This past week was a short one. I got back from hiking Phukradueng on Monday, so I didn't work. I ended up catching up on sleep and enjoying an afternoon with an American friend I have made here. We submersed ourselves in the world of Starbucks and A Christmas Carol in 3D, of course. It is funny how a mall here can make you feel like you are back in the states.
They freeze the theatres here, so the chill mixed with the 3D falling snow made me feel like I was back in Colorado. Unfortunately, the second we walked out of the mall the wall of 90+ degrees hit us with a fierce blow. Sometimes, I feel like I can't catch my breath; the heat is intense. Lucky for me...I'll be home in a few days in the frigid cold. Then, I can complain about that. Haha...well, I honestly have enjoyed the summer feel of Thailand. It has been a nice change from the usual Colorado cold. Bet you all wish you were here!
The bars this week were again a bit hard on me. Of course, entering that environment is always rough; I think sometimes I just assume it will be different. We went to a bar and chatted with 3 girls we have met before. It is always neat seeing familiar faces, especially in the bars. The lack of communication is overcome by smiles and giggles. You realize that they are beginning to see that you aren't there for what they can give, but to give. We just want them to feel special. To feel a little hope. Realize that someone cares. Sometimes a smile can do that. Amazingly, a little laughter really can brighten someone's day.
They ended up telling us that one of the ladies at Rahab had been working there at night to make extra money. Of course, non of us knew this, so the stunned look of shock was plastered all over our faces. We pulled ourselves together and finished the conversation just as the girls were called up for their shift to dance. We bowed in gratitude for their time (typical Thai fashion) and left for the evening.
You know...it's funny how hard it is to see someone after you just learned their big secret. They of course, rarely know that you know, but the intensity of the moment makes it feel like they do. Like their just waiting for you to call them out on their big mistake, secret, whatever you want to call it. But really, they have no idea.
We ended up leaving the news in the hands of the bosses and I honestly don't know if I'll know what will happen from the situation. I hope and pray that she will see that the money from the bars isn't worth it. It isn't hopeful, isn't loving, isn't anything that we need.
If I find out...well, I will update you if I hear anything.
My hair classes were interrupted by preparations for the upcoming Christmas party. Not to worry though, it was fun watching the ladies get excited about reaching out to the women in the bars. We hold a Christmas party annually to invite all the bar girls to. They don't even get Christmas off, so we hope to give them a night to eat, get presents, and feel loved in a real way! It is a really neat opportunity to reach the women in the bars and allow them to see what it can be like to leave the bars. We have a tree, wreaths, and crazy color tinsel everywhere around Rahab. The girls are busily preparing skits and dance routines to share with the bar girls. They even have a dance where they wear clown wigs and white gloves. Michael Jackson, anyone? haha I am not going to lie, I have had my share of giggling and teasing while trying to figure out what the wigs and the gloves have to do with the song. This is Thailand...that is the only logical reasoning! haha
On Thursday we headed off to a nearby town called Ayuttyha. It is the former capital of Thailand. I honestly don't know when, but it is filled with temples and old ruins of temples. The ruins were amazing. The architecture of each of them was so unique. You could see the different decades as they were forming into what they now call temples (wats). We even got to see a Camia style ruin. It is the same style that is found in Cambodia. The style that was used in the Jungle Book for the monkey temples. Each detail probably took hours to create and they built miles and miles of ruins in Ayuttyha.
We went to a balloon festival and watched the hot air balloons lift off into the sunset. They even did a night glow where I learned how to take night pictures with Alex's photography tips. I've posted some pics on Facebook.
There was also a concert in the ruins that evening. They had an orchestra and a "diva" or singer. She sung Thai songs and English songs with the orchestra as her accompaniment. It was pretty incredible. The evening wrapped up with Thai dancing by three different groups of women. It is a unique form of dancing where they use their hands and feet to portray the majority of the dance. I found out they spend years bending and stretching their hands and feet so they bend back in ways that I have never seen before. Apparently, the farther you can bend back your fingers and toes, the more beautiful. Interesting definition of beautiful if you ask me. I tried. Failed miserably. Although my fingers can bend a good way back...my wrists didn't even come close. It is an awful feeling. I can't imagine training your hands and feet to do the things they do.
The weekend ended with the King's Birthday. This is bigger than America's Independence Day. Fireworks for almost an hour. Partying in the streets. Markets open everywhere all day and all night long. Food everywhere you look. Dancing and shows on stages in every city in Thailand. All for their King. It is fascinating, the dedication and almost worship-like response they have for him. It is a bit strange, in a way, but I guess if you have ruled over a buddhist country for over 60years. Well, you become like one of their gods...just a theory of course. They all even wore his color. I guess he was wearing a pink shirt on the day of his release from the hospital (he is very ill now) and well, the whole country was wearing pink for days surrounding his birthday. It was crazy! Sarah, Alex and I were the only people in Ayuttyha not wearing pink. I almost felt disrespectful, but if you are a foreigner...you just get away with things...haha.
I can't believe I leave in less than a week. It is crazy! I'll be seeing some of you soon. It will be good to be back in the states...even though I will freeze!!!
Until next week!...
Laura
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