http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Asia , Thailand , Central Thailand , Lopburi en-us Sat, 05 Dec 09 10:24:44 +0000 Sat, 05 Dec 09 10:24:44 +0000 1062009Khun chan makAnother day here in Lop Buri. All I can say is TGIF. This has been one of the longest most wearing weeks I have had in awhile First week of teaching huhhellipWell I think I have an extremely hard school. I have talked to some of my friends in other parts of Thailand and yes they have LOUD rambunctious kidshellipbut they donrsquot have long classes or donrsquot have http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-452358.html HolaWell not the correct language but today I had enough of speaking Thai. So I am not going to. Well today is October 25th I think....I am now in my hometown of Lop Buri. My hometown for mmm possibly the next year. I arrived yesterday in my quite little town and noticed that this is now the real culture of Thailand We are by far the only white people here. We keep making a joke that the song by http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-448347.html Arrived in Bangkok fine met Kim at the airport spent 2 days in Bangkok and it was actually cool Well cooler than INdia Saw the grand palace lots of temples including a 45m buddha reclining buddha emerald buddha he was blue. Saw snake farm and how they got the venom out and then got taken to loads of random places trying to get us to buy stuff including jewellry tailors wanted Russ to bu http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-434228.html My journey to Lopburi went very smoothly. At Auytthaya station I asked someone which platform I should be on for the Lopburi train and she said this one. It was only a few minutes later that I realised that there was in fact only the one platform To get to trains going in other directions you had to walk across the rails. The Lopburi train wasn't due to arrive until 4pm but got to Ayuttha http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-394240.html So still wandering aimlessly around Thailand. Well Ok thats not strictly true I have some idea where I'm heading. I stayed in Pai for 5 days. It was actually alot quieter than I had expected not as much live music going on. But it was a really nice place so I hired a scooter and just enjoyed the scenery. I spent one afternoon at the hot springs where the water is 80 degrees at the source and peo http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-389514.html Irsquom almost therehellip I can see the flags waving me on at the finish line. The final week of training is coming to an end and I couldnrsquot be happier. The Competency test was taken today and the language this past Saturday. I actually passed and can now ask for directions to the bathroom These have truly been the toughest two months Irsquove experienced in years and if I had t http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-386928.html Sorry about the lull with updating my blog. Two weeks ago we traveled as a group to Bangkok stayed in a lovely hotel on the banks of the Chao Praya River any hotel with a western toilet and shower is considered 'lovely. Gee how my standards have changed. We were broken into groups of 5 and dropped off at different locations throughout Bangkok and then told we were playing the Amazing race http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-384891.html Sorry to bother everyone but this is really a note to all the new subscribers to my blog......Welcome and sawadii ka Go ahead and check out my previous postings and await my new entries. I''ll be away from site until next Wed so will not post anything until the following Sunday...sorry to my original fans. I'm delighted to have such a large and wonderful following. I hope I can live up to yo http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-380766.html Where has week 5 gone This week was used for planning a presentation on our PCT perception of the needs and strengths of the local Moo. The Moo is like a village and the official government office is called a Tambon. We have been studying Moo 2 for the last couple of weeks interviewing and gathering information about the occupations local business health and education issues. It has been http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-379783.html I have been living with a Thai familly for 4 days I was looking for a hotel and they invited me to stay at their home. It's been great Everybody's so nice and the kids are great Going back on the road tomorrow p http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-377671.html Good Morning AllThis week I thought I'd talk a little more about some of the foods I've been exposed to. Notice I didn't use the word eaten. You all know me to be somewhat adventuresome but there are some limits when it comes to my palate. Oh before I go any further let me apologize for any typo's misspellings bad grammar etc. No spell or grammar checks on this blog....I should take iss http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-377617.html Sunday 22ndAt the bus station early having got there by elderly tuktuk man I left Jen and headed off for snacks. As I returned the loudspeakers burst into life with what I assumed to be the Thai national anthem. Everyone around me stopped and stood to attention I then realised I was stood right by the man raising the flag so I thought I'd best stand to attention too.. I got bak to Jen and as http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-377005.html This week was more of the same ...... I actually think the merrygoround is going faster. I did have a good weekend though which started with a huge party for a young man entering the Monkhood. That's my own word because I don't know the puut paa saa Thai. There must have been between 300 and 400 people. Entertainment was bought in from Lopburi and was very seductive with young women scant http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-374176.html My Thai family and surrounding area http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-371855.html Sawadee kha sabaaydeemia kha puen korp kun Sorry for the Thai but I must practice at every turn. My objective is to learn several new words a day. No it's not been happening so I think I'll just change my objective and not worry about itThis week we moved in with our host famlilies. My family name is Samchai which is the first name of the father. We don't nor do the Thais for that mat http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-371400.html Sawatdee sawbaaydee kha Hello and how are you The first week here in Thailand has been very intense with long days consisting of language cultural technical and biking classes. Yes biking 12 hours of profiency testing and general riding. Did a 25k the other day yes I'm getting into metrics. Today Tue. is an important day for us as we meet with the Govenor of Lopburi providence alon http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-369768.html GoodmorningSorry to bother anyone but wanted to check if this site is working. This is just a testI repeat just a test http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-367056.html Blogging is pretty new to me so just tolerate my efforts here please. Thought this would be the best way to share my PC experience with all of you. Do hope you enjoy this over time and I welcome if not too critical comments and suggestions. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-366737.html We arrived early in the morning having taken the night train from Chiang Mai. The train was so so we had seating so it was a little better than taking the bus We arrived at the station at 7.00am and were greeted by a huge gold statue of a monkey with the hugest balls sorry there is no easy way of writing itSo we jump off only to be greeted by tuck tuck drivers. We knew where we wanted to stay http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-354100.html I'm going to start this blog by putting a theory out there do you think that I'm jinxed I mean right now I think that news across the globe is dominated with two things the first being the terrorism in Mumbai and the second being the mess in Bangkok. I'm thinking that when I decide to move on I need to send advance warning to my new country of choice so they can bolster their secruity before http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/Central-Thailand/Lopburi/blog-349887.html