Leaving Mae Sot

26.12.

The day I ignored for so long has arrived. I have to leave.

Simon took me and my heavy bags to the bus station; still I don't realize that I'm really leaving. I get on the bus, the engine starts and we head towards Bangkok.

We pass the rice fields, where new rice is planted and all this is so home to me.

Time passes and 9 hours later we arrive at Bangkok Northern Bus Terminal. I take a taxi to the airport and still I don't feel like leaving. My throat hurts, my nose is running and I cough. I think the last days in Mae Sot were colder than I expected them to be.

I feel sick.

I get on the plane, but still I feel like I go back just for a few days.

My symptoms get worse and I try to sleep.

I wake up and Paris is now closer than Bangkok. I start missing my home.

From Paris I get on the plane to Vienna; I guess my family is already very excited about my arrival. I feel bad, that I'm not excited at all. I rather panic, I'm back...but not home.

As soon as I see my family I start realizing... I left Thailand, the Karen and the place, where I felt happier and more satisfied than ever.

christmas

Waking up at Tasanee's orphanage on 24.12. around 6am. The 3 months old baby sleeping on my left arm, 3 year old Ma Kim on my right arm; in the back Tasanee...

It was cold and foggy, but the air was clear and fresh.
By 6.30 the neighbours started to play Christmas songs, Nekom prepared some coffee for me and the kids were cleaning the house.
I never felt so relaxed on a 24.12.- no hurry, no stress.
I took the car back to Mae Sot to meet Gerhard at the market to buy some food for the Christmas dinner. We decided to make buschetta, pasta frutti di mare and Kaiserschmarr'n.
But before I started to cook, I relaxed at one of the great head massages at my hairdresser....

Around 7 pm our guests arrived- Simon, Benno, Gerhard, Milan and Tristan; the hosts were Inga, Jess, Gigi and me.
Inga prepared the bruschetta, for the pasta we had Federico's red wine from Australia- unfortunately the calamaria tasted like a tire and the noodles were everything except al dente; but the wine was very good- thank you Federico!
By 10pm we called Federico, who was admitted in the hospital in Siena and were singing Christmas songs for him; it was so much fun.
Then it was my turn- the Kaiserschmarr'n. It was the worst I've ever made, but I didn't care.
It was a Christmas were everything went wrong, we did not even have enough plates and forks, but it was the best and relaxed for many years.
For the night Gigi, Jess and I shared a bed, so we had each other to keep us warm.

Summary: it was a day with people I love, where nobody cared about a perfect dinner, but about the people who were there.

Merry Christmas!

24.12.

Frohe Weihnachten!
Merry Christmas!
Buon Natale!
Boldog Karacsognt!
Bonne noel!
Feliz navidad!
A peaceful and calm Christmas!

Than Hin temporary shelter

Tham Hin- temporary shelter.

temporary: impermanent, not permanent, not lasting

Does it mean one week, one month, one year,...?
Refugees staying in this camp for more than 10 years might get confused by 'temporary'. Imagine to be in a camp for such a long time, seing others leave, but you have to stay.
They get food, good medical care, water supply, schools, a football ground ...
but they don't have liberty. Their home country is in war- so no peace, no freedom.

Think about this when you are angry that someone's 5 minutes late, when somebody just took the car park you wanted to have or or or or or ...........

The UNHCR planned to close this camp within the next 3 years, but where should all the refugees go?! Most of them want to resettle, but there are still coming about 1000 refugees per month.
The situation in Burma is getting worse. For 60 years people in Burma can't live in peace.
Do you think that there is a temporary solution?!

The Karen I met in the camp and worked with, are the greatest and most amazing people I've ever met. Before I left we had a farewell lunch, I still dont know if this was one of the happiest or one of the sadest moments in my time here. Crying and smiling at the same time.

I started thinking about, if it is possible that this is the place I belong to....
It felt so much like home to me being there.
Who knows?!

Hua Hin

Hua Hin is Thailand's oldest 'spa area' . King Rama VII built his palace there and gave it the name 'Klai Kangwon' -carefree.
The Royal family still comes here, when Bangkok is too busy or too hot.

For me it was more the face that it's impossible, coming back to Austria and being as pale as usually in december...

In fact for me was Hua Hin a very busy and touristic place... well, but Chap Ta Wai is a small village and I'm sometimes the only forang here...


It was definitly what I needed- sea, beach, sun and lots of good fruits.

... and I got a little tan.

Bhumibol turns 79

King Bhumibol, Rama IX, the world's longest regnant (60 years) king turned 79.
Thai people love and honor their king like a demigod. As he was born on a monday, everybody is wearing yellow (the colour of monday) -shirts and bracelets- to show their deep respect to their king.

Ask a Thai about the king and he can tell you everything- born in Boston, studied in Lausanne, musician, painter and scientist.
But he merit all this- where once poppy sead was growing for opium production, now crop is growing. He spends his own money for social projects and cares a lot about his people.

For his birthday millions were coming to Bangkok- including me ;-)
The area around Grand Palace was filled with Thais in yellow shirts, all excited.
Watching the scenery from the top of a truck, I had a good view and some air to breath.
Around 7 pm the arrival of Bhumibol was announced, all lights turned off and people lightend their candles and started singing the king's song. A heebie- jeebie athmosphere.

Cécile and Flo in Bangkok

When Cécile left Mae Sot we both knew, that we will meet soon again....
and so we did.
I arrived just in time for dinner to Bangkok.
We had a great dinner with fish, curry and roti ;-)
After an exhausting shopping day and the king's birthday ceremonies, we felt like.... like doing something relaxing and typical female- facial treatment.

All inclusive!
Our faces felt sooooooooooooo clean and soft afterwards- I never want to wash my face again.

Anyway, we had a great time and I'm more than happy, that I met such a nice person.
Cécile, I'm looking forward to come to Fecamp!!!