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| Alison and Claire (the medics for the run) and Ken |
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| Start of the race |
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| Ken and I at the end of the walk (with Alison behind) |
Sunday, 24 February 2013
Run for Relief
Yesterday I went along to Thailand's Run for Relief - a walk/run fundraiser for the Free Burma Rangers. We also have the Run for Relief in NZ (check out the website here: http://www.runforrelief.org.nz), but it fundraisers for Partners Relief and Development. Ken and I walked the 5km, here are some photos from the morning.
Thursday, 21 February 2013
Civet coffee
I arrived in Chiang Mai on Saturday and have been having a lovely time with Claire, Ken & Alison who I am staying with - the Kiwi crew!
This week - I visited Doi Chaang coffee in Chiang Mai and tried the Wild Thai Civet coffee that I mentioned in a previous post. Stu (one of the Partners staff) is a photographer and took some pictures for me which I have included below. It was nice coffee, not acidic and didn't leave much of a lingering taste. However, I can't say it was amazing and for $20 NZ dollars a cup - it was a one off experience!
I have also been getting stuck into some new work and learning more about Shan state - one of the ethnic states in Burma that Partners works in. Shan state borders Thailand, China and Laos and there are about 9 million people living there. In some areas, only about 4% of children get to go to school and Partners is involved in helping communities start schools in parts of Shan state.
I'm also learning about the nature of applying for government funding as an NGO - a complex process and a world I am not that accustomed too! Thankfully - I have got some friends who are, and have been giving me some advice on navigating the system:)
The Davies and Malcs arrive on Mon/Tues next week which will be great. I haven't seen much of Chiang Mai yet so it will be a chance to do all of the touristy sort of things with them:)
This week - I visited Doi Chaang coffee in Chiang Mai and tried the Wild Thai Civet coffee that I mentioned in a previous post. Stu (one of the Partners staff) is a photographer and took some pictures for me which I have included below. It was nice coffee, not acidic and didn't leave much of a lingering taste. However, I can't say it was amazing and for $20 NZ dollars a cup - it was a one off experience!
I have also been getting stuck into some new work and learning more about Shan state - one of the ethnic states in Burma that Partners works in. Shan state borders Thailand, China and Laos and there are about 9 million people living there. In some areas, only about 4% of children get to go to school and Partners is involved in helping communities start schools in parts of Shan state.
I'm also learning about the nature of applying for government funding as an NGO - a complex process and a world I am not that accustomed too! Thankfully - I have got some friends who are, and have been giving me some advice on navigating the system:)
The Davies and Malcs arrive on Mon/Tues next week which will be great. I haven't seen much of Chiang Mai yet so it will be a chance to do all of the touristy sort of things with them:)
The best smoothie I have had so far in Thailand - blueberry goodness!
Alison, Claire and Ken with a New York pizza in Chiang Mai! I've been to NY before and have never seen such a big pizza.
Tamarind - a type of fruit that tastes like date and is quite nice. In NZ, we often use tamarind paste for curries.
The process of brewing civet coffee - picture courtesy of Stu
Enjoying the Civet coffee - photo courtesy of Stu
Rice paddies next door to where I am living
To all my vegetarian friends out there - I saw this at a mall, advertising a hamburger place!
Wednesday, 13 February 2013
Last week in Mae Sot
This is my last week in Mae Sot, as I head to Chiang Mai on Saturday for another 6 weeks of volunteering. Here are some photos from a regular lunch at the Partners office. It is always a great thing to share a meal together over amazing Thai and Burmese food:)
I will miss the cycling everywhere, the people I've met, and being closing to the Burmese border as I think you get more of a feel for Burmese culture down here than in Chiang Mai. I am looking forward to staying with Claire and exploring Chiang Mai though. Thanks for everyone's emails - I always enjoy hearing from people back home:)
I will miss the cycling everywhere, the people I've met, and being closing to the Burmese border as I think you get more of a feel for Burmese culture down here than in Chiang Mai. I am looking forward to staying with Claire and exploring Chiang Mai though. Thanks for everyone's emails - I always enjoy hearing from people back home:)
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| Lunch |
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| Yim |
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| Heidi |
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| Yim and me |
Monday, 11 February 2013
Cafe coolness
So last week some of the staff at Partners took me to an awesome little cafe in Mae Sot, the Roommate - definitely the best coffee I've had so far in Thailand, and the furniture at the shop was awesome! I didn't expect to find a cafe with retro furniture in Thailand - apparently the furniture comes from Bangkok, if I could ship some home I would!
The cafe uses coffee from Doi Chaang (check out here: http://doichaangcoffee.com) in Northern Thailand. Apparently, they have cafes all over Vancouver that use Doi Chaang coffee - I can't remember if I tried any of it when I was there a couple of years ago. Interestingly, they also offer what is called 'Wild Thai Civet' Coffee - which is made from coffee cherries that have been passed through the digestive system of a Civet (a cat-sized mammal that is found in Southeast Asia and Southern China). The 'poo' of the Civet is gathered from the forests by farmers and then the coffee beans are flushed out and dried, ready to be roasted, grinded and drunk. I haven't yet tried the Civet coffee - apparently its $30 US dollars for a cup, so I'll wait to try it when I am in Chiang Mai, it will be an experience:)
Anyways here are some photos of the cafe and a night market I went to.
