On the Road with Brent & Erika

After a night bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, we arrived Thursday morning just in time to go to an elephant camp with Robert Reagan and family as well as two other families visiting from Austin. Robert has been a missionary in Thailand for many years and Brent worked with him in Chiang Mai when he was here. The elephant camp is a classic Thailand experience, especially here in the mountainous north. We rode them, watched them get bathed and viewed an impressive elephant show including soccer stunts and elephant painting. I really enjoyed that morning and loved being able to touch the huge beasts and even feel their smooth tusks.


Taken from the top of Boon Ma Mai (our trusty elephant)


Ricky with the two Reagan children, Branson and Erika


The Kiss


These paintings were quite impressive--I wanted one!

The church here is a campus ministry at Payap University. Their school year is just getting under way so there are many activities that we've been able to be a part of. Lots of hanging out in the Payap Christian Zone (where we have also been spending the nights), playing cards, ping pong, talking and meeting the Thai students and taking part in games and devotionals. Thais really take their ice breaker-type games seriously. As you can see from the pictures, many of them involved intense physical involvement, but they have a blast and we did too. It's been awesome getting to meet two more of the Thai friends from when Brent was here (Gaet and Boom). I love how friendly and affectionate the Thai people are. After just meeting me, Boom grabbed my arm as we walked down the street--really sweet. And I know Brent has enjoyed seeing the fruits of the Thailand ministry. When he got here there was only one Thai Christian student and now there are dozens.


Me outside of "The Zone"


Taken in the midst of the ice-breaker madness at the blue and red themed party!


Boom and Gaet

By far one of our most memorable events from the last few days was the two hour full body Thai massage we received. Ricky, Brent and I were in the same (wonderfully air conditioned!) room, wearing loose fitting pants and top, which they provided. Our massage ladies were playful and fun. We were throwing around all the Thai we could, and they were speaking English some, and there was a lot of laughter from all of us. We were contorted into some amazing body positions, but in the end, we felt like jello and enjoyed a nice cup of tea afterwards.


Brent receiving the "back breaker"


I'm not sure what to call this one, but it sure looks like a shady internet photo.


Ahhh...

In the surrounding mountains we had a couple of excursions. We visited the temple on Doi Suthep, did some shopping in the little village and today we went with a group of about 25 to these great waterfalls. We scaled up and down them, got pretty wet, played frisbee and cards and tried to avoid the invading ants.


Mountaintop temple


Children in traditional hilltribe dress


Waterfall picnic fellowship


Us near the waterfall--we have some waterfall pics but only with our underwater camera because we were quite wet!

Tomorrow after church, we'll be flying out to Laos. Thailand has been fairly comfortable, easy to travel around in, and familiar to Brent, but we really don't know what to expect for the rest of the trip. But I feel blessed to have been so welcomed and to have shared in these last few days here in Chiang Mai!


Bonus picture--Me in the Chinatown section of Bangkok

--Erika