Thailand - as I see it.

A BITTERSWEET RETURN TO ROBS BELOVED FAMILY IN CHAING MAI

It seemed like a long flight from Ft Myers, Florida to Chiang Mai, but I arrived safe and sound.  Ahn, her sister, and Tyler were there to meet me.  What a cherished sight.  All I could do was hold back the tears when I saw them.  It is hard to believe that Rob will no longer come home to his beautiful home and beautiful family.  All he really wanted in the world was to be with Ahn and Tyler and William and that was the one thing he couldn't have.

He bought them a brand new car that holds 6 maybe more and a huge trunk for suitcases etc.  He made sure their home was made to order as he had two king size beds in the boys room.  A large built in closet with lots of mirrors, and a large built on desk for each of the boys which will last them when they are as big or larger than their daddy.

Rob had two wall hangings made with each of the boys and Ahn had them framed and put over each bed.  One with Tyler's name and one with William's name.  Ah
n had many pictures framed of Daddy and the boys to hang near the large wallhangings.

Rob's picture is in each room with Ahn, Tyler, William and sometimes Willi and me, BuYah, grandma and grandpa.

Rob was a kind, gentle, loving and attentive father and husband and he will be greatly missed.

Since I have arrived, many friends, colleagues, family, and students have come to pay their respects.  They were all shocked to think he would not return to Thailand where he was greatly admired and loved.

Everywhere we go we remember our good times together with Rob.  The massages, the many different restaurants, the wats, the waterfalls, the drives in the country, the motorbike rides, the Christian Church Rob chose because they had Englush translators.  We remember the excellent bilingual school Rob chose for Tyler and soon for William.

Rob will live on in our hearts and in the hearts and memories of many who cared for him or for whom he took care of.

Thailand - as I see it 
What brave boys and wonderful coach. we are very proud of you. Yay. God bless you all. 

A DAY ON MY OWN IN SONGRAN

Thailand - as I see it.

A DAY ON MY OWN DURING SONGRAN

I had a ball today.  Ahn dropped me off at Dukes for lunch at 11am.  I had a bowl of chili, really tasty and I went to the massage parlor.  Ah Me gave me an excellent 2 hour foot massage, back, neck, shoulder, arm and hand massage as well as a facial.  Wow.  My back feels great, I cant believe it.  All that was half the price of a massage at home.  In fact, a 2 hour massage lasts at least a full 2 hours if not more.

Then the lady from the massage called a tuk tuk for me and I went to Central Festival Market which just opened in January.  What a great mall.  Everything an elegant mall would have in Bangkok, Hong Kong or Singapore.  The tuk tuk driver waited for me there while I shopped for half an hour and then he took me to the local flower and handicraft market BUT I didn't stay as we had been soaked with buckets of water many times, and I told him he could just take me back home.  It was such fun.  The tuk tuk driver Is going to take me to the local market and the milk roti stand next time.  Many times he put out his hand so people wouldn't throw buckets at us and they just threw handfulls.   It was such fun.  I really got a taste of Songkran and next time, I am going to do the throwing as well.  When I got home I was dripping wet, everything including my underware.  It was so cool.  Ahn just came home and I showed her my soaking wet clothes and she said "good job" and gave me a high 5.  I got home at 5, a fast 6 hours.   It was such fun, oh my I guess I said that a few times but it sure was fun spending a day being splashed.

Thailand - as I see it.

SONGRAN WATER FESTIVAL. Up close and personal with thousands of other partyers.

We filled the pick up truck with a large garbage can of water, really large garbage can.  Then we piled  ten people into the back of the pickup with large and larger water guns and buckets.  There were six of us inside the pickup (dry and cool).  The ones in the back were wet, wet, wet.  Every time we went by people throwing water, the driver, Ahn's brother, slowed down so that his passengers could throw water and so that the people on the street could throw water as well.  Every couple of minutes, huge amounts of water splashed on the windows and the people in back.

We drove through hundreds and hundreds of people walking, driving motorcycles, riding bikes and just getting their splash experience.  People had all sizes and shapes of water pistols, from tiny ones with umbrellas to large ones longer than your arm.  Some had containers on their backs with extra water.

