Ko Kret...Biking Thai Style

Last Monday I had the opportunity to go out biking with a group of biking enthusiasts.  The leaders took us on a 42K ride outside the Nichada compound...real Thailand biking.  The problem with Thailand, or maybe it is not a problem, is that there are no hills - all the riding is mostly flat.  Still you have to maneuver around cars, buses, vendors, potholes, Soi dogs (street) and not to mention the water canals and rivers.   After being gone for over three hours on Monday, we moved a little slow as one in the group had a depth perception problem and riding the narrow cement canals was a bit tricky, I knew that I wanted to do the ride again - this time with Ron. I wanted to take a different route and see something new, so I decided on a biking trip to Ko Kret Island.



Saturday Saturday morning proved to be the perfect day, he told me that he could take part of the day off  to spend sometime with me.   After consulting maps and my iPad GPS we set out to ride out bikes to Ko Kret, a small island in the middle of the Chao Phraya River.  The river runs through the heart of Thailand for about 230 miles and is the larges of the rivers in Thailand.  


The island is more than two hundred years old. It was created, when 1722 a canal was built to shorten the Kings sailing trips upwards Chao Phraya River to the capital Ayutthaya. The Mon people who came down from Burma are living here for generations, and they are famous for pottery in kwan arman style and sweet Thai desserts.


One very interesting characteristic of the Ko Kret Island, is the fact that it is totally devoid of cars.  The island is about 2km across - hardly room for a three point turn - and a convenient footpath runs right around the perimeter.
The main inhabitants of the island of Ko Kret, are ancestors of the Mon Tribes who were commonplace in central Thailand in middle sixth - tenth centuries. The Mons have their own distinct form of Buddhism - with more emphasis on superstition and astrology than their Thai cousins. Spirits are important part of the Mon form of Buddhism.
They are also adept with their pottery making skills - a main source of income for many of the inhabitants of the Ko Kret Island. The clay for the hand-thrown earthenware pottery is gathered locally from the Island.




Over land and over river - the way to bike in Thailand

Some of the sites we saw and the people we met

And after our ride which treat do you think we bought, the Thai's version of a popcicle made with "FANTA" (a coca cola product - yea) or the tiny little fried eggs!

Popcicles it was, mine was green - after all it is my favorite color.  Ron had the orange and was pleased with the taste.  They have these metal tubes and just pour the soda in them add a stick and place them in a tub of ice - and presto Thai Popcicles.  They were a nice treat after a hot ride.  But I did think the little fried eggs were quite funny.

Where will my adventures take me next....INDIA, Delhi to be exact and I can't wait.

SEASON for CHANGE

I feel that I am definitely in a different SEASON!!  It is not just that I live in Thailand and haven'e seen snow, rain or even a windy day since I was last in the states.  The air temperature here ranges from 85-90 in the day and 74-76 in the evening.  Although very enjoyable I do miss the seasons changing.  With John in Hong Kong and Ron on a business trip the past few day I found my self with a little extra time to wander and wonder about SEASONS and why they are so important to the quality of lives. 






 I decided to pull out the last conference Ensign and use it as my personal study for the day and see if I could get any new insights on ME!  I tried to look at the talks with fresh EYES and and OPEN heart. I am happy with my life but still find that something is missing and so I want to change that something, the SEASON maybe? I am and have been at what appears to be a crossroad in my life, I think that happens when you turn 50!) and I need to get moving forward again.  Not that I have been moving back wards or standing still I just think I need to take my life to a new LEVEL.  Laughing as I type that...it sounds like I am playing a basketball game.... I just thought I would share some of my what I read and what I felt and wondered about as I had a little quiet time to think...

I started by reading the following...  Bold purple and Italicized words are from the original author's message

"Obedience to the Prophets"  by Elder Costa 

• If I believe in holy prophets I should have eternal life...Check, I believe.
• President Monson messages are more vital to me then the standard works...If Pres. Monson messages are that vital why can I not remember what he talks about - then I better get reading all I can about him.  I need to develop a love for him as a prophet as I did with President Hinckley. I just loved President Hinckley so much, his voice always touched my heart - I know that President Monson is the prophet - but I still yearn to hear President Hinckley - I need to move forward because...the living prophet is more important to us than a dead prophet.
• If I pay attention and follow his instruction my life will be "completely" blessed...and I need it to be COMPLETELY blessed.

