Blogs from Chonburi, Central Thailand, Thailand, Asia - page 5

On Sunday I visited the closest local beach, called Bang Saen, which I have found out is where two of the other foreign teachers at my school actually live. The day started off auspiciously when I couldn’t figure out how to open the door to get out of my building. The doors had always been ajar before, even though I have 2 separate swipe cards, one for each entrance. I had to wait until someone else came down to figure out which button I had to press to be let out of the building. Embarrassing, except that I am starting to get pretty good at and comfortable with the role of clueless "farang" (foreigner). Once out on the street I started to walk to the main road, thinking that I would be able to figure out ... read more

Last night I came home to quite the menagerie of critters in my room. Greeting me just inside the door was a serious contender for the World’s Largest Cockroach competition and this roach was also seriously feisty and did not want to leave the confines of my apt. or, after I had scooped him up, my shoe, either! Next there was the usual parade of ants all along the walls in the bedroom and bathroom, as well as the bathroom sink. Not awesome, but at least they kept a pleasant distance from my toothbrush. I got in the shower (and by “get in the shower,” I actually mean turned on the showerhead, since the squat-y potty, sink and shower are one unit) just to rinse off in order to cool down and was surprised by a ... read more

Well, I’ve finished the first piece of this journey and am now into the second phase. I am somewhat nervous about what lies ahead and setting off “on my own,” separate from the group that became very familiar in just a few brief weeks, but I am mostly excited to begin teaching. Teaching English is, after all, what brought me here, though it is somehow very easy to lose sight of that with all of the other adventures I have been experiencing here. If this past month were the entire experience, I would be satisfied, but I am really looking forward to this next adventure, too. Joy and Tao picked me up this morning at Condochain for the trip up to Chonburi (about 1.5-2 hours toward Bangkok). It was another rainy, dreary morning, though not ... read more

In May 2005 I spent twelve days meditating at Wat Bhaddanta Asabharam in Chonburi Province, Thailand. Within an hour of my barely announced arrival at the centre I had received the eight precepts from Sorado Bikhu, as well as basic instruction in Mahasi meditation technique and the advice: “Don’t be too serious about it!” This Wat and its meditation centre were established by Ajahn Bhaddanta Asabha, aka Chonburi Sayadaw. He was a Burmese sayadaw, sent by Mahasi Sayadaw to teach sattipatana vipassana meditation in Thailand. My teacher, Ajahn Somsak Sorado, was one of his students. He is Thai and, having spent a couple of years in the USA, has sufficient English to teach foreigners. There seemed to be about 25 monks and 10 nuns living in the Wat, thirteen dogs and a number of cats: as ... read more

House blessing Still no idea when Karl was going to get here. At this point I didn't care because it was weekend. K was off work and invited me to join him and his family on a trip to his sister’s house blessing ceremony in Chon Buri. Yesterday I had to check out at noon and since I was only going to meet K in the evening, I spent the afternoon on the bench in front of my back packer and tried to read. I have to mention that it was really really hot and therefore extremely hard to concentrate. At some point an Australian girl joined me and we started a conversation. It was good to talk to another traveller and exchange experiences. K and I met in the city. It's incredible how much I ... read more