The day was divided into two distinct parts.  The first part was at a large lake with a couple of thousand Thai people and me. We were all sitting, swimming, eating, shooting water guns and enjoying the holiday.  We sat on platforms made of bamboo with mats and small tables.  This was a SONGRAN Holiday celebration for The Thai people.  It was a treat to see everyone having such fun, shooting water at each other with smiles and laughter.  This is a time that young and old can let off steam in a fun and happy safe environment.  There was native food of all types including some fish and other meat I didn't recognize.  There were pots of soup and fruits and vegetables, drinks and desserts.

The second part of the day was a celebration as well but there were many many thousands of "farang" foreigners as well as Thai celebraters.  People were piled into pick ups and driving all over to splash and shoot water as well as be splashed.  There were groups of bare chested men with tattoos, couples, children and old people.  Everyone was orderly and having a ball shooting and throwing water.  Everywhere we went there were water guns and buckets of water.  We had to stop two times to refill our huge garbage can.  We went by people with hoses spraying everyone as well as some people who just put a hole in the top of a water bottle and sprayed.

I was enthralled to see so many crowds of people who were all peacefully and happily having fun shooting water at each other.  This is party everyone should experience once in a lifetime.

Thailand - as I see it.
The SONGRAN Festival.   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE469WYaYK0

Here is a video of the fun.  Enjoy

A SPECIAL THAI HOLIDAY - SONGRAN - A WATER FESTIVAL

Thailand - as I see it.

A SPECIAL HOLIDAY - THAI STYLE - SONGRAN - A WATER FESTIVAL

Everywhere you go, water is being thrown at motorcycles, pedestrians, cars and anything that moves. Tonight we were driving home from the delicious Italian Restaurant, on the other side of Chiangmai and everywhere you looked people had big and bigger water pistols and waterguns.  Whenever someone passed by, streams of water came from all directions.  Plastic guns of all shapes, colors and sizes were being carried by Thai and "farang" foreigners.   There were parades of people in old carriages who were walking alongside playing handmade drums of every shape and size.  Every 40 feet or so was another wagon with men in costumes playing drums.  They were singing and playing loud music. This is a special time for only a few days in April when the weather is the hottest and everyone gets cooled off.   There were huge bandstands erected by the moat and lights strung everywhere which made it even more festive.  Everywhere you look there were groups of people having fun and squirting water.  There were fountains in the moat and people had hoses that they used anytime someone went by on foot or motorbike. We have visited Chiangmai many times, but we always left right before SONGRAN so this is quite an adventure.   (I didn't have my camera iPad with me but I will get some pictures and add them as soon as possible.)

REMINDERS OF WILLI - EVERYWHERE

Thailand - as I see it.

REMINDERS Of WILLI - EVERYWHERE - I'M SO SAD, I'M HAPPY

As soon as I wake up in the morning, his painting is on the wall in my suite.  It is a beautiful painting of a beach scene with palm trees and a sailboat.  I look to my left and there is another beautiful painting of a bouquet of flowers.  When I enter the bathroom, the wall has a mural of a naked woman.  Rob and On wanted Willi to feel at home so they had exotic tiles made for the wall.  The living room and dining room also are a stunning reminder of Willi as there is a large mural that he painted in the hall, and other paintings on the wall.  The four of us, dressed in formal attire, are pictured in the living room as a remembrance of our cruise from Sydney to Bangkok when Rob proposed to On.  There are also two frames with five pictures of Rob, On, Tyler, Willi and me when we went to the Hill Tribe exhibition and we wore the tribal finery.

When I look in the kitchen, I am reminded of how much he loved fruit and especially smoothies which he made every day from bananas, pineapple, and any other fruit available. 

Whenever we ride anywhere, there are bananas being sold as well as papaya.  He loved the fat short bananas which were very sweet.  He also wanted to stop for fresh papayas whenever he saw them.

When I walk out in  the yard,  see the wall around the house that he pressure washed and painted in green and white for On, Rob's wife.  I see the metal gate in the front that he painted.  The flower pots with flowers he carefully planted with On.  Speaking of pressure washing, every time we went out for a ride, he would mention that he could work a lifetime pressure cleaning the walls and the buildings.

