Travel bug

Sunday, February 19, 2023

I toss some flowers from the garden into bottles for an arrangement before we leave for IES.

W and I speak at IES Bandung on baptism for followers of Jesus. Check it out? We really enjoy the facility we rent: it allows for conversation and small groups after we meet in the hall. It makes me chuckle to snap a picture of Three Wise Men, chatting on one of the benches afterwards.

Lunch with David, Georgina, and little Noah is wonderful. We also celebrate with Josh, Clau, Kat, and Leo on the 10th anniversary of becoming a family. It's noisy: there's a wedding in the courtyard below us.

I sidestep a dead rat as I walk home. Behind me, two cars are passing on the narrow street and ... the rat is flat.

The Hangout is going full steam (25 people) when we arrive home.

The whole Porch is used for lunch, games, and friendships.

I'm always tempted to scramble the shoes but decide to be good for one more week.

We are weary but tomorrow's a new day - and a new trip. Our bedroom is a mess as we transfer gifts into luggage. It takes a few hours to write some of the Lenten posts that begin to go out to the IES community on Tuesday. I have 15 more to go unless some of the team jumps in. They've contributed a bunch of reflections already. It's good to have wise teammates.

Monday

We're off again. This time we overnight in Jakarta before we fly to Seattle via Tokyo. It's as good as it gets. The first leg to Tokyo is empty enough that we each have 3 seats to stretch out and sleep. The second leg, I have a full row until I get bumped out of it by some guy who's not feeling well. We're tired when we land in Seattle!

Tuesday

Luggage takes a long time to get to the carousel. With Global Entry, immigration and customs are quick and painless. Timothy picks us up curbside. Neither W nor I are feeling well - the flu descends on us as we head out.

We're at the house shortly after noon (midnight Jakarta time). I show K some basics on arranging flowers and she does a great job with lilies and mums.

Wednesday

I don't sleep much. Lent starts today and my core question is, "What do the spiritual fasts of Lent make room for?" I need to listen to God's voice and that's my goal for the season before Easter.

W and I venture out to 5 stores in a quick marathon. We get chocolate, supplies, and check Nordstrom Rack (no shoes this time.) I throw the purchases into a suitcase: 3 kg over already. W hauls gear. In my suitcase are supplies for movie night, cooking, and hospitality. The baking chocolate will have to go into a second suitcase. I hope I have room for books! Enough space isn't the issue. Weight is.

There's a pile of flowers beside the driveway, ready for composting. I reach over the edge with a hoe to snag tulips, roses, lilies - and add them to the purple stock purchased from Trader Joes. I'll see this hanging arrangement each time I come into the kitchen. A friend tells me a Dutch tulip trick: pierce through the stem 1" below the flower to keep the tulip from dropping. I'll try that next time. Today, the tulips head straight downward.

This vase was in the discard pile. Might as well pop some tulips into it. I'm happy with it all week.

The sideboard (secondhand cabinets with glass shelves between) is a pretty still life beside the dining table. The Zogirushi teapot is going strong - we fill it several times a day for tea and my hot water bottle. I'm so cold!

2 more bunches of tulips land in a plain vase. We have acquired several wooden elephants since the first ebony one arrived, a 1977 wedding gift from African friends.

The 2' high bouquet looks pretty atop Grandma's mid-century modern dresser. The zebra skin on the ottoman is 45 years old. My dad did accounting for friends who worked in Africa; they brought all kinds of things to the West "back in the day."

As W heads out the door for supper with a friend, I heat up some TJ coconut shrimp and some artichoke hearts. Yum - this is food we never get abroad.

Thursday

I've been looking forward to meeting with a friend for weeks. Neither W nor I sleep well; we're up for 4 hours in the night. I spend a few hours sketching out Easter services in Bandung. By morning, our colds have worsened. I can't pass this along. My friend and I will reschedule.

Before breakfast, my spiritual director Alaine Buchanan leads me through an hour of reflection online. As I catch up with my words, she points out the work God is doing. She offers 5 ways of making space for God to speak: lectio divina, ways of praying, and ways of observing. As always, I come away refreshed. She's smart, focused, and encouraging. (Contact me if you need a spiritual director: she's the best I've encountered.)

W and I have broth and won tons for breakfast - our throats are raw from coughing and the hot liquid is soothing. Since the foods we know best are available, I like to cook when we're in the flat. 

