The Mays’ Weblog

Good Morning.
I am sitting writing this on Jez’s laptop overlooking the dawn haze of Bangkok from the 19th floor of the Wong’s apartment block. Lovely view with a cool outside temperature of 20C.

We have had a glorious few weeks off, starting with a 3 night stay on the island of Koh Samet in the bay of Bangkok. It was a 2 hour drive and a speedboat ride from here and the beach we were on was nearly deserted. We ate breakfast in the restaurant on the beach - food was lovely, supplemented by the occasional doughnut from wandering vendors.

We took a speedboat trip out to one of the smaller islands and snorkelled from the boat, travelling around the coast until we reached a beach where they provided lunch - chicken fried rice of course. Although the coral was not the best it was a great experience and it was lovely to be down there among the fish, sea urchins and squirting cucumbers.

After arriving back in Bangkok we spent a few days doing local stuff. On Christmas Eve we went to church at the Evangelical Church of Bangkok where we all processed out carrying candles. It was very Christmassy compared to the rest of Thailand. On Christmas day we went out to dinner in the Radisson hotel and were able to eat Turkey, Chestnut stuffing etc. There were so many food to choose from I had limited myself to a side plate so that I could enjoy them all without popping. We even had a strangely oriental Santa pay a visit and bless the children with gifts.

On Boxing day we set off again in a minibus for Sangkhlaburi on the Burmese border North West of Bangkok. The 5 hour drive took us to an outdoor centre/resort where we stayed for 4 nights. We did a variety of things including being shown round a cave system by a girl novice nun (very little in the way of safety considerations), visiting the 3 pagodas pass to Burma, a jungle trek followed by river rafting down the riverand horse riding and outdoor BBQ at the farm of the centre owner’s son.
The centre overlooked a large river junction of 3 rivers boosted by a dam downstream. We took a great boat trip in a longtail fishing boat which took us past the submerged temple complex of the old village before the dam was built. The river was crossed by the longest wooden bridge in Thailand which led to a very poor Mong refugee village. It was fascinating to walk around the village to see whatlife was like there. We came across a group of chilren cooking a couple of small crabs that they had caught (see photo). We found a photoprinting service in a shop the following day and so were able to give them a couple of prints of the photo we took when we visited again which was great.

On the way back to Bangkok we stopped at the Hellfire pass memorial to the POWs and locals who had died building the Thailand-Burma railway 60 years ago. It was fascinating, humbling and challenging to get even a small insight into the conditions they worked under. We were able to walk along some of the cleared path that the track ran in to see the workings. The thought of working in that heat under such conditions was very sobering to say the least. Well worth a visit if you are passing!

Back now in Bangkok and we are preparing to fly back up the Chiangmai in a few hours, sadly. We have had a great time with our friends here but the work needs to begin again…..
It was so good to be with close friends at Christmas ,Steve and Cora and Joel also joined us for new year.We do still miss you wonderful friends and family at home very much and hope you all had a lovely Christmas too as we have all been thinking about you .

With much love,

Andrew & Esther.

PS We were in Sangkhlaburi when we heard of the Tsunami disaster via a phone call from Adrian in the UK. Thankyou so much for everyone who has been praying for us .