When I ride on the back of On's motorbike, I remember that Willi rode with her whenever we all went out.  At first, he was skeptical of the motorbikes, but the last year we were here, he got off and on without any qualms.  When I ride in the new car that Rob bought for the family, I think of how Willi wanted them to have a car.

Chiangmai is full of remembrances of Willi that I am so sad, I 'm happy that I have those wonderful memories to be with me the rest of my life.

Marcia Cutler Weis

DINING EXPERIENCES IN CHIANGMAI

Thailand - as I see it.


DINING EXPERIENCES  in Chiangmai,Thailand

MK - a unique dining experience in Chiangmai

There were 5 of us plus William, the baby.  We dined with a large pot of soup in the middle of the table and they bring numerous sauces, a soup bowl and a plate for all the different foods.  Small baskets of eel, octopus, shrimp, steak, pork, chicken, mussels , clams, mushrooms, beef, squid, carrots, shrimp balls, flour balls with filling, noodles, cabbage, different leaves, corn on the cob, baby corn on the cob, raviolis with various fillings and other items I didn't recognize we're brought to the table for us to put in the pot.  Beef and pork which were sliced very thin were brought for us to eat while we were waiting for the food to cook. They refilled the green tea as soon as the glass was half full.  We ate for almost two hours.  

When the bill came and I treated to this feast, it was less than $45 for all of us.  Everything was fresh and prepared beautifully.  

Then we went to the ice cream shop and had ice cream plain or dipped in chocolate for less than $2 for all five.  What a deal.

In the evening, On made smoothies with fresh oranges and pineapple and went out to a street stand and bought us all roti.  Roti is a crepe cooked on a large griddle with sweetened condensed milk on it, powdered sugar, honey and bananas if you wish and then all rolled up and folded in a piece of waxed paper.  They are delicious and cost between 30 and 50 cents each.

The next day we ate at Shabushi, another excellent Japanese Restaurant where the food comes by on a conveyer belt and you take what you want and cook it at your own cook pot.  They also have rice, fried shrimp, sushi, vegetables, fruit, ice crem and desserts.  It is a dining experience.

A MEDICAL THAI MASSAGE - not your normal massage

A THAI MEDICAL MASSAGE - Not like any massage I have ever had

The small woman talked with me about my back and said you won't like it but I can help you.  She also said she would be easy - NOT -.  Oh well, she had me lie down on a wooden bed with a cloth on it.  That was the first problem as I can't lie down flat.  She had to put many pillows under my legs just to get me in position.  She felt like 2-ton tony when she massaged, not like a little woman.  She started at my feet and covered every inch from the bottom of my feet to the entire legs, which took an hour.  Then she worked on my buttocks and back and this took an hour.  Then she worked on my shoulders and neck and head for at least half an hour.  She then said that she should put tiger balm on me so I could move.  She said sit up and that was a joke, I needed help with that task.  Then she said stand up and that was the second joke.  Wow was I tender.  I didn't know I had so many problem areas until she started pushing.  She would laugh and say oh oh, no problem when I flinched or pulled away. She just kept on and said that there were a lot of problem areas.  She said when we were done that I may not want to come back because she hurt me but that I needed it so much she hoped she could hurt me again. Wow, no soft touch with her hands or her mouth.  I took Tylenol and today I am not as sore as I had been.  I can't believe that that torture could help but I going back for more so maybe I will be able to walk and stand without so much pain.  On, Rob's wife, paid for the massage and she said that she didn't think I would want to pay for so much pain.  That was so kind of her.  

Well today we are going to get a soothing facial and a soft foot massage.

So that I can get ready for the next pain session.

The next blogs should be more cheerful but I think she has helped me already.

Bye for now from Chiangmai, Thailand

Marcia Cutler Weis

A NEW LITTLE ONE NAMED FOR WILLI

Thailand - as I see it.   A NEW LITTLE ONE - NAMED FOR WILLI

William - Willi 's namesake is so cute.  He is 5 months old and already is on his own in the walker, just like his brother, Tyler.  He just came into my room and smiled and checked out everything.  He loves to go for rides in his stroller around the house.

