Chilling out

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...'