Unutterably Silly So what are you doing RIGHT NOW?

[Stitchawl]

Making plans... to move back to Thailand.


Stitchawl

[dreams]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Making plans... to move back to Thailand.


Stitchawl

Did I miss something?

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Making plans... to move back to Thailand.


Stitchawl

Originally Posted by dreams

Did I miss something?

That sounds major.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by dreams

Did I miss something?

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

That sounds major.

Not really... We'd been living in Japan AND Thailand for the past 25 years... In Japan for a few years, then in Thailand for a few years, then back to Japan for a few years...

The last move back to Japan was motivated by my wife's desire to get back into teaching, but at the same time, getting paid a decent wage. Wages in Thailand are anything BUT decent. My business in Thailand catered to the foreign visitor tourist industry and as a result, made foreign money, i.e. comfortable to live on. But normal Thai salaries aren't so nice. I was offered a full time teaching position at a major university... for $900 a month. My wife was teaching part time for fun (getting paid, but paid peanuts) and decided that she wanted to teach and get paid in real value, so we came back to Japan.

Sunday night she decided that she's finally getting burnt out from teaching. And as we'd prefer to be living in a green jungle rather than a cement one, decided to move back to northern Thailand!

Teaching in Japan has changed a lot in the past 10-15 years. The students are becoming much more 'westernized' (read: uncivilized) and the behavior is getting to be what you'd find in some inner city schools in the US. BUT... the school system hasn't changed, so there is still no punishment other than the students being require to apologize. So a kid can stab a teacher with a pair of scissors, and only needs to apologize and everything is forgiven. One student bashes another student over the head with a chair, and if the student basher apologizes, nothing more is done... Except that the bashee's parents now want to sue to schools and the teachers for allowing it to happen. Every night my wife is coming home between 7-9pm because all the teachers have to sit in on meetings with some parents and the principal while the parents scream and the principal tries apologizing. After all, apologizing is all that was required 20 years ago when little Yoshi forgot to say 'please.' So... my wife now says enough is enough. Let's go back to a simpler life in the jungle...

Hey, I can take pictures anywhere. My business is in my camera bag. I prefer Thailand anyway as there are a lot more westerners, especially my age!

Stitchawl

[dreams]

Wow, sounds like a few more years and the school system there will be as.. well that is another discussion for another area.

I knew you mentioned Thailand a lot, but didn't realize it was a place you both loved to live.

The little I know about Thailand was what my ex-in-laws shared about living there when their company was hired to do a major construction job. I don't remember what it was.. sewer systems maybe? She said it was beautiful and poverty-stricken at the same time. (The "mystery" food was a problem for her, though. ) She cooked everything herself and made sure she knew what it was and where it came from... even if she had to have it shipped in at extra expense. Apparently, she was good for a great laugh when her boxes came in. Everyone gathered around and giggled and touched what was in the boxes and were especially amazed about "whole chicken in a can". "Why does she spend money on a dead chicken put in a can when she could pick out a good one that was hanging in the market?"

Good luck on your new adventure, Stitchawl.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by dreams

Wow, sounds like a few more years and the school system there will be as.. well that is another discussion for another area.

I do foresee a complete breakdown in the Japanese school system in the very near future. There is no punishment of any kind for any behavioral infractions because there never WERE behavioral infractions before. These days, the kids have been watching too much western TV and movies. They all want to be ganstas!

I knew you mentioned Thailand a lot, but didn't realize it was a place you both loved to live.

I don't know any place where the people are a friendly as Northern Thailand. Very different from even southern Thais. Everything is green and growing, flowers everywhere you look. Hey, it's a jungle! Vacant lots might have trash thrown into them, but you can't see it because there are so many bushes, vines and flowers growing to cover it! Spaces between house become mini-jungles, and even though we plan to live once again in Thailand's 2nd largest city, you can drive across it in 15 minutes, and be out in real jungle in 20 minutes from anywhere. At the same time, there are 4-5 major supermarkets, Tessco, Carrefoure, etc., Starbucks, McD, and KFC... as well as all the local street markets where they will kill the chicken that you pick out...

The little I know about Thailand was what my ex-in-laws shared about living there when their company was hired to do a major construction job. I don't remember what it was.. sewer systems maybe? She said it was beautiful and poverty-stricken at the same time.

