Kelly's Visit to Thailand
GO BACK

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May 1st, 2003

Hello from friends and family,

I have just returned from the land of smiles..Thailand. I arrived during the Songkran celebration, otherwise known as the .water festival.. Songkran marks the Thai New Year. Apart from marking new beginnings it is also a time for thanksgiving where people reflect on the acts of kindness, thoughtfulness, generosity and compassion. It was a wonderful time to be here! I encountered the polite splashes, to direct hits from water pistols, to garden hose sprays, to bucket-throwing maniacs. Many people looked as if they were hit by monsoon.but with huge beautiful smiles.

I was fortunate to reunite with a good friend whom I served with in Peace Corps Micronesia. We began the reunion with a fabulous dinner followed by an outrageous transvestite cabaret show. During the week we enjoyed wingless trips on the new sky train, indulged in a magical spa, traveled to the ever-popular floating market and .did. some amazing shopping centers.

Unfortunately, I wasn.t blessed with picking up the Thai language very well but did get the graceful .wais. down which is the tradition prayer-like palms-together greeting. Plus I embraced the shoes-off at the office approach very devotedly. I could definitely live in Thailand!

Thailand is one of the most stimulating countries I have ever been too. From the golden Wats (temples) to the orange-robes Buddhism monks to the amazing array of multi-colored textiles to the glorious magenta sunsets. Thailand is definitely alive!

I also traveled back to Bangladesh, so I have added a few more pictures to the web site there. I am home now in Manila, doing laundry and paperwork and preparing for my next trip in mid-May to E. Timor.

Much love as always..

Kelly