I guess when you actually get your act together and have the time to venture North you have achieved something. I don’t think you need to be any where on this earth to achieve Going North; I think an adventure would always be on the cards as long as you headed North. For me there is no difference! I’m now 36 hours driving time (I think) from Koh Samui. I can tell you categorically I when I was told it was that many hours in a pick up truck I went ^&*(@#$%^&*. Nothing like a good flight I think! So I flew. I have ventured this far as by Boy Friend "Aum" also has alias's of "A" , "Um" , "Maxxy" yet his real name is "Wittiha". Five names, pretty good going if you tell me! His father calls him Aum (pronounced orm) - and that is what I call him. His small village is called "Tasila" and is 80 Kilometres and about 1.45 hours drive as the roads are like !@#$%^&* ( the closest city is called Udon Thani) his other village "Chaiwan" is of no more than 2,000 people, and from the 28th to the 2 May each year "Tasila" has a festival for the building of their New Buddhist Temple (still under construction) Lots of fun, dancing and parties over 3 days within the grounds of the temple area. It would be in Australian or America like a School Fete. They hold it in order to raise funds for the temple. Yet in Thailand from what I have gathered the centre of the community centres around the Buddhist Temple. Similar to a Catholic Fete and the Catholic Church. The temple and Monks life is nothing about money, or making money and keeping all the money. The Catholic Church is a Triple MMM = Money Making Machine. From what I see in Thailand the Buddhist's are a FFT = Far From That.
I think I have not been as calm as what I am now for a few years. It reminds me so much of my year or so at my own farm in the Hunter way away from any real city which is large or close. It brought tears to my eyes to see a big wide red dirt road, with dust distilling and then distributing from underneath the car you are either riding in or driving. I was asked once to drive the "Family" into town to the Temple. From that day on I was then the "Son in Law" and have now been driving the "pick up truck" everywhere, as they think and feel I drive much better than any Thai could. But the roads are s_crewed, very similar to many country roads in Australia, and America, and I guess Europe. Pot Holes are Holy Grails to the Hellhole of the earth if your are driving at the wrong speed.
I did not have the energy or the patience to have to put up with being in either the back of a pick up truck or worse still the back seat that is the smallest seat you have ever seen. So I chose to fly Aum and I to Bangkok for 2 nights and then up to Udon. I have never in my life ever been picked up at any airport by so many relatives. Let me count 1+ 3+7+5 (plus Aum and I) = 18 and we all went in the back of a pick up! I was offered the front seat, I declined, as I love an experience! Yet I was not aloud to sit in the back with the Women and Children. So I sat in the back of the pick up - those little seats that you see in a Mac Truck. Nothing like what you and I would at all be used to. But hey I did change my life for a reason right?
2 hours later we arrived to the Aum's families house. I new it would be simple. And I was correct, yet minus about 30%. Simple in your minds needs a drastic deduction in calculation terms - you all need to think (yet I do not want to say it) in primitive terms. Little running water. Toilet in the ground ( the style you squat down on) and you shower (if you could call it that) with a bucket or pale. No Air conditioning, all concrete or wood. It does remind me some of the Sheering Quarters My family and I would to visit Called "Ben Buckley" Yet in some ways "Ben Buckley" was 2 stars above what I was staying in. Yet I loved it! It was Dark, It was Quiet, I Had plenty of time to write and write. It was perfect. ( thou I have not mastered the squat Loo (toilet)) = YET!!!! Throwing cold water at yourself in and or around a bucket of water too has to be mastered! I think I mastered it. Lather up first and wash down later! Thou I have not got used to the feeling of the cold water. I have tried the trick my Brother Stephen taught me = as in get the Ankles and Wrists used to the cold water before you jump into the pool. I used this skill and it does work - yet the head and shoulders still shudder like the pick up truck across the red-ridged road when you pour the called water over your head. But apart from that life is just beautiful. I think you can see the beautiful in any thing if you want and wish to see it.
There is a wonderful song from the musical "Little Shop of Horrors" called "Somewhere That's Green" a song about a place, a town, and a street far far from the urban drive and drag. I guess we are looking for somewhere that is green. Yet here its all dry, fallow, and poor. Yet every one is happy and happy to be alive. I am white, and am one of the local attractions. All the little Boys, Girls and Adults look at me like (as I am) an Alien. Their eyes light up at the first sign of fun and acceptance from some one they do not know - yet in their eyes you can see they really do want to know you and they also want you to know them. Life is simple, simple non complicated motor tractors drive past, there is no Internet access. No telephone line, No WiFi, and if you are lucky you may have electric power. All around is Sugar Cane, Rice Paddies (thou yet to be Sown) Buffaloes and very simply tiny poor houses. Yet all is happy and uncomplicated.
I have been in and out of town for the evening festival events - (driving now as the son in law). The first day at the airport when Aum and I arrived a little Thai boy called "Tan" pronounced "Dtan" sprung to attention. He adopted Aum and I when we arrived and had no idea what I was or who I was. He is 9 and although has a mother and father are somewhere - he has no one to call his own parents. He is a really good kid. And he decided he was to be at my and Aum's side at all times when we were awake. Kids just make my life now. I guess I am getting "Klucky" Going to the Temple Fete with a child was just bliss. Watching him sliding down the big slide machine, or watching him on the jumping castle. Him waiting to walk hand in hand everywhere we went. Asking for Candy, food or even Water. I discovering he is to go back to school in a week or so and all his school uniforms are a disaster it was off to the local Mall (if you could call it that - Shed) 45 Mins away and we bought new belts, shirts, shorts and shoes. I also shouted him a new top and new pair of casual shorts. We did not escape the sweets isle either. A good boy, bad parents, time will tell, you never know what I may pull out of my hat!
I went to the opening of the Festival of the new temple. Just as I said it’s like a fete - yet they have these wonderful travelling shows. Like a huge RSL show, and they travel from province to province for fetes and another fetes and fairs. So many Dancing boys (good looking too) and So many Girls as well, every one pays admission to get in. Aum, Tan (9 year old) and I had a ball. All the things you see at the local Fete or Royal Show on a wincey tiny tiny scale. Did you every know that squashed rolled dried squid here is just like Fairy Floss or as others may know it as cotton candy! "Tan" had a ball, I drank too much ( lucky I was to stay at a local "Resort") - Thais need to define what a resort is and or means - I stayed at a local paddock or huts really! But who cared! I had a great time. I was even please that "Tan" wore the next day out fit he chose at the mall he was so proud.
Land, Land, La La Land = Land here, land there, much of it, Most is used for sugar, or rice, and maybe buffalos. I have been offered many rais (or acres of land) to buy! Yet what would you do with it? I have no idea! Yet the silence is great, fun and exciting If you could solve the cash flow issue you would be able to build an amazing home with all the comforts and fun you could ever wish for. The sunsets really are amazing. water does not seam to be an issue, yet. Power is here, yet you would need to have a life some how. Cash flow at least. Thou the idea just like the Waukivory farm is very very appealing. Time and cash will tell.
Tomorrow I catch a bus with Aum to Lao (Laos). I will be there for 3 days and have another adventure. Mean while my guru manager Lee and wonderful staff are looking after AKWA.
Love Tim
xo
