Adventures in Thailand

2006-04-30T18:18:00.000-07:00

I have spent a great deal of time this week in my Huay Mae Sai hilltribe classroom. This has been Khom Loy’s most successful Montessori classroom conversion and we owe that success to many contributing factors - hard work, dedicated teachers, long hours and incredibly supportive parents, of each attending child. This classroom is a perfect role model Montessori environment and I love spending time here.

Our six newly trained teachers have been taking advantage of this classroom and have been gaining some valuable experience in a real Montessori setting. My job these past few weeks has been to observe the teachers individually and guide them, when difficulties or questions arise. All of the teachers are doing extremely well and I am confident they will thrive in any classroom in which they are placed.

The Huay Mae Sai classroom was converted to the Montessori method in late November of 2005. I am continually impressed with how successful this conversion has been. The children have responded to the conversion with great interest and enthusiasm. They love to come to school each day and learn as much as they can using the various materials in the classroom. It is weeks like these last few, that I feel I have really accomplished something during my time here in Thailand.

This week, I have included a number of pictures from the classroom illustrating some of our new teachers giving lessons to the children.

2006-04-23T17:41:00.000-07:00

Today is Monday, April 24th and I have had another pretty quiet week. I am back into my daily routine and working hard with Waew to get ready for the beginning of another school year. Khom Loy has recently hired six new teachers who we put through a two week Montessori training program in March and who are now working in our already established schools for experience in the classroom. In mid-May when the new school year begins, our trained teachers will be introduced to their own classrooms and have an opportunity to put all their valuable knowledge to test. At this same time, Waew and I will also introduce a new Child Care Centre to the Montessori approach, the foundation’s eleventh classroom to be converted.

With exception to the Songkran Festival, I really haven’t done much outside of work. I have gone for many bike rides, watched a lot of movies and enjoyed some quiet times out at Paul and Trish’s country home.

The weather has been very interesting and at times, quite intimidating. I have experienced some horrific thunderstorms which bring these incredibly high winds and heavy rains. I have seen some gorgeous sunrises and sunsets and was also lucky enough to see a magnificent rainbow after an afternoon rainstorm.
To complete this week’s posting, I have included a few pictures which show a sunrise, a sunset and the rainbow I referred to. All of the pictures were taken out at Paul and Trish's house in the country.

2006-04-13T19:55:00.000-07:00

More pictures from the Songkran celebrations.....................

2006-04-13T19:22:00.000-07:00

More pictures from the Songkran celebrations......................

2006-04-13T18:50:00.000-07:00

It is the evening of April 13th and I have arrived home safely from an entire day of Songkran celebration. I am not sure if I can find the right words to describe what I went through today. In my previous posting from last week, I said the main theme of the Songkran festivities is water. Well, that is a complete understatement on my behalf. There was water flying in all directions, no matter where you were, in town today. The significance of the water is to cool everyone off because it is so hot. People along the side of the streets, motorcyclists, people in their cars, literally people of all ages, were all participating in the celebration. There were pickup trucks full of people with water guns and pails and even the fire engines had their hoses on full blast!!

I lost count as to how many times I got hit with pails of water while sitting in the back of our pick up truck. I originally started in the cab so I could get some pictures but finished my day in the back where it was a total free for all. I had buckets poured over my head, streams of water from squirt guns in my face and some people even added ice to the water, just to add some more excitement!! By the end of the day, I was “bpiak mak” (very wet)……. actually, I was soaked and anxious to get warm and into some dry clothes.

Late afternoon, there was a typical Thai parade to add to the festivities. The floats were absolutely beautiful, as usual. The parade however, didn’t stop the throwing of water and many people in the parade were drenched as well.

The festivities continue throughout this weekend and right into next week. At anytime you go into town, you can expect to get wet. This holiday is a real family oriented celebration and many people get together with their kin to enjoy lots of food and drink.

I have to say, I had so much fun today and can’t remember that last time that I laughed so hard. Emily, I was wishing you could’ve been part of this Festival and witnessed the celebrations. I know you would’ve had great fun soaking everyone in your path!!

I have included many pictures from the day and also a few from the parade.

2006-04-13T18:42:00.000-07:00

This past week has been very uneventful. I have been busy getting back to my normal routine and trying to catch up on some neglected projects at work. I have been reading lots, going for bike rides, and enjoying the sun. Emily, I know it is cold back in Canada, but just be glad you are not here in the heat…….yesterday, it was 40 degrees!!! All of a sudden, the Canadian winters don’t look so bad!!

The Thai people are anxiously preparing for the upcoming Songkran Festival (also known as the Water Festival) which is a celebration of the Thai New Year and a formal welcome to the beginning of summer. This Festival is celebrated country-wide and is considered one the most enjoyable holidays in Thailand. The celebrations begin on April 13th and last for one complete week. The main theme of the festivities is water and I understand, that anywhere you go, you get wet. People literally stand all along the side of the road and throw various containers of water on passer-bys. The children have already started practicing and a couple of times this week, on my daily bike ride, I have been soaked with pails of water. Actually, a bit refreshing in the inevitable heat!!

I have included one picture.........a shot of our Khom Loy office, because that is where I have spent most of my time this week!!

2006-04-02T00:44:00.000-08:00

Pictures from the south of Thailand.....................................

2006-04-01T22:55:00.000-08:00

Well, I have arrived safely back in Chiang Rai and am enjoying the sun and daily temperatures of 30 - 35 degrees. A big change from the two weeks I was in Canada!!!! Emily is back at home in Canada, living with her Dad and is enjoying getting back to her daily routine, with her friends and family close by.

Before my return to Chiang Rai, I went to the south of Thailand for three days to look at some potential schools which our foundation is interested in possibly converting to the Montessori method. The schools are located in Khao Lak, a small town on the west coast of Thailand. These schools or Child Care Centres, have been opened for Burmese children who have gathered in the area. Burmese families come to Thailand, often illegally, to get away from the "political unrest" in their country and also, to find jobs in Thailand, which has a much stronger economy than Burma.

