Back in Baipai...

Yes, my parents and I immersed ourselves deeper into Thai cuisine at the Baipai Thai Cooking School. I mentioned before that I was pleasantly surprised at how they were such troopers during their entire visit --- expected this from my Dad but I have to give my Mom a lot of credit. In the midst of complaints to our Thai teacher that she'd rather be eating the food we're supposed to be cooking (when the dishes started to get more 'complicated'), not only did she manage to cook her own set perfectly but is, as of this writing, already recreating it now that she's back in Manila. My Mom would have most likely graduated valedicatorian in Baipai if we were graded! Good thing we weren't. She rose up to the teacher's challenge: "This is not a restaurant but a cooking school. You're not here to eat. You're here to learn to cook." Taray.

If there's anyone, however, who seemed to have had the most fun, I would think it was my Dad. This was the first time I saw him smiling ear-to-ear out of all the snaps I took while they were here. Here are my proud parents with the Goong Sauce Ma-kam (Prawin in tamarind sauce) they cooked:

Other dishes we learned to cook that day: Gai Hor Bai Toey (Chicken wrapped in Pandanus Leaf)

Som Tam (Papaya salad) --- Very different from our own achara (pickled papaya). This is one of my favourites. I could eat it everyday!

Gang Pehd Ped Yang (Roasted Duck in Red Curry) --- lives up to its being Royal Thai food. Not the easiest thing to make because there's just so much that goes into it.

Pachyderms through Jungle & High Water

For me, the best part of this Kanchanaburi trip was riding on an elephant through a jungle and the River Kwai (Kwae Noi --- small river) itself!

Our elephants were up to their ears while wading through the river. I don't know if it was sheer boredom that drove her but mine had the audacity (humour?) to keep squirting water at me while on the river. Here's my dame in action.

My parents on their pregnant elephant (apparently mine was too).

This is the Mon village we passed through. The Mon people is a minority group that lives around the Sai Yoke Elephant Camp and make their living tending to the animals.




In these parts, it isn't unusual to see baby elephants accompany their moms while taking tourists on their backs. And yes, they trek the whole nine yards including swimming through the river! We thought that must have been very difficult for the babies but apparently, according to our tour guide, the river is their favourite part of the hike. She has seen a baby elephant refuse to get out of the river that her mom had to start pushing her up the riverbank. In response, the baby sprayed water on her. Parang tao!

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Last quick cuento. While bamboo-rafting on the river, lo and behold, we saw a Kingfisher! We saw something similar to this.

The Truth behind the Bridge over the River Kwai

This is the train that carried us on the infamous "Death Railway" which the Japanese Imperial Army directed during World War II. It is called such because of the atrocities and death thousands of Allied Prisoners of War (PoW) have had to endure to construct this link between Thailand and Burma --- which my Dad agrees was a potentially good strategic move at that time.

Based on the account written in the "certificate" I received after riding the said train: "More than 16,000 prisoners of war and 100,000 labourers, including Chinese, South Indians, Malays, Burmese, Japanese and Dutch-Indonesian Eurasians died building the railway. Most of the deaths were from disease, malnutrition and exhaustion."

I guess it's a bit gruesome to be checking out the Death Railway, JEATH (acronym for the primary participant nations: Japan, England, Australia, Thailand and Holland) War museum and War cemetery at the first leg of my parents' journey. Sobrang nakakaawa (truly a pity) to see the living conditions of the PoW and appalling how some people can be capable of such inhumanity. I remember having the same feeling when I visited the War Crimes Museum in Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon). I literally burst into tears when I was there because of utter shock. This time I think I was a bit more prepared. Still, it was a sobering thought knowing we live in relatively peaceful times compared to those who have had to live through war (and continue to do so elsewhere in the world). Even asked my Dad what my grandfather, a war veteran, was doing during the war. I was just thankful none of my family had to go through anything like this.



On a lighter note, here's a look at the coffee and cookies that come with riding "first class" on this train.
We passed through lush vegetation all throughout our train trip, confirming what we were told that the Thai government strongly supports its agriculture industry, one of which is through a very extensive and effective irrigation system.

Greetings & Salutation

To those who SMS'ed, emailed and even phoned birthday greetings from Manila, Singapore, even India (you know who you are): Much thanks! The past week was a horrendously busy time at work (and continues to be) with hardly any sleep but realised later on, a true blessing because it kept my mind off my parents' absence. Funny how I don't usually expect to be greeted for my birthday but when somebody does it's always a pleasant surprise (Ok, I do make-tampo with some (not all) who don't...I'll stop pretending na...haha). But out here, when you're all by your lonesome self :), it matters even more. So to those precious thoughtful people, a big hug and mwah!

