On to Phuket and the beaches

We spent the last 2 days in Chiang Mai in the North - very beautiful - more rainforest. We took the overnight train from Bangkok Saturday night - very loud bumpy for sleeping but a great experience. Sash was on the top berth, I was on the bottom. (She's younger - that's fair!!) We met a really nice couple from England on a 12 month around the world trip. HOW GREAT IS THAT??!!

On Sunday we booked into the Lai Thai Guest House - nice and more Thai-ish than our Khao San Road accommodation. We walked around the area for a while, did some more shopping (this is a shopper's Mecca), then went back to sit around the pool for a few minutes and then had an oil massage - heavenly!!

Monday we took a one day trip. Started with an hour bus ride to an elephant compound where we rode an elephant for an hour - really cool. Our little guide "Haun", who rode on the elephant's neck, was so cute. He was very happy, singing, laughing and generally enjoying himself and entertaining us.

Then we went to a village tribe and saw how they live, watched them weaving silk into beautiful pillow cases, bed spreads and of course, buying some of there wares. These people are refugees from Burma and speak their own language but do not speak Thai. Really interesting.

Then it was off to trek to a beautiful waterfall where we stopped for about a half hour. Some people swam but it was too cold for this Canuck and I didn't want to sit in a wet suit for the rest of the trip.

We then stopped at a roadside restaurant for lunch with choice of fried noodles (very spicy), frid rice (not spicy) or noodle soup (spicy). It was very good but did play a little havoc with my stomach!!

Then our final leg of the trip was on a bamboo raft down a lazy river that had a few little rapids. We got wet of course but that made it all the more fun!! Sash and I sat up front and 2 ladies from Finland sat behind us. Our young guide "Man" was a fabulous navigator and managed to keep the boat on track!!

We met a couple from Israel, a family from Finland (including the 2 ladies on our raft) and another couple from Finland. Great to meet so many wonderful people.

Our driver then dropped us off at the train station in Chiang Mai so we could catch the overnight train back to Bangkok.

The ride back was better than the ride here and I even slept. So great to see the countryside. Arrived back in Bangkok at 6:30. Met a couple of Canadian girls on the train and we took a cab back to Khao San Rd. to unload some of our stuff.

Flying to Phuket today. More later.......

Off to Chiang Mai

We are going to have an interesting experience taking an overnight train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai in the North of Thailand. We are in second class and have an upper and lower berth. Apparently the air conditioning is freezing so we are preparing to wear layers of clothing.

We have one night booked in at a guest house and then we are playing the rest of the time, only 2 days actually, by ear!!

Should be fun!!

That's all for now.

Day 1 & 2 Thailand Adventure

We arrived very early Thursday morning and checked into out hotel. Had 4 hours sleep and got up for our breakfast - good but mostly cold!! Spent a few hours at the rooftop pool - very nice and oh, so what I needed!! I LOVE THE SUN!!

Decided that we better get some activities organized for the rest of our trip so we booked a day trip around Bangkok for Friday, then booked a trip North to Chiang Mai on the overnight train ($23) on Saturday night getting in early Sunday morning. We booked a guest house for Sunday night in Chiang Mai ($21)and booked the overnight train back to Bangkok Monday night arriving early Tuesday morning when we will fly to Phuket ($55). That's all we know so far.

Khaosan Rd. where our hotel is in Bangkok is about 400 metres long but is lined with vendor after vendor selling all kinds of name brand rip offs for unbelievably low prices - e.g. rip off Birkenstock sandles for $7.50. The food vendors selling chicken skewers for 60 cents, banana crepes covered in chocolate for 60 cents were so yummy!! We had a 1/2 hour foot massage for $3. Amazing. There are so many tourists from all over the world - mostly back packers it seems - all shapes and sizes. The street is very dirty, busy and crowded but really interesting to do people watching!!

Again we were up late 2:30 a.m. and had to be up to catch a bus at 6:30 for our day trip. Our day trip consisted of seeing a few Buddhist temples, ruins of the ancient capital, royal palace, the largest Golden Buddha in Thailand and a reclining Buddha (kind of tired of seeing Buddhas and temples!!) We had the option of taking a 1/2hour elephant ride but declined and will do that either in Chiang Mai or when we go south to the beaches. The summer royal palace was amazing and we got some great pictures which will have to be down loaded at a later date. We met 2 guys - one from Washington D.C. and his friend from Mexico and also a really nice Canadian girl from Vancouver who is a casting director. We had a 3 hour boat cruise back to Bangkok including a Thai buffet lunch. It was quite good - great to taste Thai cuisine.

