Here is the news for this week. 2009-07-12 Newsletter
This week we are celebrating baptism and the challenge of this commitment… When Jesus said come and follow me what did he mean? When the followers of Jesus left everything and followed him, what did that say about their priorities? Just wondering what it means that Jesus requires nothing from us but also everything when we follow him.
Dons Asian Wanderings 2009 1
The Flight from Auckland to Bangkok on Sunday 21 June was uneventful and long – 12 hours. There was little to see as it was cloudy most of the way. At one stage there was strong turbulence for about 45 minutes. On arrival in Bangkok I headed straight for my hotel and sleep. After breakfast the next morning I made my way to the airport and it was a 1.5 hour flight to Chiang Mai..
After settling into my hotel in Chiang Mai I made an early visit to the Night Market to track down a Christian friend…..I found him because of a large Bible in the centre of his stall. Over the next two days we had a couple of meals together and had several discussions about his future ambitions. I hope I can find someone to help him with his plans. Tuesday in Chiang Mai was spent sightseeing and visiting another poor friend named Pong. (In Thai the name does not mean what it does in English!) Chiang Mai is a pleasant city with several very ornate temples, interesting markets selling a huge range of items, and is the gateway to the mountains and trekking to remote villages. The main attraction for tourists is to visit to the Night Market.
On Wednesday I was picked up early…the guy picking me up came half an hour earlier than he said he would so there was no time for breakfast . I was taken to the bus terminal and put on a bus for Ngao. Ngao is about 180km from Chiang Mai…the bus was old, very slow and the seat uncomfortable. The journey took 5 long hours. I was met in Ngao by two English teachers, taken to a late lunch and then to visit the Pracharrattammakun High School where I was to spend the next 10 days. I met the headmaster and deputy principals as well as the English teachers. The high school has about 1200 students, is well designed, well resourced and has pleasant surroundings….an improvement on many New Zealand High School. Tanitta, the teacher who had invited me to the school, was unfortunately away on a 3 day course in Chiang Ra when I arrived..
That evening I was invited to go the Chiang Rai with Tanitta’s husband Samaran if I was not too tired, as they had to attend a Buddist funeral. It was not really possible to say no ( I would have liked too as I was quite tired) so at 5pm we set off for Chiang Rai arriving 3 hours later. The funeral service, one of several for the deceased, was held at his house. Buddhist funerals are long and boring particularly if you do not know the language. Following the funeral service we returned to Ngao arriving at 1.00am. I was dead tired so fell asleep quickly.
My accommodation was a disused house owned by the school. It is rather run down with no hot water, no shower (I have to take a cold bath), squat toilet, no cooking facilities except for an electric jug, no air conditioning but one fan……The only really positive feature is it was free. Temperatures here are around 35C-40C …a little bit warmer than Wellington….just now I could do with some Wellington ‘cold‘!
On Thursday I spent the morning at the school and was taken to a lunchtime banquet to celebrate the opening of a school principal’s new house. It was very elaborate lunch and a very elaborate house which must have cost many millions of Baht. The remainder of the day I was free so took photographs around the local community and high school. Friday was activities day at the school so I spent the morning watching various music, dance and drama performances. Saturday morning I rose early and at 6am caught the bus to Chiang Rai to be with Tanitta at an English ‘Masters’ course for English teachers at the Chiang Rai University. Over the next two days I sat in on some of the classes, took photos around the University and visited the Wat Rong Khun a modern, creatively designed, Wat (Buddhist temple). It is very spectacular and a real tourist attraction – a “must visit” if you are visiting Chaing Rai. On Saturday evening we also visited the Night Market where there were a very colourful array of items for sale at bargain prices. I didn’t buy anything! We returned late Sunday afternoon on a bus to Ngao,
Monday was spent talking to several classes about New Zealand and aspects of New Zealand life. When necessary the classes teacher translated for me. Periods were one hour. I had hoped I would be doing conversational English with small groups of students but always had to talk to whole classes. Teachers here do not seem to be able to work with groups of students…they always teach to the whole class and they are very tied to text book rote learning! This gives students little opportunity for improving their oral English. Tuesday I talked with more classes and for one period was asked would I take the class by myself as the classes teacher was at a conference. It was quite hard work without an interpreter but I coped. In the evening we had a barbecue Thai style with Tanitta’s family and some friends. I will explain Thai barbecues on my return…rather different to New Zealand barbecues.
Wednesday was spent talking with more classes and chatting with teachers. I also visited the local Christian Church and met the pastor. We spent some time discussing issues and problems faced by the Church. Thursday Tanitta and her husband had teachers’ conferences in the city of Lampang so I travelled with them and spent the day in Lampang being shown around by a friend of Tanitta. The journey to Lampang was quite scenic as we passed through mountainous terrain. In Lamping we spent the day visiting eight Wats (Temples) and by the time we had got to the seventh Wat I was ‘Watted Out’. Tanitta’s friend wanted to show me the different architectural styles of the Burmese and the Thai, and changes to architectural styles over time….. There are a lot of Burmese people living in Lamping. It was somewhat boring as they all look similar to me.
Friday was a the Candle Festival Day in Ngao. All students from all the schools in Ngao marched through and around the town and delivered large candles about (1m x15cm) and food packages to each of the five Wats in Ngao. The walk took about an hour and a half. After the march the students went home to begin a five day holiday for the Buddhist Lent. I spent the afternoon and evening chatting with locals and exploring the town by bicycle. Saturday I again explored the district and chatted with local people. Almost all had limited English so there was a lot of body language and miming.
Sunday it rained all day. I attended the local Church and the service was very much like the traditional Brethren services of 50 years ago. There were no musicians but the singing of old hymns was lusty. There were about 20 adults present but no children. While I could not understand the Thai language I was able to appreciate the Worship. As a visitor I was expected to speak so presented a short sermon with the help of an interpreter. Expecting this, I had spent some of Saturday preparing. I was invited to lunch at the Pastor’s house where we discussed some of the issues and problems for the Church. Sunday afternoon was spent avoiding the rain and chatting with locals who had a little English.
Monday morning I travelled with Tanitta to Lamping and attended a course for English Teachers. They were very welcoming. In the afternoon we travelled to Chiang Rai and beyond to visit Tanitta’s wider family who live quite near the border with Laos and Myanmar. Tuesday we set off for the Golden Triangle – the area of the country where the three countries of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet and an area previously famed for the growing of opium. While at the border city we visited the Opium Museum. It was an interesting and comprehensive display particularly relating to the opium wars. We then crossed the border into Myanmar and spent three hours exploring the city and markets. We returned to Tanitta’s sisters house that evening and enjoyed a Thai dinner. Wednesday it was farewell to Tanitta and family and I caught the bus from Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai. Thursday I spent visiting friends in Chiang Mai before catching a late afternoon lane to Bangkok where I am now. Tomorrow I fly to Chengdu in China to visit my sister and husband.
It has been a good trip so far with no problems.
Bye for now and Best Wishes - Don
