Chiang Mai, White Temple, Elephant Nature Park!

Chiang Mai was our last big move (flying from Bangkok) and unfortunately my camera kept pooping out as ideal picture taking moments.  So, my pictures of Chiang Mai adventures are a bit incomplete.  No worries, I will solicit Libby (who is actually a photographer) for her photos!

While in Chiang Mai we did A LOT.  To mention a few things... 

We...

    Attended a cultural show and dinner with my Thai hosts (not pictured).  These hosts are a young couple I met for the first time (friends of a friend in Sisaket--Thais are VERY connected) who went above and beyond hospitality by picking us up from the airport, taking us to dinner, and spending a whole day of sight-seeing with us! 

    Visited Chiang Rai and the White Temple. See: Wat Rong Khun

    Went further North to the Golden Triangle where Burma, Thailand, & Laos meet--I was there in 2006 and never thought I'd be back!  

    Went to Elephant Nature Park ("ENP"- see pics below) where we learned all about the plight and mistreatment and hope for the future of these angelic giants.  This is a 300-acre sanctuary for old & often abused Asian elephants with serious disabilities--about 35 elephants in total.  In addition, the sanctuary rescues street dogs from Bangkok and elsewhere that have been ill-treated and injured--about 400 dogs!  See more info at: http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/

    Ascended to 2 mountain temples and hill tribes.

    Ate amazing food... including Burmese which is really fresh and very different from Thai.

    

    Did yoga in a really neat Shala.

...Will try to post more soon but I leave in a few hours so this might be it for now!!  This 5 weeks went by really fast.  There was something very therapeutic, reminiscent, and just wonderful about every unique thing I did.   Thailand is certainly a sort of home for me and will always have a sacred place in my heart.  Namaste.

At the Northern Thai dinner/cultural show with some of the performers.  

The white temple in Chiang Rai--contemporary temple depicting levels of Buddhist heaven and hell. 

Nawan!  The youngest elephant at ENP --just 3 months old!

Elephants are such characters!

Somberly approaching...

Our guide talking while feeding this happy girl some bananas.

Elephants at ENP often travel/live in pairs or small herds.  These old girls are always together

Libby and I giving elephants a bath.

Bath time!

Libby at ENP with an old elephant who was rescued from the logging industry. This elephant is completely blind from her owner shooting her in the eye with a sling shot to make her submissive.  

Koh Mak and Lop Buri

More travel pictures.  They all tell a bit of a story... my high school friend, Libby came to spend my last 2-3 weeks in Thailand with me to travel and have me play tour guide.  

Koh Mak = Island where Libby and I spent her first week in Thailand.  It is located in Trat Province on the Gulf of Thailand, Southeast of the big island--Koh Chang--and near the Cambodian maritime border.

Lop Buri/ Chaibadan = The province 3 hours North of Bangkok where I spent my first 10 weeks of pre-Peace Corps service training. During this time I lived with a Thai host family (no English) and studied 4 hours of Thai in the classroom (5 days/week) along with other subject matter such as technical, historical, safety, and cultural modules.  I took Libby to my original Thai host family to get a feel for village life, meet these incredible individuals I lived with for 2 months, have some home cooking, and experience the bucket shower.  She loved it and my host family was delighted to have a new "daughter".

Libby and I at our last breakfast on Koh Mak Island

The first time I EVER drove a motorbike (even while been surrounded by them during Peace Corps).  Safety first!

Sunset on Koh Mak Ao Kao White Beach

Long dock on Koh Mak Island

2 hour Thai Massage in Lop Buri Province with my host mom.

The ladies!  From left to right: Som Ruai (host mom), May (host sister), myself, and Libby

Original Peace Corps host family! Minus my brother, his wife and daughter.

Mischievous monkeys in Lop Buri!

New addition to the host family...my "niece" who was born after I left.  Her name is "Nong Baam" -- she is the daughter of my host brother who now lives with his in-laws.  She's  already 1 year and 4 months. 

Yoga Throughout Thailand

After several failed attempts to blog further due to Internet and continuous moving around, I decided to catch up in pictures and have a final summary of travels.

This post features pictures of me yoga-ing throughout Thailand!  From the most recent up to 10 days ago.

At a temple in Lob Buri Province (where my Peace Corps host family lives)

 in Natarajasana

Lop Buri Temple in Sirsasana headstand

On long dock in Mak Island, Trat Province Thailand in Ardha Padmasana in Vrksasana

In Sirsasana Headstand on the long dock, Koh Mak Island

Utthita Hasta Padagustasana on Koh Mak Island

On the long dock in Koh Mak

Natarajasana on the beach sunset at Koh Mak Island

Vrksasana on the beach sunset at Koh Mak Island

Yogi Excursion

Boat temple on Samui Island.

While I was at the yoga retreat, we spent one of our afternoons on an excursion with about 15 other yogis to explore the island and more specifically explore the Buddhist influence on the island.  Preceding and following are some pictures of that afternoon excursion.  Most notable sights were the amazing views from the temple on the cliff and the last 2 photos of a mummified monk who (as we were told) died in the 1970's in an enlightened meditative state and his body has not decomposed since.  Believe it or not, take it or leave it, it was pretty cool either way.  Enjoy!  More later...

On the way up to the Wat Chedi Laem Sor temple on Samui island

Buddha statue at the Chedi Laem Sor Temple

View from the cliff side temple.

Reclining Buddha on to of the hill at Chedi Laem Sor Temple.

