I only have a couple minutes, but the recap looks like this:
1) Mike and Lindsay change travel plans - come home early
2) M&L assume we didn't need to change our Vietnam visas - we are not even leaving the airport
3) M&L show up for flight and are told they cannot go
4) M&L have to buy NEW tickets for later in the dayy (only 2 hours later)
5) M&L get a taxi to drive to the Vietnam Embassy VERY fast
6) M&L get new visas
7) M&L race just as fast back to airport
8) M&L get on new plane
Total cost: $1000 and a LOT of anxiety!
Thank you God for making SO many provisions to allow us to change this flight aand still go home!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Another day of shopping - such a tough life!
(inside MBK - it is 6 stories tall inside)
Yes, as we said in the title, that is ALL we have done today (in addition to watching a movie IN the mall...)
We got to the hotel around 12:15am this morning - our plane was delayed an hour, and then the taxi driver got lost, and it was the last night of celebration for the King's birthday, clogging up all the roads - it was very frustrating!
After going out for dinner, we got back to bed around 2am. Waking up at 8:30, we got ready for the day, ate breakfast, and made a trip to the tailors for a fitting. Everything seemed to going well, so we told him to make a few alterations and we would come by around 7pm for another fitting.
We then left to go to the big mall in Bangkok, MBK. We caught a taxi driver who had a rigged meter, costing us about double what it should have to get there. Once there we started scouring the mall for jeans for Lindsay, shoes for both of us, and anything else we fancied. We came back with a few nice things, albeit they are all knock-offs and not the highest of quality.
After shopping for 4 hours we got tired, and went to a movie - "Couple's Retreat". It was OK, but it was neat being in their VIP theatre - everyone gets their own recliner, drinks, and blankets - such fun!
We had about 2 more hours of shopping once the movie was over until we needed to catch a taxi back to the tailor. We arrived about 7:30, quickly tried on our clothes, and had them mark out a few more alterations we wanted. Everything SEEMS to look quite nice, although we make no claims to the quality of fabric or sewing job that was done - we will simply hope for the best! We both look forward to getting home and going out on a hot date together and wearing our new duds.
Well, tonight is our last sleep in Thailand, so we must be off down Kaoh San Road for one last shopping spree!
Cheers!
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
A day at the zoo!
( This is a Gibbon Monkey - their arms are almost twice as long as their bodies.)We went with the English couple we mentioned before, and had a great time. To get into the zoo was 100Baht ($3), and the Aquarium was 420Baht ($14). The zoo was great - we spent all day there, and did so quite easily. We watched a seal show and another animal show, and got to see some pretty cool animals. The zoo itself seems to be quite nice, and the animals seem to be taken care of reasonably, but of course, you always would like to see them in their natural habitat more. Oh yah - Lindsay got kissed by the seal - we hope the photo turned out! Developing those things will sure be an adventure in itself. Reminds me of Forest Gump..."Film cameras are like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get!"
The Aquarium was ok. It was very nice, and well put together, but was too much money for what they had. The aquarium has the largest underwater tunnel in all of Asia. It actually has two tunnels - one for fresh water animals, and one for salt water. Each tunnel is about 65 meters long, and has a conveyor belt that escorts you through it. There were lots of neat animals there, and we even got to see a feeding show with the salt water animals. There were lots of sharks, and even one HUGE one, probably about 9 feet long.
By the end of the day, our feet were very sore - today we will be getting feet massages!
We then went back to our hotel about 6pm, played a game, relaxed, and went out to the night market to do some shopping and eat. This market seems to be far nicer, larger, and just better than any we have seen so far.
For dinner I wanted to go to a burger place, so we stopped at "Mike's Burgers", and indulged. Very good burgers - not just "Thailand good", but actually good. There were not enough fries, and there was too much ice in our cups, but it was a tastey meal.
The shopping at the market lasted for some 4 hours - that's a lot of walking, haggling, and frustration over finding shorts for me. They just don't have any that my large butt and small waist - it's quite frustrating! Lindsay was mostly the one buying things.
