South-East Asia is My Osyter

This is it, my time in Ubon is almost over. Regretably. It was hard saying bye to the children, the family and my friends here. The 'On the Road' chapter opens up... I'm really excited.



A Tribute to the Children


It's been great to teach the children but also to see the differences in the way things are done and run in this primary school. Children basically run the place and as a result become responsible very early on. Here are some of the things I noted:

• Teachers are not in the classrooms half the time yet the children study. The government TV channel is a big tool and explains why there is a TV in each classroom.


• They clean their own school, everyday.


• Areobics classes are taught by the students (see previous post's video)
  
• Morning anthem and buddhist prayer ran by the students


• The school bell is rang by the students


• Dishes are cleaned by the students
  
• Students love to learn


• The teachers teach

A 5-minute video I made about the students. I love them!

A Trip to Sao Lao Village -- Meeting the Artisans

As my stay in Ubon was coming to an end, and given that the entire village knew there was a farang in their village, my teacher/host wanted me to meet some key artisans.

The Khao-Mao Factory

Here they make a dish that locals love. It's sweet crushed rice, and you usually dip a banana in it... it's soooo good.

The fish-catching Bamboo-basket Maker

The basket is used to catches small fishes that live in the rice paddies. It's excellent food, the equivalent of friture in France.

This man was sooooooo nice. He taught me some tricks of the trade. Told me he makes two of those baskets in one day and sells them for only 40baht a piece (ie: CAN$1.3). He offered me one at the end, but I kindly refused it.

Thanks to my family and their incredible generosity. They have given me everything I could have hoped for. Not for one second did I not feel at home. Thank you!

And they know how to say thank you because the school's teachers, the students and my family gave me so many good-bye presents: bracelets (made by monks to protect me), scarves and food. Thank you!

Tomorrow I'll be heading to Udon Thani and then Vientiane, Laos... I'm leaving Ubon under heavy rain. Apparently 7 years ago Ubon got such bad rain that it was fully floaded to the point where taking the boat was the only way to get the city. I'm off to a bar. Cheers

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Random pics from Week 2

Egg seller

A couple things I missed out on the previous post:

• We are in the year 2552
• Thais drive on the left side of the road (usually)
• They love Disney!
• I haven't bitten my nails once since I'm here... I think it's the stress-free environment.

Cheers and thanks for following my blog.

Do keep in mind that I currently reside in the Isaan province of Thailand (eastern Thailand), and even though I refer to them as 'Thai people', they consider themselves Lao. The great majority speaks Lao at home and became part of thailand when the French (wrongfully) divided Indochina.

A few interesting facts (cultural for the most part) about Thailand:

• Never point your feet at someone, especially not at a Buddha
• Always take your shoes off when you get in someone's home/guesthouse/temple
• Thai girls don't smoke
• Thai people love to party.... and love karaoke
• Thai people love to crack a good sexual joke
• Thai people are so friendly, so don't be shocked if some come sit at your table or invite you to theirs.
• Everyone has a pick-up truck or a bike. Thai police are lobbied by the truck companies to keep the road in bad shapes (ie: many pot holes) so that pick-up trucks become the only viable way to get around.
• Respect your elders and 'wai' accordingly. Wai is the prayer sign Thai people use to say hello. If the person is younger, you wai at chest level; if their older, you wai at chin level; and if it's a monk you wai at nose level.
• Keep cool and relaxed at all times; it's a sign of weakness to get angry or to raise your voice. Road rage and bar fights are virtually inexistant here.
• Hot water is a luxury.
• There are 3 seasons in Thailand: the hot season, the rainy season (which is ending in 2 weeks) and the cold season. However many refer to it as the hot season, the hotter season and the hottest season... Believe me, sleeping in very humid 25+ degree heat is a big big change from Canada or France. But surprisingly, you get used to it after a few days.
• There is no toilet paper here. I didn't know what to do the first time until I understood what the waterhose next to the toilet was for... and believe me it does the job suprisingly well :D

This is the first post with pics of the 2 days I've now spent in Bangkok.
This is a whole other world, the weather and hot and humid, the people are kind and the food is something else.




In the Palace: Golden monument that hosts Buddhist scriptures



46 meter Buddha, the biggest one in the world


In a tuk-tuk

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Eating some delicious chinese food in Thailand. Cost: 0.8 bucks


A monk at the Grand Palace