Well I'm now in Nakhon Sawan, about 2-3 hours North of Bangkok. I've been here for just over a day now, seeing what Johnny and Ann McClean (and their three kids) get up to. They work as missionaries among the many students here. They're basically trying to support Christian students and encourage and help them to share the good news about Jesus. They have a great house near to one of the universities here, and the bottom floor of three is for students to hang out in and use.
This afternoon I went off with them and the kids to try and find a suitable venue for a weekend camp they'll be running. We didn't find much apart from a very nice hotel resort that will probably be too expensive. Soon they will have some Christians over from the UK and America to help with university missions, basically getting to know students and seeing if they are intersted in hearing about who Jesus is. The missions will finish with the weekend camp.
Tonight I went out with some students and a Thai Christian who works with Johnny and Ann to the market for some food. It was raining so we didn't stay out too long and the non-food parts of the market weren't there because of the rain. Before we got the 'bus' (basically a pick-up truck with seats down the sides) we got some fried insects from one of the stalls, some grasshoppers and then some big grasshopper things. I decided to give them a go and actually they weren't too bad - I even had another of the big grasshoppery things.
Well that's about it from me for now.
Friday, 29 June 2007
Wednesday, 27 June 2007
I've never sweated so much!
If you read my last post, you'll have heard that I was about to set off for a 2 day trek in the hills around Chiang Mai. I'm now back and it was great. But I don't think I've ever sweated so much! Sweat was dripping from my face as I climbed with the 8 others into the group up to the summit of the hill where we would spend the night on the outskirts of a hill tribe village. There wasn't much to see on the way up, and actually the vegetation was a bit like that in England in many ways apart from lots of bamboo growing, and bananas. So it was a bit like a walk up a hill in England, apart from being much hotter and more humid, hence more sweaty.
On the first evening our guide cooked one of the best meals I've had so far in Thailand, prepared with fresh food bought from the market on the way. We then had a relaxing evening around the fire, before settling down in our bamboo hut.
This morning as I was the only one in the group doing the two day trek (the rest were doing three days) Nu an 18 year old guy from the village who seems to help out the official guides, led me down back down the hill. It rained for most of the morning, and had also rained for most of the night so it was rather slippy but Nu made me a walking pole out of bamboo which was helpful. We stopped off via a large waterfall where I had a quick spalsh, and after a couple of hours walking arrived at an elephant camp. Here I had an hour riding on an elephant - quite a unique experience. I'm not sure what the elephants make of it, but I'm guessing they prefer walking around with someone on their back eating shrubs on the way to being tethered up waiting around (although some did seem to be roaming a bit more freely with a couple of baby elephants).
After some lunch, was a white water rapid ride down the river which was good, and then bamboo rafting to finish off. Bamboo rafting is a bit like punting in Cambridge (or Oxford I guess but I've not punted there) except you get your feet wet. I'm now hanging around for a couple of hours before I get on the train at 9pm to arrive in Nakhon Sawan. In Nakhon Sawan I'll be spending the week with Johnny and Ann McClean who work their as missionaries amongst students. It'll be great to spend some time seeing what they get up to.
Right I'd better go, my internet time is nearly up. Do let me know how you're doing. The floods in England made the news here in Thailand!
On the first evening our guide cooked one of the best meals I've had so far in Thailand, prepared with fresh food bought from the market on the way. We then had a relaxing evening around the fire, before settling down in our bamboo hut.
This morning as I was the only one in the group doing the two day trek (the rest were doing three days) Nu an 18 year old guy from the village who seems to help out the official guides, led me down back down the hill. It rained for most of the morning, and had also rained for most of the night so it was rather slippy but Nu made me a walking pole out of bamboo which was helpful. We stopped off via a large waterfall where I had a quick spalsh, and after a couple of hours walking arrived at an elephant camp. Here I had an hour riding on an elephant - quite a unique experience. I'm not sure what the elephants make of it, but I'm guessing they prefer walking around with someone on their back eating shrubs on the way to being tethered up waiting around (although some did seem to be roaming a bit more freely with a couple of baby elephants).
After some lunch, was a white water rapid ride down the river which was good, and then bamboo rafting to finish off. Bamboo rafting is a bit like punting in Cambridge (or Oxford I guess but I've not punted there) except you get your feet wet. I'm now hanging around for a couple of hours before I get on the train at 9pm to arrive in Nakhon Sawan. In Nakhon Sawan I'll be spending the week with Johnny and Ann McClean who work their as missionaries amongst students. It'll be great to spend some time seeing what they get up to.
Right I'd better go, my internet time is nearly up. Do let me know how you're doing. The floods in England made the news here in Thailand!
Monday, 25 June 2007
Gecko's falling
I drew the curtains in my guest house room and a gecko fell to the floor giving me a bit of a surprise. Well you can't expect much for 150 Bart (about GBP 2.5)! I'm now in Chiang Mai which is an interesting place. It's quite small really. I hired a push bike today - single speed :) and pedalled my way around the city. The old city is surrounded by a square moat all the way around which took about 15 minutes to cycle round. No one run me over so that was ok. This has been my first full day in the city. Last night I slept in a more upmarked 'hotel' as I got here quite late for 590 Bart, but decided that I'd go for a cheaper option tonight.
