Blogs from Chumphon, South-West Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 3

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Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Chumphon December 23rd 2009

Happy Holidays to all family and friends! I’m sure everyone’s Christmas plans are in full swing by now; shopping for last minute gifts, cooking dinners and sipping eggnog with family and friends while watching A Christmas Story. Well it’s nowhere near cold enough to get your tongue stuck on a pole in Thailand, but in contrast to the sweltering humidity here feeling chilly sounds amazing. We wish the Abrego, Handley and Robinson clans safe travels, a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year (Josiah and Emmett’s first!). 2010 feels like it’s going to be swell….. Our travels to Phuket (Poo-get) and Ranong have come and gone and we’re currently on a bus ride heading further north. We renewed our Thai visas by crossing into Burma yesterday. We didn’t plan on going to Burma but when we ... read more
The Kiss
"Big Buddha"
View from hotel in Kamala

Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Chumphon December 21st 2009

In my opinion, the word beautiful is extremely overused in Thai culture. … “Suay… then translated “Beau-ti-fullll!” seems to echo as I walk down the street. At first I blushed, then I was flattered, then maybe a little annoyed, now I just take it as a Thai quirk as I’ve realized that the kids homework is just as vehemently considered beautiful. Still I will likely never be the same. If I don’t get told I’m beautiful at least four times a day by some stranger or student I tend to think that something is stuck on my forehead. For example today, I lost count around the 7th time someone called me beautiful. I believe they were almost all students today as I was walking down the halls. “Teacher beau-ti-full.” Even more embarrassing is “NATALIE, same, beau ... read more

Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Chumphon December 12th 2009

The Thai’s are very fond of their motorbikes and indeed it is the most effective mode of transportation available. The first day I came to live in Chumphon I decided to go ahead and splurge the extra $1000 Baht ($33) per month and rent myself a motorbike from the landlord. I went ahead with the cheaper version and got a manual rather than an automatic. While never having driven a manual bike I figured it couldn’t be that different from a car. Upon receiving the bike my landlord watched as I bumped the bike along the driveway and took it for a nice little spin. While looking out rather disapprovingly at my progress she said, “Its ok, wait, you and motorbike be one, then it ok.” I felt this was very good advice. Now, as I ... read more

Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Chumphon November 30th 2009

The first week I was there I looked at my Thursdays and sighed a breath of relief only two classes, a breeze. No no, not possible. Thursday morning I get approached and asked if I would like to coach Drama club. At the end of the year they are putting on a play. After agreeing I have a moment of panic. “What kind of play,” I ask. The response is ambiguous. “Oh, do not worry… any play it can be 5 minutes or 1 hour whatever you want…” So I show up to a class of 44 students expected to put on a play in 1 month with 45 minutes once a week to practice. After the first class we pick ideas for a play and I get brainstormed topics such as Harry Potter, Superman and ... read more
Rudoloph 002
Rudoloph 003
Rudoloph 004

Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Chumphon November 27th 2009

On a side note, Thanksgiving was a huge success. Here is the menu so you can all be impressed that I pulled this off with one burner one pan and a borrowed toaster oven. Though I planned everything my fellow teachers pulled together and two of the girls actually ended up making much of the food. Green Salad - Lettuce, tomatoes, asparagus, corn, apples, pumpkin. Fruit Salad Yam Soufflé - Yams here are purple so it looked a little like purple goo when you put it on your plate but tasted divine as usual. Thanks Aunt Betsy. This was cooked in a toaster oven. Green beans with Cashews and roasted carrots Corn Mashed potatoes with chives Mushroom gravy for the potatoes - This near disaster turned into a masterpiece. Using tempura flour (the only thing they ... read more

Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Chumphon November 22nd 2009

School has been going well. I have 8 different classes M.(Mateum) 3/1-3/8. This means 9th grade (14-15 year olds). My two highest classes have only 38 students and are a breath of fresh air. The rest of my classes have about 55 students per class. This means that I have over 400 students that I am teaching in any given week. I haven’t been able to get a grasp on their names yet. They all have nicknames, of which, most are English origin and yet I still pronounce them all wrong. In my class I have a number of little girls named Beer, a boy named fighter. In one class I have 3 Nan’s. Usually this is pronounced with the “a” as in apple but in one class there is a Nan spelled the same but ... read more

Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Chumphon November 20th 2009

I wake up every morning to roosters crowing and the dawn light coming gently into my bedroom. Outside there is a coconut tree, a vegetable garden with some kind of vegetable that may or may not have an English name and a cute row enclave of homes with some of the other English teachers. This is very likely because only English teachers can afford the rent which is pretty high, about $150. We are paying for luxuries like hot water and a kitchen! I am dying to get my hands on a ripe coconut so far I’ve cracked open only one that had fallen and it was very green on the outside and very brown on the inside. Not very appetizing… My house delights me everyday. Last night I began exploring the kitchen and made a ... read more

Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Chumphon November 15th 2009

I am lying in my brand new duplex flat. When I say brand new I mean both new to me and to this world. The place was completed less than a month ago. I suppose most of us our surrounded by people non-stop in our lives but I don’t even remember a time when I haven’t been. This is my first time living alone and I’m going to guess it’s going to take a touch of getting used to. I have no idea what to do with all this space and time. Still I’m happy. Finally, finally no more living out of a backpack! The events of the last week have been pretty strange and draining. I was called for a substitute job starting on Monday of last week here in Chumphon. First I was just ... read more
Bangkok to Chumphon 149
Bangkok to Chumphon 150
Bangkok to Chumphon 154

Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Chumphon October 25th 2009

25th oct 2009 Well I'm on the road again (well actually a boat), feels good to get going again after a full 2 weeks in paradise just diving and chilling out. Meesha has convinced me to join her in khao sok national park, totally opposite direction to where I'm supposed to be going, which is north! But hey ho, I'm easily led, but also intriegued by the sound of the place, a proper tropical rainforest. Gonna be a full day and night of travel I think which will be harsh, hope it's worth it, but then they do say it's not about where you get to, it's about the journey.....right?... read more
Theres always Geckos EVERYWHERE!
My staple diet, never drank so much beer in me life
bye bye Koh Tao, ill miss you

Asia » Thailand » South-West Thailand » Chumphon April 12th 2009

Chumpon, 26-01-2009. Zoom in....... I remember Hans, how I arrive from Isaan together with Nong-Chay, the big buildings, all the cars and people in the broad streets. I remember how I feel lonely and alone waiting at the bus station, terrified and bad heart with this hectic world outside waiting for Nong-Chay to return while guarding bag ours. I remember how he come back with a big sweaty Farang, how the stench coming of his white body make feel sick me, how look in his blue eye scare me, his hairy legs under baggy shorts his and big nose his, loud voice his.... I had never see before Farang in life me, just on TV in village main house. I remember how Nong-Chay tell me I have go with him, Farang would give me money in ... read more
Kho Tao
Fishing boats




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