SH kids - with peruvian beanies!

"plastic" balloons

 

 

Been showing the children the things/games we used to play as kids. One of them was blowing up "plastic" balloons (with "gel" from a tube and a straw).

rice padi

 

 

Today, we helped to prepare the rice padi (field) for the planting season (there is a possibility that we might invest some funds into planting rice crops this season). The rainy season in Thailand signals the start of the rice planting season. We (together with the children and farmer Koh) helped to clear the fields of big weeds, branches, etc...to get it ready for the ploughing, seeding, rain, harvesting, etc...

new school

 

 

One of the first things we did when we got to SH was to go to the new school to pick up the children. As some of you may know, we have managed to enroll seven children into a private school this year (with the private school covering half the school fees). The new school is much better than we expected. Compared to the public school, the facilities and teachers are much better, the school grounds cleaner. Oh, the children even look happier in their new uniforms! We hope the new school will make a significant difference in the development of our children.

bus ride to phayakkhakhum phisai

   

Not knowing the language of the country can be a bit tricky at times. We have been giving instructions to volunteers visiting Samuel's House on how to catch a bus from Bangkok to Samuel's House (SH) but this is actually our first time catching the bus even though we have been to SH many times. We got to Mo Chit Bus Terminal (North Eastern Routes) early morning hoping to catch an early bus to Phayakkhakhum Phisai which is a 6 hours bus ride. The moment we stepped out of the taxi and frantically trying to gather all our bags, we were surrounded by representatives from different bus companies actively trying to sell us bus tickets. The terminal had hundreds of counters and we had no idea which one we were supposed to get tickets from since everything was in Thai and no one seems to understand our limited Thai. We finally managed to get to the bus company that Hannah recommended us to take (Building 1, Level 3, Booth 63). Got on the bus and it was quite comfortable. It had air conditioning (which is very important) and had some basic service (drinks and snacks along the way). It even stopped halfway for lunch (which was included in the bus ticket). It was a very comfortable 6 hour bus ride to SH..

experience the traditional thai massage

 

 

This is not our first time having a traditional thai massage. We enjoyed it so much the last time that we told ourselves (especially after the 4 day Inca Trail hike to Machu Picchu) that we had to do it again. For first timers, it might be a bit painful to start off with but your body will thank you for it after the massage. And it is such a good deal in Thailand. We paid 450 Baht (which is about A$15) for a 2 hour full body massage! Can't get this anywhere else in the world. And it was VIP treatment all the way! Not some alleyway shop...

pink?

The national colour of Thailand used to be yellow. All Thais will wear yellow as a sign of respect for the King. Recently, the colour has changed to pink (The King recently came out in pink). The street vendors have started updating their stock to pink...

when the night falls....

 

Just found this out on this trip. Apparently after the major shopping centres close (at about 5pm), all the shop owners wheel their wares out on to the streets to continue trading into the night. Never knew this. Thought all street vendors were just street vendors...

gs mansion

Thanks to our friend (Piyanut) and his family for putting us up in their family owned apartment, GS Mansion. Very comfortable stay with the very essential air-conditioning!

we are in bangkok

 

 

Bangkok has changed so much since I first visited 20 years ago. Still as crowded (if not more) and traffic is still bad. However, a lot has changed too. Heaps of skyscapers and huge shopping malls. You will not run out of places to shop. If you don't like to shop in the mall, you can shop at plenty of markets. Stalls line the streets of Bangkok once the sun sets.

off to thailand

We are off to Thailand today (24th May 2008). Have been enjoying our time in Singapore catching up with family and friends (and resting, eating, etc.... of course). Will  be in Thailand for the next 3 months. Hopefully we will get good and reliable internet connection in Thailand that we can continue to blog about our journey regularly. Will be an interesting and fulfilling trip!

劉 (刘) 家

This is created to share the memories of ah ma with our family, 劉 (刘) 家. These are photos of ah ma in her younger days, and family photos at weddings, family holidays and at her 70th birthday celebration.