It is so cute to watch Tyler and William on the webcam.  Tyler talks and William smiles and listens.
This blog entry was written one year ago.


William is now 1 year and 5 months old and he is running around all on his own trying to keep up with his big brother who is an excellent big brother.  He also loves to be held which is great for me.  He is a snuggler when not exploring on his own.

More to follow.  It is fun beng called Yah and Grandma.

Grandma Yah Marcia

Chiangmai revisited - I'm so sad - I'm happy

Thailand - as I see it.

As I flew into the Chiangmai Airport last night, I recalled what my grandson Tyler says sometimes, " I'm so sad, I'm happy.  This is just the way I felt as we were landing in this beautiful country of Thailand.  I am visiting it alone this time - no more Bu as Tyler would say.  Willi and I visited On and Rob in Chiangmai 4 times together and each time was an exciting adventure.  This time, I am on my own and meeting my grandson William, 5 months old, who was named in honor of Willi.   He was able to see William on the webcam before he passed away.  When I first saw him, he just looked and looked at me.  After a few minutes he gave me a smile and then let me hold him.  What a thrill.  I am so sad, I'm happy.

After a five hour nap, we went for a massage and it was just as wonderful as I had remembered.  It was two hours long a full 120 plus minutes and I am looking forward to the next one.  It cost $20 including the tip.  The motorbike ride was fun too as we weaved in and out of the traffic.  Rob bought  On a beautiful new car and it even held all my luggage from the airport to their home very nearby.  On is as good a driver of the car as she is of the motorbike.

I am just getting back to blogging so this first one in 2013 is a bit rambling but I will continue next time and even include pictures.

Contrasts and Comparisons in Thailand


Thailand - as I see it.

Rent a Car and Motor Cycle

Red Bus

Transportation varies greatly and I will mention five different modes of travel in and around Chiang Mai.
$5 for a Taxi  for two people on a one way trip to the mall from Rob’s house.    150 Baht
$3.25 for a Tuk Tuk open air motor vehicle for two to the mall from Rob’s house.  100 Baht   
$1.25 for a Red bus for two people from Rob’s house to the mall.    40 Baht
$3.25 to fill a tank of gasoline for a Motorcycle  approximately 100 Baht
$30 a day to  Rent a car approximately  1000 Baht a day

Spa

Massage Parlor

Massage Parlors and Spas
$10 or 300 Baht for a two hour foot massage one would pay at a regular massage parlor with no frills just an excellent massage where they wash your feet, massage your legs and feet for an hour, massage your head, neck, arms and hands as well.  They are well trained in reflexology and they give you warm water or hot ginger tea to drink after the massage.
$13 or 400 Baht for a two hour oil massage with a glass of warm water or hot tea afterwards.

$40 or 1200 Baht  you can get a hand, foot and shoulder massage for an hour and a half in a nice spa setting.  They offer you tea before hand, a special room for washing your feet and another massage room.

$75 or 2236 Baht in a spa you can have three different massages in two hours, a Thai Massage, Aromatherapy Massage and Oil Massage.  The Thai massage loosens you up, the aromatherapy relaxes you and the oil just feels great.  At the spa you are offered a cup of green tea, a lovely relaxing area before the massage and they even give you a g string and a shower cap to wear for a shower after the massage.  They have a nice place for you to put your jewelry and to hang up your clothes.  This includes tax and gratuity.




Restaurants vary greatly from $1 a meal to $25 a meal at an upscale hotel restaurant.
$1 or 30 Baht for a department store food court meal, only local Thai food.
$3 or 100 Baht for a meal at a local open air homestyle restaurant, mainly local food
$9 or 300 Baht for a meal at an indoor Italian restaurant
$12 or 400 Bah for a meal at a buffet with all the trimmings and you cook at your table
$25 or 750 Baht for a meal for an upscale hotel restaurant

Outdoor Restaurant

Local Thai Restaurant

Buffet Restaurant

Street Vendor

Rob and his son, Tyler

My son Rob and his son Tyler

Tyler right after birth with Daddy Rob    I took this picture when we were talking on the webcam.
It isn't a perfect picture, you can see me in the bottom right, but Rob's expression is perfect.

