Turning the pages

Laos

harper1 — Wed, 3 Jul 2013 22:34:00 GMT

7^th April, 2013

The sound of rain pouring from the drains is such a welcoming sound after the 40 degree day on Don Det, Laos. I lay in my hammock on the balcony of my bungalow, kindle in hand and I couldn’t be more relaxed. This weirdly fantastic island located in the far south, is the paradise of Laos.

Today we toured the whole island on bicycle and every inch of it was as different as the last. There were houses made from cardboard that neighboured a building resembling something you would find in the French countryside. There were cows roaming freely and pet pigs of all sizes.

The tourists clearly brought in the majority of the money for the island, but funnily enough travellers and tourist had not populated this paradise to extremes which was great. Every second family had turned part of their home into some level of guesthouse and/or café and if they knew about stocks and shares, I’m sure one of them would be in the ‘WIFI ZONE sign’ company. If they weren’t already a guesthouse or café, they would be a booking agent for the many activities offered on and around the island.

Our days were spent bike riding around the island, reading, swimming, hammocking and a lot of eating. I swear every 10 minutes we would discuss which restaurant we would go to next and what we were going to have. Meals are so cheap here, not as much as Thailand though, and the food isn’t as good in my opinion. You get a baguette with every meal whether it’s a soup, a curry, a noodle dish or even a sandwich – with a baguette on the side… well that’s probably a little of an exaggeration. It was quite strange because as soon as you cross the border back into Thailand, you will not find a baguette even if you track down a French Baker and buy him the ingredients, Seriously!

My book of choice whilst inhabiting the Island on the Mekong was ‘The Beach’ by Alex Garland and as most of you would already know, this book is about a young English backpacker traveller Thailand and discovers a map to a ‘secret island’. It was set on an island off the coast of Thailand– therefore I found it quite fitting. There was something quite special about reading this book whilst in such a peaceful and relaxed frame of mind that I don’t think I would have enjoyed it as much otherwise.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Beach_(novel)

Next to the reception lived a family whose elders helped with several things like the cooking in the guesthouse restaurant and cleaning etc. We would find them in the same hammocks day in day out, attending to their children and rocking them to sleep under the main house. There were three small children and two older. Every day we would stop and play with the babies who were always so happy and there smiles and laughs made us appreciate the smallest things in life, for these families who have barely nothing, can brighten up anyone’s day and give anyone a glimmer of hope.

A 'place' I have visited

harper1 — Wed, 3 Jul 2013 13:49:16 GMT

Hi! I'm Brooke from a small town on the west coast of Australia and I describe myself as one who wears many hats as I've worked in many positions from retail to construction and all to support my travel bug. I love the outdoors, I've spent three and a half years out of the past 5 years travelling North, South, Central America, and Asia and have discovered some truly magical places and witnessed amazing moments. I studied photography in school where I immersed myself in film photography and seeing the pictures develop in the chemical trays was like a kid at Christmas.
When this scholarship opened up, I felt it was the right time for me to apply. There's so much for me to learn and gain from this and I know that this may be the case for all entrants, but I would grab hold of this experience with all that I have. I love challenges and get such a kick out of achieving my goals, that working with such an organisation and an incredible photographer at that, is just the education I need.
Being able to capture and preserve a moment in time is what I love best about photography and believe that with this opportunity I can truly portray the feelings in images in the way they deserve.

Waai Chiang Mai

harper1 — Fri, 31 May 2013 14:15:00 GMT

Waai Chiang Mai?

Curious; adjective.
-Desiring knowledge, understanding.

1st April 2013

I arrive in Chiang Mai not only with my luggage but with anticipation for the following 6 weeks.
And what an amazing 6 weeks it was.

The Living Place was my hostel for the next 7 days and I immediately loved it and felt so welcome. The owners were artists and musicians, their artwork covered the walls of this 3 story guesthouse and they treated their guests like they were long-time friends.
https://www.facebook.com/TheLivingPlaceChiangMai

The first Friday I was there they put on dinner for everyone. Ari, cooked an incredible vegetarian meal that could have probably catered half of Chiang Mai. Local friends and ex pats came in and joined us at periods throughout the night. Dessert was an activity made for everyone. It involved us sitting around the table rolling balls of mysterious dough and putting them into a cooker of a milky green liquid. (pandanus leaves turned the coconut milk green and was a very light and delightful taste). The dough would cook for about 10 minutes and then was time to eat. I didn’t think much of the dough like balls, but the juice was lovely!

