29.10.07 - 30.10.07 - Thailand, Singburi - Cultural Week

- Wat Mahathat Temple
Baby Ellie 4 days old!
Sunset on way home
Smiles all round
Girls on the Elephants
Wat Mahathat
Tricks from Elies!
Hiya Guys
This week is our cultural week.
Monday 29th
Headed out to Ayutthaya which used to be the capital of Thailand. We went to the Elephant Kaal Pavillion where we all went for rides on the elies which was great fun and saw the ruins of Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya. Back at the pavillion we had chance to feed the elies and see the baby ones doing some tricks. It was great when giving the little bananas the elies were in line and one after another their trunks came up like a mexican wave was so great to do. What was also fab was all the money made here went back into saving the elephants and paid for their food and keep at the elephant village. The Mahots (elephant riders) were so funny singing for us and scaring us by coming up behind on the other elies and pretending it was their trunks. Next bit of retail therapy in Ayutthaya Park and Shopping Mall - handbags and shoes were in abundance!!!! Next onto the Elephant Village where we saw lots of the elephants but really special we saw a 4days old baby elephant who was so cute but such a bugger, he kept ramming into everyone and thought if he this strong in 4days god knows what be like when older!!! Later the Mahots arrived back with their elephants and we watched them bathing and feeding them ready for the night. Dinner (tea) was by the river which was quite pleasant only we did get few more mozzie bites, yep dot to dot coming along great ha ha!!!

Tuesday 30th
Very early up this morning 5.45am to give alms to the local monk! What is alms I can hear you saying, well all the local villagers take part in this every week same time and the monk walks around the village and everyone comes out and gives him food or washing stuff eg toilet roll etc and they are blessed by him to have long happiness. So thats what we did the crewe, waited for while like, really weird like cos as women we not allowed touch monk so have to bow and place on steel plate he has then he gives blessing. Back to bed for some of the crewe rest of us stayed up cos awake and chilled out reading. This morning we watched film about Buddah! This was really interesting telling us about the history of the first buddah and then we watch Keanu Reeve in Little Buddah which was really strange to watch and see him playing this monk!!!.
Later we headed out to see more monks and where we could spend the night if we wished. I wasnt impressed with the monastry, it really wasnt what I expected at all, the abbot had mobile phone and there was a tv there and lots of dogs and cats and not many other monks!!! So I decided because I have a 3 day Ashram stay in India I wasnt going to go along to stay overnight but stay in camp. Chilled out in bar on night couple of shandies as usual ha ha!!
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28.10.07 - Thailand, Singburi - Chill day!!!!!

Local pool
Helen, Nicola and Elaine chilling!!
Hiya Guys
Ohhhhhhhhh bit of fuzzy head this morning for sure, but nothing cup of nescafe and couple of nurophen wont cure!!!
All of us headed off in the local tax, which was a pick up truck with seats in the back and roof on to the local pool for some sun bathing and chill time. Lovely and hot today, too hot at times so pleased for the pool to cool off!!! Few of us defo felt bit worse for wear and thought a KFC would help. So bless, Mr Taxi driver took us into town to indulge our apetites and then Kim bought us all donuts for after dinner (100baht) (about 1.20) for twelve - you cant be robbed!!!!!
Great chill day just what we all needed for sure. Early night too, think the sangson defo catching up on me ha ha!!!!xxxx

27.10.07 - Thailand, Singburi - Local Life and crafts

Singburi boat race
Proud of my achievement
9.5 bracelet
Old Scrubber!!
Palm climbing
Palm Fruit
Me eating again!!
Hiya Everyone
Today we headed out with Mr Ben and our little minibus, bless the air con is crap so we just have to open all the windows and be blown but hey at least the windows open. We met a guy who took us into the country to demonstrate palm picking. He was lovely only 52yrs old but had no front teeth, apparently many of the thai people loose their teeth because of all the sugar that they cook with and eat!!! Amazing he was straight up the tree, no ropes or nothing to the top and then hacked down the palm fruit and lowered it down, then climbed back down and started to chop up the fruit with a massive machette, amazing to watch. They use all of the fruit and skin to cook with. On our way to the handicraft place the equivalent of our Cambridge to Oxford Boat race was taking place on the river near Singburi so we stopped and watched. The locals found us westerners very amusing and were pointing at us, felt like being in the zoo!! At the handicraft place we met two lovely ladies and their families in their back garden where they made jewellry. We all had a go at making a bracelet from coconut circles, I was really proud of mine and I got a 9.5 out of 10 so you never know might take this up when I get home ha ha!!!
Back at camp for lunch, yep you guessed it more rice and noodles, but slimy noddles and vegs but hey Im surviving!!! Mr Ben took us to the local swimming pool, this was great, only us and about 5 other thai people in their, great to chill out and relax in the sun, tan hopefully will be back!!!!
Back at camp we all headed off to the local bar next door, Daniel who met in Aussie had told me about Sangson (Thai Rum) so thought well be rude not to try. Five half bottles later, me, Jane, Helen and Nicola were rather merry!! The rest of the crewe stuck to beer, so funny, Carol who 60yrs old said to me she had never danced on a table and would like to, so I was right hinny come on up ya get. There she was dancing on the tables in the makeshift bar, the locals thought funny!!! Headed off to bed about 1.30am think!!!
Luv always. xxxxxxxxxxx

26.10.07 - Thailand, Singburi - Yep more temples!!

