Day to Day, 12/30/2008

Normal life -- not what you expect on a travel blog, because it doesn't consist of daring adventures,etc, but as you may have gathered of late, Tony and I have settled into a mellow village-life existence. And I am quite pleased to report that it suits me just fine. One reason for that is because it's always beneficial to slow down, yes? Another, I'm finding, is that it helps you notice even more. I've been noticing what is subtly lovely: orchids slyly growing on tree trunks; the relaxed, knowing smiles of the elders; the daily laughter of ALL ages, the sunsets over endless rice fields & reflection in the waterbeds; the way the dirt floors are swept clean around houses and temples...I've also been noticing some differences that are not necessarily obvious to the speedy traveler, like how people truly adore their children, how the elderly are not neglected but included in the family always, how FUN is seen as a necessity for children in school, how nice it is to eat fresh things every single meal and how pleasant the air is here. I've noticed that Thais don't have that urgent sense of privacy that Americans do (a walk down the street at night allows you full viewings of life at home, wide open), and that aerobics is offered right there on the street for 5 baht (15 cents), with an instructor on a bamboo platform, demonstrating the moves (OK, I still haven't joined in, but I plan on it next week, I swear!). Few Thais actually walk, but they sure do economize by packing in as many extended family members as possible in pick-ups, buses, tuk-tuks, and even motorcycles carry whole families, or four school girls-- impressive!... So, yah, life is about daily routines for us now, but there are also new things every day--more to contemplate, more to learn (as there should be everywhere we exist, right?). Yesterday, I went for a long run on a dirt "track" (narrow, winding road that goes for miles and miles through rice fields & waterways) while Tony slogged around in his rubber boots in the marsh, using his borrowed net to catch things to study. We are about to move into a true Thai house, so stay tuned for pics & details! Hope your daily routines are serving you well and also allowing for fresh insights along the way. love, Becca