It's sad to see these elephants in Bangkok being chained up but I guess it's part of life here in Thailand and a way to make money. I know the ends doesn't justify the means but life in Thailand isn't easy for anyone - elephants or people. We also saw litle kids selling flowers to people in cars on incredibly busy streets as well as at the temples. Life is really different here.

Tonight we will have another foot massage and hopefully hook up with Cameron my contact in Bangkok. Tomorrow we will go to one of the markets early and then head to the train station in the afternoon to board our overnight train to the north. That should be an interesting experience.

We are asking different tourists about their experiences and getting some good advice. The girl from Vancouver is going to go to the market with us in the morning. She has been there before so it will be good to have someone who knows the ropes. The vendors expect you to barter with them but I feel bad doing that when everything is so dirt cheap!!

Well, time to go. Will keep you posted.

Thailand or Bust!!

We have arrived!! Sasha arrived at 10 p.m. and I followed close behind at 11:15 p.m.!! It was SO GREAT to see her and get caught up. We have been yakking ever since we got here and now we are at a 24 hour internet cafe at 3:30 a.m. No time to sleep,,,,,Sasha says 'she'll sleep in the sun!!!' We'll be doing that tomorrow!!

Tomorrow we have to get flights, hotels, etc. booked for where we are going to go. We are kind of winging it but that's fun!!

The hotel we are in in Bangkok is called Buddy Lodge - it's pretty basic but clean and too expensive for Thailand. So we will be looking for something cheaper and more 'Thai-ish'! as we go along.

We arrived late but this street we are staying on is really dirty and very interesting 'characters' hanging around. I'm sure when the daylight appears (which will be very soon!!) we will see much more!!

Gotta run. Talk soon.

From the sublime to the painful

I have been in Seoul for a couple of days before I go to Thailand to meet Sasha. Yesterday I got a massage which I love of course (have I mentioned that before:) I tell you these Korean masseurs and masseuses are small in stature but have hands like vice grips!! Yesterday was no exception!! It was sublime but definitely there was pain to be had primarily because, as I was told, I was very tight. You would think that I would be relaxed since I am on vacation but .......not the case.

Anyway today I had a facial and I THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO CRUSH MY SKULL!!! Now as I was lying there, freezing first of all until the heated bed heated up, thinking that I should tell her when I felt like my head was going to cave in but for some masochistic reason, I kept thinking 'Oh this must be good for me'. WHAT AM I NUTS?? I am sure she is very good at what she does with all her tapping, slappng and finger clapping but it just wasn't my cup of tea (green tea of course)!! I got out of there pretty fast.

Tomorrow I am booked in for a tanning session, pedicure and hairstyle. Then I take the airport limo (bus) to the airport to fly to Bangkok to meet Sasha. I talked to her today and we are both giddy with excitement. She is not in the best of health so I hope she gets better SOON. Not great to be flying when you are not well!!

I will try to update this blog as my Thailand travels unfold.

Later.....

Birthday Bash, Thailand Thrills

Sorry, it's been a while since I have updated you on what's going on in South Korea.

Well, another birthday has come and gone. The unfortunate part about birthdays here is that you are another year older than you really are. HUH??? When Korean babies are born, they celebrate their 1st birthday and then when the New Year comes, they celebrate another year so you can be as much as 2 years older here in Korea. WHO CAME UP WITH THAT IDEA?? Bummer!! Anyway, I am OLD ENOUGH in Canadian years so forget 'going with the Korean flow' on this one.

I was at second week of Winter Camp at English camp and the teachers and kids had a surprise birthday party for me (pictures will come much later not in this instalment). Well it was supposed to be a surprise but I inadvertently walked in on the preparations. Well I was just in the next 'open' room and could hear screeching noises which was the kids trying to blow up balloons. They had balloons, 'Happy Birthday Heather' on the board, cake, and even firecrackers (which come with the cake). The 2 co-teachers each gave me a gift (T-shirt from the Phillipines from Josephine who is from there and body wash and lotion from Sang Hee) Sheilagh's gift was the cake (yummy!!) After the party the teachers and I went out for pizza (that's the kind of meal I like - eat your dessert first and then the main course!!:) Then we went to a Norabong (Karaoke room). That was a lot of fun and my first experience with a Norabong. Koreans really LOVE to sing and do it with great gusto - whether or not they are on tune!!

