50 shades of blue

I had my toe nails re-done at the weekend. I wanted to have the same colour as last time, it being my favourite colour and all. The friend I went with said that was simply too boring, and tried to persuade me to have bright red. I didn't fancy that idea, so I relented slightly and decided on a slight variation on the spectrum of my favourite shades of blue. They have many more on the same chromatic theme - I wonder how many I will get through before I leave!

Workshop Photos

Here are a few photos of the workshop we held yesterday for the teachers:

 After our disappointing experience in September, when we had to make the best of a very unsuitable  room arrangement, we booked a function room at one of the local hotels for this workshop. We were able to go and set up on Friday evening, and we were almost jumping for joy at being able to set up the room exactly the way we wanted it.
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 One aim of the workshop was to give teachers the opportunity to share some of the new ideas and activities they have been trying. It was really encouraging to see how much good practice is going on, and the way that some of our ideas and suggestions have been incorporated into their teaching.

Notice the woolly hats, scarves and jumpers. Cold season has not quite finished yet, though it's not actually that cold!

The other main focus was on developing children's spoken language, with a particular emphasis on supporting the migrant children, for whom Thai is not their first language. We introduced some games and activities and looked at how teachers could use some of the story books that we purchased for them to support children's learning and language development.

The obligatory group photo!

Buddha Pose 4

The reclining pose symbolizes the Buddha entering Nirvana at his death

Clucking nightmare

One of the favourite songs that we sing with the children is Old Macdonald had a Farm. (In the same way that dogs in France say ouah ouah rather than woof woof, the animals here also make different sounds. As far as I can make out, dogs say hong hong, pigs say oowt oowt and cows - or buffalo to be precise - say boooaar.)

As I lay in bed this morning, reluctantly but irrevocably awake at 5.30, it occurred to me that the street where I live is coming to resemble more and more Old Macdonald's farm, with all its attendant sound effects.

And on that farm he had a dog: not just one, but many and various. There's the persistent barker and howler next door; the two horrible, yappy dogs which for a time had been moved to their back yard where I could not hear them have now reappeared at the front, as horribly yappy as ever; and then of course there are the myriad street dogs that roam at will. I was woken at 3.30 one morning last week by a whole pack of them rushing headlong up the street, barking, whining, howling and baying as if the world was about to end.

And on that farm he had a cat: recently arrived in the neighbourhood is a ginger tom, who appears to have selected my front yard as one of his favourite places to hang out. At night, I am sometimes treated to the violent hissing of his manly fights, and at other times to the ghoulish caterwauling of his amorous activities.

And on that farm he had a gecko: not one that is usually included in the UK version of the song! My resident Tokay has been very quiet lately. I think it is too cold for him at the moment, but I'm sure that as soon as it warms up he'll be back, calling away for all he's worth at all hours of the day and night. The same goes for the cicadas, who also seem to be taking a winter break.

And on that farm he had some birds: the dawn chorus here is not the gentle, melodious easing into the day that I am used to. The bird calls seem mostly to be harsh squawks and whistles, which are not particularly soothing to listen to.

And now for the latest addition, and the reason I was awake at 5.30 on an otherwise remarkably peaceful Sunday morning:

And on that farm he had some chickens: the neighbours directly across the road have invested in some chickens, which they are keeping in a large wicker contraption in their front yard. The chickens themselves are not really a problem. They run around clucking during the day, but at night they go to sleep. No, the problem is the COCKEREL, whose existence I had not suspected until I was rudely awoken this morning by his vigorous and persistent cock-a-doodle-doo-ing.

Is it any wonder I feel permanently tired and have developed bags under my eyes that never used to be there?! I am beginning to make mental lists of "things I will miss when I leave" and "things I am looking forward to about going home". Being able to get an uninterrupted night's sleep is definitely on the second list!

Children's Day

The second Saturday in January is Children's Day in Thailand. Known as “Wan Dek” in Thai, this day is celebrated to give children the opportunity to have fun and to create awareness about their significant role towards the development of the country. There is a Thai saying that states, "Children are the future of the nation; if the children are intelligent, the country will be prosperous."
Many organizations from both government and commercial sectors organise celebration activities for children and their families. Some government offices are open for children to visit, with guided tours and exhibitions. The Royal Thai Air Force usually invites children to go and explore the aircraft and the Bangkok Bank distributes stationery, such as pens, pencils and books to every child that enters the bank. Schools have their own celebrations in the week leading up to Children's Day.

The centre we were working with last week were busy preparing the children for their planned celebrations on Friday, when the parents were invited to the school for a morning of fun activities, presents and food.

 One of the teachers with a parent, bagging up the wonderfully non-healthy snacks for the children!

 Children and parents enjoying the day together

 

The children performed a dance that they had been practising all week!

 

 We had bought a little gift for each of the children.

