It was 1 August 2006, I went out at 11 o'clock to have early dinner, I had Somtam (papaya salad), roasted chicken and sticky rice. I always love Isaan food. Then, I went back to the guesthouse. Again, I sat on the bamboo reclining chair relaxing and pondering. I actually felt really glad that I took the courage to venture out to the unknown and uncertainty again. After all, a thousand miles starts with the first step.
Actually, this trip to Kanchanaburi was unexpected. Friday night, a day before I left for Kanchanaburi, I called up my editors to ask for my paycheque, so no paycheque. According to one of the editors, I have to wait for another week. Well, I have been waiting for it for the past 6 months, I guess I won't die just by waiting for another week but I did cry after the phone call cos I was partly angry, upset and disappointed. As usual, I cried out to God.....
So, I decided to hop on the train the following day to Kanchanaburi cos I couldn't afford to stay in Bangkok for another week unless I receive my paycheque. God is a faithful God, His love is unfailing and overflowing. My new found fellow christian friend, the very loving Yang from True Jesus Church, invited me to stay in her studio apartment when I get back to Bangkok cos she is based in Chiang Mai most of the time. Here, I would like to recite a biblical verse again: God's grace is sufficient, His power is made perfect in weaknesses.
I can tell you now that I am so glad to be here in Kanchanaburi, or else I wouldn't have met another bunch of loving peoples like Watcharee and Gabriel (see, he is even named after the archangel, not to mention Jimmy and Jenette, the Danish couple and Job (another biblical name), a passionately young Thai tattoo artist with tattoos all over his body, who owns a tattoo studio in Kaosan Road, Bangkok. That night, while we were sitting around chatting, he just grabbed my leg and drew a very beautiful tattoo motif under my ankle.
You see, I have been staying in this really cool guesthouse with spacious lawn and plenty of trees. The guesthouse looks very raw and organic cos everything is made with natural materials such as bamboo, wood and tree branches. Thank goodness that this guesthouse is not mentioned in the Lonely Planet guide book, or else, it will surely attract a bunch of drunk and loud travellers. Guess what, there is even a moat filled with white lotuses and pink water lilies. I did not find this place, this place found me just like christianity.
In year 2003, I made my first trip to Kanchanaburi, on the train a female tout showed us, the travellers the photos of this guesthouse. So, that was it. Here I am for the third time. I tell you, God is worthy of our love and time cos He will love us back more than we can ever imagine.
'No eye has seen, no ear has heard, what God has prepared for those who love him, no mind has conceived...'
Sunday, August 06, 2006
Friday, August 04, 2006
Kanchanaburi
Hi everyone, so sorry for the long silence. I am in Kanchanaburi now. I arrived here on Saturday by train. Kanchanaburi is just 4 hours train ride away from Bangkok. Kanchanaburi is one of my fave destinations in Thailand. This is my third trip to Kanchanaburi. I am staying in one of the rooms in a raft house on the river Kwai. You know River Kwai?O.K, how about the Bridge of the River Kwai, the movie. Yes, that's where I am now.
The thing I like to do here is to sit on the bamboo reclining chair and watch the jade green river. Whenever a speed boat loaded with tourists speeds past, the raft house will start rocking. I think peoples who tend to suffer from sea sickness will no be able to handle this. Sometimes I will sit on the platform and dip my feet into the river. I am supposed to go back to Bangkok but I just feel so reluctant to do that. I can actually live here forever.
For the past few nights, I just sat around with other travellers chatting the nights away while munching on local fruits. Yeah, I met some really cool peoples here. Few days ago, while I was lying inside my room with the door open, Watcharee,a Thai lady came to look for Gabriel, the Portugese guy who stay in the raft house too. He was still sleeping, so she chatted with me. We felt the good vibe instantly and she invited me to go to her auntie's house in the afternoon. So, I did. Three of us on the motorbike, heading towards the countryside. It was so much fun. She showed us the Lanna traditional houses hidden away from the main road. So, we went around visiting a massive temple. The monk gave us fish food to feed the Koi fish and gigantic cat fish in the pond.
At night, we were in this beautiful house of her auntie in an orchard right by the river. She even cooked dinner for us. We stayed there til 12 midnite. Then, she sent us back to the guesthouse and I invited her to sleep in my room cos it was too late for her to go home. So, yesterday, three of us on the motorbike again, heading to Erawan National Park which is like 70km away. On the way, we stopped by at the fruit vendor. I bought three dragon fruits for ourselves. You see, I always believe in the spirit of sharing. O.k, I have to go. Will blog again soon. These days, I am just too lazy to write. I have been lazing around soaking in the goodness of mother nature and got too carried away.
The thing I like to do here is to sit on the bamboo reclining chair and watch the jade green river. Whenever a speed boat loaded with tourists speeds past, the raft house will start rocking. I think peoples who tend to suffer from sea sickness will no be able to handle this. Sometimes I will sit on the platform and dip my feet into the river. I am supposed to go back to Bangkok but I just feel so reluctant to do that. I can actually live here forever.
For the past few nights, I just sat around with other travellers chatting the nights away while munching on local fruits. Yeah, I met some really cool peoples here. Few days ago, while I was lying inside my room with the door open, Watcharee,a Thai lady came to look for Gabriel, the Portugese guy who stay in the raft house too. He was still sleeping, so she chatted with me. We felt the good vibe instantly and she invited me to go to her auntie's house in the afternoon. So, I did. Three of us on the motorbike, heading towards the countryside. It was so much fun. She showed us the Lanna traditional houses hidden away from the main road. So, we went around visiting a massive temple. The monk gave us fish food to feed the Koi fish and gigantic cat fish in the pond.
At night, we were in this beautiful house of her auntie in an orchard right by the river. She even cooked dinner for us. We stayed there til 12 midnite. Then, she sent us back to the guesthouse and I invited her to sleep in my room cos it was too late for her to go home. So, yesterday, three of us on the motorbike again, heading to Erawan National Park which is like 70km away. On the way, we stopped by at the fruit vendor. I bought three dragon fruits for ourselves. You see, I always believe in the spirit of sharing. O.k, I have to go. Will blog again soon. These days, I am just too lazy to write. I have been lazing around soaking in the goodness of mother nature and got too carried away.
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