HIV Community
HIV Community
Wat Phrababt Temple
Buddah Foot Temple
Buddah Foot Imprint???
Stairway gorgeous!
Somdet Phra Narai National Museum
Monkeys
Monkeys living quarters!
Somdet Phra Narai National Museum
Hiya Guys
Today we headed out of Singburi to Lopburi province which appeared more affluent than Singburi from the buildings and shops. Arrived and traffic was really busy and we could see the ruins of buildings with lots and lots of monkeys around!! Michelle scared me cos she said one of the girls had been bitten by one badly and they grab everything so I was like, sos will go so far in but I aint walking near them!! Big Softy eh!!! They were like lightening running around and over the stalls.
Next onto the Somdet Phra Narai National Museum, which was interesting and the buildings outside were the remaining ruins and you could imagine in its time these would have been rich and lavishly decorated.
Lunch at local restuarant and for a change we had choice of what we ate, ham salad, was lovely to have something plan and not with hot chillies and rice ha ha!! Think by time I get back I wont want to see rice again!!! Then headed off to see apparently the Buddah's foot imprint which was in a very lavish temple with three stair cases running up to it. I did my fortune using sticks and apparently according to Mr Ben's translation everything is good for the future so thats good eh!!
This afternoon we headed out towards the country and mountains to visit the Aids Temple, Wat Phrabaht Namphu and Wat Phraputhabaht temple. This was a real moving place. It was a community that had shops, living areas, hospital wards and doctors and nurses to look after HIV+ people. There were men and women and families all living there and there was a museum where those who have died have donated their bodies for research and to be mummified so others can see this dreadful disease. We all made donations too and I felt good that I could help just a little. Shame they were so far away from other communities but I suppose with the prejudice about the disease they have at least some safe haven to live out rest of their lives.
Afterwards headed to restaurant again for dinner, eeee honest wasnt that nice at all, whole fish on plate which did not appeal to me at all and this curry dish that honest looked like vomit, so it was bit of rice for me and when got back to camp raided our goodie draw ha ha!!!
Luv and hugs xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

25.10.07 - Thailand, Singburi - More Temples!!

Carol,Elaine, Helen, Nicola, Jane n Me at the bar!!
Bang Rachan monument
How big!!!!
Lying down Buddah
Thai massage!!
Ow my shoulder!!!
Wax monk looks so real!!
Wat Phranonjuksri temple
Fat Buddah how big!!!
Wat Phranonjuksri temple
Beautiful Dragons
Wat Phikulthong Temple
Hiya Guys
Day 4 of introduction week and we headed off to see more temples!! Visited Wat Phikulthong Temple, Wat Phranonjuksri temple and Bang Rachan monument. The temples were really lovely and the architecture and stones used are just so rich and colourful. In the first temple there is a wax model of the Monk who founded this temple and the university for the community, this was so real, we all thought he was real and was bit spokey sitting there, have a look at his picture and see for yourself!! We saw some enourmous Buddahs and one really big fat one which I thought was cool!! Headed off next to see the Bang Rachan monument and museum, this is famous monument as it shows the heros of thai people who fort against Burmha in the many wars over lands and riches.
After lunch we headed back to camp to learn Thai massage. Elaine was our volunteer and the lady was amazing she pulled and pushed everywhere on her body and amazing strength. My shoulder still playing up bit so I asked is she could help. I tell ya what initially fine but when she started really pushing there was some pain and the girls said my face was picture ha ha!! But saying that touch wood its fine and been great since. Defo going for full massage when we hit the beach, be totally new woman ha ha!! Had chilled out night, apart from the mosquitos, by god they are pain in but and Ive got few bites sure dot to dot will be great when I finish in three weeks. Luv and hugs xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

24.10.07 - Thailand, Singburi - Kaye cooks Thai!!

