Now the serious trees are going up

This is simply the best Christmas tree.  It is outside Terminal 21 which is a shopping centre in central Bangkok aimed at the young and wealthy.  This city is presently being filled with glorious Christmas trees, colourful decorations, bright lights and catchy music of the season.  So when I go to my supermarket, I find myself starting to hum along to the tune of "Winter Wonderland" being played on their sound system.  I just love it. 

Yet it is all so surreal for I have to remember that I am in a land in the tropics where the mass of people are not Christian and have no idea what Christmas is about.  Still they all love the trappings and the shopping.  The children love seeing the trees and the decorations.  You can see it in their faces.  Maybe that is the same everywhere, even in Australia. 

Today it is four weeks until Christmas Day.  Now is the lead up to the big day and it is the build up that I so love as it is one time of the year when you can be sure to feel good and have a sense of oneness with humanity.  At least, that is me, even here in Thailand where most around me are ignorant of the reason for my more peaceful inner state of being. 

How I experience this time of year is tied up with my family and how I was brought up.  Christmas was at the centre of our family tradition as it was huge every year with mum and dad.  I am thankful for that as I am ever thankful for mum and dad in all things and for all they gave us. 

It is good to remember this as it is my birthday this week and it is a natural time for me to reflect on my life.   I have been given so much by many good and kind people.  This is my time to be thankful and spread some cheer.  Why not do this all year round and make this my typical life stance?  This could be my birthday gift to my world of which these wonderful trees at Christmastime become a symbol everywhere and every day of my feeling good and of my being at one with my world and humanity. 

Christmas has come to Nando's

Yes, it is Christmas again or so it is appearing more and more so here in Bangkok.  The trees and the lights are going up all over the city in the shopping malls, shops, restaurants, office buildings and squares.  Even Nando put up his tree this week and everyone is impressed that  he has a real tree.  The star is a bit sad but he is working on it. 

Nando is my Italian friend living in the same apartment building.  He has his great Italian restaurant sitting right outside the front door of our building.  He and his restaurant are very much a part of my life here.

I name Nando as the Mayor of our street as he is known by everyone and knows everyone.  His restaurant is more than a restaurant.  It is a local landmark.  It is a centre for the life of our neighbourhood and he makes it so due to his warm hospitality and sincerely friendly nature.. 

The western guys congregate at a table each day to have a beer and a chat.  The regular customers all know each other.  Nando acknowledges all as they go by and even has a chaplain - me.  That gives me my one perk as he gives me a good deal - a plate of pasta and a can of Sprite for 200 baht. 

Nando is one of those characters in my Bangkok.   He is larger than life - a good man with a big heart.  Of course to be a character, he is also a little eccentric and has his funny ways.  His outward Italian free expression can be a bit much for Thais at times but  you just think that this is who he is.

Part of knowing Nando is to know his family and they are great.  His brother is an engineer on a cruise ship and mostly away.  He also has a big heart and is just in love with ships.  You should hear him talk about his ship.  It is like the ship is s person, even his girlfriend.  Then there is mama.  She lives in Rome and comes here each year for Christmas to see her two boys.  She doesn't just come and relax.  She puts on her apron and gets to work, helping to run the restaurant.  She is part of the show.  She is tops.  She will be here in ten days and will be a welcome addition to our neighbourhood and my Bangkok.  Nando is so excited, getting ready for her.  Hence the tree went up this week.  He is like a big kid. 

Nando puts some added colour and life into my Bangkok.  I thank him for helping to make my Bangkok a place that is my home, a home like no other I have known before. 

Thailand is not what it seems.

I have known this guy for say six years, for all the time I have been going to the refugee centre as he has been one of the security guards there.  He is always ever so friendly and welcoming when I arrive at the centre, presenting as if nothing ever troubles him.  The friendliness is sincere and overwhelming but the rest of it is presentation as I would suspect he has many troubles in life. 

For one, he is a single dad with a young daughter.  He is very proud of her and obviously loves her but he also worries about her and how to best look after her.  Secondly, a security guard's wage would not be enough to look after him and his daughter in a sufficient way. 

So as well as being a security guard, he operates a 'motorcy' taxi.  This means that he is licensed to used his motorbike to take paying passengers places locally.  Then I discovered that he uses his motorbike for another purpose as well.  He gathers cardboard and such that have been discarded from shops and carts it all away on his bike for recycling.  When I go to the refugee centre early in the morning, I see him tying up the cardboard to take away and get a few more baht for the day. 

In the midst of it all, as you can see, he always has a cheery smile and a wave for me.  The reality is that life is tough for him, as it is for so many, but he gets on with it.  Bangkok is a huge city with its more than fair share of wealth but he doesn't enjoy anywhere near his share of it.  He works hard, he struggles every day, he does his best for his little girl.  He is a good guy, a happy guy but all is never what it seems, especially in my Bangkok.   

Happy Loy Krathong

 Loy Krathong is the annual Thai festival and of this region to mark the end of rainy season.  It is the most lovely festival.  It is about friends, families and couples going to the rivers, the lakes, the ponds to release their krathong while making their wishes for good, success and happiness.  So their desires are released and set sail on the waterways of Thailand.

 A krathong is a floating object that holds the symbols of yourself and your inner being - a coin, a piece of hair, a bit of fingernail, incense, flowers and a candle. The traditional krathong is made from the banana tree.  

Loy Krathong falls on the full moon in November.  It is a water festival that happens at night when everyone flocks to rivers, creeks, lakes, parks.  It is most symbolic and a great coming together of people to wish good for each other.

Let the pictures tell the story.

This is my culture

I have a great friend here, Om.  He works for the government or, as he says, I am a civil servant.  On Monday, he shifted to another government office.  Being Thailand, it is not just about packing up your things and going to a new office.  It is so much more.  

It is about being feted and farewelled, being taken by all your work mates personally to your new office where your are greeted by your new work mates.  Then everybody takes you out to lunch and so you begin work in your new station.

These pictures feature Om with his present work mates at a provincial government office.  Their main task for today at work is to farewell him and wish him well.  They are obviously doing a great job and loving it.

Thais are at their best when they are with each other, enjoying each other's company.  There is something so lovely and natural about this and it speaks of their good side which is so strong.