The cafe uses coffee from Doi Chaang (check out here: http://doichaangcoffee.com) in Northern Thailand. Apparently, they have cafes all over Vancouver that use Doi Chaang coffee - I can't remember if I tried any of it when I was there a couple of years ago. Interestingly, they also offer what is called 'Wild Thai Civet' Coffee - which is made from coffee cherries that have been passed through the digestive system of a Civet (a cat-sized mammal that is found in Southeast Asia and Southern China). The 'poo' of the Civet is gathered from the forests by farmers and then the coffee beans are flushed out and dried, ready to be roasted, grinded and drunk. I haven't yet tried the Civet coffee - apparently its $30 US dollars for a cup, so I'll wait to try it when I am in Chiang Mai, it will be an experience:)
Anyways here are some photos of the cafe and a night market I went to.
Cool retro furniture in Thailand:)
An awesome clock! I'd love to bring one home but may be a bit too heavy for my bag:)
A Chinese temple next to a night market I went to
All different types of insects to eat at the night market!
Saturday, 9 February 2013
Waitangi day in Thailand
Happy Waitangi Day...yes a couple of days too late but it's a technical detail:)
So knowing that Waitangi day was coming up, I felt surprisingly patriotic about NZ over here in Mae Sot. Decided I wanted to do something to celebrate and so I made Afghan biscuits.....yes I know, not something we would normally eat on Waitangi day in NZ but it at least felt like home (as close as I could get with the resources available - there was no BBQ or hungi!) I took the Afghans into the Partners office to celebrate, taught everyone Kia Ora and explained a bit about the Treaty of Waitangi.
As a history major, I like to remember what Waitangi day is about and the history behind it, but national days also tend to go hand in hand with patriotism, which often makes me feel a bit uncomfortable - patriotism has a history of being used in support of war and violence and tends to have a us. vs. them mentality. However, being in a foreign place where I don't know any other Kiwis in Mae Sot, has given me a different perspective on patriotism, where I felt the need to celebrate the difference of being a Kiwi and explain to others about NZ culture. It's funny how things surprise you when you least expect it...
So knowing that Waitangi day was coming up, I felt surprisingly patriotic about NZ over here in Mae Sot. Decided I wanted to do something to celebrate and so I made Afghan biscuits.....yes I know, not something we would normally eat on Waitangi day in NZ but it at least felt like home (as close as I could get with the resources available - there was no BBQ or hungi!) I took the Afghans into the Partners office to celebrate, taught everyone Kia Ora and explained a bit about the Treaty of Waitangi.
As a history major, I like to remember what Waitangi day is about and the history behind it, but national days also tend to go hand in hand with patriotism, which often makes me feel a bit uncomfortable - patriotism has a history of being used in support of war and violence and tends to have a us. vs. them mentality. However, being in a foreign place where I don't know any other Kiwis in Mae Sot, has given me a different perspective on patriotism, where I felt the need to celebrate the difference of being a Kiwi and explain to others about NZ culture. It's funny how things surprise you when you least expect it...
Afghans at the office
Saturday, 2 February 2013
Forgiveness and reconciliation
So I've been reflecting on forgiveness and reconciliation between people, communities, and ethnic groups these last couple of days. This week over lunch with other Partners staff we were discussing the conflict in Burma,the impact this has had on the the Karen (one of the ethnic groups in Burma, and Mae Sot is right on the border with Karen state), and forgiveness and reconciliation.
One of the staff was telling me that it is not uncommon when asking a Karen child what they want to do when they grow up, they say, "I want to shoot Burmeans." My heart sank at this, and yet sadly it is not an uncommon story in the context of conflict zones and war. In fact, when you've seen your family shot, burned alive, homes destroyed - it is a response that is understandable.
So what does it therefore mean to forgive? I found this quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, which goes someway to articulating the nature of forgiveness, reconciliation and healing.
“Forgiving and being reconciled to our enemies or our loved ones are not about pretending that things are other than they are. It is not about patting one another on the back and turning a blind eye to the wrong. True reconciliation exposes the awfulness, the abuse, the hurt, the truth. It could even sometimes make things worse. It is a risky undertaking but in the end it is worthwhile, because in the end only an honest confrontation with reality can bring real healing. Superficial reconciliation can bring only superficial healing.”
Reconciled communities living in peace - one of the hopes Partners has for Burma. Not an easy thing to practice and live out, as individuals and communities.
One of the staff was telling me that it is not uncommon when asking a Karen child what they want to do when they grow up, they say, "I want to shoot Burmeans." My heart sank at this, and yet sadly it is not an uncommon story in the context of conflict zones and war. In fact, when you've seen your family shot, burned alive, homes destroyed - it is a response that is understandable.
So what does it therefore mean to forgive? I found this quote from Archbishop Desmond Tutu, which goes someway to articulating the nature of forgiveness, reconciliation and healing.
“Forgiving and being reconciled to our enemies or our loved ones are not about pretending that things are other than they are. It is not about patting one another on the back and turning a blind eye to the wrong. True reconciliation exposes the awfulness, the abuse, the hurt, the truth. It could even sometimes make things worse. It is a risky undertaking but in the end it is worthwhile, because in the end only an honest confrontation with reality can bring real healing. Superficial reconciliation can bring only superficial healing.”
Reconciled communities living in peace - one of the hopes Partners has for Burma. Not an easy thing to practice and live out, as individuals and communities.
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