Sorry no more pictures from this point on, I left my computer in Bangkok so will download what pictures I take when I get home in two weeks. Right now I'm in Ko Lanta, an island of Thailand in the Andaman Sea. Its low season so very quiet but just what I need after sightseeing and lots of stimulation in Chiang Mai and before surf camp in Bali. I left Chiang Mai on Sunday, stopped ore in Bangkok before arriving in Krabi. I have to think really hard about the days... A sign that my brain is taking a rest!! I stayed in Ao Nang outside Krabi for two nights which was great. I was in a quaint guesthouse down the street from the beach which was safe and friendly. I took a tour on Wednesday to hot springs, the Emerald Pool, and finally to the Tiger Temple. I got quite a workout climbing the 1234 steps zigzagging up the side of a mountain to reach a huge golden Buddha at the top and a spectacular view. Thankfully it rained as we trekked down the steps- I made friends with a couple on the way down; we cheered each other on as we worked our way down the woman and I shared a fear of heights. Well it was well worth a few minutes of shaky knees and quickened breathing to get to the top! It's been great timing for me to learn about Buddhism both thru these tours and by reading the Dalai Lama's latest book. From what I learned, Buddhism is focused on love, compassion, and serving others despite the suffering we experience as humans with "untamed minds". The practice of meditation aims to heal our minds from disturbing emotions and serving others helps us get out of our heads. I've also been ready a book on Christianity and it's been pretty amazing to piece these things together and see how I can apply these ideas to my own life. I know service has been a huge classroom for me in the last two years and I'm excited to get home to give service in Atlanta- I hope if youre inspired at all by my blog you can find some volunteer work in your community too! So after four days of sun, snorkeling, reading and spa time, I leave for Phuket tomorrow and fly to Bali on Sunday. Wish me luck and lots of strength for surfing!

Chiang Mai

Tha Pae Gate into Old City

 The gate (what's left of it) surrounds the entire old city in a large square and just outside, a reconstructed moat lines the gate.

I spent the first day pampering and the second day walking.  I walked all around the old city and visited several of the Buddhist temples.  Wat Chedi Luang was the most impressive.  Tomorrow I'm taking a tour up to the mountains to see one of the ancient temples and the surrounding area.

 Today I spent the day at Asia Scenic Cooking School and it was sooo much fun!  They picked me up at my guesthouse and took me to the school in Old City.  I was introduced to my group that I would be with for the day.  Go figure, I get paired with a family from NEW JERSEY!!  And a really nice couple from Holland.  We all got along well, enjoyed learning from each other, trying each other's dishes and sharing stories of traveling around the area.  We each got to choose 6 dishes to learn and all dishes were included in a nice cook book we got at the end of the day.

 Our teacher first brought us to the market in Chiang Mai so she could explain different types of rice, noodles, chili peppers, tofu and how to buy them properly in the US.  We then drove to the farm where we learned about the different herbs and vegetables used in Thai cooking and how to substitute if they're not available where we live.  I'm counting on the Dekalb Farmer's Market to keep my Thai cooking going!!

 We first learned how to soak rice and the differences between cooking sticky rice and jasmine rice.  I have some tools I need to buy before I head home!

We each got to choose an appetizer--I picked papaya salad which I LOVE LOVE LOVE!  I'm crushing  the ingredients above in the mortar.  Luckily I got to also try the spring rolls made by two of my new buddies (rolling them up here).  I don't usually like spring rolls from what I've tried in the US but these were really good and easy!  

For my stir fry dish, I chose pad thai of course.  That's my dish below!!

 We had a lot of fun working with each other.  For our second meal of the day, we chose a soup and curry paste to make.  The curry paste took some time as we had to take turns crushing all the ingredients into the paste.  We then added the paste to coconut milk in the wok and other herbs, vegetables and chicken.  It was really good, I'm so excited to make the things I've loved here at home!!

 

The other pastes we made were panang and red curry, masaman and khaw soi (popular in Chiang Mai).

I need to buy a wok and some ingredients I might not be able to get at home.  Mom, Dad get ready. I'll make you dinner to say thank for taking care of Rio when I get home!  Hopefully everything turns out as well as it did today.

 Final meal (dinner)..my soup, jasmine rice and green curry.

New buddies!!  

Last Days in Umpiem

So last week I finished trainings with CHEs on Friday.  We spent a few days on family planning and we had a lot of fun.  Lots of these pictures are of the group watching a video on IUD insertion and then playing the IUD models.  They were really excited at the possibility of ARC introducing these methods into their clinic.  Several of the female CHEs offered to be patients if I had any insertions to demostrate.  Unfortunately I only had demo models!

 

 

I finished with the last midwife session on Monday and also got to go thru a delivery with three of the them and everything went smoothly. They were very grateful for having the trainings and it was great to work with them.  Hopefully they will undergo FP competency-based trainings to add to their skill set.  The camp has several vocational training programs like cooking, sewing, agriculture so that the refugees can be trained to work while they live in Thailand but so that they also have skills for a job if and when they resettle.  Here are two pictures of Eh Paw and Snow who did the delivery with me (see the rain boots on the ground they use instead of throw-away booties to protect their feet).  Aye Aye Hwyate is in the second picture swaddling the newborn.  

I was soo sad to leave South Sudan last year.   I think it was a huge eye-opener for me under a lot more difficult of conditions so leaving was really bittersweet. This year--maybe its the vacation that was awaiting me-- I wasn't sad to finish but really just happy to have had this experience and excited  for changes to hopefully come to the camp.  

I am also really happy that I'm not heading straight home and getting to explore a bit.  Thailand, from the small amount I've seen so far, is incredible.  The people, the culture, the food, and the energy is great.  I just got to Chiang Mai today after a 4 hour drive from Umphang to the Tak bus terminal and then a 3 hour bus ride.  I celebrated my first day with a pedicure followed by a massage and facial.  Oh my Chiang Mai!  I'm seriously in heaven.  I know it sounds decadent but in the US I could have had dinner for more money.  

Tomorrow I'm going to tour the old city that's surrounded by a moat and gate and see some of the temples.  I'm reading a book by the Dalai Lama and might go to a yoga class tomorrow (when in Rome...).  Friday I'm super excited to be taking a full day cooking class at a local farm.  I should learn 6 dishes and get a cookbook so hopefully I can replicate some good stuff for yall when I get home!!

Will post some pictures soon!!  I'll be here till Sunday then fly through Bangkok to Krabi and the islands