For our first big weekend since we’ve settled in, and with the long awaited arrival of our professor from UNC, it was time to go to the beach. Our professor, Dr. Rich Kamens (or as we call him, Ajarn Rich) took us on several different buses to the province of Chon Buri, about 2 hours away (not to be confused with Thon Buri where I live). Ajarn Rich lived in Chon Buri during his stint in the Peace Corps in the 1970s and he says things have obviously grown up around where he said was once a landscape of dotted rice paddies. The beach we went to was Bang Saen, and since we are mostly travelling and living in areas that are not tourist-heavy, we stand out like sore thumbs. I had not been to the beach since Pop’s boogy board accident two summers ago, so it was nice to swim in the Gulf of Thailand where waves were not the standard. However, for about 100 baht each, six of us jumped on the back of a giant Banana Boat and toured the Gulf by way of a jet-ski tow. We were slung off several times but it was great fun (don’t worry mom: life jackets). Let it be known however, that Thai people do not swim in bathing suits. If they have them on, even when swimming, they are wearing a t-shirt and shorts on top because conservative dress is the norm in non-tourist areas. Farmer’s tan, here I come!
A relaxing day at the beach was followed by a night of shooting pool, drinking Singha, eating frog, and enjoying some home-made non-dairy coconut Thai-style ice cream. The Kingdom of Thailand is a Lactose Intolerant’s dream. The milk is all rice or soy, and the ice cream is all coconut milk, so my digestive system could run circles around my fellow Intolerants roaming the States aimlessly.
The following day we visited three destinations before returning back to campus in Thon Buri. First, we stopped by a little area that was known for crafting stone mortar-and-pestles, and although I did not buy one, I got some other nifty gifties for my American counterparts. Secondly, our group went to a Chinese Buddhist Temple in Bang Saen that was absolutely phenomenal in scope. I had never seen anything so intricate and beautiful, especially with the communion-like water ceremony we witnessed. The pictures are in the slideshow. Our third part of the day, which was the most moving experience I have had in Thailand, was our visit with Thai Buddhist Monks on a secluded part of the Bang Saen coastline. Deep in the forest of eastern trees and flowering plants, these monks live together, worshipping Buddha, eating only one big meal a day that they gather in one big pot each from the villagers, studying, and meditating. I had the honor of being able to experience and partake in a meditation session in a small temple in the woods. We lit incense and the monk, translated by our friend Pai, described the exact way to meditate and properly center yourself in any situation. Spirituality is the basis of the monk’s life, but almost every Thai male spends at least three months as monk in his mid-twenties, so meditation and self-guidance plays a big part in every Thai’s life. Although I have never been a very spiritual person, this experience was very soothing and meaningful to me, allowing me as well to reflect on my love of my grandmother Weo. The peace of the temples was exquisite, and I know I will return to others. That particular temple extended the invitation to stay with them for however long I liked to live as a monk, and although it was tempting offer, I am but a college student.
