First 10 days back in Thailand

Our return to Thailand, after a three year hiatus, began on Jan. 15 with an almost 16 hour flight from Chicago to Hong Kong after departing from Minneapolis on Sunday morning. How do they keep an airplane up in the air for such a length of time as that and is anyone awake up there in the cockpit? From Hong Kong to Bangkok was a mere blink of the eye lasting only 3 hours, however, we were blessed to be upgraded free of charge to business class. Was that ever appreciated after being so cramped on board in coach for the long leg of our trip! We arrived at our hotel in Bangkok very early on Tuesday morning. Try figuring that one out when your body is virtually delirious from jet lag.

The first few days we spent trying to find an apartment in Bangkok for the time we will be teaching at Santisuk English School. We also reunited with our missionary friends, Todd and Karen and the rest of the staff at the school. At the end of our first week, after getting adjusted to the time change, we traveled by Bangkok Airways up north to Chiang Mai. We spent a few days meeting with some friends we had made on our last trip and visiting many of our favorite outdoor restaurants.

For the last two days of our week's stay before flying back to Bangkok, we were able to join the prayer team sent from our church, Bethlehem Baptist, to pray during the yearly ELIC conference being held there with over 600 missionaries in attendance. It was a privilege to spend concentrated time praying for the Lord's blessings on all the activities conducted during the conference and for individuals who came with their requests.

Soon after arriving back in Bangkok we moved into our apartment and attended the church service at the school which is conducted in the Thai language on Friday nights, preceded by a dinner fellowship where we had the opportunity to meet all the members.

We didn't qualify for priority seating. The symbol on far left is for a monk.

Some things look vaguely similar in Bangkok to that in the U.S. Does anybody want to tell us how to use the Skytrain?

Same high caloric temptations in Thailand.

Some packaged a bit differently.

Santisuk Silom English School located downtown Bangkok on 10th floor of the Pilot Pen building.

Looks like the "Lego" contractor left out a few pieces!

 

This apple looks like it's been on steroids, but Gary was sure it's organic!

Let's make sure to get your grilled chickens all in a row now.

Our favorite outdoor chicken barbecue restaurants. The smoke coming off the grill can be seen and smelled for a couple blocks away making it easy to find.



At our favorite Burmese outdoor restaurant we chose #s 18, 19 and 21; a bit strange, but very delicious.

Cooks busy at work preparing our meal.

Can anyone guess which dish is which?




Ordering Thai Tea outside Burmese Restaurant.

World-renown orthopedic trauma surgeon relayed to us of the many surgeries he has done on tourists over the years who have decided to try driving motorcycles in Thailand. So we decided to stick with riding the less adventurous three wheeled motorized tuk tuks and red truck songthaews.

Usually a little over a dollar to use the red trucks or songthaews when we got tired of walking.

Lyndell suggested a good hour long foot massage for those aging aching feet.

Didn't anticipate the massage involved moving the skin fold up to the knees; boy was she ever strong.

Never really heard of goat coffee before.

Our favorite blue noodle restaurant, lime squeezed into the blue anchan juice makes it turn  purple.

Yes, Mom we ate healthy in Chiang Mai, especially here at our favorite organic/vegetarian  restaurant, although a bit more pricey than the outdoor vendors at about $3.00 per entree.

Worship service in Chiang Mai. The son of the local pastor who is himself a pastor in Minneapolis was the guest preacher. People from about 14 different nationalities in attendance every Sunday.

Visited Juniper Tree retreat center for missionaries in Chiang Mai.

Session with prayer team members (in foreground) at ELIC conference.

Former security guard friend from our previous stay in Chiang Mai.

Ability to remove the entire soft meat of the coconut from the shell captured attention from many spectators.

Notice the black ribbon on leg of elephant statue.  The people of Thailand are in  the midst of a year long mourning process after the death of their beloved king who had reigned for 70 years. Most of the people are wearing clothes that are only black or white for the entire country's mourning period.