Here Comes The Sun(set)!

After too many days of rain, we finally got our dose of Vitamin D with a peak of the sun this morning and an unreal sunset on the beach tonight. Photos, at least mine, dont begin to do it justice, but are posted anyhow. The lack of rain really boosted our spirits. Everyone at work today was in a much better mood as we were able to shed our rainbow of raincoats! The noise of the rainforest creatures has even died down. Found out the honking comes from a huge frog when there is rain in the forecast.
We understand that much of Thailand is a disaster, though, with mudslides and airport closures and at least one village was literally washed away.
We have not been able to communicate yet with some of the NGO's workers who are in various parts of Southern Thailand. We are hoping they are ok.

We Hear A Symphony!

After days of rain (and I might add some very serious flooding in Southern Thailand, which we hope stops soon!) the noise outside our window tonite is both deafening and amazing. I recorded the night sounds the first night it began to rain, but the sound has grown louder with each night.
Our hotel is situated between the beach and the jungle. We can hear a cacaphony of sounds, including chirping, croaking, and honking that is unreal (not sure what that honking creature is). The animals are as happy as the tourists are UNhappy by this latest of weather events.
We traveled to Phang Nga today and saw first hand some of the damage the flooding is doing. Several areas are closed off with airports shut down on at least one island, the one that we intend to visit in two weeks with Mar and Erin.
The locals take it all in stride...at least from outside appearances, and we see hundreds of locals, undeterred, on motorbikes wearing all different color raincoats, some with multiple family members riding with them, just getting on with their daily routine. With the help of my friend Inga, I purhcased what another new friend, Gena, calls, a "proper" raincoat...bright green. Now I blend in!

"Thai Spicy?"

This is a common question when you go into a restuarant that serves foreigners such as ourselves. You can choose the level of spicy. BUT, if it is truly a local hangout like today, which was a "buffet" of sorts, you get what they have, no choice. On our way to visit a village where rubber plantation workers live, we stopped with the Health Team at one of their standard food stands outside of Phang Nga. We had a variety of dishes, including shrimp with curry and chicken and morning glory, all served with rice. Tears were literally pouring from my eyes from the spices. We have learned that rice and cucumbers are supposed to mitigate the impact of the spice. Water is a fuel for the fire. Nothing much helped me out here! And I thought that after over a month here I had gotten more accustomed to the level of spice. I must now admit that I may have graduated to "Thai Spicy" at touristy places, but NOT where the real locals eat.

"Rainy Days and Mondays...."

I will start out by saying that the choice of music in many of the restaurants here is "interesting" and amusing. Everything from musak of Sinatra, 60's hits, "mood music", really bad 80's tunes (a redundancy?) and symphonic renditions of the Carpenters, Beatles, Kennny G and more. As the rain has been torrential the last few days (we postulate a direct result of the Japanese Tsunami and its after shocks) it was particularly poetic to hear this Carpetner's song at breakfast this morning. I will say that my somewhat melancholy mood turned into a wide grin when the song came on...
The good news is...so far the rain has not impacted us too badly. We went to Phuket Town Saturday by local bus ($6 round trip)and spent the day and night there. Had one of our best meals at an Italian place called Gaetana's! The owner, Gianni, from Pompeii is very involved in a Child Care Center called Phuket Sunshine Village started after the Tsunakmi to help children in need, many who were orphaned. Gianni is married to a Thai woman and she and their daughter both help him at this "gem" of a resturant with only 5 tables. We sat in the courtyard and it was truly special. What music was playing????? Wonderful Jazz the likes of Ella and Louis. We gave Gianni the website for WWOZ which he wrote down enthusiastically. Ambassadors of New Orleans all over the world!
We tried to catch a movie but were too late for anything in English and terrible choices. We do miss our movies! Mickey is going to see the premier of "Nauresan", the third installment in a series of action movies loved by the locals here. He will travel back to Phuket Town with some of the local folks from our host NGO. Another adventure!

WWOZ Pledge Drive

We have been listening to WWOZ live wire every day at work and converted several at least one young French Volunteer who now loves it too! She is trying to improve her English by listening to the station???? "Yea, you rite!"
So, I called the station this morning (10:00 a.m. Thailand time; 10:00 p.m. N'Awlins time) to give a pledge and they announced our names on the air!!!! They said it was their first pledge from Thailand. Just doing our part for the best station in da world!
We will miss Jazz Fest.....

I cannot get enough hugs from the children!

They finally have warmed up to the Americans. I cant help it, but I have a particular attraction (and I think it is mutual) to the brunette twins! Reminds me of someone???

12/26/2004; 8/29/2005; 3/11/2011-common experiences shared

This afternoon we showed video footage of the 2004 Tsunami, Katrina, and the recent Tsunami in Japan to about 15 Burmese high school students as part of their "summer camp" classes. We showed them where we are from on google earth and what New Orleans went through as a result of the "cyclone". We gave them seven books that were a result of New Orleans Neighborhood Story Project, where students, their same ages, wrote about their own experiences before and after Katrina.