Thailand - as I see it.

Daddy Rob and Tyler at 6 months

Big Boy Tyler and Daddy Rob at 1 year  5 months.

Daddy Rob and Tyler at 1 year and 6 months.

Tyler is the joy of Daddy's life.  Rob is a kind, loving and proud Daddy and loves to take Tyler

with him whenever he can.  Tyler would much rather go with Daddy but if he can't, he waves 

and says bye and throws a kiss.

Dressing up in Hill Tribe Finery


Thailand - as I see it

Grampa Willi, Mommy On, Tyler, Grandma Marcia, Daddy Rob

Rob, Marcia Mom and Willi

We drove all the way into the mountains to visit
this Hill Tribe.  They have native costumes that you can rent and have pictures taken. It was such fun wearing the finery.  I felt like a princess.

There were very steep hills to climb to get to the Hill Tribe Museum and to the area where the pictures were taken. As we walked up the hills we viewed many shops of the wares of the people.

Ladies of the Hill Tribe were sewing by hand and also with sewing machines.  There were scarves, pocket books of all shapes and sizes, wooden carved objects, handmade jewelry and shoes.

Marcia in front of a waterfall with festive attire

Marcia and Willi all dressed up.

Tyler Cutler, 1 year 4 months old

Daddy and Tyler

The women, men and children all have elaborate costumes.  There are layers of handmade blouces, skirts, jeweled necklaces and the head piece.

Marcia and Willi

Grandma, Tyler and Mommy

Thailand - as I see it.  Today was an awesome day with our Thai Family.

Thailand - as I see it.

The King

Everywhere you go in Thailand you see posters, billboards, and huge signs of the King.  He is the supreme leader of the Thai people.

The Queen came to Chiang Mai a week ago to have some clothing made.  The streets were all cleaned, no venders were parked on the main streets.  All the school children in their different uniforms were marching and walking.  The police were on every corner and there was excitement in the air.

We were not able to see her but it was just fun seeing the preparation for her visit.

I am putting a few of the pictures of the King in this blog for all to see.

Thailand - as I see it.

Chiang Mai Night Safari

Our visit started as we drove into the property and saw lots of beautiful flowers and plants, trees and animals all lining the roadway.  There were hundreds of scarlett ibis that looked real. From then on, the deer were grazing alongside the road every few yards.and were very tame. As we entered the main gate, there were huge statues of elephants.  Through out the complex were statues of animals for picture taking.

Elephant statues at entrance to Night Safari

Wild deer and elk at night on tour.

There was a cage with white tigers and a trainer with a baby white tiger only 6 months old who was right by the visitors.  He was very playful and large already.  We were welcomed and invited to one of the trains that took us through the animal areas.  We saw lions, tigers, wild boar, elephants, giraffes, deer, elk, hyenas, buffalo, bison, zebras, vultures, and many other wild birds like emu and ostrich.  Our tour was in English and lasted for one hour on the northern side and one hour on the southern side.

Giraffe Statues.

After the train rides, we saw a Thai Cultural Dance performance.  The dancers had on beautiful costumes in various colors.  Then there was a sound and lazer lights show over the water with beautiful music.

Thailand - as I see it.

The Hill Tribes and their colorful outfits  

You can see the Hill Tribe people in Chiang Mai at the Night Bazaar, the Walking Streets, and at special festivals.  Some of them dress in bright colors, wear lots of jewelry, and even high high heeled shoes for the ladies.



 

We went to a festival and they were selling the clothing.  The band was playing and lots of people were singing and listening to the band.

 

When we go to the Night Bazaar, the hill tribe women are walking around selling their musical instruments and jewelry.

Sometimes their babies sleep in hammocks and the women carry the babies on their backs.

Thailand - as I see it

A Christmas Celebration at the Christian Church in Chiang Mai

We went to church this morning and instead of the service we went to the children’s party.  They had games for the children and each child won a prize for playing each game.  There was a lady dressed in a red and green clown’s outfit who passed out gifts to all the children. Some of the children put on skits and sang.  Each child colored a Christmas tree and put the cut out colored trees on the bare tree.  They all sang happy birthday to Jesus and also a Christmas song.

