The rains and the floods in Thailand are creating havoc still as rainy season is still hanging on with a vengeance. One of my favorite cities in all of Thailand is completely uninhabitable. Ayuttya (I never can remember how to spell it), is completely flooded. It is the capital of the old Kingdom with many ancient ruins which have survived for thousands of years and will no doubt survive this as well, but it is a real disaster area. There is an elephant reserve and birthing center that is under water. All of the elephants as well as their handlers are living atop a huge, high and wide wall until the waters go down. Trucks are lifting hay and food to them, but it is amazing to see how this is affecting this small city. The only way to travel in the city is by boat. People are living on the second and third floors of their homes, in unbelievable circumstances.
This is not the only city that is under water. Lop Buri is also having major difficulties. The crocodile farm was flooded and all the crocs escaped and are now roaming around in the flood waters and attempting to get into people's homes. And snakes...they are trying to find high ground too. It is not a good situation in much of Thailand right now. Many cities are in danger of flooding in the next few days as the water heads south down out of the mountains into Bangkok.
My co-workers and I have been fortunate so far. In our location in Chiang Mai, we have dodged the bullet this time around. In August we got the floods, but no water got into our house. We were warned a couple of weeks ago that the water was coming again and the river in Chiang Mai over ran its banks and flooded the downtown area, but we remained dry where we are, even though we put up sandbags and waited, the water never reached us.
Other countries in Southeast Asia, including Vietnam are having horrible problems with flood waters. Right now we have friends from Bangkok who can't go home yet because as the water is flowing south the risk of their neighborhood being flooded is great.
Never a dull moment. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
Rainy Season in Thailand
We've been back in Thailand for a month now. It is Rainy Season here. Thailand has 3 seasons. Rainy, Cool, and Dry. Dry Season is very hot and there is absolutely no rain for 3 months. It gets so hot and dusty as much of the lush vegetation dies off. But right now it is lush and it rains almost every day for a few hours. I like rainy season. It is much cooler and I know that the next season will be cool season, which will last from November to the end of January. Thai people actually wear big parkas with hoods, while I wear T-shirts and light weight clothing and think it is wonderful. Many of them ride motorcycles, though and I know that it can get nippy when you are zipping down the road without any protection.
Chiang Mai is a very nice city. Much better than Bangkok. Chiang Mai has only 3 million people and compared to the 14 million in Bangkok, it has an almost small town feel to it. There are many western restaurants and much English is spoken up here. There are several big universities that are English speaking and there are many Ex-pats living here.
Living here and knowing many of the things there are to do and things to see, I feel like I could write a travel brochure. Many of the real travel guides are a little too upscale for me. I like the local flavor and the little out of the way places that tourists don't know about. But then, I have actually developed a taste for fried silk worm larve and grasshoppers, so I may not be the best one to ask about things to do, see and eat in Chiang Mai.
Chiang Mai is a very nice city. Much better than Bangkok. Chiang Mai has only 3 million people and compared to the 14 million in Bangkok, it has an almost small town feel to it. There are many western restaurants and much English is spoken up here. There are several big universities that are English speaking and there are many Ex-pats living here.
Living here and knowing many of the things there are to do and things to see, I feel like I could write a travel brochure. Many of the real travel guides are a little too upscale for me. I like the local flavor and the little out of the way places that tourists don't know about. But then, I have actually developed a taste for fried silk worm larve and grasshoppers, so I may not be the best one to ask about things to do, see and eat in Chiang Mai.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Going Back to Thailand
I am going back to Thailand for who knows how long. I guess you could say that I live there. Texas is my home, but Thailand is where I split my time. My husband and I are missionaries and we work all over the world while living in Thailand.
Right now it is a lot cooler there than it is here in Texas. Triple digit temps for almost a month here now. Rainy season is on its way and by the time we get there, it should be just beginning in earnest. I like rainy season. Number one reason: it is a lot cooler than dry season. Number two reason: I enjoy the sound of rain on the tile roof, especially at bedtime. Makes me sleep well.
We have a lot of friends in Texas that I really hate to leave behind, but I also have a lot of friends in Thailand that I am anxious to see again, so there is a trade off there.
While we were in the U.S. this time, we made a trip down to the extreme South. Houma, Louisiana, the hometown of Susanna Domangue, who was my partner in crime for several years in several countries, doing mission work. She is now married, living in Atlanta, Georgia, with one little boy and another on the way. Her parents went to Atlanta and kidnapped her and the baby and hauled them down to Houma to see us when they found out we were coming. I had not seen her for 4 years. That is way too long. Her Dad is the Pastor of the Galilean Baptist Church there in Houma and their family and the church family have been dear friends of ours for almost 30 years. Houma--now that is a place worthy of a travel comment. It is so far south that New Orleans is considered "up north." Antebellum homes, alligators, Cajuns. It is a wonderful place to visit. If you ever make it as far south as New Orleans, head on down to Houma. Visit Avery Island, the home of Tabasco Sauce. South Louisiana is pretty awesome as an American tourist destination.
Right now it is a lot cooler there than it is here in Texas. Triple digit temps for almost a month here now. Rainy season is on its way and by the time we get there, it should be just beginning in earnest. I like rainy season. Number one reason: it is a lot cooler than dry season. Number two reason: I enjoy the sound of rain on the tile roof, especially at bedtime. Makes me sleep well.
We have a lot of friends in Texas that I really hate to leave behind, but I also have a lot of friends in Thailand that I am anxious to see again, so there is a trade off there.
While we were in the U.S. this time, we made a trip down to the extreme South. Houma, Louisiana, the hometown of Susanna Domangue, who was my partner in crime for several years in several countries, doing mission work. She is now married, living in Atlanta, Georgia, with one little boy and another on the way. Her parents went to Atlanta and kidnapped her and the baby and hauled them down to Houma to see us when they found out we were coming. I had not seen her for 4 years. That is way too long. Her Dad is the Pastor of the Galilean Baptist Church there in Houma and their family and the church family have been dear friends of ours for almost 30 years. Houma--now that is a place worthy of a travel comment. It is so far south that New Orleans is considered "up north." Antebellum homes, alligators, Cajuns. It is a wonderful place to visit. If you ever make it as far south as New Orleans, head on down to Houma. Visit Avery Island, the home of Tabasco Sauce. South Louisiana is pretty awesome as an American tourist destination.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
LONG TIME
It has been a long time since I kept up with myself, however a big event has hit. I finally realized my 48 year old dream of visiting Africa. I was there for 16 wonderful days in May. Three photo safaris, met several old and good friends, had a glorious time in most respects. Was able to see the animals, the people, the culture. It was expensive; much more than I thought it would be. We all have preconceived notions and for some reason I was under the impression that things would be cheap like they are in Asia. NOT! It amazes me how the locals manage, but they must because there are a lot of them. Many of the people have AIDS. It is everywhere and it is noticeable in the extreme gauntness of the people who are afflicted. Very sad...especially the kids. Nutritious food is too expensive for many, so they exist on corn meal mostly, with very little else. This was the part that was much less than glorious. It is very sad that so many live in such poverty. Disturbing and heartbreaking.
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