A picture on the front of the Bangkok Post shows yesterday's demonstration: 3000 strong, most wearing shirts and ties! Apparently the weekend has possibilities for more demonstrations, but we are nowhere near it.
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Salt, pepper and...
CHILI POWDER are condiments, not spices for Thai cooking. So even if you ask for your dish to not be spicy, the cook still would not think of skipping the chili powder. To ask for a dish without that would be like asking for food in a restaurant in US to be salt free. I have found it all delicious!Chanting
In Thai all men become monks at one point in life, usually right before marriage. They take 3-4 months government paid time off, go to a monestaries, having given all possessions to family, and learn to know themselves and selfless living. There is no failure in leaving after 3 months or 30 years and returning to life. It is simply a stage. Some, of course, stay forever, but to be ordained a monk is not a response to a call as much as training for a pure and simplified way which hopefully will carry into the rest of life. If after 30 more years they want to come back, they simply give away everything again and retreat. Thai monks cannot even touch or stand near women and must eat only what they beg, all before noon. No food then until dawn the next day.In the South currently there is no ordination or monestary for women. No comment.
ASEAN
Most of the Englsih teachers are form the Phillippines where instruction begins in the home or at preschool.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
In case this made the news....
We drove past the cement barricades and police lines last night in the taxi. It was quiet. The teaches say the out of towners are arriving today to start serious demonstrations against the government coinciding with the end of Ramadan. BUT Monday is a national holiday - the Queen's birthday/Mother's Day so many many people leave to go honor mother or her memory in the outlining areas.
We are nowhere near that part of town and the staff is very aware of any danger. Plus we have never been out when the traffic logjams would not stop the most determined demonstrator from reaching the goal.
Heck, I few Asiana Air getting here!
We are nowhere near that part of town and the staff is very aware of any danger. Plus we have never been out when the traffic logjams would not stop the most determined demonstrator from reaching the goal.
Heck, I few Asiana Air getting here!
Two beer downpour
We went to a cultural museum for our activity yesterday and then via many modes of transport met up with another volunteer for a trip to Chinatown for dinner. That sounds very civilized to the poimt of boring! But anything 1) in Bangkok tuk tuks and 2) chaperoned by a 19 year old U of Chicago student is bound to be an adventure.
As soon as we entered the Chintown area, the way people drove was distinctly Chinese, not Thai. Thai drivers virtually never honk, always slow and stop for pedestrians, and in general are exceedingly polite. Chinese drivers - as seen in Shanghai in 2008 - go as fast as possible, hate the brakes, will calculate the pace of the pedestrian and plan to miss them but if the walker freaks and stops they honk and are annoyed that you stopped their trajectory. It takes a great deal of courage to know that when headlights are speeding at you!
We were dropped off at Point A and started asking questions about a certain cafe that as written up and nightly endorsed on several travel websites. We walked, and tuktuked, we walked more and tuktuked more. At the end of all that we were dropped off at Point A. Finally a very nice local man headed us in the right direction and our guide recognized the area and found our cafe - that term used strictly because they served food. We sat 1/2 way out in the street at the usually plastic table and stools and he ordered the house speciality: oysters. I am not normally a big oyster fan, but when in Bangkok...
They were amazing wonderful! I saw scallions and some kind of Breaded Egg under it and the oysters had stewed in some combination of spices. I know you can't see my mouth watering remembering it! As we finished eating and were enjoying our Thai beers, the rain started. Sprinkled Rain in Bangkok is only to let folks know to take cover. It never just sprinkles! The gusher began seconds later. The staff hurried us under the awning and we had to choose between using the one umbrella for three of us or getting a second beer. That was the easiest decision we made all day! It turns out Thai downpours are just about 2 beers long!
We took a very peaceful cab ride home and can say we have eaten the best Bankok Chinatown has!
As soon as we entered the Chintown area, the way people drove was distinctly Chinese, not Thai. Thai drivers virtually never honk, always slow and stop for pedestrians, and in general are exceedingly polite. Chinese drivers - as seen in Shanghai in 2008 - go as fast as possible, hate the brakes, will calculate the pace of the pedestrian and plan to miss them but if the walker freaks and stops they honk and are annoyed that you stopped their trajectory. It takes a great deal of courage to know that when headlights are speeding at you!We were dropped off at Point A and started asking questions about a certain cafe that as written up and nightly endorsed on several travel websites. We walked, and tuktuked, we walked more and tuktuked more. At the end of all that we were dropped off at Point A. Finally a very nice local man headed us in the right direction and our guide recognized the area and found our cafe - that term used strictly because they served food. We sat 1/2 way out in the street at the usually plastic table and stools and he ordered the house speciality: oysters. I am not normally a big oyster fan, but when in Bangkok...
They were amazing wonderful! I saw scallions and some kind of Breaded Egg under it and the oysters had stewed in some combination of spices. I know you can't see my mouth watering remembering it! As we finished eating and were enjoying our Thai beers, the rain started. Sprinkled Rain in Bangkok is only to let folks know to take cover. It never just sprinkles! The gusher began seconds later. The staff hurried us under the awning and we had to choose between using the one umbrella for three of us or getting a second beer. That was the easiest decision we made all day! It turns out Thai downpours are just about 2 beers long!
We took a very peaceful cab ride home and can say we have eaten the best Bankok Chinatown has!
More about the school
School yesterday was a lot of meetings - just like school everywhere! But the kids did spend time with a monk who was brilliant with them. Never raised his voice but had them actively engaged. He was teaching - gently - prayer positions and words. It will be while before
they acquire "stillness" but they loved the experience.
That got my asking questions again about the school. It is "private" in that it is owned by the local Wat, or temple. The land the temple is on, the school and all the surrounding "slums" (the word the teacher used) is all Wat property, but the school itself is funded by the government. So it is there for the children who live in the area. I need to see the housing area to say for sure, but the rooftops look like the kind I have seen in more needy areas. The children however are neat and clean, always.
So the monks can come speak whenever they like, although if they usually send this one the kids do not mind religious instruction at all.
they acquire "stillness" but they loved the experience.
That got my asking questions again about the school. It is "private" in that it is owned by the local Wat, or temple. The land the temple is on, the school and all the surrounding "slums" (the word the teacher used) is all Wat property, but the school itself is funded by the government. So it is there for the children who live in the area. I need to see the housing area to say for sure, but the rooftops look like the kind I have seen in more needy areas. The children however are neat and clean, always.So the monks can come speak whenever they like, although if they usually send this one the kids do not mind religious instruction at all.
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