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Your letter writing is good, very good indeed. It reflects your true feeling. People can write good materials when they are free, having time to write something not in a hurry. Hey, you can be a good writer.
I did not post your writing online for it is quite personal for us. But I answer your letter in this online blog.
I spent 7 years with different experiences of Christmas nights in 2 university towns in Midwest, USA. During the year when I had your mother with me, I don’t feel much lonely. But since it was the holiday, no work, no going to school, just free time. So we stayed home, watch TV, and had some good food we fixed. During the other days of the year, we had to be busy studying, working to have few more money for our grocery stuff. There were 2 years, your mother came back to Thailand to work, and I continued my further study, that I had some feeling of loneliness. But that had made me a better writer, in Thai, for I had time and serenity to really write with clear mind and reflecting my true feeling. Then I used the light air-mail paper to write letters home, with ball pens, no long distance call for they were so expensive then, no fax, no e-mailing, no SMS, no labtops, or personal computers during my college years.
Dear son, you are not alone, it is quite normal for a Thai, who are Non-Christians, spending their lives in a country, dominated by Christian culture. Christmas is the time for family reunion; you can join them if you like, to learn some American or western culture. However, you can also spend the time of your own, to look back at your life, what have you been doing – we may call it “life reflection”. If you write a diary, you may spend time to read it from the first page, first day of the year till the very last of the year. Just like you see in TVs, they are reviewing what they have presented during the year. Then you will learn something.
Son, you are successful in your life, in your own way. I and Mom are proud of you. However, you may have to think about your new future – further study for your MS or MA in something, settle down and have a family of your own, coming back home to Thailand, and designing a kind of job or career you like and enriching your life. Enriching one’s life does not necessarily mean being richer, or financially successful. An enriched life is something you can tell yourself you have done something worthwhile, making yourself happy, and you can be proud of. Every 4-5 years, I will find ways to change my way of life, just a little bit. When I was teaching at the university, I will exchange courses with my colleague, started a new course, new research project, have volunteer work outside the university.
The words I hate the most are – doing routine, as usual, usual procedure, the same, etc. Now it may be the time of your life to find new direction, even if you like what you are doing now.
Happy New Year 2010, go to the New York Time Square, and take pictures of Youth’s life with Fun during the “New Year Countdown”. Send me a CD of photoes, of New Year Life during the New Year, in high definition, life in NYC, Manhattan, Brooklyn Neighborhood, etc. I, Mom, and Pi Palm will go to Hong Kong during December 29, 2009 and January 1, 2010. We will send you our pictures.
6:00 am I woke up and start watching TV, not much focus on any programs.
Yesterday, Mom went to Chiangmai (or Chiang Mai) on a mission, I drove her to Suvarnabhumi Airport for the local flight. She would stay a night and worked till evening and took the plane back home on Friday. And on Saturday, she would go to visit a real estate project at Khao Yai, a mountainous resort area in Saraburi Province. Palm would be the driver and they could learn something from the real estate business.
Notes: Mom and I both got PhDs, but in new business like real estate, both of us including your sister would be just novices or new students. However, continuously learning something new makes our lives more refreshing. My writing to you in fact, designed to be educational for someone learning English, sharing information in the network, while following me curiously to wherever I go.
9:00 am -I started getting down from my bedroom for breakfast - as usual with sunnyside-up egg, a cup of coffee with milk, and then walked back upstairs to my bedroom to finish some work.
Picture - 2 bags packed into one,
with the elastic robe
I looked at my watch; the time was 11:30 am. I had to hurry up and to pack my traveling bag, took a bath, dressed up, and also packed my computer bag.
Picture - Taxis waiting for unloading
at the Mo Chit Bus Terminal, Bangkok
At 12:10 hrs, everything was ready and I got a taxi from home, quite later than usual. The traffic today was quite heavy. So I got to the Mo chit Bus Terminal at 12:40 hrs. I was late indeed, I saw the last passenger booked to the 13:00 hrs bus, the last seat. Oh dear, I had to take the next bus leaving at 15:30 hrs, which was 2 and a half hours later than I planned. I was a little bit too complacent, I complained to my self.
Looked at the brighter side, I had more time to do some other things, like drafting an e-mail to you via my iPhone, with 2 thumb typing practice, and took some pictures around the Terminal.
Picture - At the waiting hall
at the Mo Chit, Bangkok
Picture - At the waiting hall
at the Mo Chit, Bangkok
I bought the bus ticket to Surin at the usual price of 320 baht, first class, air-conditioned, the bus like the one in the picture.
2:00 hrs of waiting time, I planned to write and present my pictorial stories using my iPhone as well as to take pictures in the manner no body could notice. They just thought I use it for a call.
