When Amy was still here, we went to eat pizza alongside the busy street to people watch. A mute woman approached us with a pad in her hand indicating that she was selling keychains and cell phone jackets and asked us to buy one to support her.
I looked at them but really didn’t want one, however, I appreciated her initiative. I gave the tray back to her and gave her some money. I noticed that she was wearing a cross necklace. She was ecstatic to learn that we were Christians as well.
Chatuchak Market
There is a very large and colorful market in the center of Bangkok. So much to see.
Amy wanted to buy some last minute clothing items. Here she is trying on pants. She found cuter ones and, of course, had to buy the official handmade takraw ball.
The market has a large motorcycle parking lot.
This darling little girl is the apple of her father’s eye. She was cute but I really was trying to get a picture of this baby carrier.
Who needs that many purses? 11??
Here is an amusing T-shirt:
I think that it should read…Cuz We Young…We Can’t Speak Correctly.
Don Muang Airport
We are flying through the domestic airport instead of the Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Anytime we go through security, I must wait a long time for Rob aka Humpty Dumpty to put himself together again. This is the only time that I wait for Rob. Usually he waits for me outside the ladies room.
This airport even has a special area for him called the Recomposure Area.
Our airline was called Nok Air. We still got the royal treatment in the Priority Pass Lounge.
I was sitting on my comfy couch and a woman who barely spoke English asked if I would like a shoulder and head massage. Yeah, boy!!!
Rob’s next up!
We got on the smaller propeller plane and our seats were near the back. A ground crew man came in, and he had a discussion with the flight attendants near us. They looked at us and then talked to each other.
In order to balance the weigh of the plane, we have been kindly asked to move into the first class seats. We felt somewhat profiled.
I am now translating what they must have said.
“Put the large heavy Americans and their luggage up front and we’ll be ready to go.”
Rob and I made the walk of shame through the narrow aisle amongst the land of the little people. We felt eyes were sizing us up…to supersize!
I have been reporting on the air pollution in Bangkok. Here is what it looks like from the airplane.
When we arrived at our destination, we noted that a pickup was used to remove the baggage from the airplane. Who needs a special vehicle? Find a way or make one.
Mae Sot
Mae Sot is just across the border from Myanmar. There are nine refugee camps that mostly consist of Karen people. There are many NGOs active in this region.
The Karen conflict has been ongoing since 1949 and is referred to as one of the world’s longest civil wars. The Karen people are called the forgotten ones.
I want to be better informed about the Karen. A recommended book is Little Daughter: A Memoir of Survival in Burma and the West
by Zoya Phan.
Zoya defected and sought asylum in the UK. Her father was later assassinated. She and her siblings started a foundation to continue to educate people about the plight of the Karen.
Rob and I decided to walk to the nearby bus station to purchase our tickets for when we leave on Thursday. Apparently, we were headed into the forbidden city as an official young man on a bicycle came to tell us to turn around.
We obeyed and he bicycled away while radioing the terminal that we were no longer a problem. (He must have been told to be on the lookout for some large Americans!)
This was really the long way around to the bus station. I have a rolling suitcase and a backpack. Soon I hear that telltale sign that I am dragging a leaf behind me. I turn around to see a leaf the size of a large pizza!! Impressive. I had to do more than kick it aside!
The bus station was crawling or should I say laying with people. Rob learned that one can only buy tickets on the day of travel, and there are ALWAYS seats available.
We take a tuk tuk to our hotel. They are having some type of childrens’ event at the hotel. A large group of young adult Christians from South Korea are here for a retreat to feed, play, sing, and swim with refugee Karen people. Mostly, they are here to show and tell of the good news of Jesus.
I am not sure what or who is Summit 237, but South Korea and the USA send more missionaries than any other countries.
God and His people are on the move here. There is excitement in the air!! Wherever we go in Mae Sot, there are expressions of God’s love and Kingdom building.
While at dinner, a group wearing these T-shirts and great big smiles came in! He proudly posed for me. I don’t think that I will ever see him again…but I KNOW that I will see him in heaven.
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