By mid-morning, I've had several tall mugs of tea. The air is dry; I keep slathering my face with lotion. The pleasure of the place and the proximity to grandkids is a blessing. And it's COLD out here. I don't make the bed today, tipping the IKEA Beddinge up to a sofa shape with our bedding still on it. Though the heaters are going, I keep refilling my hot water bottle and snuggle up in blankets.

Friday

Up for 6 hours at night, I fall asleep until 11:00 a.m. Jetlag. We head out for a short shopping trip after lunch. After 2 shopping trips this week, most of the things on my "bring back" list are checked off and packed for return home. It's strange to see the tastes we remember available everywhere. Frozen entrees and vegetables, familiar brands, canned goods ... 

Our son and d-i-love have a short date night while we hang out with the grandkids. Supper is waffles and Mandarin chicken. W and I debate taking them out but we're not up to it. There are a few things in the freezer from our first shopping excursion. W says, isn't "waffles and chicken" a Southern dish? So that's what I make.

We have a few hundred wrap ties from an empty box of Costco trash bags (20 years old?) The challenge to the children is "Make something." It takes them a while to take apart the wires and get going. I show them a few twists and off they go.

One makes a unicorn and a crib for hay. Another child makes a fortress for his wrap-tie rat, complete with corner turrets (one wrap-tie standing up) and a gangplank. One makes a boat and anchor and the other makes a flower garden.

We have tea as per our tradition, using the antique teacups and saucers handed down by my auntie and uncle. (She's gone but he's 92 now!) Kinsey sets the table with china plates. I scrounge for food: cookies from the airplane lounge in Japan, cranberries and chocolate chips from the pantry, and cut apples.

We pray together before K reads us a story from an old children's book on Indonesia.

My dad was a luthier. Last year, as we cleared his workshop, I found a small guitar. Perfect for Isaac's 8th birthday, which we'll miss. He wants to learn to play.

I clear the wrap ties off the Coach table so Opa can teach the kids a new game: "Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza." Soon they're shouting, laughing, and slapping their hands down.

The kids head upstairs to sleep. In the quiet, our flat returns to an adult apartment. I am grateful for this cozy space as we fold out a sofa to make up the bed.

Saturday

After another rough night, we're on the mend. We planned to drive to Canada to see our moms today but I'm a day behind W in recovery. The forecasters predict snow tonight so I encourage W to head up to see his mom anyway. If he stays overnight, they should clear the snow from the highway before he heads back. (Wouldn't it be a shame for him to be this close and not see her?)

Off he goes. He's well enough. I'm not. I chat with a friend before my cough takes over. Then I write in my comfy corner, thanking God for all our blessings.

I've forgotten how many layers it takes to stay warm here. I add an undershirt, heavy sweater, socks, and felt slippers ... for inside. Going out, I need 2 coats (a down-filled layer under a long coat). The heaters are going continually but my hands and feet are icey until I have a hot shower. The hot water bottle gets refilled from the kettle every few hours, too. Brrr.

Read more:

*Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Let Israel say: “His love endures forever.” Let the house of Aaron say: “His love endures forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say: “His love endures forever.”

When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. Psalm 118

An 80th birthday and a trip to Thailand

 Sunday, February 12, 2023

We sing "Happy Birthday" at IES to our friend Dr Hanna, who is 80 today. WooHoo! What a beautiful milestone.

After the Gathering, W and I catch the shuttle to Jakarta. We are flying to a conference in Chang Mai. We have no idea what will happen there, beyond having the name of a hotel and that it's a meeting for international church pastors. We have no schedule, no numbers of attendees, no place to wait for others. That's disconcerting for W.

Monday

In the afternoon, we arrive in Chang Mai after two flights. The layover in Bangkok is orderly. Luggage carts are neatly lined up outside the "DO NOT BRING A TROLLEY IN HERE" notices. (And no one transgresses.)

Numerous robot janitors glide along the sparkling floor. It's the cleanest airport we've been in.

The royal family is venerated and wherever there's a meeting place, there are displays like the one below.

We check into Suan Bua, our hotel. The grounds are spacious, the rooms are old-fashioned, and everything is clean. On the bed is a cute woven package with snacks inside.

We stroll around, looking for someone who looks like us. We find someone from the group and find out where to meet for supper, the first event. (The food is delicious all week.)

Thailand is punctuated by Buddhist altars. We spot many on the hotel grounds.

People leave a clutter of offerings on the tables around the altars.

We didn't know there was Registration. "No worries, you can get the schedule at the 7:30 p.m. meeting," we're told at dinner. 