I spent that weekend wandering around Chiang Mai with new hostel friends and then I was on the lookout to find my school that I would be attending the following Monday for a 4 week TEFL course, (teaching English as a foreign language). After asking for some ‘guidance’ – not directions, from the US consulate, I continued. I then hear a man stop behind on his motorbike saying ‘excuse me, you remember me?, I was one give you direction’. Instinctively I ignored him, then realized, yes this man was the one I just spoke to. He told me he was going in my direction to eat and that he could give me ride. (I know what you are all thinking, don’t get on the back of a strangers bike Brooke.) This did go through my brain, but I figured, if I can’t trust a guard from the US consulate, who could I trust? He took me to where I needed to go and I walked right in.

The staff of the school/training centre were extremely friendly and they showed me around the school and introduced me to the director/Thai teacher. I felt so much more at ease after my meeting and enjoyed the remainder of my weekend.

FIRST DAY GITTERS!
In my hostel the previous weekend I had met a couple of English girls who were also starting the same course on Monday, so we arranged to meet in the morning and walk to school together. Our first day was great, meeting everyone was my favourite part and hearing each person’s story as to why they had come to Chiang Mai and complete a TEFL certificate was inspiring.

Our four weeks consisted of several grammar inputs, Thai lessons and 6 observed teaching practices. The first 2 weeks were fairly straight forward with preparation for our teaching practices. Then the second two weeks were crazy! We were to create lesson plans for our given topic, find and cut out pictures for flash cards, draw up a whiteboard plan and start thinking up ways of how we were going to completely screw up our lesson.

Two of our lessons were at a government school about 45 minutes outside of Chiang Mai with one of the classes being primary school and the other kindergarten. The primary class was one of my favourites. The students were interested and co-operative. Kindergarten was a completely different story as you could probably imagine. 35 four year olds who i'm sure had been given a bag of sweets before class, were challenging to say the least. I had a bag of props to go with my lesson to keep them interested and I personally thought I did fairly well with my lesson, but with the looks of my fellow classmates as they returned from their classes were faces of defeat, emotional exhaustion and they were utterly flabbergasted, i began to feel the same way. It was quite a scene.
Another of our teaching practices were held a Chinese temple school. It wasn’t a school as such but more of a community centre. The small classes were made up of about 4 to 8 students ranging from the ages of 5 to about 40 (i couldn't really tell to be honest).

The last 2 teaching practices were held funnily enough at a correctional centre for juveniles. I think these were the most rewarding. These lessons would have been the first English instruction they had ever been given and it was extremely tough. Some students picked it up straight away, others weren’t as quick. During one of my lessons, towards the end I had not realised that I had accrued about 15 other in-mates who seemed to genuinely want to learn. They were not apart of any classes, so they stayed a little distant but their faces and eyes were following my instruction and I felt extremely ‘warm and fuzzy’. I must be doing something right.

After 4 weeks, I became a qualified TEFL teacher and I couldn’t have enough thanks and praise for this company – SEETEFL. I highly recommend John, Ying and his team at SEETEFL and urge anyone interested in this course to give them a shout or send an email.
www.seetefl.com

BUDDHISM AND THAI CULTURE
Throughout my time in Chiang Mai I had learnt a lot about Buddhism and Thai Culture and I wished I had learnt sooner. Small things like Thai etiquette went a long way. I felt like my eyes had been opened for the first time since arriving in Thailand and I began to enjoy my time a lot more. A few things I learnt about Thai culture in case you would like to know, were things such as; touching of the heads – This is most sacred part of your body, babies and toddlers are okay obviously but as they start reaching about 8 and 9, it’s not a good idea. Feet- The lowest part of your body and should not be blatantly pointed at any authority figures and should not be put on anything like resting on a coffee table for example.

Then we have the title of my post ‘Waai’-ing, (I loved this part of their culture) Waaing involved two hands together in the pray position, with index fingers touching your upper lip/end of your nose and bowing your head a little saying Sawadee ka at the same time (hello). There are three levels of the waai; the first I just explained, then the second is used for older family members/bosses etc and is done moving the thumbs up to touch the nose. Lastly the third level is used for the Buddha and The King and is done by placing your thumbs to touch the middle of your forehead a little above your eyebrows. In this case, you would be on your knees, so you bow your head to touch the ground and place your hands beside your head and you complete this step 3 times in a row. These are all used as a sign of respect. If someone waai’ed you, you waai them back. Just a bit of trivia.

Tourist Turn Local

harper1 — Fri, 31 May 2013 14:13:00 GMT

28th Feb

Today is a new day, and with a new day becomes a whole lot more of the unknown, even to the wisest of minds.