First step then is to follow the PROPHET... I can do that.

Some of you who read this blog might not be familiar with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. If you would like to understand what a our Prophet is saying you can visit this website for more information:  http://lds.org/study/prophets-speak-today?lang=eng

"Reflections on a Consecrated Life"  by Elder Christofferson

• Life offers us two GIFTS: TIME and CHOICE
• ...My eternal reward is based on how I choose to use my time.  I do not have the time to waste wondering what I don't have, I need to focus more on what I do have and make the best use of my time, however SHORT or long it may be.
• Men are that they might have JOY, a joy that includes a fullness of life, a life DEDICATED to service, to LOVE, to harmony in the home and the fruits of honest toil - an acceptance of the Gospel of Jesus Christ - of its requirements and commandments.... If I want to have JOY in my life then I must understand how to attain that JOY, then seek and actively participate in find IT!
• True success in this life comes in consecrating our lives - that is, our time and choices - to God's purposes...If Gods purpose is to bring to pass my immorality and eternal life, then how am I consecrating my time and choices to help Him fulfill His purpose?  He wants me to have JOY - then why do use my time and choices to not have JOY?  I need to make some attitude changes, I need to be a partner with God in bring about my own eternal salvation, happiness and JOY.
• A CONSECRATED LIFE CONSISTS OF...THESE FIVE ELEMENTS....
• Repentance: Stubbornness, rebellion and rationalization must be abandoned - and in their place submission, a desire for correction, and acceptance of all that the Lord may require...I thought that I was a pretty repentant person until I read this again and again and again.  I had never thought of repentance in those three ways.  It brought to mind a way different view of repentance, and it made me mindful of how much I really need the gift of repentance in my life.  I am stubborn - at least in my own head and heart.  I probably do rebel, in my own individual way- when I put what I desire over what the Lord desires for me.  I realize that I do have a masters degree, I have mastered the art of rationalization.  If left to my own devices I would probably rationalize my way right in to HELL and then wonder how I got there.  Surely I have need to learn to be more submissive to the spirits promptings. I need to learn to take correction - especially when it comes from my own heart, because that is where the spirit speaks to me.  Lastly, I need to accept ALL that the LORD may require - the key words is ALL.  I have an inward tendency to question why instead of jumping forward with FAITH in all that the Lord asks and I willingly obey.
• Labor or WORK: ...All honest work is the work of God..."All true work is sacred.."Hard-earned achievement brings a sense of self-worth. Work builds and refines character, creates beauty, ...A consecrated life is filled with work, sometimes repetitive, sometimes unappreciated but always work ...
I remember being in labor with each of my four children and loving the whole birthing process, and yes it was work but I understand that I was refining my character, creating the lives of my beautiful children and in the end there was a sense of achievement.  But as the years have past I think that I have felt "less-then" in many ways because my work load has lightened as my children have matured.  I never finished my degree so I never felt that I had a career ,or meaningful employment.  My work was and is mundane, repetitive and usually unappreciated.  Living here in Thailand I have even less physical work that requires my attention.  SO then the question is how do I make my daily work sustain and enrich my life?  I understand that attitude is everything - but I am feeling more obsolete each day.  I need to find a work that will build and refine my character again.  I want to create beauty and have that feeling of self-worth again.  Pondering on this has given me many new ideas and maybe soon I will find fulfillment in a new type of LABOR.  (Wholesome recreation is akin to work - you must be balanced in both)  I like "ME" time, and I need to make sure that while I am working that I create time to be ME.
• Physical Body ...As our body is the instrument of our spirit it is vital that we care for it as best we can...I find that I get older I am not so pleased with my physical body breaking down. (LOL)  I thought that I would be okay with aging but I find that in my head I am oh lets say 28 so it is hard to make my 50 year old body look, work and act like my 28 year old mind wants it to.  Sometimes I push it to the physical limits and then pay for it the next few days.  I need to remember that I need to be, look and feel the best that I can.  I need to realize that I am not getting younger but I am in fact getting OLDER! (even as I type that I cringe)  I sometimes feel like I wasted time in my twenties and thirties.  After I had cancer in my forties I finally faced reality of life and death.  I have learn not to fear death - but sometimes I fear LIFE.  Especially as I look in the mirror and see someone that just doesn't quite fit with the person I am on the inside.  What I need to be focusing on is not what I can't do but what I can do.  I need to do as Paul suggested " ...that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God." (Romans 12:1)  How does one change ones attitude about oneself - that is the million dollar question? And if I find out I will indeed be RICH!  
• Service - Those who quietly and thoughtfully go about doing good offer a model of consecration...Okay of the five elements this is the one that I feel that I do the best.  I like to be of service, it is the only WORK I really know how to do.  It is what brings me fulfillment and self worth.  Having said that I also think that it is important to be appreciated and shown gratitude for service performed, especially when the recipient knows of the the service. (sometimes service is done in secret and the server receives the reward in personal quiet self worth, and that is the best kind of service)  I try to be grateful for all things, even if it is just a listening ear.  To me showing gratitude is just as much of a service as the act that was rendered.  I hope that I can always be grateful and give and receive service with the spirit of the LORD.
• Integrity - We see it in those who are honest...does not seek to take advantage of another...shows no hypocrisy...When reading this final element of a consecrated life I see this as one thing that is at the heart of all the unhappiness in today world.  Are marriage vows kept with COMPLETE fidelity, are husbands and wives NOURISHING their marriage?  Are fathers and mothers ensuring the physical and SPIRITUAL welfare of their children?  Are we taking advantage of our neighbors, friends, co-workers, helpers or even family members?  I know that I try to be honest in all my dealings...but how do you get to the point in your life where you are just honest.  Is not telling the whole truth - being honest? Is not standing up for something you know is right when the opposition is so fierce against that something being honest? Using phrase like "complete honesty" cracks me up - like is there a recipe for "half honesty"?   To be truthful with myself I have the hardest time being honest with myself. (WOW that was an honest statement)  How is it that I hide things from myself?  I think it falls under that rationalization thing that was stated in the first element...so I just need to find a way to be honest with myself and abandon rationalizing my actions and behavior.  I think that is easier written then done.  So to be honest with myself - I need to do a little changing so that I can have JOY