Tomorrow it'll be even more primative as I'll be in a hill tribe village! I booked a 2 day trek today for 1300 Bart. It includes an elephant ride, white water rapids and bamboo rafting, as well as walking. Should be good fun and hopefully a chance to meet some other folk. I thought there would be lot's of Western tourists but the place is not over-run with them. Tonight I've been at the night bazaar, bartering for all sorts of things. I'm glad I've got some room in my backpack. Earlier in the day I got about 20 small bananas (about half the size of ones in the UK) for 10 Bart! Bananas taste really nice out here.
Before coming to Chiang Mai I was in Muaklek - http://www.muaklekresort.com/ (it's not as nice as in the pictures!) helping out with a 5-11 yrs kid's club for a missionary conference. It was a great time, and really opened my eyes up to a great need out here - out of I think 796 districts 260 or so have no church, and so no good news about forgiveness through Jesus! I got a ride up to Chiang Mai from a missionary here. Everyone seems to drive a pick up truck in Thailand.
It's not hard to miss that Thailand is a very Bhuddist country. I think there are hundreds of temples (Wat) here in Chiang Mai. I cycled to a couple today. However there is freedom of religion here.
Right I'd better go so I can sleep and then get ready for my trek, after which I head down to Nakhon Sawan on Wednesday night on the overnight train. Unfortunately I couldn't get a cheap fan coach, so had to pay more for air con which will probably be too cold overnight!
Tomorrow it'll be even more primative as I'll be in a hill tribe village! I booked a 2 day trek today for 1300 Bart. It includes an elephant ride, white water rapids and bamboo rafting, as well as walking. Should be good fun and hopefully a chance to meet some other folk. I thought there would be lot's of Western tourists but the place is not over-run with them. Tonight I've been at the night bazaar, bartering for all sorts of things. I'm glad I've got some room in my backpack. Earlier in the day I got about 20 small bananas (about half the size of ones in the UK) for 10 Bart! Bananas taste really nice out here.
Before coming to Chiang Mai I was in Muaklek - http://www.muaklekresort.com/ (it's not as nice as in the pictures!) helping out with a 5-11 yrs kid's club for a missionary conference. It was a great time, and really opened my eyes up to a great need out here - out of I think 796 districts 260 or so have no church, and so no good news about forgiveness through Jesus! I got a ride up to Chiang Mai from a missionary here. Everyone seems to drive a pick up truck in Thailand.
It's not hard to miss that Thailand is a very Bhuddist country. I think there are hundreds of temples (Wat) here in Chiang Mai. I cycled to a couple today. However there is freedom of religion here.
Right I'd better go so I can sleep and then get ready for my trek, after which I head down to Nakhon Sawan on Wednesday night on the overnight train. Unfortunately I couldn't get a cheap fan coach, so had to pay more for air con which will probably be too cold overnight!
Tuesday, 19 June 2007
Arrived safe and sound
Well I'm now in Bangkok!
I finally arrived last night after some 12 hours of flying, and then a taxi ride from the airport to where I'm staying. It seemed the taxi driver didn't really know where he was going. We had to stop and ask several times. Driving in Thailand seems an interesting experience. The express roads are fast, and you basically do what you like in whatever lane you want. Then there's your dual carriageway type roads where again you do what you want (including reversing when you miss your turning like we did!) and then on the local roads there's lots of motorbikes to try and avoid. Well at least that's my experience so far.
I'm staying in a mission organisations guest home, which is quite a way from the city. They've got air con here which is rather nice, and it works well unlike that in my old office! The temperature outside is 30 degrees already 70% humidity and it's only 9.30 in the morning.
Today I think I'm going to explore some of Bangkok, and then tomorrow I'm heading North of Bangkok to Muaklek to help out at a mission conference doing some kind of kid's/youth work.
Bye for now, and do pass this blog address on to others.
I finally arrived last night after some 12 hours of flying, and then a taxi ride from the airport to where I'm staying. It seemed the taxi driver didn't really know where he was going. We had to stop and ask several times. Driving in Thailand seems an interesting experience. The express roads are fast, and you basically do what you like in whatever lane you want. Then there's your dual carriageway type roads where again you do what you want (including reversing when you miss your turning like we did!) and then on the local roads there's lots of motorbikes to try and avoid. Well at least that's my experience so far.
I'm staying in a mission organisations guest home, which is quite a way from the city. They've got air con here which is rather nice, and it works well unlike that in my old office! The temperature outside is 30 degrees already 70% humidity and it's only 9.30 in the morning.
Today I think I'm going to explore some of Bangkok, and then tomorrow I'm heading North of Bangkok to Muaklek to help out at a mission conference doing some kind of kid's/youth work.
Bye for now, and do pass this blog address on to others.
Friday, 15 June 2007
Last day at work
So my last day has finally come! I've got lots to do so not much time to write anything here.
I really enjoy my work, and will miss many friends here. I'm just thinking again 'Do I really want to change all this and become a Vicar for the Church of England?' I think so...
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