The Day we met Sam Cohen.

We’ve made so much progress in the last few days.

First of, we met Tiew, whose taking us to two of our projects on Tuesday and to her own home (Our Home) where they have girls with disabilities that make quilts and bake for a living. Tiew is about 60 years old now and speaks English very well. She’s been involved with Play Around the World since it’s inception in 2001. Tiew’s brother will be our driver to some of our projects, which is super awesome since we don’t want to be paying an arm and a leg for transport. She showed us where three projects were located – about a 10 minute walk from where we live (Pattaya Orphanage, Vocational School for Disabilities and Fountain of Life)

Now, Sam has been here since 1982, and he was back for about 7 months in 1987 but found his way back to Thailand and has lived in Bangkok since. He is now 84, owns a condo on Jomtien Beach in Pattaya and comes down on weekends with his motorcycle. He’s a geologist and has done his masters – been in the dog food industry, meat industry, oil etc. etc….his experience is ridiculous. He took us to the yacht club for breakfast but it turned into a day’s event. He gave us a quick look at the Buddha on Pattaya hill which we visited today during our Scavenger Hunt. We drove along Jomtien Beach to his condo that has an AMAZING view of the Gulf of Thailand. He pointed at a high peaked lone mountain and asked if we’ve been there to which we all replied no, and he spontaneously decided to drive us out there – Khao Chi Chan carved Buddha Mountain (in gold). He drove us along this narrow path since the forest started growing onto the road on either side leaving nothing but the middle yellow line. He drives his motorcycle on this road behind the carved golden Buddha and he told us that people dump their cursed spirit houses in the forest since they brought their owner bad luck. We saw very many old remains of spirit houses littered in the forest. He took us to a local side road restaurant and we had about 4-5 different Thai related dishes that were ready the instant we sat down. We paid for this meal as a group since he drove us around all day. He kept saying “sex” instead of “cheese” when we were taking pictures, and he insisted that having four women in his car would only cause trouble. He was a hoot!

The scavenger hunt started off at 9 am and we made it to Pattaya Hill where the Big Buddha sits, around 1pm. We had a late lunch at the Cabbages and Condoms Restaurant by the Birds and Bees Resort. AMAZING! The food was great, the view was outstanding and the people all too friendly. The girls shot an exercise video in the back of a songtao (taxi truck) as one of their items to complete for the scavenger hunt. It was hilarious, and so was the picture that was supposed to make me laugh – which it did and we shall not mention what the picture entailed. What happens in Pattaya, stays in Pattaya. We had a few pictures that included “something you would not see in Canada”, which we then relabeled as “T.I.A” – This Is Asia: As in, you will only see or find THIS in Asia.



- The Golden Carved Buddha



- Our friend Sam



- The Big Buddha on Pattaya Hill.



- Overly enthusiastic to have lunch and free condoms.

New Beginnings

Waking up at 7am, on a rather humid, 30 degree Friday morning...is starting to feel a bit more like home. We're in a hotel - Nantana Garden View - only with a bunch of European, pot bellied men. It's a little strange...but after our expedition to the beach yesterday we realized just how prominent white men with their Thai ladies can be in this part of Thailand. We also mistakenly sat in the gay part of the beach, hence a giant rainbow flag posted behind us which we didn't notice. Caroline: "Did you notice, that it's only men with their Thai boys all over this part of the beach?" Sure enough, as we ventured down the beach we noticed a few more women.... only a few. Not too much of a shock for me, but it's strange to be out numbered.

In terms of projects...we are meeting with Tiew today so she can help us make some phone calls to projects that don't speak English very well. I'm hopefully meeting a gentlemen named Paul from the Camilian Centre, as well as the Canadians that run the Mercy Center in Pattaya. I feel like I needed to establish connections right away, but we've only been here for two days, and we still have jet lag. Patience I guess.

On Saturday morning Sam Cohen - a Brit, will be picking us up and taking us to a yacht club. This is an opportunity for the girls to be able to ask him some questions about the city and culture since their fairly new to pretty much everything here. Our language is starting to come a long, but the different tones on some of the words is a tad bit confusing. The food has been, from my point of view, amazing. There's a giant mall - Carrefour - close to our house that has everything, including a Subway, DQ etc. Very convenient but at the same time I'd like to venture more into the Thai parts of the city than the westernized parts.

Later Saturday - will be our scavenger hunt around the city. The girls will get their objectives to travel around the city and take pictures with certain objects, and find certain facts - an Amazing Race type idea. Because there's only four of us, I decided that we'd stick together as a group of four and then I'd stand back and let them take over so I can see how well they communicate with the locals and how they negotiate taxi fees and songtao rides around the city.


A few beach pics below...and a job posting lol



Right up my alley!

Organized Chaos

Things are looking great. The bags are all packed - equipment all organized in 9 different bags, 3 per group. They are all patiently sitting in my living room which leaves me with no space to move right now lol. Going out last night was probably not the best idea since I feel like I was hit by a truck and I have to still pack my own stuff. Love how Gogi's freaking out because I haven't even packed yet. Ha.

Mom and Gerhardus called me today so it was good to speak with the family before my departure. I miss them.

Below are some pictures of our shenanigans in terms of getting equipment ready and packed up.

Departure

Soon to depart to Pattaya, Thailand on May 16th.

We have a few things to get done still. I have yet to make connections with a few schools and orphanages but thanks to Tiew whose our main contact over in Pattaya - she will be calling them on behalf of PAW this week.

I still have to figure out if I am actually going to travel with my small little back pack. I want to travel as light as possible and not struggle with a 60 L backpack.... I figure if I travel with a weeks worth of clothes I only have to do laundry 5 times while I'm there :P which would barely cost me anything.

I can't wait to meet the children, feel the warmth of the sun on my skin and see places I've never fathomed, existed.

Can't wait for the food.

I'll reach Cambodia again as well...here's a picture of Piset from Sunflower: