Hello awesome readers,this is a simplified journal of our trip to Maesai(Chiang Rai,Thailand)!We were away for a month.There is just too much for me to write therefore I decided to compile them.Our team consist of myself ,Shearlee,Terry,Wilson and Daniel.
If you all would like to know we actually lost Daniel Lian in Hatyai on the way back from Bangkok..due to the fact that our beloved friend had to use the toilet on the next coach which detaches at Hatyai...we got him back safely with additional payment made by his sister,He came back safely(not missing any body parts).Seriously that was really the highlight of the trip.How could I possibly lead and then loose the youngest member of our team.One event I will remember for the rest of my life.Daniel Lian you da man!
Since a lot of events has been missed out,I will do my best to update this entry from time to time.
The first day of my trip was really a rush,we had to cook our dinner,shower(5 of us vs 1 bathroom),get all our luggage packed and ready.Each of us carried a bag pack which was close to 10kg,however and a stroller filled with materials.Wilson's bag pack was 19kg.This is due to the fact that I have a back problem from carrying law books and my tuition bag with 2L of water,he wanted to ensure that I would not get injured at all.
Shearlee was sweet enough to help me with the cooking,since our ride was close to 24hours to Bangkok we have to pack our own dinner.We prepared spinach,omelet,potato,luncheon meat,bought tesco roast chicken,as for breakfast it was tuna sandwich with salad.
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| our dineer |
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| Having dinner and realize the train stopped traffic,literally! |
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| The team and the guy who took this picture |
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| Early morning at the train restaurant |
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Us with our luggage when we just reach Bangkok on 17th August,Friday
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We spent a night in Hua Lamphong Hostel as our next ride is at 5.30pm on the 18th August,Saturday.We took a stroll down to China Town,had dinner and spent time together.
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| This shot can be seen in "hangover 2" Chinatown,Bangkok |
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| Awesome variety of toast! |
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| Street food at Chinatown |
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| Breakfast!Noodle outside Hua Lamphong Hostel 50Baht,slightly pricey but worth it. |
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| Hua Lamphong Hostel |
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| Lounge area |
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| Our Hostel |
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| TV room watching THREE MUSKETEERS while waiting for the time to get to Morchit bus station |
OUR TIME IN MAESAI
We stayed in church together with the pastor and his family(wife and 2 children and his sister),Shi Mu(title of a pastor's wife) younger sister and her 2 sons,some school children,teachers and full time workers.There are a total of 15 of them.The church is in process of renovation,due to lack of funds it would it is renovated according to the money they have.Renovation stops until they receive future funds.
Our schedule starts from 5.30am where we would wake up,brush our teeth and go for devotion.Waking up is the hardest part especially when you wash your face with ice cold water!!The devotion was in Mandarin and Thai,we don't fully understand but because they do it with a sincere heart,you can connect with them.
Breakfast is at 7am,we eat rice early in the morning which we were not used to it,since it taste sooo good,we got used to it.Team naps after breakfast then we have a meeting at 10am on activities to be done in school.
After lunch we would help out in anyways we can in church.They just build their new kitchen,which is safer and more convenient currently.We helped with the move,.
Everyday there are different chores, gardening,picking and peeling corn,drying bamboo shoots etc..We would just helped in any ways we could.
We would have meeting,packed our school materials and head off to school around 4pm.School starts at 4.30pm.We would teach till 7pm then head back for dinner.
Here are some shots of the team helping up and about in church
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| Wilson transporting the wok and pots.All black with soot due to direct flame |
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| Boys figuring out how they are gonna drill and hang the pictures |
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| Daniel hammering a nail to hang the pics |
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| This sink was set to it's place by Terry and Wilson.Didn't mange to get a shot of them doing the work since I was running about.But thanks to our 2 ultra smart handy man they now have the sink set up! |
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| The New kitchen!!!You can check out the old kitchen from my previous post in2 011 trip. |
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| Praying during dinner |
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| CORN to feed the chicken |
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| Boys having a good time competing to see who can finish the most corns..thus blistered thumbs |
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| Drying the corn to keep for chicken feed.A lady in church is about to give birth in 3 months so she needs to feed the chicken then eat them during her confinement period. |
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| Daniel washings some things while cooking dinner |
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SCHOOL
School time is from 4.30 till 7.00pm
We would normally prepare our materials before class.
