(catch-up entry Sunday, January 23rd)
As Canadians we should be thankful for our commitment to our multi-cultural society.
Because we embrace so many diverse cultures we have readily accessible exotic culinary delights. Feel like Indian food? take the subway to the Danforth. Change your mind when you get there? Walk back a couple of blocks and go have Greek. Food choices are endless.
Now I know that I have been going on about how wonderful the Thai food is here; and it truly is but once and a while a Canadian boy has to “chow down” on an all beef burger just to remind himself how clogged his arteries really are. Sunday was one of days.
But first let me tell you a little bit about our second cultural day in Thailand.
We had a few things on the agenda today.
Our first stop was to a small fishing village just outside of Kao Lak where there is a large park which evidences the power of the Tsunami that devastated the area. In this park are two large fishing boats that remain as a testimony to the power of the wave.
The team were given the chance to climb all over the boat.
Afterwards we were taken to a small pier where we wondered amongst a variety of small fishing boats adorned with colourful flags flapping in the wind. Got some great pics.
Adjacent to the fishing village is a Government sponsored memorial to the Tsunami Museum. The focal point of the museum is a large polished sculpture of a wave that optically looks like it is about to crash into a tiled wall on the other side. The tiled wall bore the names, country of origin and (in some cases photos) of the victims that died on that fateful day at the beach on December 26th.
Canadians included.
We were given some time to walk about and explore before lunch was served at the beach.
I’m finding that the heat is curbing my appetite a little so while the team ate happily, I took the time to sit with our HFH hosts to talk about there reflections of the tragic event.
You can see the pain in their eyes when they talk about it but the Thai people seem so polite that even when they are accounting the event they smile. The smile has nothing to do with disrespect.
They just don’t want to make you feel uncomfortable. How amazing is that?
After the memorial we were taken to my first Buddhist Temple.
The Temple was modest in design in and structure and not really what I had expected. Imagine a large courtyard with a temple in the centre where I had the opportunity to take a few pictures of a Buddhist Nun. I had no idea that there was such a thing. I had always imagined that the cloistered where specific to the male gender.
Behind the temple were a few auditorium like structures that are used for prayer. The Sheffer inside of me suspected that there was more to see so I wandered from the group and went behind the auditoriums to see what kind of trouble I could get myself into.
I was well rewarded as I had the opportunity to view the modest huts that the Monks kept residence in. There was a real treat when I spied a Monk clean a big ass machete. He glanced up at me through the stippled light of the palm trees above and I bowed to him then motioned for permission to take his photograph. He smiled back at me and then stop his work and posed for me.
Damn! Another perfect moment spoiled by Canadian courtesy! I have to learn to curb that.
The shot turned out well despite the pose. I bowed once again and was on my way.
Later that evening the group decided to go out for dinner and experience a little variety.
We were taken to an “Italian” restaurant for some “authentic” Italian food. Now keep in mind that I hadn’t eaten lunch and had a very light breakfast so I was reminiscing about zucchini salad and home made pizza.
I was soooooo hungry. At one point I noticed that the table cloth in front of me was set on a diagonal and when I flipped it up it looked like a slice.
Unfortunately the consistency of the pizza that came wasn’t far off from the table cloth corner. I know, I know I am being hyper critical but combining a “foodie” with a unbearable appetite is a dangerous thing.
I have been assured that there is a Pizza Hut in Phuket. Not the greatest compromise but a compromise nonetheless.
Back to work tomorrow.
Thanks for reading.
Hope everyone is well.
Back to the Build and Finally Caught up on my Blogging