Lets start with an iced tea! would you like a red iced tea? or a pearl milk tea? or perhaps and iced coffee tea?? Either one is fantastic! preferably the latter. Who ever thought of making an iced tea, coffee flavoured is brilliant.

Sometimes you need a breather and sometimes those breathers consist of about 5 hours of "travel planning", (facebooking), "blogging" (facebooking), "flight booking" (facebooking) and a whole of people watching through the large windows in new comforts of our hostel.

Its 5pm! where has the time gone?? I was blogging guys! Geez tough crowd, but you'll be happy to know Kayla and myself did pick ourselves up and with a little bit of 'smartening up' we made our way to the State Tower of which has one of the most incredible views over Bangkok and just happened to be down the road. A shortcut and a back door revealed a crowd all hovering near a couple of elevators. Dont be fooled into thinking your going to get in though! The clothes you've been wandering around all day in? Is not going to suffice.

You need to smarten up people! Judgement day as the elevators open and we are sorely denied entry as her head looks to our feet. A bad call on our part with the choice of havaianas. (flip flops). No worries, we'll be better prepared for next time!

NOTE: When going to check out the view from the State Tower, dress smart, meaning no shorts or casual tshirts and no flip flops, that even applies to you, ladies!

NOTE: Do not eat there, get something before or after. Stay for one drink though to compliment the incredible view. ($$$$$)

NOTE: Future visitors to Bangkok- Address: State Tower Bangkok, 1055 Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500, http://www.lebua.com/pages/photo-gallery

Spoilt for choice was an understatement when hitting the busy streets on Silom Rd near the Sala Daeng BTS (train station). A plethora of food ment we should not walk up and down the street like a professional ballet teacher pointing out the good and bad or a raise of the eyebrows to suggest we may be interested or even the squinting of the eyes suggesting we just dont understand it, but that we should however just choose a place and sit down.

My sweet american friend Kayla (who you ment previously) is with me tonight, along with a friend of a friend of hers, Mackie. Mackie, also from the United States, has been living in Bangkok for close to a year working as an English teacher. We were so lucky to have her as a host tonight! After dinner and dont forget dessert, ('rotee'. A banana and egg pancake, folded and cut up with condensed milk. AMAZING!!) We jumped backed on the BTS to our next stop

NOTE:

http://www.travelfish.org/eatandmeet/thailand/bangkok_and_surrounds/bangkok/bangrak/eat

Rush Hour All Hours

harper1 — Fri, 31 May 2013 14:11:00 GMT

Bangkok really knows how to overwhelm you, but its amazing how quickly you feel okay with your surroundings.I arrived mid afternoon into Bangkok with just me and a 13kg backpack. Taxi rank - crazy!! but the most efficient taxi service i've ever come across. So pat on the back to the 'official taxi rank'.

NOTE: Aspiring bangkok travellers- use the official service, have your accomodation and number written down, they'll call ahead for you, its safe and easy. Price; a half an hour journey will be around 200 thb + 50thb for driver and about 110thb for 2 toll roads)

I arrive at my hostel but don't expect your driver to pull over much or park for that matter. You'll be pointed to your hotel/hostel and its time to pay and dash through traffic. (I dont think all trips would be so haste). I walk in and hands down.. the most bright, clean, welcoming hostel i think i've been to (and that's a lot!) http://www.saphaipae.com

First day in Bangkok, i met a lovely american girl named Kayla and the sweetest chinese girl named Jo Xian, we ventured to the BTS train station and stopped off to take the ferry to the Maharaj Pier, this is where we walked to The Grand Palace and The Temple of the Emerald Buddha. As i was arriving here i remembered i had been here before!! A school trip when i was 17! A trip through memory lane assured me that the site is just as spectacular to me at 25 as it was when i was 17.

NOTE: On visiting the Grand Palace and a lot of temples for that matter, Be sure to cover your shoulders and knees and no tight pants. If you do get there however and you dont abide by the rules you can easily pay a 200thb deposit and borrow a sarong and/or shirt for your visit!

NOTE: tourist ferry is 40thb per ride, or if you can find the local ferry, you'll save a whopping 25thb, do the maths!

Its time to play chicken for the next few hours as we roam the streets of Bangkok, dodging cars, bikes, tuk tuks, small trucks loaded high to illegal capacity in most other countries, will only become natural.

Its getting late in the afternoon and we meet up with Jo Xian's chinese friends in Chinatown! As the lights become alive, so do the streets and the abundance of street stalls serving everything under the chinese lanterns from fruit to pigs snouts to the contents of intestines in a soup of course!