Monday - Feb 1 PM - Attended a Thai Catholic Funeral

I attended a Thai Catholic funeral for the father of one of Mercy Center's directors. The deceased laid in state for 4 days with numerous novenas being offered. After the final viewing, the lid is closed and family members ( who want to) nail the lid of the coffin shut. Mass is said in Thai but singing is in Latin, Gregorian chants.....neat that I was able to sing). Cemetery is located near the church so we had a procession, final rights and placing of a rose by each attendee on coffin. The Body was placed in crypt because Bangkok's water table is just 16" below the surface.

Went back to the hotel to refresh and have a solo dinner.

Monday - Feb 1- Teaching a Kindergarten Class

Back at Mercy Center. Father Joe is busy so I was invited to teach a kindergarten class...piece of cake. I do not speak or understand Thai and everyone was giggling at me. I used a whiteboard to draw stick figures of my family, drew a map to show how I traveled from USA ---> Japan ---> Thailand, reviewed many word books and did flash card drills of animals. I introduced the children the various American handshakes.....thumb roll, hi-5 and elbow bump....what a hoot. See me in action in the attached pictures. Father Joe is busy so no lunch out today so I was invited to have lunch with the teachers ...Pad Thai (it was sooooo goood) and rice with pork (yuum). Invited to attend a "real Catholic funeral" at 2:30 PM as a guest of Father Joe.

Sunday - Jan 31 - Ayutthaya, Phra Mongkhon BoPhit Buddha, Summer Palace

I'm working so hard that I needed a day off...no kidding. Traveled to the former capital of Thiland , Ayutthaya. Located 40 miles north of Bangkok. Founded in 1350...flourished for 400 years before being destroyed by Burmese. Site laid in waste until the Thai King (one represented in the King and I) began restoration. View how the city was laid waste.

After Ayutthaya traveled to Bang Pa In - the home of the King's summer palace --- beautiful layout with magnificient buildings and gardens...very, very hot...95 F. After leaving Summer Palace traveled by boat back to Bangkok.

Saturday Jan 30 - Mercy Center Sport's Day

I awoke at 7 AM after 10 hr of sleep...feel great. After breakfast, I took a taxi to Mercy Center to view MC's sports day. Met Father Joe and attended Mass at 9 AM. I had 2 Thai teenagers as interpreters explain to me what FJ was saying during his homily which was given in Thai. Father speaks numerous foreign languages fluently. The homily addressed the virtues that everyone must follow...no lying, stealing and laziness. MC is one big family...the boys will respect the girls and protect them. Those breaking the rules and are judged by their peers (FJ does not get involved)...one girl was kicked out of MC because of an assault on a younger child, 2 boys who fought had to fight each other with one boxing gloves until they were exhausted and than were attached together with a string until they resolved their differences ( they are now best friends). After Mass, I spent an hour over coffee with Father and listened to him describe his ministry in the slums of Klong Toey. He does not suffer fools.

After sports day I went to Raja's tailor shop, to order pants, a sport coat and 4 shirts. After leaving Raja's, I decided that my body deserved a Thai massage....if I lived in Thailand, I would have a massage every day!!! I ended the day completed my day with a nice Thai dinner...

Friday, Jan 29 - First Visit to Mercy Center

After 5 hours of sleep, I had breakfast and headed for Mercy Center. Bangkok traffic is horrific...1 1/2 hours to go 6 miles.

Life is full of surprises. Arrive at Mercy Center (MC) as a small Polish TV crew was shotting a series about Father Joe and the Mercy Center's work wth the slum children of Klong Toey. By following the Polish TV crew, I received a full tour of the facilities and listened to interviews of the children, staff and Father Joe...what an eye opener. The MC can be summed up in one word...LOVE. Hundred of children ( 300+) attending K --> 3, meeting the Aids Brigade ( 60+ children) who are fully integrated into the community, a homeless Aids mother rejected by the outside world who now lives at the MC and is a surrogate mother to about 5 orphaned girls, a 40 + year old down syndrome man who lives at MC and assists Father Joe at Catholic mass, the Aids Hospice Center which treats the seriously ill ( 20 + patients), Thai gov't provides Aids medication free of charge to MC...it goes on and on. Father Joe's main assistant is Jewish, most students and staff are Buddhist and a couple of teachers are Muslim ( one the daughter of the local Imam)... Father does not proselytize..his motto is to accept everyone who needs help!!!

Attended requiem mass for the parents of two of MC's employees...all faiths included and Father's words welcomed all.

The unique statue you see in the photo is "Our Lady of Klong Toey" which is the representation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It was cast in bronze and Mercy Center staff added personal items to the molten bronze...Father Joe's donation was his personal rosary which was given to him by his mother for Father's First Holy Communion. The statue has a baby sculpted on the Virgin's belly....her missing loving arms are your arms welcoming all of God's children.

Left about 5 PM and went back to the hotel...only took 1 hour for the return drive...ate at small Chinese restaurant and went to bed at 8:30 PM...exhausted...see ya... Tom

Flight to Bangkok ( Jan 27 - 29)

Left Washington Dulles on Wednesday, Jan 27, at 12:35 PM via Narita, Japan. Total travel time was 31 hours..only slept 3 hr arrived BKK at 2 AM, Friday, Jan 29. Read a great mystery book titled "Up Country" about Viet Nam ( recommended by my great friend Marcia Torpey)...provides an insightful view of VN during the Viet Nam war and in the year 2000. Food on United Air was terrible...one hour out offered rubber chicken lunch (ate only rice and peas), 8 hours out offered only 1/2 sandwich or a bowl of noodle soup ( I got both)...have begun my Asian diet plan.