We have really be enjoying have tea and pastries together every morning. It is something that we would like to try to continue back home, but maybe once a week on Saturday or Sunday - all husbands would be wise to do something similar! I can't think of a girl that wouldn't want her husband to spend some quiet, quality time with them.
We have some time to kill here, so we might start to work on our Christmas letter. We didn't do one last year, and everyone will be getting it via email, but that is because we are too cheap and despirately care about the environment. He he...
Monday, December 7, 2009
Back from the bush
It seems funny that we would leave Prince George of all places to end up in Thailand sleeping in the bush - doesn't it???
We just got back from a 3 day trek out in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. The trip began with an "elephant trek", which was really just like going around a go-kart track with elephants...not as fun or as "authentic" as we would have liked. The elephants are pretty funny though.
Afterwards we walked through the bush, up a mountain side for a couple hours to a waterfall. The water was a little cold, so no one really swam, but it was nice to stop.
We then had another hour or so walk to our camp for the night. We slept in a large bungalo made for groups to sleep in. It was pretty fun, considering the cold outside (probably 10 degrees or so???) We just had a mat on the floor and a few blankets, so not quite as nice as our North Face sleeping bags back home.
We had a fire, ate dinner, and just talked for hours with all the other people there (2 Ausies, 2 New Zealanders, 2 Greenlanders, 2 English, 2 Dutch, and 1 Belgain. It was a good mix of people, with basically everyone really fluent in English.
Yesterday we woke up, ate, and went out on another 2 hour trek to a village on a steep slope for lunch. After lazing around for a few hours we hiked to another waterfall, and then camped a short distance from there (in another bungalo). One of the Thai guys there (who was drunk) started hitting on one of the lesbians in the group, and she told him off. He then scattered the fire all over the place and stormed off (it was quite something).
This morning we woke up, ate, and hiked back down a hill that was just as steep as the one we hiked up. At the bottom we ate lunch, then went to a river where we rode in bamboo rafts. It was fun.
Now we are back in Chiang Mai, and are heading out for French Cuisine (well, we'll see I guess) in an hour or so.
Back to my previous thoughts, the one guy from England gave both Lindsay and I chance to share a bit about Christianity and our faith - on his asking and questions...we're going to be with them for the next couple days, so we'll see if he wants to follow up that conversation.
We think we're going to go to the zoo tomorrow, and maybe a zipline tour in the treetops the next day. That is not confirmed as it is expensive, but we'll see.
Anyways, we're going to go get ready for dinner, so chat with you all later.
PS - Heather and Colleen, Lindsay wants you to please put her clothes back (as well as Christmas CD's). She would like to see that any shirts, pants, skirts, etc. that need to be ironed are too.
Cheers!
We just got back from a 3 day trek out in what seemed like the middle of nowhere. The trip began with an "elephant trek", which was really just like going around a go-kart track with elephants...not as fun or as "authentic" as we would have liked. The elephants are pretty funny though.
Afterwards we walked through the bush, up a mountain side for a couple hours to a waterfall. The water was a little cold, so no one really swam, but it was nice to stop.
We then had another hour or so walk to our camp for the night. We slept in a large bungalo made for groups to sleep in. It was pretty fun, considering the cold outside (probably 10 degrees or so???) We just had a mat on the floor and a few blankets, so not quite as nice as our North Face sleeping bags back home.
We had a fire, ate dinner, and just talked for hours with all the other people there (2 Ausies, 2 New Zealanders, 2 Greenlanders, 2 English, 2 Dutch, and 1 Belgain. It was a good mix of people, with basically everyone really fluent in English.
Yesterday we woke up, ate, and went out on another 2 hour trek to a village on a steep slope for lunch. After lazing around for a few hours we hiked to another waterfall, and then camped a short distance from there (in another bungalo). One of the Thai guys there (who was drunk) started hitting on one of the lesbians in the group, and she told him off. He then scattered the fire all over the place and stormed off (it was quite something).
This morning we woke up, ate, and hiked back down a hill that was just as steep as the one we hiked up. At the bottom we ate lunch, then went to a river where we rode in bamboo rafts. It was fun.
Now we are back in Chiang Mai, and are heading out for French Cuisine (well, we'll see I guess) in an hour or so.
