Work started in the dining room and I have spent my time on a platform putting in ceilings. We have finished the kitchen and I’m pleased to report that some last minute cortisone injections have been very helpful and my shoulder is coping very well. It’s been great to work alongside the Thai boys again – Deo, Sun and Boonsalit have been with us for many years now and Suwan worked with us as a teenager when we first came to Thailand in 2005. Suwan had a small problem yesterday – he was “back-boarding” the gyprock up in the ceiling by gluing pieces along the edges of the sheets when he slipped and went through the ceiling. Fortunately he didn’t go all the way but we had to pull down 2 sheets before the glue dried and replace them.
One of the things I love about Thailand is the variety of smells that are typical of the country. Travelling the streets of Khon Kaen one is assailed by the smells of barbecued chicken from the roadside stalls, spicy cooking from the hundreds of tiny restaurants, fish and vegetables and meat from markets, and of course the not so welcoming drains and sewers and smoke from burning rubbish. It’s Thailand and I love it. Don’t you wish you were here?
Last night for our meal we went to a fish restaurant to celebrate the birthday of Richard, one of our team members. Typically the restaurant was open sided overlooking a lake surrounded by thatched huts and the lights reflected in the water. We ordered tom yum soup (too hot for some), several barbecued fish, plates stacked high with fried rice, plates of pork and chicken with vegetables and cashews in a beautiful sauce, deep fried prawns, and plates of curried crab. It was culinary heaven. We finished with the birthday cake that one of the Thai girls brought – mostly decorated cream and some cake underneath it all. It’s Thailand and I love it. Don’t you wish you were here?
Adding to the dinner experience we all travelled out there in a ute - some in the cab and 7 of us uncomfortably in the back with the warm air blowing through our hair and the smell of Thailand wafting past. The roadsides are festooned with neon signs and lights, and the service stations typically have 4 or 5 fluoros set up like an arrow to direct you in. Motorbikes are everywhere overtaking you on both sides and a law unto themselves. It’s Thailand and I love it. Don’t you wish you were here?
Sunday is our day off and we took the chance to do a little tourism after worship with the kids at Ban Meata. We found a lake surrounded by beautiful grounds in which people were jogging and using outdoor exercise equipment. There is a huge aviary with a number of peacocks but there were no birds that we could see using the top half which would have been 30 metres high. We then meandered back home through many small villages. Each village has its share of beautiful homes rubbing shoulders with hovels made of rusty iron sheets and greying weathered wooden planks. Dogs lie in the middle of the road and move reluctantly for the traffic and people sit at the front of dilapidated homes talking on their mobile phones. All this with a backdrop of coconut palms and green rice paddies. It’s Thailand and I love it!
Sunday is market day on the grounds of the local school and we went there to supplement our tea which Jip (Sun’s wife) was preparing for us. Markets are wonderful places of variety and colour – you can buy anything from clothes (new and used), kitchen implements, shoes, sunglasses, tools, and food. We bought a piece of pork chopped into pieces with a mean looking hatchet, chicken on a stick, an octopus salad, and some jam filled donuts. Jip had been cooking up a bowl of lap (minced chicken or pork) and sticky rice. We sat down to a sumptuous spread. As always happens, we sat in the eating area and the Thais sat on the floor in the kitchen to eat. Their lap was considerably spicier than ours but knowing I like chilli they always ask me out to have some of theirs. Sometimes it is so hot that it’s pride alone that enables me to get through it. But this is Thailand and I love it! And I wish you were here to share the delights.
But back to the building report. The dining room as mentioned has the ceiling going in, the single storey living quarters is almost finished and is being tiled, the 2 storey building almost has the walls topped and is being rendered. The Thai blokes are finishing the roof while this happening. Many truckloads of dirt are trundling in to raise the ground level for verandahs and paths around the site, and for a large play area. This week work will start on the third accommodation building the slab of which we poured last year. Malcolm has just calculated that we will spend about 3 million baht ($100,000) while we are here so thank you to all those people who have contributed and helped us on the way.
I have tried to entice you with some of the flavour of being here and give you some idea of why I love to come back. Next time I’ll introduce you to a few more of the people here and those on the team. Your continued prayers are valued and appreciated.
Until next time
God bless
Ron
Pictures:
Pic 1 - A healthy walk in the Health Park
Pic 2 -
Pic 3 - Some of the food stalls at the market
Pic 4 - Ron putting up channel for the gyprock
1 comment:
How Can I Choose Cheap and Best Residential Ceilings Perth and Gyprcok in Perth.
Post a Comment