The town of Khao Lak was an area in the south which was tragically hit by the tsunami and therefore, a number of these Burmese children are orphans or have lost one or more members of their family. These schools are located in standard homes, which are very, very small. Each Centre has not only very limited space, but few select materials. It is Paul's intention, the founder of the organization I work for and my boss, to help these schools in any possible way he can. He thought by introducing the Montessori philosophy to these schools, it would give the children a chance to actually be educated and also to gain some confidence and self-esteem.........a gift any child deserves. I was incredibly impressed with the teachers at each facility and how they have compromised using the little space and learning materials and are making an honest attempt to teach these children not only Burmese, but English as a second language. I wasn't able to take pictures at any of the Centres, a policy which ensures the safety of the children and their families from immigration authorities.

The town of Khao Lak was completely destroyed by the tsunami and while I was in the south, I was able to see a number of places where the locals have been reconstructing and rebuilding and making an effort to continue on with their lives. I visited a boatyard where the fisherman and many volunteers from all over the world, have been building boats to replace all those lost in the tsunami. They use the scraps from the boatyard and send them to another location on the coast to make furniture for newly constructed homes that also had to be rebuilt. (They conveniently call this furniture making workshop "ThaIKEA!!")
I was also able to see one of the housing projects which is run by Tsunami Volunteers and still to this day, they are rebuilding homes to replace those that were lost. I have included a picture of a Police Boat, (a famous landmark) which was patrolling the ocean when the tsunami hit and washed in shore (2km!!) and deposited on the side of an embankment, just outside of town.

I was so happy to have been able to visit the southern area and see a completely different aspect of Thailand. The devastation that occurred in this area is beyond words and it was a very enlightening experience to actually be there and see and hear what many people went through. My heart goes out to all those affected by the tsunami and I wish you peace and comfort in your continued journey.

2006-03-09T23:39:00.000-08:00

Emily and I are down to our last three days in Thailand!! We have had a very busy week, with it being Emily's last week of school and a week of training 25 new teachers for me. We had a staff party, a school graduation, and many last minute details to attend to before coming home.

We have included a shot from our "goodbye" staff party at Paul and Patricia's house, and one from the grade 6 graduation party at Emily's school. The picture at the graduation is of Emily with her grade 6, graduating classmates.

For those of you who haven't already heard, I have decided to return to Thailand after taking Emily home to Canada. Emily will complete her fifth year at home in Stratford, at the Stratford Montessori School and will live with her Dad during that time. She has missed her Dad dearly and this will give her a chance to spend some long awaited quality time with him. I will return to Thailand on March 26th to complete some unfinished projects here and then go back to Canada permanently at the end of June, when Emily gets out of school for the summer.

I will pick up where I left off on my blog, at the end of March, when I return to Thailand and will continue to update you on all my incredible adventures as before. Take care and see you in a couple of weeks!!

2006-03-04T20:44:00.000-08:00

This is our last week here in Thailand. On Monday, March 13th, Emily and I fly out of Bangkok to come back to Canada and we are both very excited about our trip home!! We have extremely enjoyed our many adventures here and will cherish the memories forever.

Although we are busy getting ready to come home, we have still managed to get in a few more exciting activities. We had some more visitors from Canada last week. Friends of my parents came to Chiang Rai, on a private tour and Emily and I had a great deal of fun showing them around. We took Marion and Cheryl to the LongNeck Karen hilltribe village, to Emily’s Montessori school and also to my Huay Mae Sai hilltribe school in the hills. We enjoyed a feast of Italian food downtown (at Emily’s request!!) and then went to the night market to pick up some handmade souvenirs. We really enjoyed the time spent with Marion and Cheryl and wish them well on their continued journey, to the beaches in the South.

Emily and I have been swimming as much as possible, basking in the sun and just enjoying the Thailand culture in anticipation of coming home. Next week, we have a staff party at Paul and Patricia’s house to say various goodbyes, we have a graduation ceremony at Emily’s school for children who are leaving, we have a big last day celebration party at the school and in there somewhere, we will finish packing our suitcases!!

Emily and I have included a few final pictures of some of our favourite places here in Chiang Rai. They include the resort pool where we love to swim, our favourite restaurant, the local ice cream parlour, the night market and the Big C department store where we buy all our groceries………..

This adventure Emily and I have been on has been a wonderful, life changing opportunity and we will look back often and reminisce about the many exciting events we were able to experience during our trip. We would like to say thank you to all our friends and family at home for their constant support and consistent communication, and thank you also, to our friends here in Thailand, who took us under their wings and guided us, always in the right direction. Our trip wouldn’t have been so successful without all of you.

Finally, I want to thank you, Emily, my precious daughter, for coming with me on this big adventure, for believing in me and for standing by me in good times and bad. You never complained once, even when times got difficult, and I am so proud of you, of your open-mindedness and of your big heart. I am so blessed to have you in my life. I love you very, very much and thank you, for an experience we will cherish for a lifetime.

"A life-long blessing for children is to fill them with warm memories of times together. Happy memories become treasures in the heart to pull out on the tough days of adulthood." -Charlotte Davis Kasl (20th century), U.S. Finding Joy, no. 73 (1994).

2006-02-21T19:39:00.000-08:00

Pictures include two of Emily and Waew at the grand entrance of the monkey cave, two of the Flower Festival parade, the Hill tribe Friendship Festival, and a couple at PuuChi Fa Mountain.

2006-02-21T19:09:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Grandma!
What a busy two weeks we have had!! Breen traveled all the way from Stratford to come and visit us in Chiang Rai, so we did a great deal of exploring while he was here. We were thrilled to have him here and despite his inevitable jet-lag, I think he really enjoyed his Thailand experiences!!

The first weekend he was here, we went to a Monkey Cave, located about an hour’s drive north of Chiang Rai, on the road to Myanmar. The cave is located way up into the hills and is literally home to hundreds of wild monkeys. We purchased bananas and peanuts from vendors just before the cave entrance and were actually challenged by a number of monkeys who tried to steal the treats.

After the Monkey Cave, we made a brief stop at the Golden Triangle and then made a long drive east, up into the hills, to PuuChiFa Mountain. This is a well-known mountain which sits on the border of Thailand and Laos and is approximately 5500ft above sea level. People come from all over to see the sun rise or set, from the top of the mountain. In order to see the much anticipated sun rise, we stayed the night in a local guesthouse and got up at 5:00am to make a 1km climb up the mountain to the peak of PuuChiFa. Oh my, what an experience! An unbelievable view – it is honestly hard to describe with words alone. We were up so high; we were above the clouds and felt as though we were literally flying. This is an experience Emily and I will remember as the best part of our Thailand adventure!!