Back to my previous thoughts, the one guy from England gave both Lindsay and I chance to share a bit about Christianity and our faith - on his asking and questions...we're going to be with them for the next couple days, so we'll see if he wants to follow up that conversation.
We think we're going to go to the zoo tomorrow, and maybe a zipline tour in the treetops the next day. That is not confirmed as it is expensive, but we'll see.
Anyways, we're going to go get ready for dinner, so chat with you all later.
PS - Heather and Colleen, Lindsay wants you to please put her clothes back (as well as Christmas CD's). She would like to see that any shirts, pants, skirts, etc. that need to be ironed are too.
Cheers!
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Thoughts of a weary traveller
If the past month has taught me anything, I would have to say one thing is that I love spending time with my wife. Lindsay is a joy to be around, and we have so much fun together.
Today we spent the day exploring the town of Sukhothai. There we so many neat ruins, and we took as many pictures as we thought would turn out. We rented bicycles for the day and just trotted around a few square kilometres of ruins. Lindsay said she felt like she was Anne from Road to Avonlee, and I was some boy she cuts off and falls in the river - I didn't watch the show, but I'm sure the sisters will know what this means :)
The other thing I have learned is that I have much to learn from God. On that note, here are a few things that have been on my heart and mind over the past month (in no particular order - just what is flowing from my heart and mind):
1) Christianity is not about guns, swords, bombs, and tricking and coercing people into following Jesus. True Christianity prays, listens, preaches, and loves people into deciding to follow.
2) God is bigger than my fears, anxieties, short comings, sins, and flaws.
3) I am a wickedly deceitful man at heart. Only by the grace of God can I change and show anything good.
4) Blinking Christmas lights fascinate me.
5) Lindsay and I have and had amazing grandparents. They loved us as unconditionally as humanly possible and had so much fun playing with us. We look forward to seeing our children revel in the love and joy of our parents one day.
6) I will know when I have grasped the grace and love of God when I stop seeing evangelism as "pushing my beliefs onto someone." When this time comes, I will see it as showing love because I will desperately yearn and long for them to come to know Jesus and will ache with pain every minute they do not.
7) I want to be like Dave Fields and Sandy Colero. These two men are men of God. They love him, love people, and seek to share all that they have with others. These men are men who understand grace.
8) I want to be the type of person who others are attracted to. I don't say this with vain conceit, but with the desire that people around me will see me as a source of encouragement and strength, giving to them and upholding them throughout their own times of trials and tribulations.
9) I have been blessed. I have nothing to look on with contempt. I have a wife who loves me; a family who has always spoken wisdom and insight into me; in-laws who have always loved me as their own blood; and a church family that wants to see me grow in Christ.
10) Our pastoral staff (and ALL pastoral staff, of all churches) need our support. Their job is to give. They have been called to give all that God has given them, unselfishly. They have to deal with politics, unhappy people, decent in the congregation, and still are called to preach to the lost and called. We need to love them with all our hearts, and seek to uphold them so that they may complete the task set before them without wavering and faulting. They are human and will make mistakes, but the grace of God allows us and them to overcome these failings and strive for the mark set by Jesus.
11) I haven't led anyone to Christ in almost 5 years. I haven't shared my faith with anyone in just as long. I am ashamed of this, yet know that there is great power that God has available to me to do these things and "make disciples of all nations."
12) Marriage is a blessing. Cherish it. It is the most important calling you have if you are married. If your marriage is in jeopardy, find someone who can lead you in finding resolution. If your marriage is struggling, so will your relationship with God, as marriage is the human example of how Christ loves the church (Christians).
There are so many things that are going through my mind, and I would love to share them with you. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to pray, read my Bible, and listen to sermons by Godly men and women.
If these thoughts sound like foolishness, that is ok. I don't expect all my thoughts to resonate with every person. I would love to talk to you about them, however, and maybe work on number 11 of my list above :)
This may be a bit of a different post, but I thought it would be worth sharing, as all of you are treasured parts of life.
Cheers!