Shearlee is in charge of Standard 2 and 3 with Daniel and Terry assistant.
Myself I was in charge of Standard 4,5 and 6 with Wilson as my assistant.
All of us taught kindergarten together as a team.
~CHILDREN~
-The children were very playful,due to the fact that they stay in rather the rural area somehow they don't really see the need for English or excelling in their education.It's rather sad but their parents and some matured students are starting to see the need and they pump in the extra time everyday to learn.
-Due to the fact that Terry has tattoo and a fluffy afro looking hair the "TAI KO" of the class loves to hang around Terry,they would give him the handshake whenever he comes to school and help him put up things for lessons,wipe the board when class finishes.Here's a fun fact,Terry cannot speak a single word to them since he cannot speak Mandarin or Thai but he could still connect with them somehow.
--Hygiene wise,children are not aware of germs or bacteria.They can be playing with pebbles,basket ball,their pet bug,pulling grass hands full of dirt THEN buy noodle served on banana leaves and EAT with their hands.NOT WASHED.
-Cheeky as they would scream whenever they see us,climb on the window to take a peek into the class we're in..Hide behind the door,bang and scream and run when we seem them.
-Brings their pet to class.There is a dog which follows the student to class,sleeps under the table until school ends,wakes up then walks with her home.Another boy..carries his beetle bug on his T-shirt to school(can't imagine if a basketball actually smack into him)
-Love sports and games!!!!Anybody wanna sponsor some sports equipment for my next trip ;)
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| Terry is our Portuguese fella who can't speak a work of Thai or Mandarin but somehow the children just loves him!They can't communicate through words but somehow they found their own ways. |
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| Playing pebbles |
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| The boy and his pet beetle |
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| Shearlee teaching the children some actions! |
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OUR OUTINGS
During our stay in Banthad,we manage to visit Tesco Lotus,Hop Spring and herbal medicated sauna,Long neck village.
1.Hot spring and herbal medicated sauna
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| You can purchase this cute basket of eggs for around 25Baht. |
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| Shearlee and I checking out the hot spring to cook our eggs |
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| Shearlee placing the eggs in safely |
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| Just hangout and waiting for the eggs to cook! |
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| It's really hot.We're just slightly dipping out feet in then withdrawing it haha |
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| It gets hotter! |
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| It flows down and each level above gets hotter |
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| Our lunch before going to the medicated sauna |
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| This is Wilson getting hot,next to him is Shearlee(sorry can't see you both clearly through the steam).This sauna really makes you sweat,relaxes you thus giving you a good night sleep/This challenging since the fact that we got to go back and teach...all of us zzzz mode |
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This is where they make the sauna comes alive!
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2.This is just a drive through a resort which has pretty flowers all around the resort.However,this is a very expensive to lodge...
3.A memorial site which was build for the late mother of the King.However her remains were never brought there for some apparent political reason
4.The prayer mountain of Maesai.People come here to pray for the city once a year.We prayed with the Taipei teachers for Maesai.
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lil moss we found along the way
5.Stall selling tribal goods in town
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6.Long neck village!The entrance fees was around 100Baht. However as I was told by the locals that the people living in the long neck community only receives 1500baht a month PER FAMILY.That money is to buy rice to feed the whole family.
Those living in the community rely a lot of the sale of their handicraft and tips given by tourist.When you snap a picture with them,it is an understanding that a minimum 10baht is to be paid to them.
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| Taking the path leading to the village |
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| This girl is only 13 years old and she is very popular . |
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| Bought this shawl for my friend Elaine Tan.This lady weave this shawl.You can see them weave and make the craft throughout the day. |
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| This girl is only 3 and she is already wearing the metal rings on her neck.Her mother paints her face everyday and she works together with her mother. |
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| Shearlee trying out the hoop.It's only half the original size however it really aches our neck! |