After a long drive home and a day’s rest, we enjoyed the Flower Festival Parade. This is an annual event which kicks off the four day celebration. The locals create these gorgeous floats consisting of various kinds of flowers in honour of the summer coming and the beautiful flowers that bloom this time of year. The parade was quite long and we enjoyed a variety of colourful creations, all equally stunning.

After the parade, we drove out to the Huay Mae Sai village and attended the Hilltribe Friendship Festival. This is another annual event, where the heads of all the various hill tribes in the area put on a huge gathering for everyone. It includes dinner and entertainment and celebrates the close friendships the several hill tribes have. Although they have different cultures and languages, the hill tribe people are very much alike and have great respect for each other. The setting of the party was, believe it or not, in the forest. The locals had literally carved into the hills, staggered platforms for tables and steps up to each level. It was just like a huge, outdoor amphitheatre. Emily and I were able to enjoy an assortment of food, dancing and singing from each selective hill tribe. Yet another experience which is difficult to describe with words alone.

For the last few days of Breen's visit, we stayed in a local resort and enjoyed the swimming pool, the spa, and three days of rest.

The last couple of weeks have been incredible and a great way to begin the closing of our adventures. Emily and I have only two and a half weeks left here in Thailand and have already started thinking about packing to come home to Canada…………………….

2006-02-02T19:54:00.000-08:00

This week, Emily and I were also able to get to the King MengRai Festival in town. It is a Festival which happens every year and commemorates King MengRai, the founder of Chiang Rai. It is very
similar to our fairs at home and is set-up in the town Sports Stadium. It consists of many miscellaneous food and vendor booths, rides, games and activities.
We walked around for a bit but because we went early to avoid the crowds, some things weren't open yet. Emily was able to play a few games, we ate some Thai sweets and then bought a few knick knacks. The fair runs for one week and is over on Saturday the 4th.

2006-02-02T18:43:00.000-08:00

Emily and I have had a very busy week so far!! Emily went on a class field trip to a toy factory in Mae Suai, we both went to the King MengRai Festival in town, and I was able to get to the Academic Fair which is put on by all the government schools in the area. Needless to say, we are glad it is Friday and are looking forward to a quiet weekend!

Emily's field trip took her to a toy factory which makes toys out of bamboo and other natural materials......not your average toy factory!! Emily had a tour of the facility, watched toys being made and then was lucky enough to make toys of her own with materials supplied by the factory. I completely forgot to send my camera with her, but fortunately, her very reliable teacher took many pictures and will share them with us when she gets a chance. Emily was thrilled with her experience on the trip to Mae Suai and I am sure, will show you all of her treasures when she gets home!

Thursday, I went to an Academic Fair about fifteen minutes out of Chiang Rai, located in the field out front of the Government Education offices. I understand this is a yearly thing, where all the government schools in the area put on large displays of all their academic and art projects from the entire year. What a fabulous event!! I saw many creations of all sorts, beautiful displays of artwork, stories, and photographs from each school. In addition, each respective school had some sort of creative area set-up where anyone could learn how to make various creations. I was very intrigued by the broom making area and if I had had more time, would've loved to try and construct one............! There were also performances by each school, food booths and souvenir stands.
I was wishing Emily could've been able to experience this Fair but I believe there is another one in February sometime, so I will try and get her to that one. What a wonderful way for her to experience the Thai culture!!
The pictures are of the field, a boy experimenting with clay-making, the broom making team, a performance put on by a group of Akha hilltribe girls and a display from one of our Montessori converted classrooms.

2006-01-29T19:41:00.000-08:00

This past week, Emily and I continued to enjoy endless sunshine and warm temperatures. The evenings are still been a bit chilly but we welcome the lower temperatures when it is time to go to bed. We spent lots of time this week going for walks each day, after school, which was very rewarding after being indoors all day.
On Friday evening, we went out for dinner with a number of friends from work and then watched as some of them sang karaoke and quite well I might add!
On Saturday, Emily and I went to the PK Hot Springs Park, about a 20 minute drive outside of Chiang Rai, with a family whose children attend Emily's school. Jeff is American and is a Real Estate Agent for foreign travelers in the area and Noi who is Thai, is an ear, nose and throat specialist at the local Chiang Rai hospital. They have two children, Kenji and Koti.
The Hot Springs Park is set-up as a campground and a number of people had pitched tents with plans of staying for the weekend. There are many beautiful trees which meant lots of shade and a break from the hot sun. The Mae Kok River runs along the side of the park and occasionally, you could see a boat taking tourists for a scenic ride through the countryside.
We had a very enjoyable day - the kids happily swam in the hot springs and afterwards, we had a yummy picnic at the edge of the river. The locals have actually created three different hot spring "pools," each of them varying in degree of temperature. There was one which was quite hot but the other two were just warm and therefore, better for the kids. We were all quite tired when we returned to town around five, so after supper, Emily and I spent the rest of the evening relaxing and watching a movie.

2006-01-22T02:27:00.000-08:00

It is Sunday and today, Emily and I went on a wonderful adventure up into the hills to the Likhai waterfall. The day was another warm, sunny day and the temperature seemed to be absolutely perfect. We picked up Nichapat and Waew (the girls I work with on the Khom Loi Montessori Project) stopped at the Bandu market to pick up lunch and "headed for the hills!!"

Our drive was spectacular, with scenery that would literally take your breath away. After exiting the "Super Highway," we drove on one of Thailand's typical dirt back roads consisting of many twists and turns, hills and lots of bumps. We parked close to the Likhai school, our latest addition to the Montessori Child Care centres and trekked the rest of the way to the waterfall. The Likhai school and the waterfall are located about a thirty minute drive north of Chiang Rai.

When we reached the waterfall, we had a picnic under the trees and listened to the gurgling of the water in the stream below the waterfall. We then spent the rest of the day exploring and watching various birds and bugs. Waew even made an attempt to teach Emily how to slide down the side of a hill on a sheet of bamboo - very similar to tobogganing but not quite as cold!!!

Tomorrow is back to school and the beginning of another week of adventures................

2006-01-16T01:22:00.000-08:00

For the past couple of weeks, Emily and I have been desperately trying to get back into our normal, daily routine after being off for the holidays. We have both been quite tired each night and haven’t felt like doing much exploring. Last weekend, we spent the better part of the weekend relaxing and watching movies and this past weekend, we did very much the same. We did manage to participate in some of the Children’s Day activities around town, which took place on Saturday.

Children’s Day, in Thailand, is a day literally dedicated to the children of the country. The locals honour them by providing various activities and games for the kids to participate in. They have numerous locations set up around town where families can bring their young ones to enjoy a day of fun. In addition to the festivities, a number of the local businesses provide treats and balloons for any child who enters their establishment. Due to the fact that the special day fell on a Saturday, the schools celebrated the holiday on the Friday before and therefore, children were also able to participate in various activities at each of their respective learning centres.

At one of the schools in the area, where our organization has converted some of the kindergarten classrooms to the Montessori method of teaching, there was a fabulous celebration for Children’s Day in the main courtyard. The children had finished participating in an assortment of activities and then all of a sudden, from out of nowhere, this very large flying contraption, similar to that of a hang glider, graced the sky. As it flew over the busy courtyard, the “pilot” proceeded to throw handfuls of treats or “ka-noms” to the children below. The children scurried about to retrieve the gifts that had dropped from the sky and then screamed and chanted as they anxiously waited for the “bird” to turn around and drop repeated handfuls of treats a second, third and fourth time around. Luckily I had my camera and was able to get a few shots.

On Friday of this past week, I went up into the hills to visit another child care centre, which has just been converted to a Montessori classroom. This child care centre, called "Likhai," is located in the most beautiful setting at the bottom of a waterfall and is surrounded by the Northern hills of Thailand which are covered in the plushest green I have ever seen. After morning classes and lunch, the children literally strip down and swim in the river which is located at the bottom of the falls. I was able to witness these children, ages ranging from 3 – 6, having a wonderful time jumping from the rocks into the cool water below. I understand, when the weather is hot, this is a daily activity for these kids. It is times like this when I realize how far away from home I really am, and how different the Thai culture is to our own.
We ran out of time and therefore, were unable to make the 1 km trek up the hill to see the waterfall but I anticipate I will make it up there before long. I think that may be an adventure that Emily would really enjoy!!!

2006-01-02T23:36:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year!!
Emily and I have taken full advantage of the holidays this past week and done absolutely nothing. On New Years Eve, we went out for dinner downtown and then enjoyed the peacefulness of home and watched movies for the remainder of the night. We did actually manage to stay up until midnight and went outside in our pajamas and watched various displays of fireworks in the area. There was also a number of Khom Loi drifting in the air so the sky looked quite beautiful. A great beginning to 2006!
On Monday, January 2, Emily and I went to another Buddha Images Cave and then drove to the Karen Elephant Village just outside Chiang Rai. The day was another of many beautiful, sunny days and the drive in the countryside was just as enjoyable as the excursion itself. The road to the Karen village took us along the Mae Kok river, through various small communities and twisted and turned, up and down through the hills, like many roads in the area seem to do. We managed to see a snake, a number of interesting birds, numerous dogs, a cow (in the middle of the road, mind you) and an elephant, on our way to the village. Upon arrival into the village, I had to patiently wait to park while an elephant made its way down the main street to the path along which it takes many visitors for rides each day. There are quite a few elephants in the village and sometimes down by the river, you can see a large group of them anxiously awaiting bananas or sugar cane treats from the tourists. It is at this location where you can “saddle up” and enjoy a scenic ride which eventually takes you into the river and back to their resting grounds. Emily was devastated when we arrived to find that all the elephants were out on the trails and there was not a single one to feed. We have been to this village before and Emily got a real kick out of watching the elephants literally inhale whole, small bananas and 6-inch pieces of sugar cane. We waited patiently for a bit but weren’t able to feed the elephants this time.
On our drive home, I could tell that Emily was very disappointed that she hadn’t been able to feed the elephants - I foresee another trip to the Elephant Village in the very near future………………

The photos show the entrance to the Buddha Images Cave, the scenic drive through the countryside (taken by Emily, who is hoping to take pictures as well as Grandpa does some day!!) and some shots taken at the elephant village.

2005-12-25T22:57:00.000-08:00

The Christmas party at Emily's school was quite different than that of my hilltribe party. There was so much food, we were unsure as to what to eat first and the gift table was overflowing with numerous beautifully wrapped parcels in various shapes and sizes. There were tables set up in the courtyard covered in red and green tablecloths and the stage for the class performances was decorated with seasonal colours and gorgeous red poinsettia.
The party started with a tasty meal consisting of an array of various Thai and Western dishes........all very different and yet equally tasty. After the completion of our meal, the parents were entertained with an assortment of Christmas songs and skits put on by each respective class in the school. Emily's class put on a play about Santa getting old and making unusual mistakes. Emily had one of the lead roles as "Boss Elf" (very fitting as far as Mom is concerned!!) and put on a wonderful performance. Each of the elves were asked to wear all white........Emily and I are thinking that her Thai costume director may have angels and elves confused..............
The final festivities consisted of a gift exchange amongst the children in the school and an activity called "Soi Dow" or "Chosen Star." This activity was a fundraiser for the school whereas all the parents donated various gifts and the children bought tickets to win them. With each ticket, a child would have the opportunity to fish a ball out of a blown-up swimming pool. In each ball was a little piece of paper indicating which prize the child had won.
In the children's gift exchange, Emily received a beautiful wooden souvenir of Thailand, a bookmark made from handmade paper and some candy.
On Christmas Eve, Emily and I went with some friends out to a local resort for a beautiful dinner and on Christmas day, we enjoyed the peacefulness of home and had presents in the morning and roast chicken, mashed potatoes, cranberries and vegetables for supper in the evening.
Emily and I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas - we send you all best wishes and love from Thailand.

2005-12-25T21:51:00.000-08:00

This week was quite busy with all the preparations for Christmas. Emily and I both had Christmas parties at our respective schools and although they were both in celebration of the holidays, they were each unique in their own way.
My hilltribe school Christmas party was on Thursday. Waew and I invited Emily to come so she could experience the celebration of Christmas from a totally different perspective. There are 30 children in the classroom and each one brought a special gift to exchange with their classmates. There were a variety of contributions but mainly sweets and handicraft items. All of the children wore their hilltribe clothing - most of the children in the class come from the Yao hilltribe but there are also Akha children who attend the school as well. We played games, had our gift exchange and then drank hot chocolate and ate cookies. Waew and I sent each child home with a special Christmas package containing a colouring book, crayons, pencils and a sharpener, and an eraser. The smiles of appreciation on their faces as they left to go home was the best Christmas present I will ever receive.
Emily and I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a New Year full of peace and happiness.

"Christmas is most truly Christmas when we celebrate it by giving the light of love to those who need it most." -Ruth Carter Stapleton

2005-12-17T22:27:00.000-08:00

These are a few "Christmas" shots from around town. There is a picture of our Christmas tree, the beautiful display of lights at the Overbrook hospital in Chiang Rai, the decorations at our complex where we live in town and also, the same complex at night with the lights illuminated. There are not nearly as many Christmas decorations in Thailand as there are at home in Canada this time of year. Also, the decorations don't seem to have the same beauty without snow. Emily and I are missing the Christmas season at home with friends and family but also feel fortunate to be able to experience a once in a lifetime Christmas in Thailand. We will be able to cherish the memories of this special holiday for years to come.

2005-12-16T03:17:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!!
The past couple of weeks have been busy with work related activities and Emily and I have had very little time for adventures. I have been in training workshops both weeks and have trained another six hilltribe teachers in the method of Montessori teaching. Emily had the opportunity to meet some very nice people during these two weeks and learned a lot about various hilltribe cultures.
This past Tuesday, December 13th, Emily and I moved into the home of my boss and his wife, to house sit for one month while they tour Australia. Paul and Patricia offered their gorgeous country home to us while they were away in return for taking care of the house and their darling two kittens. We feel very fortunate to be able to experience the beautiful Thai countryside from their home..........and also to have full access to a brand new, fully equipped kitchen and satellite TV. They just bought the home a few months ago and have been busy renovating various areas in the house for a more personal appeal. They have a beautiful "sala" located just off the back deck, which overlooks the pond. They are in the process of converting this part of their investment into a guest house. Their abode is located about a 20 minute drive from Chiang Rai.
Paul (Hancock) studied law at Oxford before qualifying as a solicitor in the UK and acquiring an MBA from INSEAD Business School, Fountainebleu, France. He worked as a lawyer, management consultant and property entrepreneur before retiring. When he's not up to his knees in water buffalo doo-doo, he likes climbing mountains and playing musical instruments with more enthusiasm than competence.
Patricia (Solar) is originally from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and has an MBA from Sheffield Hallam University, and worked as a marketing consultant and property manager. She loves renovating properties, rummaging in second hand shops and befriending abandoned animals. She really came to Thailand for the karaoke and is hoping to be adopted by a monkey.
Both Paul and Patricia are very kind, generous people and have now dedicated their lives to aiding less fortunate Hilltribe people in Thailand.

2005-12-04T21:11:00.000-08:00

Our Trip to the Royal Villa........
This past weekend, Emily and I went to Doi Tung (translated, Doi means "mountain" and Tung means "holy banner") to visit the Queen Mother's Royal Villa. The villa is located very, very high up on the mountain and has a fantastic view of the Northern area of Thailand below. The villa was the home in which the reigning King's mother lived and worked while in residence in Chiang Rai. It was built with her personal funds when she was 88 years old and was officially opened in November of 1988. Sadly, the Queen Mother passed away 6 years later.
The King's mother lived in Switzerland while her children were completing their education. Upon returning to Thailand, she decided to build a home in the North under one condition that she could help develop the area. She agreed to the choice of the site and a style that combined the things she liked about mountain homes in both Europe and Northern Thailand. The Queen mother always accessed the Royal Villa via helicopter and therefore, the locals affectionately called her "Mae Fah Luang" or "Mother of the Sky."
In the east wing, which has four very large terraces facing north to the ridge that forms the border between Thailand and Myanmar, is the private quarters of Princess Galayani Vadhana. She is an elder sister to the King and has one daughter, Thanpuying Tassanawalai.
The private quarters of the royal family are located in the west wing of the Doi Tung Royal Villa. From any of the terraces of the west wing, you can see Suan Mae Fah Luang, a garden compromised of styles from many places around the world. The climate at Doi Tung makes it possible to include many plants from the different ecosystems. Thai people rarely have the opportunity of going abroad to see and enjoy the beauty of flowers from other parts of the world so the Queen Mother has grown various beautiful plants and flowers from all regions so her people could share in this beauty.
The Royal Villa is also within the area of the Doi Tung development project. In the past, hilltribes grew rice and opium here using slash and burn cultivation techniques which in turn, destroyed the forest. This long-term development project is a crop-substitution and reforestation program for 26 villages to last over a period of 30 years. This development project not only created a number of jobs for the people of the hills but also gave them a chance to develop their land for more valuable resources.
The Royal Villa is a breath taking home with a priceless view of the Northern countryside of Thailand. It is decorated in handmade silks and embroidered panels made by the locals. There are also a number of beautiful carvings and meticulous floral arrangements. The interior is entirely paneled in wood and the furniture and carpeting are surprisingly very Westernized and therefore, incredibly plush and inviting. Emily and I thoroughly enjoyed our day at the Royal Villa. We had the opportunity to learn a great deal about the royal family and how they help the people of their country to live life to the fullest.

" May the Gate to true happiness be rimmed with the rays of the sun
May your soul soar high like the birds of heaven and the celestial horse
May the eye of the owl be vigilant and keep the forces of evil at bay."
- posted on Felicity Gate, the main entrance to the villa

2005-11-25T00:56:00.000-08:00

Photos taken after the conversion to Montessori..................

2005-11-23T02:10:00.000-08:00

After doing a post on Emily's school last week, I decided to do this week's write up on my hilltribe school in Huay Mae Sai. The company I work for in Thailand is ironically called "The Khom Loy Foundation." Recognizing the need to sensitively assist the tribal people in a sustainable way, Khom Loy started by focusing on eighteen tribal villages in the Mae Yao sub-district of Chiang Rai. Through various projects, they strive to give the villagers more options in choosing their own future and improving their quality of life. All of the projects are based upon a model of village participation combining western knowledge with a desire to solve problems that villagers themselves choose. The Montessori Project was created after learning of the problems the hill-tribe children had in the education process. Since their native language is spoken at home, when they eventually start in school, they are typically 2-3 years behind their Thai counterparts. Inevitably, they finish their high school education when they are 20 years old or older. Therefore, in order to learn Thai faster, the Montessori method was introduced to two elementary schools in Chiang Rai. To date, the foundation has converted 7 Thai kindergarten classrooms to Montessori and has trained a number of teachers in the method. The results have been very promising.
The Huay Mae Sai classroom was the 7th classroom to be converted and the most recent. The formal opening of the new school, which now follows the Montessori curriculum, was Tuesday, November 22nd. With the help of the Hilltribe teachers, Waew and I handmade enough materials to complete five individual areas of the Montessori environment. There are 30 children who attend the school, all coming from a selective hilltribes in close vicinity to the learning centre. The children's ages vary from two to six years old. Each day, the kids come to school (most walk and some in their bare feet!) and begin class at 8:50am, after the formal flag ceremony. The children have morning circle and they begin their work cycle at 9:00am. Lunch is made by one of the locals at 11:00am and from 11:30am - 2:15pm, the children sleep. All children ages 2 - 6 in the Thai school system, sleep all afternoon in their classrooms.
So far, the conversion to Montessori has been very successful and the children are absorbing a great deal of information, just like Maria Montessori had intended. I have spent a number of hours training Waew so she can oversee the Hilltribe teachers' progress with this new approach after I return to Canada. Working in an environment such as this hilltribe school has been a very enlightening experience for me. The children come from homes where they have next to nothing and I consider it a complete honour to be able to be part of the educational future of these blessed souls. You can see by the pictures that I have posted that they are as adorable as any child can be and truly deserve to be properly educated in preparation for a future of potential and hopeful opportunity.
The pictures above show one of the hilltribes where some of the children come from to go to school, the Huay Mae Sai school, and a very peaceful picture of "nap time."

"Like the art that conceals art, say in directing a play, the Montessori directress should know when to intervene and when to stand in the wings while the central character, the developing child, creates the drama of his own unfolding personality."
- David Gettman, BASIC MONTESSORI

2005-11-18T01:14:00.000-08:00

Photos from the Loy Kratong parade.........................

2005-11-18T00:07:00.000-08:00

On Wednesday evening of this past week, Emily and I had the opportunity to experience the magical Festival celebration of "Loy Kratong." Translated into English, "floating candle" is the biggest festival in Thailand and is celebrated throughout the country on the first full moon of the Thai winter season. It lasts for two days and the festivities seem endless!
History says that a Hindu princess living in a Buddhist temple, once made a beautiful offering to the water gods in order to "protect" the water. The local woman saw the offering and thought it was so beautiful that they asked the princess to teach them how to make the wonderful gift. The Thais believe they are so dependent on water that they follow this tradition and once a year, actually worship the water and thank it for the many ways it serves them. The "Kratong" is a beautiful flower candle made with a base cut from a Banana tree, banana leaves and gorgeous flowers. The two Kratong illustrated above were made by Emily at school!! When all the locals (and every Thai person participates, young and old) floats their Kratong down the river, they thank the water and apologize for pollution and misuse. I understand that it is also a chance to float all your sins and bad luck away for a opportunity to have a peaceful and prosperous year. Some people actually put money, a piece of hair or a fingernail in the Kratong to make it a more personal offering.
During this same celebration, the Thai people also use "Khom Loy" to float away their sins and bad luck. The Khom Loy or "floating lantern" is literally a paper lantern that is very similar to a hot air balloon, but on a much smaller scale. A candle is lit under the paper lantern and as it fills with hot air, it gracefully lifts into the sky and conveniently takes all bad karma with it.
Emily and I can't tell you in words how spectacular this event was! We saw a parade with beautiful floats, Thai customary dancing, gorgeous costumes, fireworks and endless food and entertainment. The riverside park was set up in a "fair like" style with rides, music and a number of concession booths. There were literally hundreds of floating candles drifting down the river and the sky was filled with beautiful, illuminated Khom Loy. The evening was simply magical!
Emily and are just wondering one thing......who picks up all those deflated Khom Loy in the rice fields, and on the hydro wires, and on the roofs of homes and in the trees..............................

2005-11-11T00:00:00.000-08:00

More pictures from Piti Suksa...............

2005-11-10T16:03:00.000-08:00

Emily and I have had some quiet yet very productive days this week. Emily perfected her origami skills, under the instruction of her new friends at school. She mastered almost all 44 consonants and 23 vowels of the Thai alphabet and bravely attempted to learn all 51 countries belonging to Africa! In pale comparison, I seemingly did not quite accomplish as much as Emily was able to this week! Waew and I moved a number of materials and furniture up into the hills to the Huay Mae Sai Hilltribe school in preparation for the much anticipated Montessori conversion. Anyhow, due to the fact that we have no exciting adventures to report this week, we have decided to do a post on Emily's school.

Emily attends the only Montessori school in the area which is approximately, a 10 minutes drive from our home and is located on the outskirts of Chiang Rai. Her school, named "Piti Suksa" which when translated, means "Happiness in Education", is considered a very high ranking learning centre and unfortunately only the very successful families in the area are able to send their children there. The tuition is quite expensive with respect to Thai incomes and it costs $85000baht/year (approximately $3000CAN) to send a full time child to Piti Suksa.
There are about 100 students who attend the school, 90% of whom are local Thai children. There are a number of children at the school who have one Thai parent and one foreign parent, all English speaking. At Chiang Rai Montessori, all classes are taught solely in English and students are given Thai language instruction on a consistent basis as part of the school's regular curriculum.
Emily has 17 children in her Upper Elementary class. The Head Teacher, "Kruu Eveline" (Teacher Eveline) is from Holland and the assistant, "Kruu Net" is Thai. Emily starts every morning at 8:30am with a formal flag ceremony in the school courtyard. The entire school body is expected to attend this important ceremony and all classes neatly line up at the base of the flagpole and sing the Thai National Anthem while saluting their flag.
Each day, Emily receives a snack in the morning, a hot meal at lunch and another snack in the afternoon. Luckily, the school caters directly to children's tastes and Emily often enjoys her meals at school!
Chiang Rai Montessori has a formal uniform and the children are liberally given the choice as to whether or not they choose to wear it each day. Apart from the regular Montessori curriculum, which is very comparable to that of Emily's classroom at home, she also has Music, Gym, Science, Thai language and Thai History classes. The Chinese was a wonderful option but a bit of a struggle in her attempt to learn yet another difficult language.
Emily really enjoys her new school and has made a number of friends in her class. She is learning many new things at Piti Suksa and Emily and I both feel she is very fortunate this year, to have the opportunity to learn so much about Thailand and it's cultural differences, in addition to her regular Montessori curriculum. This additional knowledge will be valued and something she will be able to cherish for a lifetime.

