Checking on Hope

Saturday, Chut, X, Mic, and I went to Ratchaburi to check on our buddy, Hope.  Hope is dealing with a serious family illness and we wanted to make sure he knows we are standing with him through this.  The photo above is from near Chut's home, showing the extent of the flooding on the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok.  Usually everything you see in the foreground is dry land.

After going to the hospital, we went to a shop nearby that is famous for its hand made noodles.  The brownish square you see on top is a block of congealed blood, typical in noodle dishes.  Yummmmy!

X and Mic.

Hope and Chut.

Afterward, we went to Wat Kohnkhat and the Nang Yai Museum.

The museum shows scenes from famous Thai mythology that are cut from animal skins and displayed with a lighted background.  There are dozens of these and they are beautiful.

Another scene.

A monk wrapping up some hand made jars I bought for my mom and sis.  They are really pretty and well worth the thirty bahts (one dollar) each I paid for them.

Me, Hope, Mic, and X.

Chut, Hope, Mic, and X.  Friends for life.

After that, we just monkeyed around.

Getting some Thai snacks.  Thickened coconut milk, heated til they gel firmly.  Sooo good!.

Almost done!

Ready to eat!

A Full House in the Slums !

Went back to the slum community of Jarurat this afternoon after church.  A big crowd of kids waiting for us.  We barely had room to hold them all!

This is Lang (sounds more like long).  He has not come for a long time, but today, while I was carrying chairs into our meeting place, he came over and helped me.  I asked him to help me when I told the Bible story.  He could help give away the Hot Wheels car.  He thought that was a good idea, so he came and joined with us for the first time in almost a year.  He brought his new pet.  That monstrous bug he is holding is very definitely real!  (If you click on any of these pictures, it will enlarge it... check out the size of this bug!)

Everyone gathering and getting ready for Ting to lead us singing.

I told the story of Elijah being taken up to heaven in a chariot of fire and then Lang helped me asking questions and giving away Hot Wheels.

Almost totally out of room!

First time I have even seen this little girl.  She was usually smiling broadly.

Lang with his pet clinging to his shirt.  I told him that, for helping us, I was going to bring a special Hot Wheel for him next week.  (Kind of insures he will come next week, too!)

One of my favorite places in the world to eat is a little dive near church.  It is the restaurant at the Athen Hotel (pronounced A-10), a cheap hotel just around the corner from church.  Not someplace to take a first date.  The first time you visit, you think, "Oh my, what have I gotten myself into here?"  But the food is some of the best I have tasted.  Young Leaders Group eats here often and also orders carryout to eat at church some evenings.  Here are some sample of their "cuisine."

Swanky it aint!

Fish with Thai spices.

Gang som goong kai cha-om, a spicy soup with shrimp and chunk of omelet made with cha-om, a grass-like vegetable.  I LOVE this stuff!

Omelet with pork.  It sounds very plain, but it is delicious.

Tom jued tao-hoo sa-rai, soup with seaweed and tofu (with a bit of minced pork).  A favorite of many Thais.  Not spicy enough for my taste, but it's not bad.

Beef strips.  Think warm beef jerky.  Really tasty!

Pad pak, sauteed vegetables.  See, we do eat healthy!

Mmmmm... fried bananas - and "turtle eggs" !

Momo and I stopped after lunch for a guilty treat.  Fried bananas and something we call turtle eggs, much like American donut holes.  Sooo good, and soooo bad for you!

Random Photos

Favorite toppings?  Check the one on the right.  Corn.  That will raise some American eyebrows in surprise!  It IS a favorite here. 

Waiting on the Skytrain

How many massage parlors can you see on this soi (sidestreet)?  Double click on any photo in the blog to enlarge it.

Here comes the Skytrain!

I have a new favorite food.  Last weekend, on our team outing, I had this for the first time.  Gang som goong kai cha-om.  Orange soup with prawns, egg, and cha-om (a type of vegetable here).  It is a hot and sour soup, very spicy.  It has a tomato flavor, although there are no tomatoes in it.  The squares are a sort of omelet with cha-om mixed in, cut into squares. 

Absolutely delicious!

TRAC Gang Does Amphawa

The TRAC team put together a great weekend getaway to Amphawa, a famous area southwest of Bangkok along the Mae Klong River.  A peaceful little resort, and some fun acitvities...  a great and memorable weekend...

Amphawa is a very pretty place.  More so when you bring along lovely young ladies like this!

Yes, I think we had fun!

A river cruise to the famous Amphawa market.

They said the crowds were down because there was a brief rainshower just as we arrived.  I can not imagine what it is like when it is crowded!

The canals were full of shoppers!

After an evening of shopping, we returned to the resort.  Some of us (no me!) stayed up almost all night playing games and laughing....

While some play a version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Hope and X squared off to play video futball (soccer). 

Hope pays for his late night the next morning.

At 6:30 a.m., the team members gave alms to monks who floated by in boats.

We visited Baan Kae Noi (spelling may be wrong), a local temple.

The temple was full of intricate wood carvings...

...and had a beautiful fountain.

Famous characters from a Thai novel at the national park established to honor

King Rama II.

A little dip in the river to finish off our activities.

It was hot, so the swimmers got to cool off.

A bowl of noodles (actually 104 bowls) and we were off for Bangkok again!  This is Eam, her husband and son.