The Week of my Departure

One morning after a not so good a sleep and really wanting to sleep in, I was rudely woken by the village town crier’s voice over the loudspeakers.  It was nearly 6am so I reluctantly got up and went to the market, which I had planned to do if I had slept well.  I’m glad I went as I needed to stock up on bananas and some kanom (Thai desserts) for the last few days of my stay.  I also bought a whole durian which I was told was ripe and soft.  Buying them whole is a bit cheaper because they don’t take the outer shell off.  When I got home I decided I’d cut it open and put the segments in the fridge.  Well!  It wasn’t as easy as I’d experience in the past, when the segments parted quite easily as I prised open.  This time they wouldn’t open at all and hacked away at the shell only to extract two of the portions.  By this time I was sweating profusely from my efforts so I gave up and put the rest of the fruit in the fridge and the portions I’d removed into a container.  It was definitely ripe and soft but I think being a local variety was determined not to give up its treasured fruit.  The flesh of this fruit was a dark, rich yellow and unlike the other fruits which I had been eating which were a creamy colour.  This fruit had a little stronger flavour and not so creamy.  I was a little disappointed but still happy I was able to eat it over the remaining days.  The following day I tried again to open it, and this time I could see where the segments separated and was able to prise them apart, with a sharp knife, although it needed a lot of strength to do so.

My last day at the primary school with the younger children went well.  Before class one of the girls brought me a drawing she had done of me.  I must admit it was very flattering with bright red lips, long eyelashes and rough, I even had pink bows in my hair.  The headmistress came into the classroom to take photos and a video of the lesson.  I said to Carolyn, “I’m wondering if she is going to use it as an example of how not to teach children”.  We both laughed.

There was a bit of tension and stress during my last week as I battled with the anxiety of travel and the teaching engagements.  International travel has always stressed me out, then on top of this was Baan Sawang’s last day of term where I was asked to teach with Temjai as my assistant.  I had prepared the lessons for the three classes and emailed it to Liz and Temjai, a month in advance, for them to look it over and give me feedback.  I then waited for a response so that I had some time to go over things with them but everyone got busy. Liz with her Mum’s health and Temjai with her Thai studies and new placement.  Furthermore I didn’t receive the copy of the email that Liz sent the week of the lesson, I was then unable to check it and prepare any further.  So as the time approached I was more stressed as I like to get things done weeks in advance if not the week beforehand especially as I’d never taken the whole class before.  Anyway, Temjai and I finally worked things out.  She printed out the necessary flash cards and exercises plus prepared extra activities just in case I we needed to fill in time.

The day went well with a few tweaks here and there. It was great having Temjai and Khru Oi, our Thai helper, there to keep things running smoothly. We used one of Temjai’s activities with the younger group because we cut out the painting activity, as they were taking longer than I thought with colouring the colour chart.  The second group knew how to combine colours so we were able to move on to the painting exercise; a sunset over the ocean using the primary colours plus black and white. They did a great job.  I think the next group thought they were going to do painting too but instead I talked about making Pikelets. I had brought over the ingredients and items needed to cook them and asked them to write down the recipe.  They didn’t realise we were actually going to cook them till they were told to come to my kitchen in the other house, then they were really excited. There were two groups, Temjai taking one and I took the other with Khru Oi translating for those who needed help.  When finished, we took the pikelets back to the classroom to eat them with honey.  It was a fun morning.

Once the children were gone and we had cleaned up, Temjai and I went to Pi Nee’s for lunch, our last before she headed back to Phayao and me to pack for my flight the following day.  I was very disappointed that my little red cabin luggage wasn’t fitting as snugly as it should in my black suitcase. I had tried it several times but just couldn’t fit enough into it so I reverted back to two separate suitcases. My flight to Bangkok allowed 25kg but the one from Bangkok to Bali only 23kg so I had to make sure it was just 23kg plus 7kg total for carryon luggage.

Not only was I stressed over the pending travel and organising the Saturday lessons, there was the unresolved issue with the community garden website which desperately needed up grading. The theme was out of date and the PHP was only 7.3 instead of 8.3.  (See I told you the technology stuff would be confusing. It was to me too!)  Praise the Lord for my friend Grace who always comes to the rescue when it comes to websites.  At first she upgraded the PHP not knowing the old theme was not compatible and we lost the site completely.   Still in the backend of the website she was able to back everything up after taking it back to PHP 7.4 and before updating to a new theme, which I’m going to start on once I can get the VIN pointing to Australia again.

All through that week I felt the Lord constantly reminding me to let go and let Him lead the way; to stop stressing and wanting to take control of the situation and trust that He has my best interest in mind and would help me in all situations.  The scripture that came to mind was from Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all you ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.” It goes on to say “Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to our bones.”  True when we fret it does affect our health in a negative way and worrying over things we have no control of doesn’t change the situation.