Ranging from 16 to 18 years of age, some of these teens were in Phang Nga during the Tsunami. As we showed the videos of Katrina, the word "Tsunami" was expressed by many; they immediatley recognized the similarities between each of the disasters. The Burmese students have pen pals from Japan who visited them recently so the recent Tsunami has touched them greatly.

Before our next session, we asked that they contemplate what about themselves they might want to share with students from both New Orleans and Japan. They will read the books we gave them and they may create their own "neighborhood story".

"Sign, sign, everywhere a sign"

It is still unsettling...
The Thais and Burmese are so resilient, and non-confrontational. They prefer not discussing negative topics, and put on the best possible face. This is one of the origins for the "Thai smile"- it is the best possible face to put on in any situation, even a tragedy.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THIS?

If you recognized the object in the photo as the entire left pedal from Mickey's mountain bike which came off as we were riding home from dnner in the rain and still 1 1/2 miles from our hotel, you would be correct. So sad.

While You Were Sleeping...

We went snorking at the Similan Islands today. We visited 4 different islands. We swam with turtles, angel fish, clown fish, parrot fish, barracudas and more! It was really the first true "tourist" thing we have done.
Truly magnificent beaches. The down side is that much of the coral is turning white due to the water being way too warm. The locals are very protective of the

habitat too. They will make sure tourists do not touch or pick up the turtles; some try. They made one gentleman put out his cigarette. What are these folks thinking trying to smoke on the boat????
Tonite, the manager of our hotel called our room to make sure we came down to the beach to see the most beautriful sky. It was past sundown, and the sky was all shades of orange and red, almost like an Arizona or New Mexico mountain range.
We were then treated to the most delicious dinner and I had a prawn as big as a lobster tail!
The busy tourist season is winding down soon and within two weeks we may be the ONLY guests here. Not too shabby!

Monks Lead Prayer Service in Honor of Japan Tsunami Victims

At work Friday, the staff brought in a traditional Burmese breakfast for everyone, a fish soup called "Mohinga", made with fish stock, banana plant, onion, carrots, fresh coriander and this remarkable crispy bean cake you crumble into it. Also, spices on the side.
Joining us earlier in the morning were all the family members of the organization's staff, babies, children, moms

, students and all the volunteers. These staff/family events are common.
Later that morning, preparations were made for three visiting monks, two Thai and one Burmese, who were invited to lead a prayer service for us in honor of the Japanese due to the recent Tsunami.
The Monks were served a traditional meal, a large spread, and as is the tradition, we all watched in silence as they ate the meal. We sat on the tile floor while they were seated at a table in the middle of the room. When they finished eating, the Monks sat on rugs in front of us and one of them led the service and chanted. The staff members all participated. It was quite touching.
Mickey did have a difficult time crossing his legs. The Thai and Burmese seem to be much more flexible.

Our Fishing Adventure Caught on Video!

http://www.facebook.com/l/5b2eeAb_tc-XQg9Soin_jkRcQtg/www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsdAFP4LnIo
This footage was taken by the Volunteer Coordinator, who is the ONLY one that caught a fish!
Going snorkling tomorrow

To All Our New Friends from Japan

You touched our lives and made such an incredible impression on the Khaolak communmity of Thailand. You are in our hearts and our prayers as we watch the events unfold after the Tsunami. I am sharing some photos of fond memories here. Be safe.

Lucky Number 18

After a day of fishing on Saturday, we took a ride with some of the other volunteers on Sunday to visit two spectaular Temples at Bang Riang. At the first Temple, which was magnificent, and took well over an hour to view, there was an altar with a "fortune teller" statue. You shake a container that contains many long sticks, each with a number on them. Whichever stick falls out, its number corresponds to a nearby "dresser" with drawers with numbers on each drawer from which to choose your fortune. How fitting that I should shake the container and the number "18", a number quite significant to the Jewish faith, should be the one to fall out. I wont give away the substance of the fortune, but I will keep it forever.
We were some of the only visitors there, so it made the experience even more special and quiet. We walked down a "meditation" path used by the monks for particularly intense meditations, that was lovely and shaded.

The second temple looked like a combination dragon and fishing boat, the shape not too different than the long tail boat we fished in the day before.

Japan's Tsunami

On Friday when the the Tsunami hit Japan we were at the FED office in Khaolak, Phang Nga Province, Thailand, one of the areas hardest hit by the 2004 Tsunami. The staff was glued to the images on BBC news all afternoon, understandably remembering their own history. They were all very sad and horrified by what they saw, but nonetheless could not tear themselves away from the images. The same sentiments were heard all weekend from hotel workers and locals. Many of the folks here personally went through the Tsunami years ago and everyone here knows of someone who either died or were affected by that event.
It gave me goose bumps; we experienced our own personal reaction as well to the visions of flooding and rescues, feeling more empathy than sympathy?
We emailed the Japanese students who visited here some weeks ago with the Burmese students, who made a very distinct and positive ipression on us all We wanted to make sure that they and there families are safe. They assured us that they are, but so sad for the thousands who are not.

Gone Fishing!