On the top of the world!  Aka, lookout point on Samui Island

The group walking back from our excursion.

Believe it or not, this is a mummified monk--everything is real expect for his eyes.  He even has hair on the back of his head.  People say he died in an enlightened state in the 1970's.  No joke! 

Mummified monk is enclosed in glass and sitting in meditation as he seemlessly passes through this life...

Yoga (Amazing) Thailand

If Thailand wasn't enough of a paradise itself, I somehow found an oasis within this paradise via the Samahita Yoga Retreat on Samui Island in Southern Thailand.  At Samahita, I was fortunate to join in a workshop with one of the world's finest Ashtanga yoga teachers, Chuck Miller at this pristine setting.  Chuck is one of the original founders of YogaWorks (where I got my 200-hr. certification) and also a long-time instructor of my teacher and mentor, Natasha.  As a new yoga instructor,  it's important to continue education as often as possible and what better of an opportunity than to study with Chuck in Thailand?! When the stars aligned I thought, why not?! It was particularly beneficial because the workshop with Chuck provided a lot of much needed reinforcement of the principles and importance of yoga basics that come straight from the source of the YogaWorks method.  Very cool. 

For a couple days, we spent about 3 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon practicing and studying theory.  I was undoubtedly in the presence of greatness--you can really feel the energy and the wisdom in the room when Chuck is there.  In addition, the ambiance of Samahita was yoga-magical as the place itself was incredibly clean and quiet; the attendees were all like-minded yogis with genuine, earnest interest in yoga, health, well-being, peace, and balanced life. In addition, the food was incredibly healthy, vegetarian, vegan and delicious with 2 buffets twice a day. The theme of our workshop was Sama which, actually means balance or oneness or sameness in Sanskrit.  For 4 days, I tried to let this sameness and balance permeate my thoughts, behavior and actions and I can say with certainty after this retreat, I left feeling more balance, refreshed, rejuvenated, and even more excited about yoga!  It truly was an amazing experience.

This is where the magic of yoga happens...every day! Not to shabby with the sound of the waves to guide your breathing.

Samahita pool and outdoor yoga shala behind the pool.

With Chuck outside the Buddha Shala where we had our workshop

Beachfront land at Samahita...water was super salty but I somehow powered through!

Excursion near the beach.

With my new Thai yogi friends at the retreat.

Eating just one of many delicious and super nutritious meals at Samahita Retreat.

At sunrise from my room on the last day of workshop.

At the Peace Corps Office

Though, I have known other Volunteers to never visit the Peace Corps office after they CoS (close service), I couldn't stay away.  My experience with the Thai staff and all the staff actually was quite

pleasant throughout my time as a Volunteer.  In addition, I attribute a lot of my exposure to and understanding of Thai Culture/Thai Language to Peace Corps Thailand.  Maybe my experience was also a bit shaped by staying in close contact with Administrative Staff while serving on the Project Review Committee---reviewing and submitting grants on behalf of other Volunteers.  In any event,  it wouldn't have been a complete trip to Bangkok without at least one visit to my old stomping grounds.  Even though it's a bit of a pain to get to (within the city) from the sky train to a taxi or bus...once the trek is made and you're within the safety of the Peace Corps compound--the quite/stillness and beautiful landscape grabs you and you forget the trip that preceded. Going from one place to another in Thailand is often like this.

Since my CoS, lots has changed and (as in the village) also stayed the same.  I found that a substantial amount of the previous Thai staff had either retired or moved on--this is typical.  I was surprised at first to learn that in the past 2 years, Peace Corps Thailand has had 2 different Country Directors (American) but, after thinking about it--remembering Dr. John (our old CD who left with our group after 8 years service) it did't shock me so much.  He was a natural at the CD role and so proficient in working with Thais/speaking the language, etc.  I can imagine those are some hard shoes to fill.

On the compound, it was strange to be a visitor and not a PCV but, I adjusted.  The PC lounge is about the same--some new furniture and updated electronics but still the homey feel and nice collection of books in the Peace Corps Library.  It was very nostalgic.  I spent the afternoon mostly in Jaree's office--my previous Program Manager reminiscing, doing a bit of work (I offered!) and enjoying the company.  Around 5 PM, it was all over with no Volunteers around and most of the staff having gone to Pre-Service Training for the newly arrived group 125, I set off with Jaree as she left and returned back to the world of traffic jams, exotic smells, and noise.

With P Jaree at her office-- She was my CBOD (Community Development) Program

Manager.  She has been a great mentor, friend,  and teacher to me

and so many other Volunteers throughout the 7 + years she have been

at Peace Corps Thailand.   She visits each volunteer at least once

(that's over 100 Volunteers a year!)

and always has the time and patience to listen and offer genuine guidance.

She rocks my world! 

With the secretary for the TCCO (Teach Collaboration) program--

I was in CBOD (community based org. development) but I

worked with this woman substantially in my second year

with the Project Review Committee. 

With Khun Supanee in front of Pres. Obama. She is the woman in charge of

financial matters for volunteers--like setting up house/accommodation

rent from the Thai Governement.

With Jaree again at the entranceway to Peace Corps.  She

was kind enough to treat me to lunch and we spent a lovely

afternoon together at the office while I helped proofread some

notes for the new training group 125. 

Demonstrating yoga to the Thai Staff on the lawn in front of

the Peace Corps Office. Here in Sirsasana/Headstand.