"The expected outcome that the school focuses on is to help the children to become good members of their family, community, and country, which will finally lead to world peace."
-taken from Piti Suksa's statement of School's Vision

2005-11-04T02:32:00.000-08:00

Our first week of November was pretty quiet. After an exciting week in Chiang Mai, we took a break from the action to get back to our regular schedule. This week's excitement : another game of "cockroach tag" in the kitchen, as Emily affectionately describes it! We really don't have that many in the house, we just feel that one is one too many!

Due to the fact that we don't have much to update, we have decided to tell you about our home in Chiang Rai. The home we live in is owned by a couple "Gan and Cho" who are very kind and are always wanting to help in any way possible. They live in the same housing complex we do and Gan is a Government Teacher (who speaks English very well) and Cho, her husband, is retired. Our home is very comfortable and quite nice, by Thai standards anyhow. It is very bare, as far as furniture is concerned, which I understand is very normal in Thailand. There is absolutely no carpeting and the floors are all tiled to make cleaning and resistance to mildew in the rainy season much more achievable. We don't have a stove (which makes cooking chicken nuggets a bit tricky!) but we do have a rice cooker, a microwave and a little, gas cooktop burner. The fridges here are all quite small and don't hold a lot of food. The meals at local restaurants are all very cheap (0.50 - $1.00/person) so most people just eat out everyday. That is, if you like Thai food!!!!! To have hot water for dishes, we have to boil it on the cooktop or in the kettle.
The bathroom is very standard and we are very lucky to have a normal toilet. In almost all Thai homes, they have squat toilets and with enough being said, we will leave that completely up to your imagination. We do have hot water in the shower which is heated by some sort of electrical contraption on the wall outside of the bathroom.
Emily and I share a bedroom which is very large and we are very fortunate to have an air-conditioner in the this room. Sleeping at night is never a problem.
The living room is probably the room we use least and which has the least amount of furniture. We never watch TV - every station is in Thai and we have decided against getting satellite TV.
The screened in porch or the "lanni" is wonderful to sit in and we often enjoy the bug-free environment while doing homework or reading in the evening.
It is custom to remove your shoes before going into any home in Thailand and therefore, outside everyone's houses, there are rows of shoes lined up at the front door, including ours! It is considered very rude to have any footwear in your home. Every home has a large, over-hanging roof at the front entrance to protect the footwear from getting wet in the rainy season.
Our neighbours are Korean and have some sort of tropical bird that lives in a cage just outside their front door and often says "meloi, meloi" (Alright! Alright! I'm coming!) when we are leaving for school in the morning. We are attempting to teach it some manners and are constantly rehearsing "Just a minute, please" in English. Between the Korean and the Thai, I don't think we really have a chance! Emily has also made friends with three dogs who live in our complex. They often come out and greet her when she gets home from school each day.

We are very happy with our home here. It is quite different from our home in Canada, but that is one of the reasons Emily and I came to Thailand. To experience a different culture and to appreciate how lucky we are to have what we do at home. The pictures we have posted illustrate some of the rooms in our home and a photo of the front of our house. The last picture is a view into the middle of the complex where we live, from our front yard.

2005-10-30T03:48:00.000-08:00

Our Trip to Chiang Mai continued...........
On Friday, October 27th, we went horseback riding (finally, Emily says!) way up into the hills on the outskirts of Chiang Mai. It was very scenic and a very relaxing adventure.
After lunch, we went to the Chiang Mai zoo and saw various interesting animals including 2 giant pandas from China, hippopotamuses, rhinoceros, and a number of colourful birds.
Yet another interesting fact: The giant panda belongs with the bears in the family "Ursidae" and the red panda belongs with the raccoons in the family "Procyonidae."
On Saturday, we finished our trip to Chiang Mai with yet another long bicycle ride around the city exploring different shops and the Day Market. We both must admit, after the elephant, the buffalo, the horse and the bike, our backsides are a bit sore, to say the least!
Emily and I had a wonderful time in Chiang Mai and will definitely go back at some point before we return home to Canada. Actually, we may be back more than once - Chiang Mai holds ownership to a McDonald's AND a Burger King...........................

2005-10-30T03:17:00.000-08:00

Photos: Umbrella Factory, Elephant Bath Time, the Orchid Nursery and Rice Farming with Buffalo

On Wednesday, October 25th @ 8:00am, Emily and I took a bus to Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is approximately, a three hour drive from Chiang Rai and about the size of Kitchener/Waterloo.
After arriving in Chiang Mai and checking into our accommodations, we biked all around downtown and saw numerous temples and other interesting sites. We had dinner that evening at a very delicious Italian restaurant and then spent some time at the Night Market. Chiang Mai's Night Market is much larger than Chiang Rai's and we enjoyed walking around and seeing a variety of different handmade items.
On Thursday, we had a day filled with adventure and exciting experiences. Firstly, we went to the Mae Sa Elephant Camp and saw a number of elephants doing various things. We observed "bath time," we saw a talent show (where the elephants, among a number of amazing feats, played soccer, painted pictures and played harmonicas with their trunks!) and then went for an adventurous trek up into the hills on the back of an elephant!! The camp holds 77 full grown elephants and 13 babies.
An interesting fact: The locals actually use elephant dung to make handmade paper (very beautiful!!) in a factory located in Chiang Mai.
After we left the elephant camp, we went to a monkey camp and here, a number of different monkeys performed various acts such as riding tricycles, lifting weights, untying intricate knots, and picking coconuts. Although monkeys are known to dislike water, one monkey actually dove to the bottom of a pond to retrieve objects!!
The buffalo camp was the next stop on our list and we really enjoyed this experience. We learned how buffaloes aid Thai farmers in the rice fields and we were actually able to spend some time alongside some of the locals and work through the various stages of rice farming. The Thai people also use buffalo as a means of transportation and yes, Emily and I were brave enough to ride bareback around the rice fields on a buffalo!!
Another interesting fact: This buffalo farm was the "Thailand" set in the recent movie, The Stealth!
Thailand is home to many beautiful flowers but their most popular flower is the orchid. We were very lucky to have lunch in the middle of an orchid nursery and butterfly farm. The colours in both the butterflies and the orchids were indescribable!!
After lunch, we went to a variety of craft warehouses which included lacquerwares, silk, silverware, stone and wood handicrafts. Our last stop of the day (whew!!) was the famous umbrella handicraft factory. The locals make these fascinating umbrellas from Mulberry trees. Through a number of different stages which include stretching and drying, they create these functional, parasol-like umbrellas. Emily was very fortunate to have a very special umbrella painted just for her with a picture of a Pegasus!