The Saturday following my birthday, one of my teachers from the Middle School,Kwang Soon, came to visit me with her 2 daughters who are so delightful - Ga Wan and Lan Joo. They brought me a beautiful purple necklace and earrings set and a little handmade treasure box (this was given to Lan Joo but she wanted me to have it and she made hand made paper flowers for inside - A REAL TREASURE!!) They also brought a cake. It seems to be tradition in Korea to bring a cake to a party but it does not get eaten??? Anyway I ended up bringing it to church the next day AND IT DID GET EATEN THERE!! Hurray!! Nothing like letting everyone at church know it's your birthday AND bringing your own cake. Subtlety was never a strong suit for me:)

Winter Camp finished on Friday the 13th - how appropo and I was officially on holidays. I had the teachers (3) over for lunch to celebrate. That was fun!!

This week I have been 'lollygagging' around getting ready for my trip to Thailand with my fun friend Sasha. I bought a new (large) backpack - why do I ALWAYS pack so much!!??

Wednesday I went into Gwangju to have lunch with Kwang Soon and her daughters for her birthday. Then I got my nails done and then met 2 other teachers from my Middle School, Mina and Yong Hee, for dinner and a movie. We saw 'In Her Shoes' - good movie!! It explores the relationship between 2 very different sisters and in the end 'blood is thicker than water' - what exactly does that expression mean??

Today I have been finishing packing and doing last minute things before heading to Seoul where I will spend a couple of days before flying out to Bangkok to meet Sasha. I am SO EXCITED but a little nervous too. New experiences: getting to the airport OK and on time, finding Sasha in Bangkok airport, etc. Most of all (besides crazy excited to see Sasha) I am going to the SUN!! FANTASTIC!! I DO love the sun!!

That's it for now. Catch ya later.

I am INSPIRED!!

I cry a lot!! Easily!! Much to my chagrin most times!!

Today was no exception. I was alone and instead of going to church I listened to a Christmas Eve service from my church in Canada and heard my beautiful daughter's amazing God-given voice singing Christmas Carols. I am always blessed when I hear her sing but that wasn't what inspired me or brought me to tears today.

Today.........I watched Oprah on television. Oprah is well known for covering topics and having guests on who overcome tragedies and do astonishing things. This was very true today.

Her first guest was Melissa Etheridge who is a breast cancer survivor. She related her story and how she has triumphed over the big "C" word. Melissa is a celebrity and although she has an amazing story, I am way more inspired by the non- celebrities of the world.

Her first (non-celebrity)guest was Kyle Maynard (and his parents). Kyle was born with a congenital birth defect that caused him to be born with only stumps for arms and legs. His parents made a brave (some might call it crazy) decision. They committed to allowing Kyle to figure out how to best live his life with his physical challenges "with no special treatment". As a result, Kyle accompished things in his life that are unbelievable - he played football, wrestled, takes care of all his personal grooming, types faster than most people, etc. etc. Kyles motto and the title of his autobiography is "No Excuses". I LOVE THAT!! He NEVER allowed his challenges to stop him from accomplishing his goals. When he was wrestling, and at first lost every match, his goal was to never be pinned and.......he never was!! He learned how to read his opponents and to eventually WIN. His 3 younger sisters were there and gave him wonderful, heartfelt tributes like "he is my big brother who is the most inpiring person I know!"

Kyle sees himself as normal (what is that anyway??) and dates (as long as the women see and treat him as normal)and has even modelled for Abercrombie and Fitch (they called him). He believes God made him this way so he could go and speak and let others know that they can accomplish anything they set their minds to.

Oprah's second guest was Jim McLaren. In university Jim was a strapping 6'5" all American football player - a strong, amazing athlete. Then tragedy struck. One day on his way home from school, he was hit by a city bus and after 8 days in a coma he was told that he had lost the lower part of his left leg. Jim rose to the challenge and with fortitude and determination became a champion winning marathons using a prosthetic leg.

Just when he thought he had made it and was back in life, tragedy struck again. He was in a marathon and in the cycling stage of the race when he was hit by a truck. This time he was told he was a quadriplegic and would never feel or walk again. He had lost the use of everything below his neck.

He admitted to feeling defeated and that he had a period of 8 months of a serious cocaine addiction. But again, the human spirit within him rose and determined that his physical challenges would not daunt his spirit. He fought back and has amazed the doctors who had given him the earlier grim diagnosis. They have called him a 'living miracle'.

His story also gave hope and encouragement to Oprah's final guest - Emmanuel from Ghana. Emmanuel was born with only a stump for a right leg and in his country babies with physical deformities are to be left to die in the forest. Emmanuel's mother saw beyond her son's physical status and, against all odds, chose to raise him with the utmost love and encouragement.