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints holds two conferences twice a year, one in April and one in October.  Many wonderful and inspiring talks are given to try to help us live a life that is more Christ centered.  If you would like to read more talks then just click on this link: http://lds.org/general-conference?lang=eng 

By reading these two articles with new EYES brought about a change of heart for me...at least I am going to try to ponder and study a bit more on how to have a JOY filled life.  I have let my worries and my feelings of "less then" be apart of my life for too long. I know that many of you are waiting for spring - but I think I am waiting for autumn, and the changing of the leaves.


 Letting the winds of change blow the dry leaves and cobwebs from my life,  Repenting, starting over with a new fresh canvas and learning to paint within my boundaries will be my winter. 

 Then come SPRING I will see myself emerge into the beautiful painting that the LORD has commissioned.

Summer will bring not only a new picture of myself but one that is priceless and is has a river of JOY running though it nourishing both body and soul.

Chiang Mai Oh My...

My friend Michele told me one day that she has lived in Thailand for 7 years and is the only one of her family that  had not visited the northern Thailand city of Chiang Mai, well that was enough to get me buying two tickets and the rest is history.


Michele and I visited the that wonderful city last week.  It was a few days full of talking, laughing and of course eating - yep and you guessed it I can do all three of those at the same time.  It make for a very interesting three days.

We had a unique opportunity to visit a small village of the Hill Tribe people.  It was a village that had about 600 people.  At the time we visited most of the adults were out in the fields while the children were at school and the elders took care of the young ones and were in charge of the domestic duties.


Our "SWEET" Taxi ride to the village, and can I just say two very important words - HOLD ON!  

