Walk With Me

And I will write and write and write until ...

It was some months past when a man had a surprise visit.  It was in a form of a comment from someone he doesn't recognize. Some exchanges were made with proper introductions, and in a bit; those exchanges became rather interesting and enchanting. 

The other person admitted a persona as monstrous, that of a beast, which manifested itself in stories of past events.  That undesirable trait of which was carried throughout, from previous friendships and failed relationships.  

While the other man was considered dense, knowing nothing of the intricacies of what he was attending into.  Formalities were shaken by one long letter and in an instant, perhaps one night of recollection and a day of turbulent emotions, gave way to plunging in, diving and swimming with things that were new to him.  It was like walking through the unknown with bouts of anxiety, fear, and anxiousness.

From exchanging notes of worth to one particular phone call, another first was made and that was to break the barrier of anonymity.  The voices, unknown to each other, that paved the way to a higher level of intimacy. That one night of hello's and how are you's became nightly calls of greetings, revelations, reflections, dialogues and narratives. They were not of the simple kind; they were intense, heavily laden with emotions and drama, with frequent laughter and tears, of stepping into uncertainties, realities and fantasies. 

It became addictive, in a good sense, of knowing that someone is and will be with the man.  One night, he mentioned that dying still permeates in his thoughts even after the change.  He was being selfish, unknowingly hurting the other person with his insensitivities. So when the other half bursted into tears, a realization came into his being and that of being lucky, of being loved, of being thought of, of being affectionately invested, and being taken cared of.  The other person is right, as to why this man have to think of leaving when someone so dear is here to stay with him. 

His was a life of change and of new beginnings brought about by the presence of the other person.  He should be grateful, appreciative and most indebted to that change in him done by one. So in this story of fervent love, I am fortunate to have him. 

Sai Noi Floating Market

Sai Noi is roughly around 40 kilometres away from the city of Bangkok and while it is around an hour drive, I got to see one of Sai Noi's attraction and that is of the floating market.  Since I have been to numerous floating markets, I decided to just walk around and look for things that interest me. 

In many temples, this flowering tree called Cannonball Tree or Sala Tree always fascinates me with its flowers.  A symbol of Buddhism, as it has significance to the birth of the Lord Buddha, this tree is considered unlucky by Thais that's why they are only found planted in temples.  

Since the temple is still under construction inside, the place for worship can be found outside. 

One Hindu influence in many temples is the inclusion of cattle around its vicinity.   With the cow, it is said that the cow is the abode of the religious Gods in Hinduism. It is a symbol of Dharma. 

Drums symbolize a liberation of sentient beings from heaven and hell by its sound.  It echoes the dharma teachings of Buddhism as the sound diffuses in the air and also acts as time for meetings and religious ceremonies. 

Houses that lined up the entrance of the floating market are all proportioned which is something I can live with, the need for orderly things. 

There is a market, though not the floating part, that is heavily displayed with an assortment of things ranging from plants, clothes, shoes, bags, food, and others.

It was a pleasant walk, away from the maddening crowd of other bigger floating markets or temples.  It was a delight to see the how one community sustains itself by building a temple that generates spirituality, commonality, and economic sustenance for all. 

My Kind of Work

And what do the children learn in school?  Plenty and all of their learning comes from them.  I am a mere facilitator of learning.  I am there to guide, not direct. I am a mere observer of the children's growth.  A witness, I may say, with patience and a kind heart. 

And after one school year, hundreds of hours, numerous headaches and stresses, an overnight in school, and one sleepless night, the end product of a one year long process of learning and experiences. It was a journey worth traversing.