Abject poverty. People living in woven thatch huts... especially the Hill Tribe people. But they will smile and invite you to share their dinner. And never complain about not having enough of what ever... They just smile and go on enjoying their simple lives. I used to bring the Hill Tribe kids colored pens and crayons, and little sewing kits for the older women, etc., when I'd go to a village to do a photo shoot. I had to remember to also bring paper for the kids to color ON, or sometimes coloring books!



BTW... it's not your eyes... This photo was an 'out-take.' It was too blurry to use.

(The "mystery" food was a problem for her, though. ) She cooked everything herself and made sure she knew what it was and where it came from... even if she had to have it shipped in at extra expense.

I knew several people like that, visitors to the Kingdom. My own personal rule is: If it can't move off the plate under its own power, it's OK for me to eat it. I've only found 2-3 foods that simply repulse me too much to eat, and none of them in Thailand. 'Balut' in the Philippines, 'Shiokara' here in Japan, and 'Bat-brain Soup' in the Western Caroline Islands. Other than that, I'm good to go. I LOVE street food in S.E. Asia! The trick is, just do NOT ask what you're eating until you've finished.

Good luck on your new adventure, Stitchawl.

Thanks! We're looking forward to it!


Stitchawl

[dreams]

Thanks for the photo and explanation. I totally forgot about the all the bands. I have a "tourist" necklace around here somewhere that was sent to me.

Darn. I had to stop typing this to go looking for it. It use to be in the glass case, but I must have worn it and put it somewhere else. I can't find it, yet. Now, I have a mission to locate it again.

Now you have me thinking about what else was in the package. Some English/Thai children's books and Thai folk tales, a wood carved good luck elephant, clothing,.... hum, I am really curious now. See what you started?

I'm usually willing to try new foods, but I am picky and like to know if it has been handled correctly - like not being left out and uncooked. Dead and immediately cooked is fine, but questionable length of time makes me a little cautious in other countries. (and yes I try not to think how long it takes to get a deer or moose home to a packer.)

Have you set a date for when the new adventure will begin?

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by dreams

I'm usually willing to try new foods, but I am picky and like to know if it has been handled correctly - like not being left out and uncooked. Dead and immediately cooked is fine, but questionable length of time makes me a little cautious in other countries. (and yes I try not to think how long it takes to get a deer or moose home to a packer.)

Have you set a date for when the new adventure will begin?

Visitors often asked me if it was safe to eat street food in S.E. Asia... and the short answer is 'yes, if you use common sense.' As you say, the food needs to be cooked right then and there, not cooked and stacked up all afternoon in the hot sun. And look at the food cart. Is it 'reasonable' clean? Is the vendor looking healthy? I eat street food every day when traveling. It's my favorite way to experience a new culture. In S.E. Asia I've eaten bugs, snakes (sorry Sneaky) and lots of stuff I never could recognize. The only time I ever got a case of food poisoning was after eating the buffet lunch at the "Oriental Hotel," Bankok's premier and only Five Star hotel. My 'plumbing' does get a bit out of sorts every once in a while, but no more so than when eating at home.

The real culprit is 'water.' You need to drink bottled water in almost all of S.E. Asia. You cook with it, drink it, brush your teeth with it. ALWAYS. And you can buy it for pennies in every convenience store and market. The problem is when tourists try to save a few pennies and buy it from street vendors instead of reliable shops. Many, many, many street vendors pick up used bottles, refill them from the tap, and clap on a brand new 'sealed' bottle top! You can buy the bottle tops in bags of 100 for about a dollar... Instant "Delhi Belly!"

I won't leave Japan until sometime after August. Perhaps September?

Stitchawl

[orlok]

Best of luck with the planning and the move. I'll miss your Japan photos, as I am a bit of a Japanophile (not sure there's such a word, but...), as I've mentioned before, no doubt.

We watched the first three episodes of a new series on Thailand last night. Ladyboys. Fascinating and eye-opening - I guess most of that goes on in the naughty south? They do seem like lovely people, friendly and welcoming.

[dreams]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

<snip>

The real culprit is 'water.' You need to drink bottled water in almost all of S.E. Asia. You cook with it, drink it, brush your teeth with it. ALWAYS. And you can buy it for pennies in every convenience store and market. The problem is when tourists try to save a few pennies and buy it from street vendors instead of reliable shops. Many, many, many street vendors pick up used bottles, refill them from the tap, and clap on a brand new 'sealed' bottle top! You can buy the bottle tops in bags of 100 for about a dollar... Instant "Delhi Belly!"