Except that we forget to pick up a schedule after the first session. We recall only that there's breakfast at 8:30 tomorrow. More info to come.

Tuesday - Valentine's Day

After a sound sleep, we take a walk before we join the others for breakfast. It is a small group of interesting people, serving Kuwait, Norway, Indonesia, and Thailand.

The week's topic is renewal when we're weary. (And isn't everyone tired after COVID?) Tim uses Elijah the prophet as our model. Though Elijah experiences great things and is used by God to do miracles (even to raise a child from the dead!), he is easily discouraged and afraid. His story (1 Kings 17-19) describes us at times. Great highs and deep lows; with God's infusion of courage and provision around it all.

It's dry season so the paths are strewn with leaves. The flowers that are blooming often burst out of dry stems.

This denrobium is a sight to behold, hanging from a tree trunk.

Our Valentine's outing is cooking a Thai dinner. It is way more fun than we imagined. The amazing coordinator Aoy makes her job look easy. She demonstrates three menu items in each of three courses. We get to choose what we want to cook because we'll eat it later. The ingredients are simple - we chop them as the coordinator walks between groups.

We start by chopping and pounding ingredients for our choice of curry.

It's a fine paste before a few more ingredients are stirred in.

We set the curry aside while we make the first course: appetizers.  W chooses young papaya salad. I make fresh spring rolls. For the fresh spring rolls, we tightly wrap basic vegetables, along with chopped fried tofu or chicken.

We soak the rice wrappers 5-10 seconds only (or they're too glue-y and tear as we wrap.)

It's amazing how simple ingredients are transformed - the garlic is soft and sweet, needing no peeling. We line up in groups according to what we're cooking. For each item (appetizer, main dish, and curry), we change to different groups. How Aoy keeps it straight is beyond us.

She is relaxed, patient, and funny, especially with a few men who have little clue of the chemistry experiments that happen in the kitchen.

The second course is a main dish: Pad Thai (W's choice), noodle soup (my choice), and a chicken dish. My soup is delicious!

The spices and flavors are basic.

I've chosen cashew chicken for my main dish. 

Aoy goes from group to group, encouraging, heckling, and making sure everyone is following instructions. Even with several participants who "never cook", not one dish is burned or overcooked among the nine menu items.

The oil heats quickly in a wok over a gas flame. We add water if needed to steam the ingredients or cool them down. "Thai cooking looks healthy but is not," jokes Aoy. "Lots of oil in every dish."

Everyone is happy and lifts their spatula when we're done cooking. Then the feast begins.

The flavors burst in our mouths. I would cook with more heat (spicier) for myself. Perhaps the planner decided that "medium" best is "mostly bland" for tourists.

Our stomachs are full. We close the night with a Valentines Day video of encouragement. How can we strengthen our marriages and other relationships?

Wednesday 

W and I enjoy a morning walk and take pictures of the flowers. This is a lotus.

The hotel ponds are full of frogs, tropical fish, water lilies, and other swamp plants.

The trees drip with blooms.

There are several kinds of bougainvillea I haven't seen before, including this white version.

Breakfast is delicious and the company is good at the meeting. The food at Suan Bua is excellent.

We have a few minutes after lunch before we pile into cars for a full day of activities. Everywhere you look, there's a pop of color.

The steep hills look green even in dry season (December to May). We have a slight rainfall one evening and everyone celebrates the washing-down of the world.

We drive through beautiful countryside.

Near the conference center is an elephant farm, one of few places tourists can still ride an elephant. First you have to don the traditional mahout clothing so you smell familiar. Elephants have been livestock and (enormous) pets throughout Thai history. 

Elephants are integral to Thai culture. There are elephant statues everywhere. We see mahouts (elephant handlers and trainers) walking their elephants along the mountain roads.

Recently, meddling foreigners without any idea of the elephant's place in Thai history made an outcry on social media. The Thai government, sensitive to its image among tourists, has shut down all but one or two farms. That means a loss of jobs. The loss of strong helpers for farmers. The loss of cultural meaning. The loss of tourist attractions and income. The loss of work for artists. These losses result from a few loud-mouthed outsiders. Ugh.

I'm trying to imagine this happening elsewhere. What if, because of the cruelty of some farmers or ranchers, all horses - even those well-cared-for on well-run farms - were banned from working, racing, being ridden, or doing anything but eating and standing in the meadow. That's pretty much what has happened to the elephant farmers in Thailand. It's mind-boggling.