Just a few other things before I go:

Katkat - lovely letter...I mean novel. That is probably the longest letter, to date, that I have received in my life. In Patty's Book of World Records, you're title holder for longest-letter. I will write you back before the sun sets a week from now. Still collecting my thoughts. This early I warn you that I will not be able to respond with equal bravado.

Carl - thanks for the SMS and email (?)...not sure I got this though. Can you re-send so I can respond?

Up next: Kanchanaburi Part II and other highlights of my parents' trip here. My cousin Michelle, will be arriving from Koh Samui tomorrow. To my knowledge, she has been there for the past several weeks updating her superior yoga skills! :) I'm excited.

Take care everyone. Got to get back to work!

Happy Pill

I just brought my parents to the airport this morning and consequently had to pop in my ultimate pill against sadness, Christian music. This is after walking into an empty room my parents occupied for the past weeks and stumbling into the tocino, longanisa and a couple of other food stuff they had left behind in my fridge (sniff! :). Right now I'm listening to the Revive album of Gary V. Already, I feel better and I know I'll be bouncing back in no time especially after Church later. Galing nga kasi a friend just called for dinner with some Pinoy friends this evening.

I've had so many people say, even complain, how stoic and nonchalant I can get. I've had some describe me to be "Nazi"-like when I need to implement a particularly difficult decision (even in my personal life). But like all 'warriors,' we all have moments we put our guard down (as I've always been taught not to do in karate) because it's impossible to keep it up all the time. It's these time when I gladly run back to our Heavenly Father, faced with the presence of the King of all Kings, and lay it all down...armour, sword and all...knowing only He can give comfort, joy and peace that transcends all understanding, something the world will never be able to give.

Warrior is a Child
Lately I've been winning battles left and right
But even winners can get wounded in the fight
People say that I'm amazing
I'm strong beyond my years
But they don't see inside of me
I'm hiding all the tears

They don't know that I come running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Coz deep inside this armour
The warrior is a child

Unafraid because
His arrow is the best
But even soldiers need a quiet place to rest
People say that I'm amazing
I never face retreat, oh no
But they don't see the enemies
That lay me at His feet

They don't know that I come running home when I fall down
They don't know who picks me up when no one is around
I drop my sword and cry for just a while
'Coz deep inside this armour
The warrior is a child

(Words and music by Twila Paris)

Phra Pathom Chedi

Phra Pathom Chedi (Nakhon Pathom Province), said to be the tallest Buddhist monument in the world, was our (me and my parents) first stop before heading towards Kanchanaburi some two weeks ago. The chedi supposedly attracts Buddhist pilgrims all over the world. In fact, I saw a few pilgrims perform a particular ritual of walking around the circular structure three times carrying around, in a prayerful pose, what seemed to be a lotus stem. Each 'revolution' around the chedi represents a prayer offered to each of the following in this strict order: (1) Buddha; (2) The monk of the highest order in the temple; and (3) all of the pilgrim's ancestors.

Buddhist pilgrim performing the ritual of '3 revolutions' around the Chedi.

My parents visit & Kanchanaburi Part I

Tomorrow my parents would have been here in Thailand for exactly two weeks. It's been great hanging out with them and learned they were such troopers. Yes, including my Mom! I must say that, truly, "my cup overfloweth" with all the new experiences shared with them in this country. I feel very blessed.

The next few blogs will be devoted to describing how their visit had been. First off would be the weekend spent in Kanchanaburi. I had previously gone to this province with a couple of Pinoy friends last October to check out the key tourist spots. This time I went with my parents to appreciate its more "historical" side. So before I rattle off with another round of historical ramblings, I'll let you in on its more "tourist-y" attractions.

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Kanchanaburi is a province 128 km West of Bangkok. There you will find the well-known "Bridge over River Kwai" from which the award-wining 1978 film "Deer Hunter" (Robert de Nero, Meryl Streep, Christopher Walken) was based on. We also visited the Tiger Temple, Lawa Cave and the Hellfire Pass.
The Tiger Temple is a monastery and sanctuary to wild animals. Legend has it that some tigers had found their way here for protection by the Buddhist monks who later on became their 'friends.' We also saw deers, herds of wild boar as well as a black bear cub.

We had to climb hundreds of steps to get to the Lawa Cave. It housed eight chambers (rooms) with awesome stalactites and stalagmites to behold. Here you see Mabs, Dong and Claire in one of Lawa Cave's more impressive chambers.


Apart from reflecting on the state of PoW's who perished while building the Hellfire Pass, we soon discovered that this historical site offered some of the best photo opportunities compared to the others we went to. Below is Dong's postcard-pretty 'candid' pose as an example :)