one can do, I feel I've come up short in both areas, especially learning Thai.
On the other hand most people my age wouldn't even bother ใซ่ไหม
Mid-January I was fortunate enough to photograph The Bike for Elephants event. Next year I hope to be even more involved. The 2012 Event is scheduled for January 15th and 16th. Information is available at http://www.bring-the-elephant-home.org/2011/09/30/trailer-bike-for-elephants-2012/en/ The video trailer is really cool!
 |
| Bike for Elephants 2010 |
We went to Luang Prabong, what an amazing little city. The city has a tourist friendly phrase “Stay another Day” Works for me! I fully intend to return the first part of 2012. Previous blog articles were written so I won't belabor the point here.
 |
| Morning Alms in Luang Prabong |
From there we went to the Plain of Jars where I saw first had some of the results of indiscriminate bombing of Laos in the 1960’s and 1970’s. Since that time I’ve been a casual student of the Vietnam war. The Vietnamese refer to it as “the American war”. One of the books I read mentioned that miraculously none of the jars on the Plain of Jars were damaged by the bombing. The author obviously has never been there!
 |
| Bomb Damage |
In late January I started my trip gathering information for the “Shades of Gray” article I wrote. What I know now is that the situation here is much more complicated that I could have ever imagined! One lesson I have learned is that there are no domestic elephants in Thailand or anywhere else! They are in captivity. Volumes can be written, and doubtless will be written about their situation, the history, the present and the future. Much more than the elephant is at stake here; this is also about the forest, the culture and the people. It’s about tourism, revenue and education. It’s about caring, not caring, kindness, greed, generosity and cruelty.
 |
| Working Elephant |
By April I realized that I needed to discontinue my relationship with the pre-school. God love em, they just were not ready to bring on a person needing a work permit. My best option was to leave things on good terms, which I managed to do. I wish them well in the future. The kids were absolutely adorable. This was also the time when I decided to eventually move to Chiang Mai though the move didn’t happen till late September.
 |
| Nutty Putty is used the same here as in the States. |
More trips than I had planned were made to Vientiane for visa runs. While I like Vientiane, it’s not a place I really want to visit every 60 to 90 days. The visa and work permit thing has sorted itself out so hopefully the next time I go to Laos will be to photograph elephants in February. On my last visa run a met a chap who introduced me to the real deal when it comes to Lao Coffee. Amazing beverage!
 |
| Michael and the Best Coffee Vendors in Lao, well that's our opinion! |
One thing that I enjoy is finding signs that lose or gain something in their translation to English. No Paking is one of my favorites. It’s in Vientiane as well.
 |
| No Paking! |
In July I went on a meditation retreat at Wat ChomTong about an hour South of Chiang Mai. Why is my meditation practice so sporadic now? I think my priorities need to be reviewed, but that’s for a different journal.
 |
| The Chedi at Wat Chomtong |
In late July I went back to the States for two weeks to see family, especially my grandson who is now 5 and has declared that I’m silly. He likes silly, it’s a fun thing!
 |
| Andy and his parents on his first roller coaster ride! |
After Southern Colorado I went to visit my niece Kate and her family in Colorado. We had an opportunity to go to Rocky Mountain National Park, which is one of my very favorite places. It was there that I added like 18 pounds of See's candy to bring back to Thailand. It's long gone, gave most of it away, but not all.
 |
| Brighton, Mattie, Evelyn, Preston and Quinton |
In late August I changed my idea of an Art show to raise general money for the elephants to one supporting Pang Pornsawan. This project is taking a lot of my time, but will be very rewarding. I am so touched by this elephant that I'm certain she has and will continue to change my life! It's customary when an elephant comes to the Elephant Nature Park, he or she is given a new name. I have no right to do so, but if I were to have the opportunity her new name will be Dharma, or Dhamma if you prefer.
 |
| The morning I met her, she changed me; I can't explain, just trust me. |
During the past year I've made two really good life changing decisions
Maliwan and I have both recently spent three weeks at ChomTong. After she returned we sat down and decided it was time to move the relationship to the next step, so we are officially engaged.
 |
| Maliwan and her new sewing machine, taken in Chiang Rai 6 months ago She now has three (3) of them ! |
The end of September marked the end of my residence in Chiang Rai and the actual move to Chiang Mai. I’m grateful to be here! Aw let’s face it, gentle reader, I’m grateful to be anywhere!! As I write this, on this important Buddhist Holiday I'm listening to the monks, in the Wat just down the street, doing their evening chants. There is civility here, I love it.
 |
| The Tourist Abundant Blessings, |
No comments:
Post a Comment