Through an organization in Ghana for disabled people who united Jim and Emmanuel, Emmanuel rode 400 miles in 10 days on a bicycle to increase awareness for the plight of those so easily shunned and forgotten. He was able to raise enough money to buy 800 wheelchairs for many of the underprivileged.

Emmanuel and Jim have had a movie made about their lives "Emmanuel's Gift" and it opened in Chicago in October 2005 (everything is late getting to Korea!!)

I am INSPIRED!! I cried and cried. It shames me to think about how much I complain - "I'm lonely, my muscles hurt from working out, I fell on the ice, there's nothing to do in Yeonggwang, etc. etc. etc." Wah, wah, wah!! Boo-hoo, poor baby!! Get off your lazy duff and do something to help someone else Heather.

I am so BLESSED!! I am healthy, I have fabulous family and friends, I have a warm house, clothing, bed, food, education, money, opportunity to travel, I come from the best country in the world (some would beg to differ, I know), the list goes on. Lord, forgive me when I whine.

Are you inspired?? Go back and read the bolded words which should inspire you to live life with and on purpose. Are you letting it happen or making it happen? I choose to MAKE IT HAPPEN!

My first step is to find someone else who is lonely and make a difference in his or her life. I was out for dinner with a Korean lady last night who I know is lonely. She will be my new 'chin-gu' (friend). We can make a difference in each other's life.

Melissa Etheridge closed Oprah's program by singing a song off her latest album "The Road Less Travelled". The song is entitled 'I Run For Life'.

Are you running for life or lying in bed with the covers pulled over your head? Are you jumping for joy or sitting having a pity party? Come on........be inspired. Make your own kind of music. Sing your own special song. Love WELL. Laugh OFTEN. Dance LIKE NOBODY'S WATCHING!!

I am INSPIRED. How about YOU?

Happy New Year from Yeonggwang

Well another year has come and gone - unbelievable!! Why is it that the older you get the faster the years go (or so it seems!!)? I am waxing philosophical here because I am soon to have another birthday.

Life in Yeonggwang remains the same - pretty uneventful. I have started my 2 week Winter Camp stint. So far, so good. I haven't had to kill anyone yet. The students are Grade 5 and for the most part, except for a couple of boys, are pretty good. They seem to be having fun - learning English?, well we're not sure how much of that is happening, but we try!!

Kevin Loten, who is the minister at the church I attend in Burlington asked anyone who wanted to to send in some reflections of the past year, so I did! On thinking about the last year, 2005, I realized that it was a year of many changes for me - losses and gains. First of all I lost a beautiful daughter to marriage but I gained a wonderful son-in-law, Timmy, the son I never had. Second, I lost (sold) my house of 24 years but gained tremendous freedom by being debt free. Third, I lost the opportunity to be with family and friends for 1 year by deciding to teach English in South Korea but I gained a life changing and building experience of embracing a new culture, people, language and all that goes with it.

Especially in these last 4 months while living and working in Yeonggwang, South Korea, God has taught me the importance and absolute necessity of the following three things:

1. PRAYER – at times when I really felt alone (like being alone on Christmas Eve), I was comforted by the fact that I WAS NOT ALONE because my Heavenly Father was right there beside me and eagerly listened to all I had to say (even if my students don’t listen to me!!)
2. PEACE – this is a lesson that I have been learning over the last decade or so. No matter what life sends my way, I pray for peace. I have heard it said “sometimes God quiets the storm and sometimes He quiets the child in the midst of the storm.” We have no control over some of life’s circumstances but GOD IS IN CONTROL, even when we don’t think so. When I have prayed for peace (often) He gives His peace that passes understanding. FANTASTIC!! It is unexplainable but, nevertheless, THERE IT IS!! I encourage ALL to do the same!!
3. PEOPLE – especially since being in Korea, I realize even more now how important people are in my life – family (really missing Shawna and Timmy), friends and new-found friends in Korea. I enjoy my own company and like being by myself SOMETIMES but I know it’s the people that I know and love that really put a smile on my face (and I hope I put one on theirs). It’s the people that I miss the most.

Those are my reflections of 2005. What are your reflections?

I wish you and yours a blessed and healthy 2006. May the God of all peace and comfort show Himself to you this year in ways that you could never imagine.

I leave you with a few images of my New Years Eve and Day. ENJOY!!

Sipping green tea before our treatment!! 

My 'new look' for upcoming 2006 - what do you think?? 

Ahhhh!! A piece of heaven - New Year's Eve 2005 

Korean Mommy & baby at Karen's dentist 

Korean Daddy & little girl at Karen's dentist 

New Years Day - Outback - Laurien, Karen & George (Nigeria)