Merry Christmas from Thailand

Not all who wander are lost. ah, a good one for you fellow wanderers out there.



I decided to go to Thailand after realizing that the mission where I stay is going to be completely empty, and void of merry making for the holidays. One of the best decisions yet.

We arrived in Bangkok and took a train straightaway overnight to get to Chiang Mai. It's so relaxing, peaceful, and cool. We've done some sight seeing, including lots of Buddhist temples and markets as well as wandering the streets taking things as they come, as well as eating great Thai food.

Today is Christmas--it does not really feel like it, but that is not a bad thing for me...life is pretty good here. It is very weird to be in a developed country. very. very. weird. I keep thinking i will trip on the sidewalks or step in a pile of cow shit or get yelled and harassed to come into someone's store...but so far the Thai people are happy, peaceful, quiet, and tidy. one could even say efficient. it's such a contrast coming from Bangladesh. I think that we are enjoying it more than the average foreigner here..('wheat bread! what?! this place is amazing!') We are doing the touristy things, which normally might get annoying to me, but it just feels so nice to have things catered to me...so I am just enjoying it. and the good coffee. We are heading back to Bangkok tomorrow via train and then will see where the wind blows us for the remainder of the trip......

Merry Christmas!

Thanchi

Yes. I did get to go to Thanchi. We ended up leaving a day later because of the Dhaka blockade, but then had to change our plans because of another hartel in a city we were to travel through. We did eventually make it there though. Thanchi is near the Burma border. It is one of the most beautiful places I have ever seen. It has endless mountains, misty, cold mornings but hot days. Tropical trees along with thick underbrush covers the stone that makes up the mountains that surround the village of Thanchi. Once we arrived we got out of the pickup that carried mosquito nets, towels and blankets for the mission.

We walked down some mud stairs, to the right along a river. Two youngish boys insisted on carrying my backpack. We all had to get into a canoe ish looking boat to cross the river where the village presumably was. After crossing, we walked another mile or so through various stalls of food and tea. Of course I got incredulous looks and stares , as usual---"what is a white, blonde girl doing in the hills of Thanchi?" (it is always worse in the villages b/c I may be the only white person they have ever seen or will ever see)

It felt great to walk and stretch after a very long day in the truck, bouncing through barely paved, curvy mountain roads. We finally reached the mission where we were served tea and buscuits (cookies for you americans). As I looked around I was in awe of the fresh, unpolluted water in the streams, the sun shining off the mountains and the open space, with NO PEOPLE. I have grown accustomed to the crowds in Mymensingh and Dhaka, so it was a shock when it was completely silent, and there were not millions of people roaming around.

I took a nap, woke and explored the area a little. Dinner was served as the sun was setting and conversation lasted until it was time for a cultural program. We were ushered into a large hut made out of woven jute fibers where the girls stayed while they attended the mission school. I was given the place of honor at the front of the room, along with Phoebe and Bari other MCC workers. The girls sat to my right on a raised platform (that became their bed at nightfall) and the boys sat to my left. They looked curiously at me and sang a welcome song for us. Many dances and songs followed along with a gift of a long piece of material which I am today wearing as a skirt.

We got up very early the next morning to start for Rangamati, where we were to have lunch at another Mission. The rooster crowed (much to my angry dismay ALL NIGHT) so morning was a welcomed surprise. It was so cold! I was wearing my orange salwar kameeze with socks and sandals, a sweater and a wool shawl. Mist was coming down and the mountains were barely visible in the distance. It reminded me alot of Portland, Oregon weather. So beautiful. Shundor.

We backtracked, took the boat across and finally reached our truck. The boy who carried my backpack insisted on kissing my feet, a sign of respect for elders. We loaded up and waved goodbye to our new friends.

give 'em what they want

So, you all seem to like pictures, and I have time...so here ya go.
Last week I visited Noluakuri, a small town/village between Mymensingh and Dhaka with Sister Francis to visit another convent there. This is one of their vegetable gardens. All the gardens are so beautiful and well kept.
Ah, trees.

