Back in Bangkok, we visited the Grand Palace. This is where the emerald buddha is housed (the guy that wears a different outfit for each season). It's an amazing place, temples, spires and pillars crambed into a relatively small space. There is so much gold and everything glitters. They even have the changing of the guard - home from home (?) It tipped it down while we were there, and we were very amused by all the shoes floating away in the ensuing floods.
08/12/2009
Ayutthaya
This place was a real highlight on our trip and we ended up staying here an extra night...just to see all the buddha! Ayutthaya was the old capital of Thailand and the whole of the old town is full of ruins, temple after temple. They're all called Wats (just like Ankhor Wat in Cambodia) and contain prangs and chedis. Ben is easily bored by "old stones", but even he was impressed by much of it.
The old town was made into a man-made island, with canals running around it and rivers weaving in and out. Like Bangkok, a lot of life happened on the water with floating markets, houses on stilts etc.
Ko Samet
With Ben and Alice, we went to a lovely little island called Ko Samet. It's one of the more peaceful ones off the Thai coast because it has no airport. Our chalets stood on poles in the sea - very tranquil. This was where we hired the mopeds and we explored pretty much the whole island...in the rain. Just to top off the indulgence of it all, I started my day with a swim in the sea before everyone got up. Doesn't get much better really.
08/01/2009
So many buddhas
We haven't done a lot of touristy things while in Bangkok, but we made up for it when Ben and Alice came to visit. Most of these buddha were in Ayutthaya, but others were in Bangkok and a few smaller places that we've visited. We started giving the nicknames - big buddha, sleeping buddha, laptop buddha, old buddha, fat buddha. The photo of the wall contains lots of little holes, each containing its own incarnation of buddha. The little buddha in the dark picture is at the Grand Palace in Bangkok. He gets to wear a little outfit according to the season - hot, wet and cold. The king himself has to dress him in his new outfit at the change of season.
Many modes of transport
Our friends Ben and Alice came out to see us for a holiday. Over our ten days together, we ended up seeing how many modes of transport we could use.
We hired a Toyota Hilux for five days, which made Ben very happy. On Ko Samet, a beautiful island we hired mopeds. Great fun - especially in the pouring rain and dirt road. We got back to the mainland on a speed boat.
In Ayutthaya, we road on an elephant. At the palace at Bang-Pa In, we hired a golf cart. Back in Bangkok, we went on one of the long boats along the river and the little, weaving canals and had a journey in a tuk tuck.
07/31/2009
Show your respect
The monarchy here is highly regarded. Some still view it as divine. The present king, His Majesty Bhumibol Adulyadej, has been on the throne for over 60 years and is the longest-reigning current monarch in the world.
His picture is everywhere - in shops, outside important buildings, in homes. Larger pictures are surrounded by splendid gaudy, gold frames, often representing the sun, which is his emblem. His colour is yellow, and there is a day of the week for Thais to wear yellow in honour of the king (this isn't something that we've noticed).
At 8am and 6pm every day, the national anthem is played in all parks, public places and every radio station. Last weekend we were at the massive Chatuchak market in Bangkok. At 6pm, a whistle was blown and the anthem played. Everyone stopped what they were doing and stood up. It was quite amazing.
At the cinema, before the film is shown, the King's anthem is played along with a little video demonstrating how great he is. Of course, we all have to stand while it is played.
More amusing signs
I think that amusing signs provide entertainment for every traveller. Here are some of our latest.
1&2 - outside our accommodation in Bang Saray. To the point.
3. Shrine ettiquette,
4. Speaks for itself. We didn't see any on the road, sadly, but there were some alarming posters of cars that had..not pretty.
5. At the Palace in Bang-Pa In. I was wearing pant and had to borrow sarong.
6.This no farting sign is seen on public transport and taxis. We're not sure if it's meant as a joke or not.
Monk buckets
Buddhism is quite important in Thailand. "Spirit houses" can be seen outside bujildings or at the end of streets. We have one opposite our house. Spirits are encouraged to live there and to bring protection to the area. Food, drink and flowers are regularly offered to the spirits to keep them happy.
Most Thai males will spend some time serving as a monk. The family earns merit when the son "takes robe and bowl". Merit is also obtained by giving to the monks. Gifts of food, clothes etc. are offered by Buddhist believers.
In today's modern, busy world, enterprising shops make donating easy. Whole areas of supermarkets are given over to "monk buckets" - pre-prepared buckets containing everything that your local monk might need. As much as possible is orange. This makes things like Bic razors and Fanta particularly popular. They also contain things like candles, joss sticks, pens, pencils, cooking utensils and dried food...the more orange the better.
Children's library
One of main areas of work here has been helping to set up the "Happy Community Library". The charity has already had donations of hundres of books, but the library wasn't yet properly set up.
The first thing was to build a database (I love databases) and make a record for every single book in the library. We then needed to label cards for each book for when they are "checked out" of the library. Getting hold of envelopes/pockets to stick in the books was tricky. But our hosts solved the problem by buying some back home in the Philippines - brown envelopes from Manila!! These have now all been labelled as well and we've printed and chopped over 700 "return date" inserts (they've got a proper date stamp like a proper library!).
The only job that remains is sticking these into each book and stamping them with the "Happy Community Foundation" stamp. We've done around 100 - only 526 to go!
I'm also working on some "recommended reads" displays. I'm hoping to prepare enough reviews so that there are six a month for a year. I'm about half way though...
It would make me very happy to finish all the work on the library before we leave here next Friday. Thankfully a couple of ladies have been helping me out...otherwise I'd have no hope.
07/17/2009
Hard at art
Every Monday, we've been doing a morning of craft with the kids. They are really imaginative when it comes to craft - especially drawing. Often, when you do stuff like this in the UK kids just stick to your examples. These guys aren't afraid to think outside of the box. The "jugglers" were a great example of his. I came up with a classic clown, these guys did a ballerina, a kind of Manga character and a rock star. Even the 7 year old who used the idea of the clown adapted hers to be different from mine.
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