Today we spent the day exploring the town of Sukhothai. There we so many neat ruins, and we took as many pictures as we thought would turn out. We rented bicycles for the day and just trotted around a few square kilometres of ruins. Lindsay said she felt like she was Anne from Road to Avonlee, and I was some boy she cuts off and falls in the river - I didn't watch the show, but I'm sure the sisters will know what this means :)
The other thing I have learned is that I have much to learn from God. On that note, here are a few things that have been on my heart and mind over the past month (in no particular order - just what is flowing from my heart and mind):
1) Christianity is not about guns, swords, bombs, and tricking and coercing people into following Jesus. True Christianity prays, listens, preaches, and loves people into deciding to follow.
2) God is bigger than my fears, anxieties, short comings, sins, and flaws.
3) I am a wickedly deceitful man at heart. Only by the grace of God can I change and show anything good.
4) Blinking Christmas lights fascinate me.
5) Lindsay and I have and had amazing grandparents. They loved us as unconditionally as humanly possible and had so much fun playing with us. We look forward to seeing our children revel in the love and joy of our parents one day.
6) I will know when I have grasped the grace and love of God when I stop seeing evangelism as "pushing my beliefs onto someone." When this time comes, I will see it as showing love because I will desperately yearn and long for them to come to know Jesus and will ache with pain every minute they do not.
7) I want to be like Dave Fields and Sandy Colero. These two men are men of God. They love him, love people, and seek to share all that they have with others. These men are men who understand grace.
8) I want to be the type of person who others are attracted to. I don't say this with vain conceit, but with the desire that people around me will see me as a source of encouragement and strength, giving to them and upholding them throughout their own times of trials and tribulations.
9) I have been blessed. I have nothing to look on with contempt. I have a wife who loves me; a family who has always spoken wisdom and insight into me; in-laws who have always loved me as their own blood; and a church family that wants to see me grow in Christ.
10) Our pastoral staff (and ALL pastoral staff, of all churches) need our support. Their job is to give. They have been called to give all that God has given them, unselfishly. They have to deal with politics, unhappy people, decent in the congregation, and still are called to preach to the lost and called. We need to love them with all our hearts, and seek to uphold them so that they may complete the task set before them without wavering and faulting. They are human and will make mistakes, but the grace of God allows us and them to overcome these failings and strive for the mark set by Jesus.
11) I haven't led anyone to Christ in almost 5 years. I haven't shared my faith with anyone in just as long. I am ashamed of this, yet know that there is great power that God has available to me to do these things and "make disciples of all nations."
12) Marriage is a blessing. Cherish it. It is the most important calling you have if you are married. If your marriage is in jeopardy, find someone who can lead you in finding resolution. If your marriage is struggling, so will your relationship with God, as marriage is the human example of how Christ loves the church (Christians).
There are so many things that are going through my mind, and I would love to share them with you. I feel so blessed to have had the opportunity to pray, read my Bible, and listen to sermons by Godly men and women.
If these thoughts sound like foolishness, that is ok. I don't expect all my thoughts to resonate with every person. I would love to talk to you about them, however, and maybe work on number 11 of my list above :)
This may be a bit of a different post, but I thought it would be worth sharing, as all of you are treasured parts of life.
Cheers!
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Now in Sukhothai
The last couple days have involved what seems like endless amounts of traveling by boat, van, bus, and train...not to mention the bicycles we used in Ayutthaya yesterday and today!
After we left Bangkok we went to Ayutthaya. It is the old capital of Thailand, and has lots of ancient ruins. The city is actually an island, surrounded by a couple rivers all convening together. The ruins were pretty neat, and we spent the morning and last night on our bicycles riding around, checking things out and taking sweet photos on our awesome camera!
This afternoon we then caught a 6 hour bus ride up to Sukhothai. It is another city that has a lot of ruins, so that will consume tomorrow.
Cheers!
After we left Bangkok we went to Ayutthaya. It is the old capital of Thailand, and has lots of ancient ruins. The city is actually an island, surrounded by a couple rivers all convening together. The ruins were pretty neat, and we spent the morning and last night on our bicycles riding around, checking things out and taking sweet photos on our awesome camera!
This afternoon we then caught a 6 hour bus ride up to Sukhothai. It is another city that has a lot of ruins, so that will consume tomorrow.
Cheers!
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