Lucky again

As luck would have it, just after I posted the last blog entry about arriving in Tha Ton, I rounded the corner and stopped at the Sunshine Bakery and Cafe to have an orange juice. (This is orange harvest time, so oranges of all sizes are plentiful, juicy and delicious.) A kind Dutch man named Gerard invited me to sit with him. We were soon joined by Liesbeth, a lovely Dutch woman. (Coincidentally, they met here in Tha Ton.) Anyway, we were talking, and Liesbeth said she had an extra bicycle and offered to let me use it. When I went with her to her house to get the bicycle, she said how she felt guilty having such a large house all to herself... Fast forward to the next morning when I joined Liesbeth at the Sunshine Cafe again, and she offered to have me move in with her!!! How perfect! So I went right away to check out of my guest house and moved my stuff to Liesbeth's house.

Having the luxury of a private house, a kitchen, access to a computer and internet and beautiful garden was ideal, especially since I was coming down with a cold. I feel so fortunate to be here. Liesbeth has a sunny disposition and a positive outlook on life. She is a retired school teacher who has lived and traveled all over the world. Liesbeth has found quite a niche for herself here in Tha Ton. She teaches English to the employees of a local hotel which doubles as a posh resort and an environmental learning center for school groups from all over Asia, in exchange for a buffet lunch daily and swimming privileges in their pool. She also teaches some children in exchange for help from their parents in gardening and other chores. Two very mischievous adolescent cats, Katie and Jungle, keep us amused.

Our neighbors are small scale farmers, so we are awakened every day to roosters, including one with a hoarse cackle right outside the window. There are water buffalo who मुंच the leaves on the back fence. I've been enjoying going to the various markets to shop for food. I prepare fruit salads from all the delicious fresh fruit that abounds here. I've also been able to put to use the lessons I learned at the cooking school in preparing dinner for Liesbeth, and occasionally Gerard too, to rave reviews.

Food is so cheap here. I can buy a couple of big bags full of veggies and fruits all for about $2.00. This is enough to make a meal of about 6 - 8 servings. But then, we can and do eat out often, usually at the Sunshine Cafe, for about $1.00 for a deliciously prepared meal.

You see us with the proprietor, Yanni, and her mom, the chief cook.

After a week enjoying the peace and quite of Tha Ton, I ventured down to Chiang Mai, four hours by bus, to get my visa for India and to do some shopping, etc. Knowing that I have a base in Tha Ton, visiting Chiang Mai was much more enjoyable than the last time when I was trying to find my place there. I got a haircut, wandered around areas that I hadn't discovered before, ate some good vegetarian food, and then came back to Tha Ton a few days later.


This time in Tha Ton has been just what I wanted in Thailand - to connect with good people, to "drop in" on their lives, to see what it's like to live here. Eternal thanks to Liesbeth for providing this opportunity to me.

These photos are of Liesbeth in her Cleopatra pose, and me in mine, right by where we saw the exotic birds, peacocks, parakeets, the hornbill, and the prehistoric ostrich.

Now it's time to move on, so tomorrow, I will take a trip down the Kok river, about three hours in a long-tail boat, to Chiang Rai. Two weeks from today, Lily and I will be flying from Bangkok, God willing the airport will remain functional, to Luang Prabang in Laos! For what happens next, check the next blog entry.

I welcome your comments, emails and blessings and send them all back to you.