We have been in Thailand for two weeks now. We are here to attend three weeks of missionary training. Despite our cynicism the program has not been too bad. The girls are getting used to being pinched and hugged everywhere we go! Lowlight:
We transited through Beijing. Because we were arriving from Mongolia on a third-rate airline (Mongolian Air doesn’t have the best international reputation) we arrived at the old airport. We did not want to enter China, but just wanted to transit to the correct terminal. This required walking up and down halls looking for airport staff to give us instructions, and then finding we had to exit through immigration (and fill in all the required forms to enter China) and go outside to catch a bus to the next terminal. I was getting really angry, but Chris kept his cool and completed all the forms.
Highlight:
We got on the bus to the appropriate terminal at Beijing Airport. Because we were now flying on Thai Air (which clearly has a good international reputation, or more money to pay for better landing rights) we found ourselves in Beijing’s brand spanking new international terminal. It is a building on an epic scale, with sweeping curves, immense proportions and helpful staff standing everywhere to give advice. All ready for the Olympics. We had 10 hours to transit and we managed to find plenty of entertainment. We were actually a source of entertainment. There were very few children in the terminal, so our fair-headed girls were an instant hit. After several Chinese stopped to take their photos Chris reminded me of the one-child policy in China, so not only did we have pretty children, but we had two of them.
Lowlight:
Three days of chronic diahorrea for me a day after arriving in Bangkok. Charcoal didn’t help, Imodium didn’t help. I had to hit the antibiotics. This basically ruined our plans to shop until we dropped during the four days we had in Bangkok.
Highlight:
Visiting the aquarium in Bangkok. Although I had to use every single toilet in the building the displays were great and both Alesia and Keira enjoyed it. Whenever Keira sees a fish bowl now she does a funny wiggly thing with her hands and says something that sounds like “pishy pishy”. She has added two new words to her vocab – “more” and “no”. She says them in definite ways, with a great little accent, so we should try to record them. She has also learned to put her hands together and bow her head, so Thais love that.
Highlight/Lowlight:
We arrived in Chiang Mai just in time for Song Kran – the Thai new year. Part of the celebrations involves throwing water over everyone. It was great to watch from the hotel window, but Alesia and Keira were both in tears when we walked outside and we all got drenched – even if they did get drenched gently! For the Thais it was a great honor and good thing to “bless” the children. Alesia was very relieved when Song Kran was over.
Highlight:
Alesia discovering she can swim without her floatie suit. She tries to swim in the pool at the hotel at least twice a day. Her dog paddle is going really well and when I look for her in the pool she is usually down the deep end, paddling like mad, with only her face visible, pointing to the sky.
Lowlight:
Sitting through the slowest presentation of General Conference policy on record.
Highlight:
Saturday afternoon trip up the mountain to Doi Sutep, a lovely temple. The air was much cooler up there (Thailand has been having record hot temperatures) and Alesia loved all the gold and incense. She even made me give her 20 baht to put in a pink flower to stick in one of the shrines. Keira just wanted to ring all the bells and climb things.
Lowlight:
No omelet chef at the hotel where we are staying. I was looking forward to a fresh, custom-cooked omelet every morning for breakfast….
Highlight:
A family ride on an elephant. Very bumpy and I spent most of my time trying to keep hold of all our bags. Keira didn’t like it very much initially, and at one point I thought Alesia was going to fall as we were going down a steep hill. Overall it was fun though and worth the money for the full 30 minutes.
Lowlight:
Keira knocking my glasses off my head while riding in a tuktuk (small three-wheeler motorbike taxis they have there). Before I could cry “stop” a motorbike behind us had smashed them to pieces. I don’t have a spare here or my prescription with me, but luckily Thailand is a place where you can walk in off the street and easily get a new pair of glasses. That is my job for tomorrow, at least it will get me out of GC policy presentations.
Highlight:
The kids play group here each day. There are lots of families with young children at this training. They have established a Missionary Kids Preschool. Keira wasn’t keen the first week, but happily waved me good-bye today. Alesia has made a close friend with a South Africa boy, Riley. His family are working in South Korea, so we may even visit them some time in the future. Another highlight, fresh mango at every meal. We are hoping the lychee season will start a little early so we can enjoy them also. I saw a bunch of lychees at the elephant park so am hopeful.
We are in Chiang Mai until 4th May, then we are going south to the beach for three days, then two more days in Bangkok and then back to Mongolia. Sometimes the perks are ok in this job :-)