I won't leave Japan until sometime after August. Perhaps September?

Stitchawl

The water issue I am very familiar with as that has been so for Mexico for a very long time. I had never had a problem with street vendors, but we always did check that the person and cart were clean and that they were established and recommended vendors. Also, if there were always a lot of people always around the cart, it was probably a good one and the food was probably fresher.

Do you have a place already chosen for where you will be living?

[WT Sharpe]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I do foresee a complete breakdown in the Japanese school system in the very near future. There is no punishment of any kind for any behavioral infractions because there never WERE behavioral infractions before. These days, the kids have been watching too much western TV and movies. They all want to be ganstas!

U. S. A.! U. S. A.!

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I don't know any place where the people are a friendly as Northern Thailand. Very different from even southern Thais. Everything is green and growing, flowers everywhere you look. Hey, it's a jungle!...

...Abject poverty. People living in woven thatch huts... especially the Hill Tribe people. But they will smile and invite you to share their dinner. And never complain about not having enough of what ever....

I never visited Thailand, but I get the feeling that it's a lot like Vietnam was in the late 60s. Stunningly beautiful, but with a level of poverty unimaginable in this country. I'd love to go back one day.

[lostmymarbles]

Just woke up.
Now drinking honey and lemon and it's so good.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by orlok

We watched the first three episodes of a new series on Thailand last night. Ladyboys. Fascinating and eye-opening - I guess most of that goes on in the naughty south? They do seem like lovely people, friendly and welcoming.

Ladyboys are all over, not just the south. Gender bending is not something that is looked down upon in Thailand, and often you will encounter a secretary in an office wearing a skirt and blouse... with a 5-o'clock shadow. One who's just begun the transformation process. But usually, unless you know what to look for, it's very difficult to tell boy from girl.

Funny story... I photographed a young woman model for a client. Another client saw her, and wanted poolside photos of her in a bikini.



MOST Thai women are VERY VERY modest (despite the huge sex industry there) to the point where many don't even own bathing suits, prefering to swim in shorts and shirts! Bikinis on a Thai beach (for Thais) is virtually unheard of. I couldn't find any of my usual models who even owned a bikini... But an American friend was 'married' to a beautiful Ladyboy... who did have a bikini... and was willing to pose... The client loved the photos, never new that Lola was really Larry, and everybody was happy!


Stitchawl

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by dreams

Do you have a place already chosen for where you will be living?

Oh yes... We'll go back to the same area we were living in. Perhaps not the same part of town, but certainly within 5km. It's Chiang Mai, the 'Rose of the North.' It's the last stop on the railroad headed north, just below (beside?) the Burmese border. It's a very modern/ancient city with all the comforts of the 21st century, but all the culture of the Middle Ages. I just tried to find a YouTube to show it, but it's like the story of the 6 Blind Men and the Elephant... There are just soooo many different facets to the area.

Originally Posted by WT Sharpe

I never visited Thailand, but I get the feeling that it's a lot like Vietnam was in the late 60s. Stunningly beautiful, but with a level of poverty unimaginable in this country. I'd love to go back one day.

That sums it up very well. And that poverty is side-by-side with spectacular riches, with the poor catering to the wealthy. The Hill Tribe villages are still filled with bamboo frame huts up on stilts, with woven palm walls, pigs tied up under the huts, and no electricity.



But 2km down the mountain trail is a luxury resort villa, a car rental agency, and a health spa...

Chiang Mai gives us all the modern comforts of home combined with great foods from all over the world, but with less than 15 minutes of driving, being able to return to a pre-modern age where people still cook their food over small fires outside (or under) their houses, plow their fields using water buffaloes for power, and plant their rice by hand... And the best part... everyone is always smiling... The nickname for Thailand is LOS, (The Land Of Smiles.)


Stitchawl

[maianhvk]

Still a long time ahead, but many good lucks Stitchawl. I hope you'll convert many readers in Thai to ereaders! Remember to pack a lot of your favorite tea from Japan.

Originally Posted by orlok

Best of luck with the planning and the move. I'll miss your Japan photos, as I am a bit of a Japanophile (not sure there's such a word, but...), as I've mentioned before, no doubt.

But then we'll have the colorful photos from Thailand!