"When you have got an elephant by the hind legs and he is trying to run away, it is best to let him run!" - Abraham Lincoln

2005-10-25T06:44:00.000-07:00

Photos: Long necked Karen Hilltribe women, the Akha, the Lisu and the Yao Hilltribes and our guides!

2005-10-24T17:12:00.000-07:00

Photos: Golden Triangle

Continuing Our First Month.........
Today is Tuesday, October 25th and today was an extraordinary day! We saw and did so much and were completely thrilled to have done it all!!
Our day began in Mae Sai at the northern tip of Thailand, at the Burma border. We had originally decided to spend some time in Burma today but the border crossing was so intimidating that we changed our minds. In our opinions only, Burma seemed much different than Thailand and the people seemed very unwelcoming. We literally turned around and left after about a ten minute stay. Maybe another visit on a different day will be a better experience? I guess that was the only part of the day we found difficult because after leaving there, we saw some amazing things.
We had lunch in Mae Sai and then went to the Golden Triangle. Here, historically known as the opium trading centre, the borders of Thailand, Laos and Burma literally all meet in a triangle. We took a number of pictures and as you can see, the setting at the Golden Triangle is absolutely beautiful!
From there, we went to the Union of the Hilltribe Villages just on the outskirts of Chiang Rai. What a wonderful experience this was! We saw four different hilltribes: the Akha, the Yao, the Lisu and the Karen Long Necked women. Our tour guides were a 4 year old Akha child (extremely cute and very capable!) and a 6 year old Palong child. They kept us quite entertained as we walked from hilltribe to hilltribe. These collective hilltribe groups are located in a secluded area and each tribe is unique in it's own way. Upon entering each hilltribe, the members would put on some sort of customary dance ritual and then show us a display of beautiful handmade crafts. Again, the crafts varied from hilltribe to hilltribe but were all equally beautiful. The Long necked Karen women were the last hilltribe we saw. Legend claims that the brass rings protect the women from tiger bites but actually the practice of wearing them helps maintain individuality and tribal identity. Constrained from drinking in the usual head-back position, a ring wearer is obligated to lean forward and drink from a straw. Also, their voices sound as if they were speaking up the shaft of a well. This was an experience we will cherish for a lifetime!!

2005-10-24T05:22:00.000-07:00

A Busy Schedule With Lots to Do!
Photo:Wat Roung Khun & Wat Pah Boran

Photo: Belgian Count Home
On Sunday, October 16th, we met a Belgian Count who is a close friend of my boss, Paul Hancock and his wife, Patricia. We had a delicious Belgian breakfast at his newly constructed home located outside Chaing Rai. What a beathtaking home and a fabulous view of the beautiful countryside! After breakfast, we attended a bike race high in the hills of Doi Tung.
During the week of October 17th, we swam in the pool at the gorgeous Rimkok Resort in Chaing Rai, we killed two cockroaches in our kitchen (yuck!), we attended the night market two or three times, and we managed to get a membership at one of the local DVD movie rental places in downtown Chaing Rai.
On Saturday, October 22nd, we saw the famous white temple (Wat Roung Khun) located just on the outskirts of Chaing Rai. It is being built by a well known Thai movie star and is very unique because it is all white.
We also visited Wat Pha Boran located near the village of Kai Jereurn, about a 25 minute drive from Chaing Rai. We then went for lunch at a resort 20km out of Chaing Rai on the old Chaing Mai road. This resort specializes in homemade pies and cakes. I am sure we will be visiting this place a number of times throughout our visit!!
On Sunday, October 23rd, we visited yet another Wat located high upon a hill which overlooks the entire city of Chaing Rai. What a gorgeous view and a very interesting climb up the narrow, winding road to the top of the hill! The Buddhist monks were performing a chanting ceremony in the Wat which we were able to experience. On the same day, we were also able to get to the Buddhist Images Caves located just outside the village of Ban Nam Lat. Here, we saw a very large Buddha statue situated deep in the side of a huge hill, out in the countryside of Chaing Rai.

2005-10-24T04:59:00.000-07:00

Our first month in Thailand found us adjusting to the different culture, exploring the Chaing Rai area and setting off on various exciting adventures. On our first weekend in Chaing Rai, we took a trip by boat up the Mae Kok River to a Karen hilltribe village. The river was very high due to an excessive rainy season and many homes along the riverbank were sadly flooded. At the Karen hilltribe village, Emily enjoyed feeding the elephants and held a 50lb boa constrictor with Mom!!

Emily has begun attending Chaing Rai Montessori (Piti Suksa) and has 13 classmates and a head teacher from Holland. It is an impressive school with approximately 120 students and all classes are taught solely in English. Emily does benefit from Thai and Chinese language instruction and is also taking Karate and violin (who would've thought!) as extra-curricular activities.
I have been busy training a teacher "Waew" to teach in a Montessori classroom and on November 1st, will be working with her in the Huay Mae Sai Hilltribe School. The conversion of this school to Montessori has been running smoothly and Waew and I are both creatively making materials for
the children in our class.

On Saturday, October 8th, Emily and I went to see the beautiful Khun Korn waterfalls located out in the country. To reach the waterfall, we trekked high up the hillside and decided the extra effort was well worth it! The following Sunday, we went to see yet another waterfall! The Huay Mae Sai
waterfall was slightly smaller than the Khun Korn, but at this location, we were able to walk into a small pool at the bottom of the falls and cool off. SImply, a very enjoyable day!

On Thursday, October 13th, we celebrated Emily's 10th birthday with friends from my work at a Chinese restaurant located on the riverbank of the Mae Kok River. The meal consisted of authentic Chinese food and a variety of pastries and cake for dessert.
On Friday, October 14th, we attended our first of many (!) Thai lessons. The lessons run weekly at the home of "Uan" located in downtown Chaing Rai. Emily and I are determined to be fluent in Thai by the time we return home to Canada!!