The hours I’ve spent in Asia (Japan to change flights; Bangkok for 36 hours; Laos for 12hours) have been remarkable, if only for the fast pace and the amazing people/places/experiences/food already experienced! (Global song too!)
Flight was butt-achingly long; it takes many hours to fly over the island of Japan, let along from Hudson Bay, Canada beyond Juno Alaska.
Followed by Eight hours from Japan to Bangkok!
We made it from the airport in Bangkok to our hotel and bed at 2:30am, 2:30pm (the next day) EST.
Crazy thing is we were up by 6:00!
After breakfast in the hotel (scrambled eggs, toast & coffee) we walked in search of the Jim Thompson House.
Found it. Caught so many sights of Thailand. Buddhist monks in saffron robes, signs of flood, etc…
Three hours early, we walked around the neighborhood. Ted had a hunch we were close to the Christ Church United of Thailand
(actually he had no idea where we were). Behold, we literally walked onto the compound!
Miracle of miracles, we met the former Executive Director ("Bishop") of this ecumenical body, someone who had been to visit Ted in Lowell twice.
Dr. Sin! (last name is to long to spell)
So……back to hotel and back to CCU, Thailand for worship
Then, 9:45, Dr Sin’s sermon, delivered to 100 Church Educators from many countries.
Then, 10:40 Jim Thompson House where we met up with dad’s classmate, Bill Klausner for the "presidential tour" of the museum and a delicious lunch which lasted late…3:30ish.
For both Ted and myself, spending "quality" time with Bill, a man who has lived in Thailand since 1959, was just short of another miracle. His knowledge of
"things" Asian (history, art, religion, current events, etc) was riveting. He speaks Lao fluently! Trains Peace Corps Volunteers in the cross-cultural essentials; Teaches at a Thai University; He loved Ted, and Ted was amazed at Bill’s knowledge.
Bill was quite impressed with us too, I’m sure.
3:00, 1/26, nap in hotel.
6:00 Out walking the streets of downtown Bangkok last night.
Wouldn’t you know…we saw colorful Asian dancing…the last night of a cultural festival.
Serious costumes, though we dance better at the Christmas celebrations at CCU Lowell.
Meandered home and "hit the hay"
Up at 4:00 (couldn’t sleep) to charge batteries, back-up video
6:30 taxi to Airport to retrieve one lost bag, find Lao Air and fly to Vientiane.
Ted’s two brothers, and two more Lao met us and whisked us through customs thanks, in part, to the letter of introduction from the leader of the Lowell cultural center. After checking in to our hotel, we went seeking government permission for me to visit Ted’s home village.
This took us to the office of the third most powerful man in the govt.
He said "No, can’t go!"
By sundown, his subordinates essentially said "go" but no preaching! (They heard my sermons are too long!)
Into this Ministry office, across town to that Ministry office. Tiresome afternoon in the "other world" capital city of a very poor country.
Lots of motos, cars, three wheeled taxis, and architectural vestiges of French colonial rule, etc.
Hot and humid. (Pack better next trip)
Back to hotel for nap
5:00 out to dinner. Govt. official shows up to dine with us! (8)
Nice guy. Ted’s two brothers (both farmers) were along with us.
Very nice restaurant. Chose not to ingest fried baby birds, and a few other delicacies! (God knows if I’ll get sick or not; haven’t been away from the states long enough to find out)
Ted and his two brothers are asleep in room next door.
I gather, tomorrow we shop, drink a bee or two and definitely eat more rice!
TIme for bed,
WOW, God is Good! Buddha is good! Sweet Dreams!
Peter