Village Life

Education

The Faces of Chiang Mai

GOLD RUSH

Temple of Chiang Mai 

After a wonderful day of  -- visiting the village,  visiting markets,  visiting furniture factories and just plain visiting with each other it was time for DINNER!  We met our friend Kathrine, who had lived in Chiang Mai for a few years, and she took us to a lovely Thai restaurant where we had a signature dish of the city Chiang Mai, this delicious noodle soup has Burmese origins and is the Thai equivalent of the Malaysian 'Laksa' 

I have added the recipe and the bottom of this post for those who want to try a little Thai cuisine - but beware this soup can be addictive!  OH and a BIG THANK YOU TO Michele for a great few days in Chiang Mai.  

Chiang Mai Spicy Soup

ingredients

serves 4 - 6

600 ml (1 pint) 2 1/2 cups coconut milk
30 ml (2 tbsp) red curry paste
5 ml (1 tsp) ground turmeric
450 g (1 lb) chicken thighs, boned and cut into bite-size chunks
600 ml (1 pint) 2 1/2 cups chicken stock
60 ml (4 tbsp) fish sauce
15 ml (1 tbsp) dark soy sauce
salt and freshly ground black pepper
juice of 1/2 - 1 lime
450 g (1 lb) fresh egg noodles, blanched briefly in boiling water

for the garnish

3 spring onions, chopped
4 red chillies, chopped
4 shallots, chopped
60 ml (4 tbsp) sliced pickled mustard leaves, rinsed
30 ml (2 tbsp) fried sliced garlic
coriander leaves
4 fried noodle nests (optional)

method

1. In a large saucepan, add about one third of the coconut milk and bring to the boil, stirring often with a wooden spoon until it separates.

2. Add the curry paste and ground turmeric, stir to mix completely and cook until fragrant.

3. Add the chicken and stir-fry for about 2 minutes, ensuring that all the chunks are coated with the paste.

4. Add the remaining coconut milk, chicken stock, fish sauce and soy sauce. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Simmer gently for 7 - 10 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the lime juice.

5. Reheat the noodles in boiling water, drain and divide between individual bowls. Divide the chicken between the bowls and ladle in the hot soup. Top each serving with a few of each of the garnishes.

Best Valentine Ever

Valentines day is not a real big day for me...mostly because the men in my life like to keep a pretty low profile on that day... But then when I thought that I was not going to receive any my little man came through for me and I received the Best Valentine EVER...
from my favorite little guy...or guys?

Thank for making my Valentines day special for me Austin and of course Baxter too.  Nana loves you both.  One more then the other I think...

In the Leafy Tree Tops

One Saturday last month we found ourselves with nothing to do...so we hoped in the van, with our driver driving of course, and headed SOUTH!  We were going to experience the "Flight of the Gibbons" or what I like to term ...In the Leafy Tree Tops!  

IT was amazing to be that high off the ground and zipping through the tree tops...Maybe I should change my name to Jane, as in Tarzan and Jane.  I think I could get used moving around like this! 

Same Same but Different

“Same Same but Different” is a phrase that seems to be used in every country that I have visited here in Asia.  It means that something is similar, yet not exactly what you were looking for.  Today I realized it holds true for the people that I have the opportunity to share a Sunday worship service with.  We are all God’s children...” Same Same but Different”.  Each Sunday I have the chance to rub shoulders with some wonder saints from around the world and each has a story to tell…

Today I sat and listened while the organ was played by a sister from Korea, and the music was lead by a 16 year old young woman.  The prayers were offered by refugees from Sri Lanka.  The meeting was lead by an American and when it was time for the saints to share their testimonies , I heard messages from a brother from Thailand, one from Japan, a sister from the Philippines, a young refugee father from Iran, two soft spoken men from Nepal, someone from Ghana and yet another from Nigeria.  The prayers were offered by refugees from Sri Lanka.  A few weeks ago the speakers were saints from Laos and Cambodia.  I sat close to families from Norway and Sweden, while a family from Vietnam and China sat a few rows behind.  They all had stories to tell of what the gospel means to them

.

