Morning Musings

About once a week I walk on the beachfront road after I see Mark and the boys off. I thought I might just share with you some of my observations, sights that are so foreign to us as Americans. Did you realize that not only do people drive on the left side of the road here, they also walk on the left. Some things that seem so natural are different here. Someone told us you can tell who the Americans are in Thailand, they are the ones walking entirely around the car before they get in. That has already happened to me a couple of times, I go to get into the car and realize I'm getting in on the driver's side. We heard rumors that dogs are eaten in Thailand, I don't think that's true, there are lots of stray dogs on the sidewalks, beach, benches...they appear friendly and occasionally you will see one with strings tied around its neck to denote ownership I assume? In Pattaya you can call 1112 for 24 hour Burger King delivery. Our phone numbers here have ten digits but you can call 4 numbers for Burger King, Pizza Hut...I haven't learned the emergency number here, I doubt it's 911.

I did visit the hospital of Pattaya yesterday and registered in the case that we ever need hospital services. The hospital lobby feels exactly like a 5 star hotel lobby. A grand foyer with greeters. I gave them my passport and filled out a questionaire and was given a patient card. You don't need an appointment for care, you show up and they enter you in to the system asking what kind of services you require and escort you up to that particular area to see the Dr. You are escorted by a 'nurse' that is all dressed in white and has that old fashioned nurses cap on. Everyone has told me that they have been very happy with the medical care here. You do the same procedure for dental care as well in the same hospital. When you leave you are sent out with the medicine in hand if need be. The language barrier is still an issue at the hospital too. One new friend at church said she was going to be tested for mono because she was so tired and had been previously exposed. It wasn't until she was in the Dr's office that she understood there was some confusion, he thought she was there with a menopause problem!!

As I was walking I realize that we have lost the sense of community in America, I passed many groups of people sharing their breakfast under the palm trees beside the water which always involves something with sticky rice from what I have observed. I had read that Thai people are known to be able to sleep anywhere. I've seen that on the beachfront, lots of people are sleeping on the busy beachfront on benches. I saw two men just laid out in the sand, sound asleep. I actually saw a man sleeping on his motorbike on his back, his head was resting on the handlebars and he was snoozing. Last week, I saw two young boys (maybe 8) sleeping on the side of the walkway. It made me sad and wondered where their parents are. Pattaya has a high population of orphaned children, I'm supposed to participate in a food drop to the slums of the city on Friday.

I saw the Buddhist priests making their alms rounds in their golden orange robes and shaven heads. I've read that every morning usually around 7 am the priests travel a route through the city holding their alm bowls in front of them depending on the people for their breakfast and lunch. Whatever is placed in their bowls are taken back for breakfast and any leftovers are saved for lunch, the priests do not eat again after lunch until the following morning. The people that place food in their alm bowls are making merit. It's really an unusual sight. As are the spirit houses, there are several on my route. The business of selling flowers, incense and food to appease the idols is big business, the vendors are out early setting up shop. I've already noticed how what was so new to me 3 weeks ago is now becoming common. Well, that's some morning musings from Thailand, I'm off to look at two more houses today.