What a day! Ten stops to prepare including fishing poles, gear, food, chairs, and more. And all we caught was one fish? Not great fishermen but we had quite the adventrure. We were generously treated to the day by one of the co-workers at our host organization. He just purchased the boat and we were his maiden voyage. Ran out of gas; rescued in beautiful rivers on the way to the Sea. The scenery was magnificent and company was fun (except) when napping! The hospitatlity was great. Thanks

100th Anniversary of International Women's Day

We had the honor of being invited this past Tuesday evening to the Women's Center where we were treated to dinner and an amazing tea (which takes hours to brew and it the best hot drink I have ever had) which the Burmese women prepared in honor of the anniversary of International Women's Day. The pouring rain did not deter this celebration which was staged under a small hut-like building with posters and pictures hanging and electrical wires rigged up (kind of scary amidst the thunder and lightning) so that we could watch a power point presentation of the founding of the Center and another of a documnetary filmed in Africa, exhibiting a way in which local women can enpower themselves by taking charge of their own financial well-being by having a community bank.
There was a "game" sponsored for the group, wherein the right answers to questons about health care, domestic violence, visa renewal dates and fair wages, were awarded with wrapped presents. The Burmese commumity, men and women both, enthusiastically  participated . I found  this method of teaching very effective and learned much myself.
What was really compelling and heartfeltt for us as volunteers, was how little the local Burmese community knows about their own rights, but also how much we take for granted our own human rights, the very basic ones. Everyone wants the same thing for themselves and their children. Food, freedom,educational opportunities and safe honorable work conditions. 
One young local woman gave a speech to the group about her own experience of coming to Thailand and originally working 15 hour days for a restaurant earning $100 baht a day ($3 a day, yes $3!). She later learned that she is entitiled under Thai law to not only earn a minumum wage, but can only work a maximum number of hours before being entitled to overtime pay.  She works elsewhere now.
The Burmese community has embraced us and is so genuinely happy when we come to these events, This weekend we are all going on a fishing boat (as opposed to a tourist sailing boat) for an adventure. 

You can take the girl out of New Orleans....

but.....

Happy Mardi Y'all!
We are making all our co-workers listen to Mardi Gras music today.
Today is also the 100th anniversary of International Women's Day. So cheers to all my great women friends and relatives.
We are invited to the Women's center tonite to celebrate. Let the good times roll!

IT'S OFFICIAL!!!!!

Congratulations to Hallie Allweiss, RN! We are so proud. We never doubted that you could do it. Now go and celebrate Mardi Gras in true Allweiss fashion.Mickey and I are listening to WWOZ right now!
.  

Is this Jazz Fest?!!!

I have the "official" t shirt; there is boiled shrimp, plenty of "festers".....but grasshoppers dont usually appear on the menu roster at da Fest. I had to talk Mick out of that delicacy.

It is the annual Turtle Festival. Nice backdrop!
100s of Turtles released this week. We missed  that part, but plenty of other sights. Did see some cute little ones just 44 days old!

Cute kids on the streets too enjoying themselves tremendously....

Learning new skills????

Is that Mickey re-learning English?! No, it is part of the "exercise" in our Thai language class to match words to the Thai sentences and sounds...virtually imposssible!
We are learning from a young British student who is here teaching the Burmese children English.He is aspiring to get his Masters in Environmental Climate change issues and how climate change affects or actually creates "refugees". Our other "teacher' is a young college student from Chiang Mai, whose father is British.

Last night I tried my skills at weaving a bracelet at the Women's Center. The young Burmese woman who showed us what to do is tiny and so sweet!

Some of the French Volunteers.

I think I better stick to the skills I already know!

Thai Mueang Turtle Festival

The Turtle Release Festival is a seven day event starting in early March. During the festival, which occurs at the 100 kilometers long Thai Mueang beach. baby turtles who have been raised by the Fisheries Department, are released into the Andaman Sea. The many types of turtles lay their eggs 4 times a year and are taken into custody for safe keeping until they are ready to be released. What better theme for a festival? We will be there and will take photos.
http://www.khaolak-phangnga.com/phangnga_turtle.php

Other festivals to come....
Songkran from April 13-15; The Thai New Year and the "biggest water fight in history".
April 6th- aptly called King's day....

Lunch Break....

Work....

lunch break!

Napkins.Toilet Tissue and Laundry

Napkins and toilet tissues are totally interchangeable here. Even at upscale restauarants, it is quite accepteable to have a roll of tolilet paper to wipe your hands when eating. You just pass the roll around at staff lunches. Those "finer" resturarants who do use tissues, usually have tissue "containers" on the table.

Food presentation is wonderful, with creative vegetable and fruit carvings that are totally edible.
Our new "favorite" spot has the best fried banans ever...melt in your mouth with a sorty of coconut dipping sauce.

We have also found our coffee shop as we need our daily fix and it has become a more popular item here, although much sweeter than in the USA.  They aslo serve fried ice cream in many flavors with toppings. Yum.
 
Laundry is really fun. The price ranges from 30 to 50 baht per kilo. ($1.00). I love having my pajamas and underwear iron and folded! The scent is wonderful too!

Mick has purchased a bicycle so now the pink cadillac has some company. It is really too hot aleady to ride to work, so weekends will have to do.