Thailand - A Land of Many Contrasts

Both Bangkok and Khon Kaen are busy cities. In many ways they are just like any other city. Busy streets. Business after business. People, many people. Yet, they are so unlike any city I have visited. Shrines and pictures of their beloved king are numerous. On many store counters you will see dishes and baskets of all sorts of foods. No, not food stores. No, not the workers' meals. This food is set out to appease the spirits.
Vehicles drive on the left here. Well, kind of. The roads are good and well marked, but all markings must simply be suggestions. Many use whatever open space is available! There are cars, trucks, many, many motorcycles, varied public transportation and the occasional elephant! When making a turn, it seems that they like to do it in mass and if they can pass each other at the same time - why not?!
Public transportation comes in many sizes and shapes. There is the motocycle that will carry a passenger or a package and it really doesn't matter how big either might be! Then we have the tuk-tuk. Imagine an open cab over a motorcycle. We road in one of them yesterday. Most interesting. There are also trucks that are shorter than a pickup truck that have benches on either side and a roof. You could flag down a carriage (of sorts) pulled by a bicycle. Should you choose a taxicab don't climb in until you negotiate. They don't always want to go where you want to go!
The elephants are seen more often in the evening, but are not available to ride. They are there to help people earn merit with the spirits. You buy fruit from the handler to feed the elephant and in some way that benefits you!
Now the buses are something else. We took one yesterday afternoon from Bangkok to Khon Kaen. I felt like I was in some luxury bus. The seats were roomy and comfortable. The ride took six hours and cost about ten dollars. Not bad.
Before having to catch our bus we took time to climb on the river taxi. Such contrasts to be seen! Old ornate buildings, shrines, slums, and luxury hotels are alongside one another. The selection of boats is wide. There are narrow gondola shaped ones that fit a few people. The water taxi we were on was a ferry type boat that seated quite a few people. It zigzagged back and forth to stops all along the river as it worked its way down the river. There are much smaller ferries that only cross back and forth between two stops. A very busy river to say the least! The river itself was not inviting and we saw a few suspicious creatures swim by. Definitely not a place to take a swim!
At the end of our water taxi ride we walked a bit to catch the elevated train. It gave us a great view of the whole city of Bangkok. Great may not be the best choice of words. Everywhere you look you see the contrast between the well-off and the poor.
Many buildings look in dire need of painting, but in reality it is just that no paint jobs last in this climate.
In any city you will find all kinds of smells. In Thailand's cities you get a real combo. Exhaust fumes are in abundance, which is a good reason to not make a habit of riding in any of the open forms of transportation. When walking through the city you will encounter many different odors. A great variety of food is being prepared on the street, along with a great selection of fruits all for sale. Numerous flower stalls dot the street and contribute their fragrance. Then there is the trash. If you see an open bin down the path you are taking it is a signal to hold your breath!
In the midst of the city of Khan Kaen with its enslaving Buddhist roots you can find a place that is in complete contrast. A place that proclaims the One Who offers to set each person free. It is the Northeast Bible Seminary. This is where I am staying at the moment. The students are Thai and Lao.
This morning I had the joy of joining them in chapel. To be able to join them in worshipping our Blessed LORD was the highlight of this trip thus far. This school has been in my prayers for many years and to be able be here and see how God is working in these precious lives is a great gift. One of the seniors gave the message and my friend, Janice, translated for me. At the end I was introduced to them. I would have loved to be able to speak with them just to give them a word of encouragement. Maybe the LORD will work that out.
Janice and her roomate, Beth took me to lunch where I had the best fruit smoothy ever! Speaking of fruit, it is in abundance and delicious!
Tomorrow we head out at 6:30 AM to the Cambodian border. It is the once a year shopping trip for the women who minister at the school. I just found out it is more than a four hour drive. (Janice kept avoiding that bit of information sharing!) If it wasn't for the opportunity to spend time with these women I would opt out! It will be my friend, myself and three Phillipinos.
The drive is through the countryside, so I will get to see yet more contrasts!