I LOVE this Thai word. It may be my most favorite non-translatable Thai word. (See previous blog October 2007 about this.) Our Thai friends love to take us on thiaws to different places around Bangkok that are easy day-drive distances. For example, the crocodile farm, floating markets, river markets, beachside restaurants, museums, and the ancient city are all places people constantly want to take us. It’s their way of showing their friendship by taking you on an excursion and showing you their country they are proud of. Thais LOVE markets. Markets sell anything from food, fruit, made-to-order food, clothes, trinkets, souvenirs, toys, shoes, jewelry, electronics, you-name-it.
On the boat going to see fireflies from the Amphawa Market
My Saturday English students took me last weekend to the Floating Market in Amphawa. We saw lots of interesting food being sold and I tried squid eggs for the first time – crunchy & squishy and very spicy, but surprisingly tasty. We also went on a boat ride through the darkness of the river to see Amphawa’s famous fireflies, who I was shocked to see synchronize their light flashing like Christmas lights – on the trees in the river. In the U.S., as far as I know, our lightning bugs do not synchronize their lights, but here they do. I read about this on Wikipedia. It is a strange phenomenon, but the same bug.
In the massive Amphawa market with Awe, Kim, Tui, and Tuum
People eat hurriedly on the side of the river while boats come up to the side selling all their specialties
Another recent thiaw was with our Thai friends we met in St. Louis this past year. They took us to an amazing seafood restaurant tucked into a small soi in downtown Bkk.
At a fantastic fish, shrimp, squid, crab and other seafood creature feast w/ our St. L friends...
I also got to meet some of Andrew’s old co-worker friends for lunch recently at an amazing and famous Som Tam (Papaya Salad) shop downtown. Complete with fried chicken, sticky rice, and all the Issan food we could eat. We’ve done enough eating to last us awhile…
With Nan, Taeng, me, A, Tawm & Jiep, some of Andrew's former co-workers at lunch
Restaurant has a very skinny door. I guess us foreigners are just a little bit too large and in charge compared to the Thai people.
Recently we got to host an art show at our church/office in Ram 2. It was great! We had Issan dancers from YWAM, some breakdancers, art & pottery on display by artists from our team and some of our Thai friends, and even a ballet dancer (from the Mississippi group). Two of the people from the Atlanta team also displayed their art as well. It was a neat opportunity to have people into our church to enjoy original art, music & dance and do something different while we have lots of foreigners here for the summer.
Issan dancers prepare to perform at the Arts Festival
Alissa (from Jackson, MS team) dances to a beautiful song for the Arts Festival
Issan dancers do their very-flexed hands dancing - beautiful!
Courtney from the Atlanta team displays her artwork on the wall, with Tim's pottery display next to her
My last and most recent thiaw is with the Atlanta team: I got to take them to see some sights and eat some yummy food. We went to Wat Pho, a famous Buddhist temple that also has a famous massage school.
on the water taxi we take to get to Wat Pho (Jenna, Christina, me & Mary)
Wat Pho is also home to the gigantic reclining Buddha, whose body spans the entire length of the temple inside
Courtney, me, Kalli & Jenna resting our tired feet for a minute at Wat Pho...
After lunch we also got to go to a delightful dessert place called Mango Tango, that has everything mango – ice cream, stickyrice & mango, fresh mango, mango shakes, mango pudding, etc.
Our choice from top left: mango pudding, fresh cut ripe mango, mango ice cream, and sticky rice. mmmmmmmmm. Thai people are very meticulous and artistic, detailed and skilled in decoration & presentation.
Lastly, here is my Monday night English students, that have been coming to study with our english school for a couple of years now. Melanie recently handed them off to me again before I hand them off to someone else when we leave in a few weeks. Christina from the Atlanta team helped me teach them the other night, which was helpful – to have a new fresh face and fresh ideas always makes it more enjoyable.
from left, Jang, Ming Kwan, Hong, Well, Daa, Christina, me, PK