I guess social influencers with well-meant causes are making trouble all over. In Montana, transient Californians decry the state of ranches. They introduce predators like wolves who ruin flocks of sheep. (Wolves kill for fun and leave the lambs dead in the pastures.)

Similarly, locals tell us that an entire area of northern Thailand has been closed, the roads abandoned due to wild elephants. These enormous working beasts leave destructive swaths of uprooted trees in the forests. They have nothing to do. They roam and forage for food to survive.

"Elephants are intelligent and social creatures," the locals remind us. They like being around people and each other. And they want to work. Have some been mistreated? Yes. But have all of them? No - once again, globalization and access for foreigners is a tricky thing.

The vines grow over roofs, take over trellises, and offer a dazzling orange cloud of flowers.

On the way to the next site, we get a peek of a pilgrimage destination, a white temple on the hillside.

We reach an umbrella factory after we pass under another homage to the Thai king and queen.

From the parking lot, we spot a huge swarm of bees under the factory's upper floor. Can you spot them beside the supporting beam in the arch?

The paper umbrellas are made from natural materials. One lady peels the bamboo. The next woman splits the bamboo into the umbrella spine. We watch another make paper, dipping a screen into a vat of dyed fibers. Other women glue the brightly-colored dry paper to the bamboo slats and toss them on the ground for drying and pickup.

We exclaim over a record-setting umbrella created for Princess Diana's visit in the 90s. We make a stop in the factory store, where stunning shapes and colors await us. This hand-threaded 3-meter wide umbrella is too big for our suitcase and unfortunately beyond our price range at $200.

Our next stop is a silk factory. Trays of worms are munching on mulberry leaves. Several escape and make their way down the shelves. A second set of trays holds the spun cocoons with worms inside. They have to age for a few weeks. 

After the worms leave the cocoons, the cocoons are boiled and the silk thread is spun by hand. An employee raises and lowers a wooden shuttle looped around the cocoons. She pulls 10-12 fine fibers across the spool into one thin thread. Then the thread is gathered for weaving. Thai worms produce yellow strands while Chinese worms produce white ones. 

At other work stations, women color the threads with plant-based dyes. At the looms, the thread is woven into into intricate cloth patterns. (See the looms behind her?)

One local American couple is craving Western food and takes us to Beast Burgers for supper. The burgers are good but we're sorry to miss another taste of Thailand.

The final stop is the night market, acres of stalls with individual vendors. Some crafts are beautiful, like our friend's $6 pet painting (done in 1/2 hour from a photo.) I can't resist this tall bamboo vase for $3.

Some items are cute but weird, like hand-sewn "pets" for $5. Of course we buy one for each grandchild.

On the walk to the car, I snap a picture of the three-wheeled taxis filled with locals and tourists.

Thursday

We have time for one more walk, passing statues of pop figures and traditional shapes outside a cafe.

Burning is a problem in northern Thailand. Hand-set fires produce the heavy pall that pollutes the air (170 at times) and makes the hills hazy.

Trees are strung with prayer streamers.

We pray together to wrap up the meetings. W and I shuttle to the airport with two others. Our flight is delayed 2 hours but we don't miss our Bangkok to Jakarta connection. In Jakarta, a bus takes us from the plane to the gate; our luggage takes an hour to arrive. It's 1:00 a.m. by the time we fall into bed at the Jakarta airport hotel.

Friday

We gulp breakfast: we're still in bed when our driver says he's a half-hour away. He stops in an airport parking lot before picking us up instead of waiting in the lot W suggests.. While he goes around the traffic loop again, we wait a half an hour in the heat and humidity of Jakarta. He's ill so we mask for the 3.5+ hour drive. This is the most hair-raising part of any trip, riding the last 120 km on the toll road.

We get home after noon, unpack, and gather gifts and clothing for the next trip. A parade of ants has been busy in our bathroom so I spray the wood door frame. By morning, hundreds of dead ants lie on the tiles. W sweeps them away.

Saturday

The masseuse comes to the house at 7:30 a.m. My back is so sore from sitting all week that it cramps as I turn onto to my back. My calves and shoulders are looser when she's done. With the early start and a walk first, I've forgotten about breakfast. I'm ready to cook and eat homemade mushroom soup for lunch. 

The lizards sing in the garden. The thunder is pounding. Welcome home.

Read more:

*Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: it will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow. This will be for the Lord’s renown, for an everlasting sign that will endure forever. Isaiah 55:6-13

Prayer: God, be faithful to your promises. We come to you for wisdom, direction, and pardon today. In the name of our savior Jesus, Amen.