Flight was the great circle route...VA-----> Chicago---> Alaska -- Artic Circle---> Korean Pninsula---> Japan (7,000 miles, 13.5 hr)...4 hour layover...Narita to Bangkok ( 3,000 miles, 7 hr). Attached is picture of froze Arctic...see family of polar bears waving :-} ... Tom

Hotel Grand Ville is nice,clean, and within a 1/2 mile walk to water taxi and flower market..... had delicious pineapple, watermelon, papaya for breakfast....

Getting Prepared - Immunization Shots, VISAs, Packing, Reviewing Country Guides, Insurance, Credit Cards

Although my departure for Thailand is over a month off, I have started to complete a number of activities that had long lead times:

1. Immunization shots

• The first thing I did was to visit the CDC site (http://www.cdc.gov/). This site allows one to check on what immunizations are recommended for each country being visited as well as to learn about precautions that one needs to take when traveling. Traveling in rural versus large city travel in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Viet Nam requires additional health precautions. I printed a copy of CDC’s recommendations for my records.
• Living in Northern Virginia has a number of benefits, one of which is a great public health service. I visited the public health center with my CDC printout and immunization records and met with a public health nurse. A doctor appointment was necessary to review my records and determine which immunizations were required… earliest appointment was 2 weeks later.
• All of my immunization medications were up to date except for Typhoid. I was prescribed a four dose oral Typhoid vaccine. Although I would be traveling in malaria zones especially in Cambodia, the risk was deemed to be minimal. My opportunity for receiving a Japanese Encephalitis vaccine had been missed since it required no international travel for about five weeks. I am taking a cruise in early January which precluded me from getting that shot…plan ahead.
• The cost of the visits, typhoid vaccine and travel consultation was $120. One recommendation that I received was to spray all of my exterior clothing with a chemical called permethrin which keeps away mosquitoes…purchased a large bottle at REI for $16.
  

2. VISAs

• I used the Internet to find out what was required in terms of documents, photos and money for obtaining a travel visa. Thailand does not require a visa for tourist travelers where as Cambodia, Laos and Viet Nam do. Each country’s Visa is effective for only a certain period of time after being issued .. Cambodia for 2 months and Viet Nam for 3 months and for a short period of time after entering the country--- 2 to 3 weeks. Be advised that some embassies reserve visa applications to the morning and pick-up in the afternoon. It usually takes 3 – 4 work days to process visa applications.
• Visited Costco to have 6 passport pictures taken…approximately $10.
• Visited the Viet Nam embassy and submitted my passport, documentation describing my trip, 2 photos and $60. Picked-up my passport with attached Viet Nam visa 3 days later.
• Visited the Cambodian embassy and submitted my passport, documentation describing my trip, 2 photos and $25. Picked-up my passport with attached Cambodian visa 4 days later.
• Intrepid travel advised us to wait until we entered Laos for our visa. Intrepid has an agent who will assist in processing the entire group. Bring 2 passport pictures and $30 (US).

3. Clothing and Packing

• This trip will involve travel by boat, bus, plane and train and we have been advised to travel light since we would be carrying our own gear. Recommended weight for one’s backpack is no more than 25 pounds. Clothing has to be durable, light weight, washable, quick drying and look good after numerous uses.
• Since a number of our sightseeing visits will be Buddhist temples and other religious sites, one must dress appropriately…long pants – men, skirts or long pants - women... with decent shirts that covers one’s shoulders.
• Visited REI and purchased 2 pairs of long pants that are convertible to shorts, a couple of light weight shirts, bug net to cover my face when sleeping and the permethrin spray.
  Intrepid travel provided a list of items to bring. I supplemented their list with one from Rick Steves.
• During the major snow storm that struck the Washington DC metropolitan area on Dec 19, 2009, I packed my gear to see if I could fit it in a Rick Steves backpack and determine if I met my 20 pound weight limit…no problem…my pack came in at 18 pounds.
• I plan on taking one large suitcase with my backpack inside. I will leave the large suitcase at our starting hotel and reclaim it after the trip. This will allow me to bring back souvenirs and other items I will purchase during the trip.

4. Know the Countries that You Are Visiting

• Visited the local library and borrowed travel books about each country.
• Found that Lonely Planet is written for the solo traveler and focuses on spending as little as possible. Fodders SE Asia book met my needs since it covered all of the countries that I will visit and focuses on the highlights of each region.
• There were a number of "Rough Guide" books titled “Rough Guide to Laos” and "Rough Guide to Viet Nam” …they were well done.
• Decided to purchase from Amazon.com the newest Fodder’s SE Asia book, Southeast Asia: Lonely Planet Phrasebook and The Rough Guide to Vietnam, Laos & Cambodia Map 1.

5. Things Left To Do

• Contact my travel insurance carrier and make them aware of my trip. Verify their contact information in the event an emergency arises. My wife and I have purchased a yearly policy which covers the trip (cancellation, delays, lost luggage, auto rental, etc) as well as medical care (accident treatment, evacuation if necessary, etc). We used Mondial Assistance (http://www.mondial.assistance.com/ or 888-489-3227). Annual fee for both of us was $ 784----never, never do international travels without having travel insurance.
• Contact my credit card companies and bank and advise them of my travel plans. I use a Capital One (C1) credit card for all charges that I make oversea. C1 does not apply a service charge like other companies that charge fees up to 3% of the amount charged. Your only cost with C1 is the currency conversion fee associated with all overseas purchases. I use my credit union ATM card since its fees are the lowest.
• Make a list of must sees for each location and attempt to learn a few phrases for each country.