An update on my elusive friend Milkky who continued to request we meet up.  She then explained that she had wanted to meet previously but couldn’t because she had been very busy, she was sorry and said I should stop being grumpy.  I chuckled to myself and replied I understood her situation, and I was disappointed not grumpy. She had then said she wanted me to stay with her and asked if I was single.  Oh dear!  I had suspected she might have alternative motives but was unsure as many Thai girls are overly friendly without being lesbians. I told her I was not looking for a relationship other than being just friends.  She is 42 years old, 29 years my junior!  May be she was looking for a ‘sugar-mummy’. She’s got the wrong woman!  Just before my flight she suggested she meet me at the Don Muang airport in Bangkok.  I wasn’t sure she would turn up, so said ‘We’ll see’.

Before leaving on July 26^th I sent Milkky a message saying I would prefer she didn’t come to the airport to see me as I’d prefer to have some alone time. She responded with ‘Ok, I respect you, I understand you worry about travelling.  I respect your feelings’. I was so relieved and grateful that the Lord had given me a way out and for her to be so gracious.

That morning I had woken just after 4am, which having slept well, gave me plenty of time to get ready.  I packed and repacked my bags.  Praise the Lord I was able to put all my things in with the weight coming just under the 22kg and 7kg for carryon which included my computer, but also excluded my phone power-pack which I put into my jacket pocket.  The extra weight I had in the suitcase was breakfast for the following morning; my frozen coffee, a packet of soy milk and my Bircher muesli.  I cleaned up in the kitchen and finished cleaning the fridge before turning it off, stripped the bed and put a load of washing on which I left on the drying rack in the kitchen.

By 9am I was ready to leave. I drove to Dema and Carolyn’s home as they were dropping me off at the airport. Of course I was very early but sitting waiting for check-in to open is less stressful for me. I had time to practice my Thai while I waited with other waiting passengers and drink my coffee.  Then when I joined the queue to drop off my suitcase I requested a favour from a tour guide to jump the queue ahead of a very large team from Holland.  I had another wait before going through customs as I needed to drink all my extra water and soy milk I had brought in my backpack.  I had thought being a domestic flight I could take water through with me, but no, not here.  At least I was fully hydrated for the trip.

I was pulled over by customs who wanted to research my money belt, which they did three times because they couldn’t find what they were looking for on the scanner.  It suddenly dawned on me it was my missing penknife!  I had put it in my purse but when I wanted to use it I couldn’t find it, so thought maybe I hadn’t put it there after all.  But no that’s exactly what it was!  Once it was found the officer measured the blade and told me I can’t keep it.  I was fine with that as it was old, broken and I hardly used it.  I usually put it in my suitcase when I travel but because I couldn’t find it had forgotten about it. Once safely through this check point I sat relieved at the departure gate.

While waiting for the flight to embark, an elderly Thai recognised me from our chat in the airport waiting area, and greeted me warmly.  She and her family, her son and grandson were heading for Bangkok.  While waiting for our flight I was able to refill my water bottle at the fountain, having had to empty it before going through the customs check point.  I was then able to relax and eat my lunch.

On the flight I was sitting next to Patrick, from Switzerland.  His wife and two boys sat across the aisle from us.  Patrick was very nervous at flying, his wife had only just persuaded him to take this holiday in Thailand.  I reassured him there would be no problems as the Lord still had work for me to do but if not at least I knew where I’d be going if there was an accident and asked “Do you?”  He didn’t look very reassured but we both laughed.  I asked him if he would like me to chat to him to keep his mind off the flight.  He wasn’t sure if it would help but later said it had helped.  It was only a short flight, one and a half hours.  We talked about all sorts of things including his visit in Thailand and ended with me inviting him and his family to Perth for one of their school holidays which is from July to August.  I said he would have to let me know in advance as I avoid Perth winters.  We exchanged WhatsApp IDs after we landed and bid each other safe travels.

After collecting my suitcase, I asked for directions for the shuttle bus to Suvarnabhumi airport where I was flying out the following day, it was also close to the hotel I had booked.  The shuttle bus office was easy to find and after about a half hour wait, we were ushered to the bus which took about two hours to arrive at Suvarnabhumi airport.  Here I asked directions to where I could get a taxi then, waiting for the lift down to the first floor I chatted to a Thai lady who spoke perfect English.  She was also going to the ground floor and stayed with me there to help me make sure when I was ordering the Grab taxi that it was going to the correct destination. Then while waiting at the Grab station for my ride to arrive, another Thai woman assisted me to the correct waiting station.  I think it must be my grey hair that gains me favour with so much assistance, which I won’t say no to.  In all of this I could see that Hand of the Lord leading and guiding my steps.