Reba and I were taking Rickshaw and came upon this AIDS day procession. (on dec. 2nd, and as Reba said, "leave it to Bangladesh to be a day late to celebrate World AIDS day) We DID see other processions on the actual day too...with a horse drawn carriage, special hats. The women wore T-Shirts over their Salwar Kameezes.
Left, more procession. Soon after I took this picture we decided to walk, the traffic (as you can see) was so bad.

Reba, Toby at the American Club. Notice the Christmas tree in the background. That was my first Christmas tree sighting. At the American Club I have culture shock. But in a good way.
Reba, Toby, me. We watched a couple episodes of "Family Guy"....super funny. Notice our awesome shawls. Also notice that I am nearly drowning in mine, but I love it.

Mosiac from Sundergarden
My students and I being ridiculous

(I'm currently listening to Alicia Keys, drinking cha, using the computer; this is the most like my former life that I have come in a while, minus the cha and add strong, freshly ground and brewed coffee; not that I miss it or anything)

Dhaka and Aboroad

My Students: aspirtant sisters the current sisters

The beginning of my work week has commenced pretty well. MCC follows a Muslim calendar so Friday and Saturday are the weekend and Sunday the first day of the work week. It's a bit different for me because I work at the convent and their holiday is 1/2 day friday and all day Sunday. (not very conducive to traveling on the weekend, but they are flexible with me). I came to Dhaka on Thursday, it was all very uneventful, even though it was my first time traveling alone from Mymensingh to Dhaka. I still crack up when my rickshaw pulls up to the bus stand and all these different men who work for the different busses come and STORM up to me, "Sister Sister, this way---here here!!!!!" they are SURE I want to take their bus, to their city! HA. HA.

It's been a bit of a whirlwind, as Dhaka can be. A city of 15 million; endless markets, food stalls, people, rickshaws, animals everywhere. We ate out at some great restaurants--a Korean place, Thai, as well as a newly opened Mexican Restaurant (actually it was Mex Ind--which I am assuming is mexican indian)..it was sssuuuuper fancy and terribly decorated, the food was pretty good though. The atmosphere sort of weirded me out though, very formal, the waiters even put our napkins on our laps for us. We were envisioning a Mexican restaurant where it is sort of dark and grungy, mexican music plays loudly, you get tons of free chips and salsa and drink giant Margaritas. Instead we had waiters with terrible haircuts, hovering over us, while listening to terrible American love songs from the early 90s.

We hit up a couple of cafe's where I drank good coffee and ate good healthy food. mmmm. I am excited for the days when I can eat yogurt on a daily basis again. (it's gonna be a few months yet though I guess) It's been fun to meet up with friends, do a bit of shopping--I found a beautiful new shari (yes "sh" not just "s") and shawl. We also attended the expat choir concert which provided the Christmas music that could accompany my thoughts about Christmas lately. There are no Christmas decorations, no malls jammed with shoppers, no red and green, no giant evergreen trees. In some ways this feels good, to get away from all that materialism, but I do crave some sort of signal that Christmas is coming.

After the we went to Jerry and Ethel's for a good dinner of sloppy joes and baked beans! (those of you who know my obsession with beans will be thrilled to know that I could eat as many as I wanted. That should last for a while until I come to Dhaka again...beans are not really eaten much here) Oh, and Chocoalte--good dark chocolate. We then whipped out the Hymnals and sang carols together, which of course I loved.

I am scheduled to go to Thanchi (southeast B'desh, near the Myanmar border) on Tuesday morning, but it is uncertain if I will go or not because of the political situation. Today there is and Aboroad or "blockade." So if the aboroad is not lifted by Tuesday I will not be going, but will be stuck here in Dhaka. It is inconvenient for everyeone--nobody can plan even 6 hours in advance b/c we never know what the opposing parties will do next. For you North Americans I bet it is hard to think about not planning or scheduling....I am getting accustomed to it; but it is really inconvenient for people working...or running a country. This place is sure full of crazy extremes.