excited to see this

inconvenient alarm clocks

first it was roosters with messed up circadian rhythms crowing from 2am until 9pm.
now, it's territorial geckos chasing each other up and down the walls chirping like song birds through the night.

geckos galore

phillip

nathan, peter, andrew, and mark

ball of yarn

the sun, like a ball of yarn, unravels its strings

in laziness, yawning like an orange cat

muted, hot light overfills the van

the children are stuck to me in their sleep

sleepy from rice and heat

it’s as if the last year was a dream

wrapped and rewrapped in warm tones

Becky

my little angel

the most precious little girl

pick up the phone

You know this place,
you know this gloom?
We've been here before.
When life is a loop,
you're in a room without a door.

Pick up the phone and answer me at last.
Today I will step out of your past.

""Trouble that we've come to know will stay with us"",
with every step it slowly grows.
Rub off the rust.

Pick up the phone and answer me at last.
Today I will step out of your past.

- The Notwist "Pick Up the Phone"

chiang mai

ban san visual

the courtyard

phillip

Ban San Faan

The orphanage we're at is called Ban San Faan which means Home of Fulfilled Dreams. The kids here are amazing. At first they were a little shy, but within the span of one car ride, they were grabbing our hands and asking us questions. Since English teachers who have volunteered here in the past lived in the same home as the children (what we're doing also), the older kids speak really good English. The orphanage itself is nice by Western standards and amazing for Thailand, especially compared to the houses we live in in Surat. I think these next couple of months will be a time of growth but also of peace. The grounds are beautiful. I'll be in the middle of rice paddies playing games and teaching English to these adorable angels, and I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be.

home sweet home

finally some pictures from Surat Thani where we live. much more to come.

pictures of the king are everywhere. EVERYWHERE. 

painting by the river

my masterpiece

food at the night market where we eat every night

Thanks to the lovely Faith Zimmerman for showing me this song. I just watched the video today and it makes me laugh. Really dig this.

Pad Kaprow Moo Gai Dow

This is my favorite food. I've eaten it almost every day since I've been here. I know moo means pork and gai dow means "egg star" or fried egg. This is absolutely delicious and takes the lady who makes it about 5 minutes to make. 


Ingredients

2 cups pork meat
5 fresh  Thai chile peppers
3 fresh Japaleno chile peppers
1-2 small bulbs garlic
1/2 teaspoon white pepper powder
3 cups coarsely chopped fresh Thai basil leaves
2 tablespoons fish sauce
1/2 teaspoon white sugar or palm sugar
Method

Pound jalapeno chile peppers in a  mortar and pestle (don't over-pulverize them). Finely chop fresh Thai chile peppers and garlic. Heat oil at high heat in a wok or skillet. Add garlic, jalapenos and Thai chiles, and white pepper powder. After garlic becomes golden brown and fragrant, add the pork and fry until cooked. Add fish sauce, sugar and fresh basil leaves. Fry for just a few minutes (or less) until thet basil is cooked. Remove from heat and serve over Thai jasmine rice. Often served with a fried egg on the side. For added flavor you can add some oyster sauce (optional).

Thailand sparkles

This weekend at Khao Sok National Rainforest: night safari to see monkeys and jungle cats, rope swing into a clear, warm river with limestone cliffs scratching the sky and covering us in their shadows, riding to a waterfall on an elephant named Pepsi, and confusing stars with fire flies - they’re both so bright and ubiquitous. 

Also, red tide is one of the most spectacular things I've ever witnessed. A few weekends ago at Kanam, we went for a night swim in the ocean. Limbs moved and ribbons of sparkling glow appeared. Like tiny fireworks exploding. In short, it was magic. Real magic erupting in the sea. 

If you want to treat yourself, check out the song "The Vagabond" by Air. Gotta love that harmonica.

We have only today

I’ve been in Thailand for a little over a month now. Currently, I’m on a sleeper train that sounds like the smoke monster from LOST. The sunset tonight was pink and purple over palm trees’ silhouettes. Ash from fires drift into the window and settle on my skin. Vendors step on and off the train selling all sorts of food and drinks. Although I have my doubts about how well I’ll sleep, I’m liking the allure of this new experience. 

Now, for an update: When I first arrived, I was having a hard time enjoying anything (besides the food), because I felt trapped. Locked in for an entire year. A year is a long time to commit to something, at least for me. Not that I don’t want to be here, I’ve just realized that I’m more keen on devising plans than actually following through on them. The anticipation and excitement give me such a thrill; I’ve always enjoyed Christmas Eve more than Christmas itself. I love having something to look forward to. Almost immediately after getting settled in, I was planning new trips and looking at grad schools. 

Right before I left, I read a book my friend Nick had sent to Mitch and me. Or to Gus-Gus and Pollywog as he addressed it on the package. The book, written by Richard Alpert or Ram Dass as he became known, is titled Be Here Now. The prevailing philosophy melts aspects of Hinduism, Buddhism and Christianity together. By living in the moment, not focusing on regrets or worrying about the future, Ram Dass says we can attain enlightenment or the Way which is how he interpreted much of Jesus’ messages. The book has some illuminating ideas that I’ve been trying to focus on - to truly live my life instead of just planning it. Mother Theresa said: “Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.”

The more I’ve been focusing on these ideas, the more content I’ve become. And instead of dwelling on how much I miss certain people at home, I’ve been thinking about how much God has blessed me with amazing relationships.

We have two and a half months of vacation before school resumes, and I had already made plans for what I wanted to do: scuba certification in Ko Tao, full moon party on Ko Phan Yan, hiking the rainforest at Koh Sok National Park, Chiang Mai for Sangkran (Buddhist New Year), and then to Laos, Cambodia, and the Philippines. 

Since I’ve gotten here, I’ve been asking God to help me just “be here now” and be ready for whatever He has designed for me. The more I’ve been praying about this, the more I’ve been feeling God telling me to stop outlining everything and to let him do some planning. I feel led to volunteer this time to God. So, this week we’re off to Phuket to catch a plane to Chiang Mai where we’ll be living, teaching, and playing in an orphanage for two months. 

It’s crazy how the steps fell into place. One night I was lying in bed, and I realized this is what God wants me to do for now, the next night I emailed some orphanages, and at 7 30 the next morning (today), a woman called me asking when I could be at the orphanage. 

I still want to follow through on my previous plans, but for now, this is where I’m headed. I am so excited to begin! 

Small things with great love

I have been reading a little bit about Mother Theresa's life. Occasionally, I'm going to post some of her quotes which I think are important to think about. She fully lived a life of love and service to others. Same thing I suppose. Total sacrifice of herself for love of the Lord.

I want to get the last part of this quote tattooed on my arm: "We can do no great things; only small things with great love."

"Do not think that love, in order to be genuine, has to be extraordinary. What we need is to love without getting tired."

"I want you to be concerned about your next door neighbor. Do you know your next door neighbor?"