tmvolunteers.org

Thurs 3rd Dec
Fon told me that the Assistant Director, Mr Sakunsa had asked to see me. I felt like I was being sent to see the head master! He said to me, “I have one question to ask you” – many things went through my mind but he said “Phang Nga College have asked if you will be a judge for the competition in Trang on 17th December”? I replied that yes I would if he didn’t mind. So, it’s set, I think I’m judging the demonstration part of the competition. I can hardly judge the English speech as I’d be very biased towards Kwang, naturally. Very exciting. I have arranged with Kwang that we will meet every day at George’s Pizza place to practice her English speech. She really is very good and is trying very hard as this time she has to do the speech from memory.

Fri 4th Dec
Fon’s students today, learning about tourism. I am still amazed by how little these students understand English and trying to have a conversation about where you would like to travel proved very difficult this morning.
The second class were also learning the hotel trade and so I have started talking about a hotel, what you would find in it. That also became very difficult because as soon as I got to ‘Reception’ I met a stumbling block. Very very slowly we managed to get as far as booking in! I just don’t have enough time.
Had a third class today, computer students and we talked about our daily routine and telling the time. All very basic stuff but it takes a long time to help them understand. Oh well, onward and upward!

Sat 5th Dec
The King’s birthday today, don’t think he’ll be up for much celebrating as apparently he’s in hospital. He’s just over 80 years old I think. There were celebrations in the evening at the Municipal building in town and Net and I went along. Lots of school children were singing and dancing. Tiny little girls and boys all made up with eye make-up and elaborate hair styles – weird in a way, they were pretty but they weren’t, if you can understand that!

Sun 6th Dec
Mr Sakunsa, the Asst Director had asked me to go to a local Temple as it was the first anniversary of his Mother’s death. I went with Sunisa and Tammy, another teacher and we visited the monks and had a long look inside the Temple. It was amazing, different pictures, each telling a story painted around the whole inside. We had lunch and then we went to Lampii Waterfall, about 15 km outside of Thai Mueang. It was very busy with both Thais and foreigners. Lots of children swimming but the water was very cold. Not a large waterfall. A nice place to visit for a short time.

Mon 7th Dec
Bank Holiday as it was the King’s birthday on Saturday! Anders and I went to Phang Nga on our bikes, across the mountains. Absolutely amazing and some beautiful views. A little bit hairy here and there but you get used to it. We visited a very large Temple the animal kingdom had a wall which had masses of monkeys climbing over it and one particular fella decided to take my coffee, which I had inadvertently left on a table, he rushed up the tree and proceeded to drink it, using the straw! He got fed up with that, threw the straw away and drank from the cup. I took some pictures but not too sure how they turned out. We then went down into a huge cave, a monk sitting by the entrance, so if you wanted to pray, he was there. The cave just went back and back into the mountain, I am sure it’s inhabited by millions of bats but fortunately didn’t see any. Typically my camera wouldn’t take the photos well enough as it was so dark but just believe me when I say it was amazing, with water at the bottom, no idea if it was a river but it must have come from somewhere. Then we went into ‘Hell’. All I can say is that the Thais have some amazing imaginations, it was awful. Statues of people being tortured and killed in the most horrific manner. Honestly it was like a Stephen King story. I’m not even going to tell you what was going on there, if you want to know ask Anders! I took Anders to the same place that I had lunch with Sunisa for Papaya salad. Then back home, same way. A great day out – 110 km! Wow and yes my bum knew it!

Tues 8th and Wed 9th Dec
School is the same but am working hard with Jiranan for the English speaking competition. She is working very hard and on Wednesday spoke in front of the whole school. Unfortunately she was very nervous and so it wasn’t as good as perhaps it could have been. Met up with her after school, at Georges and we practiced some more. Fon joined us and she’ll speak in front of school again on Friday.

Thurs 10th Dec
Another public holiday, lucky me, something political this time I think. Anders, Net and I went to Khao Lak, about 35 km from Thai Mueang, for lunch. There are so many resorts on the beach for the holiday makers that when you walk around, you see more white people than you do Thais! Had a very tasty lunch, little wander and then back home to catch up on chores!