Welcome Grandma

Because it is the season of Deepavali- the Hindu Lantern Celebration....Nevi and I made paper lanterns to decorate grandma's room! Thank you, Ann for sending us a picture lesson to remind us how to make these lovely lanterns!!!!!

Nevi is growing up. I know you all know that, but some pictures just show me a young girl who is blossoming, growing, changing and even more beautiful inside and out than the day before- sigh.

Halloween

Nevi is gearing up for Halloween! She has decided to be a Leopard this year. We chose her costume online, had it shipped to grandma in Oregon and then she brought it with her. Nevi has been in it ever since! NO they do not celebrate Halloween here- but we are going to do a small trick or treat here at our resort with a few other children and then on the 31st- our family will go join some of our friends in Singapore! It is said that a neighborhood near the American International School does a big trick or treat! So we will go there- cause what in the world would life be without Halloween? RRRAAAARRRRRRHHHHHH!

Grandma is HERE!

Nevi jumped out of the car coming home from school to find Grandma HERE! Jan is here for three weeks, and we are thrilled!

HillTribe visit

While in Thailand- we sure did the tourist thing...more than ever before cause what we realized is traveling with a child makes all kinds of things different. This trip to the Hill Tribe folks felt very strange to me and Devin.....like we were in a human zoo. Not comfortable...and yet we shared some money which hopefully goes to the people themselves...at least they money we handed right to them for some amazing artifacts. But for Nevi- it was a chance to expand her little self even farther than the days before...she saw poverty, she saw how people adapt their homes to the environment and climate, she saw people weaving and creating and she even saw how people define themselves through different traditions. So I guess in all our discomfort- we expanded our views of life. Worth it.

This is a beautiful Longneck woman. When a girl turns 5~ the process of adding rings to her neck begins. More rings are put on about every 5 years until she is about 30. The spine and neck are stretched. We have heard lots of reasons for this tradition...and as much as I try to get out of my Western ideology and respect all people's traditions...I am left with a pit in my stomach. These rings are SOOOOO heavy....often they can never be taken off cause as the neck stretches it loses the strength to hold up the head without the support of the rings. Oh my. OK enough said for now- just being glad that I have not had my necks stretched or feet bound or my body mutilated for beauty or domination...

Beautiful Nevi surrounded by beautiful mountain women...

White Temple

This place was amazing. It is in Chiang Rai. And indeed the whole Temple is white. But inside there was the most amazing mural on the walls....very political~no words just images. So here you are surrounded by all white and mirrors...and then the message on the walls was about corruption, greed, domination, war, and such. Very Intense.

Sadly, Nevi was pretty car sick when we arrived and the poor little one did not feel good at all. Not to mention it was very warm outside...but with some cold water and this beautiful temple- things got better quick.

behind

Well- I have been behind on my blogging...sorry! Devin's mom, Jan arrived on Thursday. It is so wonderful to have her company. Nevi is beyond thrilled! But it also means I am not alone in the mornings and therefore no time to write. But yunno what...there will be plenty of time when she has to go back home- so I am loving each minute of her company while we get it!
Yesterday we had a new experience, we were invited to a one year old birthday party at McDonald's. An acquaintance, Samantha who works here where we live invited us. Nevi has never had McDonald's....ever so when she caught wind she thought birthday party....yeah! It was a wonderful cultural experience as the four of us and our friends Kate and Hannah- well we were the token expats at the party. It was cute....Nevi had her first Mc-nugget....and was not impressed....but she was impressed with her first Sprite- I of course vetoed the Coke long before she even knew it was there.
Then this morning yet another first.....Nevi had a slight fever a few days ago and then normal for a few days. That happens here in the heat. But then she was saying her throat was sore. So I looked at it with a flashlight this morning. Yup- canker sores. She has gotten a few since being here. We thought it all the fresh fruit. But today there were at least 4 I could see- so grandma, papa, me and Nev went to the local Klinic and yes it is spelled that way.....in our little Taman U area. We waited 1.5 hours in the heat...cranky child...long wait. Turns out it is called a throat infection and is usually caused by the heat and the change in weather. So Nev gets antibiotics for 3 days...some topical stuff to put on the sores, no cold water, no fruit, no swimming, no school for 2 days, lots of room temp water, broth and porridge....and she should be just fine.
So another weekend in Malaysia!
Stay tuned for more pictures soon- I found the USB cable again! XOXOX

Chiang Rai and more

Thai silk is so beautiful. Here is a table being set up for the night market filled with silk ties of all colors and patterns. They were really lovley. We got Devin three!

Ok this is the butcher at the wet market. What animal part would you like today? It looked fresh, but the environment- not so clean...but what the hell you cook it!

The sun was shining on this building and both Devin and I stopped to witness the magic of light. A typical store front on the bottom and living spaces above.

Rice, Rice and more Rice. Rice fields were everywhere and so completely gorgeous. Here is the product in the market. So many types and flavors. The smell of rice even when it is not cooked is amazing.

Flower stall at the market. Orchids, Lilies and more. Chiang Rai was a really wonderful place to walk the streets and explore. We really enjoyed it here.