Michelle,Me n Jane howling!!
Karaoke Queens
Local pool
Me n Jane tanning!!
Local fishing boat
Local villager preparing sweets
Village temple
Our river crossing transport
Me thai cooking!!
Hiya Everyone
This morning was our orientation walk around the village. Really really interesting to see the thai people in their own surrounding doing their everyday work, fishing, wood chopping, cooking for the family or just chilling outside their homes. We are on the river and walking along we passed some houses which were like shacks on stilts and then some which were more elaborate and made from brick!! They seem like very simple living people and everyone was so friendly smiling at us, the kids are on holiday from school so they were following us around, they must have all been thinking 'here we go next set of mad english volunteers'!!! We crossed the river on like a pulley boat to see the village temple, only one monk lives here but masses of buddahs to pray too!!! All along the road was wild chillies growing, fruit trees, coconut and banana trees. Back across the river and walked along to the local shop which had fresh produce to buy and what ever else you could want really so Im not as far away from civilisation as I thought. We passed the only public phone in the village which sometimes works so we will see ha ha!!!
Back at camp and thai cooking was on the agenda. Papaya Salad and Noodles and kale stirfry. Chillies are the order for the thai food and to be honest I hated chillies but Im gradually building up my resistance. It was great fun using large outside wok to fry everything, no meat for us cos we have a vegetarian and a girl allergic to nuts so our main meat source is soya meat or tofu!! Hey I might loose the weight Ive gained !!!! Next was our Thai lesson, this was so much fun, it seems great when you have it written down in front of you but about 10 mins later I had forgotton the lot!! Defo need to do some learning before head into the school but we seem to have plenty of free time so swotting it is!!
Swimming this afternoon in the local baths, really good to get in pool again and do few lengths then chill out in the nice sun reading the book, its a hard life. We went for dinner in town and had thai style bbq. This was gorgeous and again the chillies are getting eaten ha ha!!! Afterwards Mr Ben took us to the Singburi Palace Hotel singing lounge. Well there was three other people and us eight but we made the best of it and yep your right after a few bottles you couldnt get us to sit down!! Thai karaoke was fun for sure!!!

23.10.07 - Thailand, Singburi - Big Town visit!!

Singburi view from our truck!
Hiya Guys
Slept great first night, must have been the couple of shandies!!! Cold shower this morning, going to take bit of getting used to but got 3wks so sure by the end of it I'll be fine brrrrrrrrr!!! Weather great not too hot but hot enough, nice breeze too. Today we headed back into town for our orientation visit. June gave us a map not to scale but had the main shops and internet, post office, banks etc. Again we the only westerners I saw so thai people were looking but again if we just smiled they smiled back so felt good. Big department store which sells everything, smaller version of our Binns!! Prices are amazing here honest everything is so so cheap, I got a gillette lady razor and 3 blades for 350 baht (five quid!) Beach towel for same price!!! Bargins bargins galore. We stocked up on some snacks cos Im sure I aint gonna cope well with all the rice for sure!!! Back to camp and had some free chill time so read our Thai culture (Do and Dont's) Need to remember to use right hand only and not left when passing things, the monks are the hierarchy here along with the King then everyone else. Great to have the info just need to remember now! Getting old memory not that good ha ha!!!
After dinner we had Thai Movie with English subtitles, this was really good but confusing cos everyone looked the same!!! They were chopping heads off left right and centre, the kings fighting the other kings, there was a princess who gave her life for her people and a high consort who was a bitch totally!! Anway apparently it was a true story and big part of the thai history so at least we know bit more now.
Speak soon. xxxx

22.10.07 - Thailand, Singburi - Thai travel and movies!!!

How little bless!!
Me thai dancing not!!
Crewe on Welcome night
Smoking Area - Jane, Michelle n Kim
Home for next 3 weeks
Micehelle, me and Kim n the luggage!!
The Public bus
Hiya Everyone
Set off today for Singburi we got mini van from the hotel with all our kit to the main bus station in Bangkok and hopped on the local bus to Singburi, our equivalent is the National Express. We were the only westerners on the bus and the thai people did look at us bit strange but they did smile!! On the bus we had courier who brought us round drinks and we watched a thai movie, well I didnt have a clue what was going on but made up my own story watching it and it was really strange with lady boys and thai boxing and karate happening in parts made me giggle!!! Arrived at Singburi and we piled into the back of an open air pick up truck with our luggage bit of a squash but great air conditioning!!! We are about 10km from Singburi itself out in the country.
Arrived at the camp, great outdoor seating area, tv and dvd. Shown to our rooms, which twin share with ensuite!! Yep defo posh this project, got two fans, cold showers and you cant put your loo roll down the loo!! Food is typical thai and lots of rice. We got our introduction to the program which sounds great lots to do and see and the teaching and then the beach for a week. Internet is round the corner at the end of the village and is about 30 bahts for an hour so less than 50pence!!! The staff did a welcome party for us on the night, well really it was one lady who danced in typical thai costume the others sat and watched!! Next door is the makeshift bar so we had to visit to see what it was like!! Only us in there and 50 bahts for a bottle of beer which has about three halfs in so hey hey we sorted!!!
Luv n hugs xxxxx