 

Families all sat down to eat together

 

On Saturday, we were invited to attend the celebrations that were organised at the local ministry offices of both the sub-district areas where we work, so we had to split our time between the two.

 

 There were official speeches...

 

 ...food and balloons...

 

 ...games and activities...

 

 ...music and dancing...

 

 ...and more of the same at the second location!

 

 

 

These events when families are invited to attend are a great opportunity for families from the Thai and migrant communities to share experiences together. I was busy thinking about some of the things we could do for next year's Children's Day, when it occurred to me that I won't be here for next year's Children's Day. Sad pouty face :-(



Buddha Pose 3

Abhaya Mudra (dispelling fear). Right hand raised in a flat-palmed "stop" gesture

 

This is not the first time I have been photographed in this pose. It was used several years ago for the "Even though I am free I am not" campaign for the release of Burmese prisoners of conscience:

 

 

 



Shots of Mae Sot Part 2

Way back in April, when I had been in Mae Sot for about a week or so, I posted a blog entry entitled Shots of Mae Sot Part 1, with the intention that I would follow it up shortly afterwards with Part 2. However, other things took over and I never got around to taking any more pictures, so Part 2 never materialised - until now. The photographs are unashamedly "borrowed" from Antonella, who, seeing Mae Sot through a first-time visitor's eyes, focused in on some of the things that once seemed new and strange to me too, but have now become part of my familiar environment.

 

Home Sweet Home:

 

 

Spot the slippers!

 

One of the items VSO suggests to its volunteers to take with them is a map of where they come from, to help with answering the barrage of curious questions from local people. Well, no one has shown anything more than a fleeting interest in where I come from, but the map of the UK that I brought with me turned out to be exactly the right size to put over my curtain-less kitchen window to stop the neighbours peering in! Antonella and I are pointing out Faringdon and Monmouth respectively!

 

 

 

 Here we are about to set off exploring Mae Sot by bicycle. Notice the little "spirit house". Many Thais believe very strongly in spirits that watch over them and their homes, and provide these little houses for them, together with regular offerings of food and drink. Back in November at the time of the Buddhist festival of light, some of my neighbours were offering whole roast chickens and a pig's head at this spirit house.

This photo was taken at the guest house where Alessandro and Antonella stayed. The only photo to date of me on my motorbike!

The Burmese Market:

This man is selling dried fish. Other stalls sell them live. Some weeks ago when I was there, a very large fish escaped from the bag the stall holder was trying to put it in and landed flapping on the floor about an inch from my foot. If that had happened when I was first here, I think I would have shrieked in panic. As it was I made a nifty sidestep and carried swiftly on!

 Young Burmese women waiting for a haircut

This lady is wearing the face powder traditionally used by the Burmese, partly as sun protection and partly as make up.

 

 These children found having their photo taken a cause for much hilarity

 

The narrow alleys of the market are very crowded, not only with pedestrians but with bicycles, motorbikes and delivery contraptions such as this one

When I was first here, the live animal section of the market was a good indicator of my stress levels. On a bad day, the smell and the sight of the wriggling creatures was almost enough to tip me over the edge into panic. I still don't like it (I have refrained from including the photo of the caged rats to spare my more sensitive readers!) but I have become acclimatised. Having said that, I did not hang around to watch one stall holder bashing to death some eel-like creatures with a large stick.This turtle was making a determined bid for freedom that ended with him on his back in the tub and unable to right himself again. After watching him struggle for a while I could bear it no longer and flipped him back over, only for him to start climbing again. I hurried on before he could fall again!

There is no public transport system in Mae Sot. One way to get around if you do not have your own wheels is by motorbike taxi. The drivers are easily identifiable by their coloured bibs. This one was enjoying a sleep between fares! It is quite common to see shop owners snoozing in their shops in the heat of the day.

Rim Moei Market and the Border
Right at the border with Burma is a large market selling a whole range of items, including many traditional products.

This is the face powder used by the Burmese. It is called Thanaka and is made by grinding the bark of a particular plant on a special stone.

 Appearances can be deceptive...

 What a pair of tourists!

 

It is common to see groups of young monks like these. There is a group of them that go past my house at around 6.45 each morning on their rounds begging for alms. So if my alarm does not go off and I have not already been woken by the next door dog or the washing machine across the road, their chanting will let me know it is time to get up!

 

The border post - this marks the entrance to the bridge that leads over the Moei river into Burma. Nearby is the immigration office where I go every three months to have my visa extended.

 

The other side

 

The Reclining Buddha

Near the border is the temple that houses the Reclining Buddha

 

You should know the meaning of this pose now...

 

 

Someone needs to get up there with a sponge and give his face a jolly good clean!

Buddha Pose 2

 

Vitarkha Mudra (teaching). One or both hands held up with thumb and forefinger touching