As A Sunday school teacher I have the good fortune to have a variety of nationalities of 16- 18 year olds in my class.  Each one is a son or daughter of a loving Heavenly Father.  Some are here because their parent’s jobs have taken them to Thailand, like us.  Others have come to Thailand fleeing their war torn countries with their families.  English is not their native language but they all try hard to understand.  Each teen is working hard at trying to live the principles of the gospel in a country that is foreign to them.  I am amazed at the resilience of these youth.

I have heard some of their personal stories, many which are fraught with hardships that I have only read about in the news.  The refiner’s fire for some of these Saints is searing their souls.  If some of these refugees are found by the immigration agents they will go to jail and wait deportation, which if they are deported might mean death when they return to their native countries.  As I struggle to live in a foreign land, I at least have my freedom, my family and my friends for support.  Some of the saints that I worship with at church have lost all three of those precious things for the sake of the gospel and a new life for their families. 

I have learned that we are “Same Same but Different”.  Same in that we are all saints and have the light of the gospel to help lead us back to our heavenly home.  We are different because our individual stories are literally “worlds apart”.  Those differences are of no real consequence in the eternal scheme of things.  We are all brothers and sisters looking to earning out way back to our home in heaven. 

So I today I am grateful to hear… “Same, Same but Different.”

January's COLD Front

It is now the first week of February and this is my first real blog post for 2011.  I totally miss the month of January; it must have been a quiet month.  Wait let me be honest with myself after all this is my blog and this is my life.  January was an especially hard month for me and so I kept to myself, kept quiet and kept up appearances:  i.e. “had and a smile on my face.” The dreaded January COLD front came blowing in!!

Now before all of you who read my blog, all 2 of you, think that for one minute I am unhappy that is just not so.  I have never been happier.  The sun shines every day here in Thailand and the temperature is a nice constant 88 degrees.  Then why was January such a challenging month you might ask.  Oh, wait you are asking me that question.  Let me be candid with you, I don’t have any logical answer.  I have arrived at some inventive conclusions.

·       January is always a letdown after the holidays. (True)

·      Having SUN in January is a foreign experience for me and I actually miss the cold, rain, wind and snow. (False)

·      January is usually the month which most of us reflect on the coming year: i.e. goals, and I don’t have any. (N/A)

·      I was to start a photography class in January and at the last minute it was cancelled. (True)

·      I missed my baby sister’s birthday, she turned 40.  (Both, Sue did turn 40 but I have learned that 80 is the new 40 so she turned 20 and I was there for that.)

·      January was the month that Austin cut his first tooth and started to crawl and I missed that mile stone in my first grandchild’s life. (True)

·      Taxes – you start thinking taxes in January and that would make anyone feel a little depressed! (True)

·      It is also the month when I dig out my scales from under my bed and tenderly step on it! (True x 2, or 4 or 6 depending on how much the scale reads)

·      January might also cause me to be a little glum because the date reads 01-01-2011 , and I don’t really like odd numbers.  I think that even years are by far superior to odd years. I was born in 1960,  graduated in 1978, married in 1980, had three of my four children in even years (exception was John who was born in 1995 – but I in my mind the number 5 can go either way!)  Turned 50 in 2010 – so I like even numbers and years.  (True)

·      And finally I think that January just made me tired!  I think I am just sick and tired of…

a.    Forgetting things (I have heard that it starts at 50!)

b.   Ungrateful people (we have so much to be grateful for)

c.    Politics ( no matter what country it is)

d.   Complexities of Life ( Simple is what I crave now)

e.    Not being able to Drive ( I do have the golf cart but the top speed is 15 miles per hour, not like real driving.)

f.     Wickedness (why can’t people just be GOOD)

g.    Calories ( I think they are the most useless things to count)

h.   Attitudes (Lets not be selfish, let’s be selfless and loving)

Anyone of the above mentioned reasons would make anyone want to find solace from the world.  Keep to themselves, keep quiet and just keep going about your daily life so not one person would know that you are struggling.  January was a hard month for me, the SUN was out but it was not shining enough to keep my insides from getting cold, sick and tired.

January is past and February is here.  It is the month of love and hopefully a thawing of that January cold front that passed through my heart. 

May the SUN continue to shine, outside and inside.

February I welcome you with open arms…