Just because I asked a question in Thai does not mean I understand your answer..

Tor and me! Dancing a the rooftop at sunset is kind of the BEST THING EVER.. 

I am not sure which is worse: Thai Pop or Thai people butchering good music. I am sure that the worst Beatles covers hail from Chiang Rai. Sigh. Thank goodness for pretty much everything else in Thailand. 

How are you all? I am well, even if my ears aren't happy with the 'musical' preferences of the coffee house i'm sitting in. It's been a coolish day- a low 26 degrees this morning, I am contemplating getting some of my jackets and jeans sent over- I know I will actually die when I head back to a Melbourne winter. I am a bit pathetic yes. 

 It has been a big few weeks: I have 14 more girls wishing to join the cafe, on top of the 9 I already have. This is awesome, a tad overwhelming, but awesome nonetheless. I may need to cut a few back as the accommodation that we are going to have above the cafe will not hold that many girls (plus 6-8 girls who will be a part of a new DR hairdressing salon- next DR project)…. making those kind of decisions won't be fun, but hey- i guess these are all aspects of the job that I am learning about. 

I am still digging my original girls- they are pretty fun. I'm an exceptionally rad Thai cook now: they are teaching me their mad Kao Pad skills (yes it does sounds like Cow Pat) and I can now make some decent Thai dishes with lots of chill that would make any village mumma proud. They have been doing trial runs of different mini menus and smashing it.. the only thing they need now is an open cafe to properly implement their skills- I am hoping real service doesn't flip them out too much.. 

They are learning heaps of different western style dishes and presentation of food.. I made one girl cut up about 12 onions yesterday- our kitchen isn't large and lacks good ventilation- all 9 of the girls, plus me were onion-weeping within minutes. Dang, those suckers are even stronger here I think. Caramelised onion was worth it though.. Can someone send me some of those mandolin onion slicers though? Cheers.

I have a new roomie- Tina Marie Cairo, an unreal American lassie has just moved over; she was here early in the year as hairdressing maestro and is back for a year or so after going back to the USA for a short time.. Boom. The lady is cool. Much fun and goodness will overflow I have no doubt. Her entirely sleeve-tattooed arms and back are convincing me that I may need to be inked.. and soon…

 I am tending towards a dolphin eating chinese symbols and a rose entangling a rainbow or something.. thoughts?? (Ps. if you have all of those tattoos.. I mean no disrespect…..cough cough)

I got to catch up with a delightful Thai-American friend in Chiang Mai a week or two back. The lovely Jumakae Yodrai; a very cool reggae singer i met through TIny Toones Cambodia last year.. Nice to catch up and get my rastafarian swag on… Man, I am so white sometimes, it's ridiculous. I have an old workmate from Passionfoods coming up soon too! Kylie does conservation work at an elephant camp in Chiang Mai- it will be so cool to catch her over here! 

So recently? Life has included taking 10 rescue girls bowling: I thought i'd get a decent ego boost, taking 10 teenage hill-tribe chicks bowling who have never been before. The first one piffed it straight into the gutter, second did the same, the next two got strikes and continued to smash my big head into little teeny weeny blushing pieces.. Dang it. 

I also got to dance at the worship service a few weeks back- loved it.. I danced with Lek, a local boy who dances in Chiang Rai.. I'll get some footage uploaded.. maybe.. 

Church is now held in a former night club.. A redeemed place for sure: i had to peer around an old stripper pole to see the preacher. That's the grace of God for you. Lots of great foods, bike rides, rivers and mountains ticked off and yet still many on the to do list. Oh yes. Happy. 

And yes, there is still a rat residing in my house, well I think so, up until a few days ago.. Johnny Sop (Thai worker and hubby of Heidi) was prepped with slingshot to kill it- apparently his aim is fair accurate! But some well positioned rat poison has (PLEASE) gotten rid of the rat. I have lost sleep over this cursed rodent.. after hearing stories of rats nibbling off eyelashes in your sleep, i have worn a bandana over my eyes for the past week in bed. Rats suck. Just putting it out there..

Anyway, do pray for me, I feel overwhelmed, peaceful, excited and very blessed all at the same time. Life is a cool adventure. 

" Lord, You alone are my portion and my cup; You make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a d delightful inheritance"  Psalm 16: 5-6.

Much love. B xx

Ps. Suggested songs for our flash dance mob routine welcome. The louder and more obnoxious options, the better..

Pps. the word for pumpkin in Thai is funny.. not appropriate, but funny. Don't look it up. 

I call this "yum as" dunno what the real name is.. :)