A missionary family from Texas who had moved to Chiang Mai a year ago told a Christmas story about a cake that was made for Jesus.  The top layer was chocolate for our sins, the next layer was red for Jesus’ blood that was shed for us, and the third layer was green for life and nature that goes well because we believe in Jesus.  The frosting was all white to show that all is pure when we love Jesus and when we go to heaven someday we will be with him because we believe.

As you can see in the group picture, they included me as well as the missionaries and they all sang and thanked God for Jesus and Christmas time when we remember him.

Thailand - as I see it.

Motorcycles, Motor Scooters, and Motorbikes everywhere.

We went to the mall today on motor scooters.  I was on one with my son Rob, Adda, and Tyler.  Willi and On were on another.  We parked in this motorcycle parking lot where there must have been 1000 or more.
Everywhere you go there are motorcycles, motorbikes and motor scooters weaving in and out, in between cars and trucks and more motorcycles.

We bought five big bags of groceries and two of them fit in the basket on Rob's motor scooter.  Two bags fit on hooks on On's scooter by her feet. Willi held one bag with one hand and held onto On with the other hand.

They have a small seat for Tyler with a seat belt right in front of Rob as you can see in the picture.
When Rob says they are going out, Tyler says, "rumrum"  and makes the motion of driving the scooter.
It is so cute.  He loves to go riding.  Much of the time he falls asleep on the scooter as they are traveling.

It is very reasonable to fill up a motor scooter even with the price of gas.

Daddy Rob and Tyler

Marcia ready to go.

Marcia and Rob

A parking lot for motorcycles, scooters, etc.

On and Willi.

Tyler waiting to go for a ride.

Thailand - as I see it

An Extended Family


Speaking of family, Boo is grandpa in the Thai Lisu Hill Tribe language. Yah is grandma in the language.  The Hill Tribe people use our alphabet of A,B,C rather than the Thai character alphabet.

Rob and On have an extended family of ADDA and also Supan. Adda is On's brother's little 4 year old. His name ADDA means first son born to that couple.  So every family has an ADDA if they have a boy.  It is like a nickname. His real name is City Chi.  Chi is with a long i.  

ADDA is living with Rob, On and Tyler because he can go to school in Chiang Mai.  There is not a school where he lives in the hills.  He is a cute, happy, smiley little boy and VERY bright.  I read him The Foot Book by Dr Seuss and he said every sentence after me.  He knows his alphabet and numbers to 10.  I brought 2 placemats with colors, numbers and letters and he has read them three or four times.  He does an alphabet puzzle 4 or 5 times at a sitting.  His attention span is long.

Tyler also sat and listened to the book.  Tyler runs around the house with ADDA and they play ball.  They have a huge plastic chest for the toys and they can move it all over the tile floor.  All the toys are picked up when they are through.  Both Tyler and ADDA go around collecting the toys and putting them back in the box.

On, Yah (Marcia), Rob and Tyler

Adda, Yah (Marcia), and Tyler

I was working on my computer and they wanted to play too.  They know how to turn it on, and even use a touch screen.  When I brought out my I Pad, Tyler touched the button on the bottom to start it.  Then he swept his hand over the front to use it.  I have a program where they can color a picture.  They touch the one they want and it comes up full screen.  They can color the black and white picture.  All they do is touch a crayon and then touch the picture.  They made a purple and yellow Santa with a red background. 

Supan, On's Brother.

Rob, On, Tyler and ADDA also have On's brother, Supan living with them.  He is in 8th grade and he is going to the excellent school also in Chiang Mai. This is nice for On and Rob as he also plays with the boys and he takes care of Tyler and ADDA when we go out.  This is a very happy easy going family.  You should see Rob, Supan and ADDA on one motor scooter and On and Tyler on the other.  When we are here, it is Rob, Yah (Marcia), and Tyler on one motor scooter and On, ADDA and Boo, (Willi)  on the other.  It is a treat for us to be part of this family.

What fun to be around little ones.  Have a wonderful day and keep learning. We are sure learning a lot.   

Marcia and Willi

Boo, (Willi) and Adda