The hotel was only 5km away so it was a short comfortable ride.  After booking in and being shown to my room, I was ushered up three flights of stairs with a young man carring up my heavy suitcase.  I unpacked, putting some things in the fridge and night gear on the bed, before going down for my complimentary pandan juice at the bar.  I was very grateful that my room was at the opposite end to the bar and pool and at the back of the hotel overlooking a klong (canal) full of water, as it was the farthest away from the noise, or so I thought.

It was now time to explore.  I asked the waiter where I could buy durian, it was my last opportunity. He suggested at the market which was easy walking distance.  I passed some great eating places before reaching the market.  There were quite a few fruit stalls as well as other foods and trinkets.  I found what I was looking for and sat in an eating area to enjoy it, being watched by some locals who I’m sure didn’t expect to see a foreigner enjoying a durian so much.

Back at the hotel I had an early night, washed my underwear, boiled the tap water in the kettle three times as there were only two bottles of water and I was sure I’d need more for my hot water and lime (which I’d brought from the house).  I was in bed and nearly asleep by 9am when all the racket from the noisy neighbours going up and down the stairs began and although it continued off and on for quite some time I was quickly asleep and unaware of it.

I woke just before 5am to prepare for the day and decided I wanted to write up a few things, for the blog, while they were fresh on my mind from the previous day.

My computer was playing up and only showing the keyboard on screen, not the attached keyboard.  After battling with trying to find the settings via on screen keyboard (SO frustrating!) and having detached the tablet screen from the keyboard twice to try and re connect it, I then turned the computer off and tried again while praying that the Lord would intervene and help me.  Hallelujah! It started working again!  I was then able to write with speed.

After repacking my bags, I asked one of the hotel assistant to help carry it to the lobby where I booked out. I was impressed they provided a bus transfer to the Suvarnabhumi airport for just 50 Bhat which saved me getting a Grab for twice that amount. I was also happy to wait the half hour for the ride as per usual I was very early.

After checking in my heavy bag at the check in counter. I drank my pre made coffee which I’d frozen to last for today and finished off my water before going through immigration check point.  All went well till I had to scan my bags at customs. All went through except my money belt which they searched and put back through the scanners four times!  On the second time I remembered the pocket knife I through I’d put in some weeks ago but then couldn’t find it.  Well they couldn’t find it either till finally there it was. They measured the blade and said I couldn’t keep it.  I didn’t mind because it was old and broken, although if I had found it earlier I would have put it in my suitcase.

I hadn’t brought my lunch with me this time as we were supposed to be on board the flight by 12:40pm but our flight was delayed as the previous flight to the Middle East was late departing from our bay.  I noticed a Middle Eastern man and his son trying to board when the boarding ramp for their flight had begun to be detached. I felt sorry for them but they really were late!  During our delay I chatted to a young girl from South Africa who was teaching in China.  We also swapped WhatsApp details as she too hoped to come to Perth to visit a friend.

Once aboard, I introduced myself to the two men sitting in my row.  A German, Richard, next to the window and a Thai policeman beside me who was going to an ASIO conference in Bali, hosted by Australia.  He wanted to practice his English and me my Thai so we had some lovely conversations. I asked if he was nervous as he kept jiggling his legs but he said no.  I noticed he stopped jiggling when he was asleep, but then Richard also started jiggling, I thought that was funny.  Maybe it was contagious.  Praise God I had the aisle seat as I was up several times to go to the toilet.

Lunch finally came, a choice of pasta or Pat Thai (pronounced Phad not pat).  It was my first Pat Thai since arriving in Thailand and quite spicy for an international flight.  The rest of the flight was uneventful. Next stop Bali, and the start of a new adventure!

Photos: 1, Turmeric – Curcuma longa    2. Turmeric     2. Primary school Thursday class    3. Baan Sawang painting class    4. Older children’s cooking class    5. Dema and Carolyn seeing me off at Chiang Rai airport    6. Thai dessert with coconut milk    7. Dragon fruit from Baan Sawang garden

Prayer & Praise Points:

Praise the Lord for a safe journey and arrival into Indonesia and for reconnecting to my church family, my sister and Ralf here in Bali.

Please pray Jen, Ralf, Josh and I will get all the repair jobs at the house, church and House of Hope done before Jen and Ralf leave on the 5^th of August.

Please pray that the Lord will keep me safe during my stay here in Bali and that I will be productive a blessing to others and continue to grow in the Lord during my time here.

Please don’t forget to continue praying for the Karen families not only in Thailand but also left in Myanmar. Persecution continues as churches are not only bombed but landmines are placed within their grounds.

Pray for families who have applied for visas and permanent residency with their families abroad, especially Matt’s family in Mae Sot. Pray that they will be united with family soon.   Pray also that, while they wait, their situation in Thailand will improve and that they will be able to provide for their families.