The late bus might make getting to the final station at Muang Surin (Surin City) around 23:00 hrs. It was ok, not too late.
My iPhone might make me a little bit less bored during the 7 hour trip. I had to thank Pi Palm for buying me and Mom the effective tools for time Killing, like the iPhones.
13:00 hrs I moved to the food service area, or food court you may called.
Picture - "Kao Gang" Thai fast food,
and the food coupons
The food I ordered was a plate of rice with fried chili ground pork, and an egg, sunnyside-up. It was quite hot for me, and definitely too hot for Americans and Europeans to be called delicious. I paid 35 baht. The price was quite normal, but you may get the same food and quality at 25 baht at most college cafeterias, which may taste better and more nutritious.
Picture - Ice coffee at 15 baht
I also ordered a cup of ice coffee, I think they made it with instant coffee, may be the Nest Coffee Red Cup. It was 15 baht. All together, I paid 50 baht a meal in coupons.
Picture - At the Food Hall, Mo Chit Station, Bangkok
At 13:30 hrs - I moved to the waiting areas to really feel the atmosphere of the Bus Terminal, as the matter of fact Mo Chit Bus Terminal is the biggest and busiest bus terminal in Thailand. I also took some photographs for your viewing.
Mostly people here were from all walks of life, for example - low ranked soldiers, low ranked government officers, factory workers, and few foreigners (farangs). Noticeably, I saw more farangs at the bus terminal today than usual days. "Farang" or most foreign tourists do not use much of the buses of any kinds for traveling in Thailand. They preferred trains. However I prefer buses for mostly I do no need bookings. If the one you expect is full, wait for the next one.
The atmosphere here seemed busy, but from my assessment, it was safe - there are many girls traveling by bus alone. However, it will even be better to travel in pair or in group.
I also saw some male farangs (white westerners) of around 50-55 years of age with their Thai wives, going back home in the villages. I learned and realized their (aged male farangs) needs for companions. In Thailand, though we are much poorer than Americans or Europeans, we have some compensation. One of Americans or average Europeans may earn equal to 5-6 Thais. But what the Thais always have is natural warmth, concerns in their homes and villages. The meaning of family means much larger than father, mother and children. A family may mean the whole villages, composing of a lot of relatives and close friends.
To be old in Thailand you are less likely to be left alone than westerners. I hoped that our trying to pursue economic growth and materialism, we should not lose our fundamental values; gratitude or gratefulness, sense of obligation, respect for the elders, hospitality, friendliness, fun in life, and “Sabai Saibai way of life” or looking life at the brighter side.
At 14:30 hrs- Among 100 people I saw less than one wore the masks protecting H1N1, Flu 2009. Hopefully we should say good bye to it in most parts of Thailand.
15:20 hrs, I went to the public restroom, 3 baht for the usage fee. It is wise to unload at the urinal, before sitting in the bus till the next stop which will take 3 and a half hours. The restroom in the coach usually is ok and clean, but I am annoyed to urinate while the bus is moving, for it may be splashing around. For a tall Thai like me (183 cm.), too tall for using the toilet (urinate) while standing.
Picture - Ready to take the bus,
Mo Chit Bus Terminal, Bangkok
15:30 hrs, It is the time to leave the Mo Chit Bus Terminal, in Bangkok. The seat in the bus was wide, and had enough leg room for me or anyone weighs at 100 kg or lower. The outside of the bus temperature was at 32 c, which was ok, and the inside was 26-27 c which was bearable. The bus would arrive at Muang Surin around 10:30-11:00 hrs. I should have enough sleeping time after that.
Picture - The bus at the Nakhon Ratchasima
19:00 hrs, the bus arrived at the Bus Terminal (Station), Nakhon Ratchasima City (or locally called “Korat”), it was the time for dinner, so I went to the Terminal Cafeteria. I used a supplementary food coupon as a part of the bus fare of 20 baht worth, and I paid 12 baht more for a plate of rice, with chicken curry, and an egg – “sunnyside-up egg” as usual. Many years back, when you went to the US as a new foreign student and at a restaurant, you tried to order “Star Eggs” (in Thai we called “Kai Dao”, Kai = egg, eggs, Dao = star), so the restaurant staff did not understand what you did want. The American, instead of seeing the fried egg and the egg yoke like a star, they see it as a sun. The food at the cafeteria at Korat Bus Terminal is usually served hot, and generally better than at the Mo Chit Bus Terminal in Bangkok.
Picture - Petchkasem Hotel,
Muang Surin, Surin Province
23:00 hrs, I arrived at the Surin City Bus Terminal, I called a Tuk Tuk (motor tricycle taxi) and with the service of 20 baht to go to the Petchkasem Hotel, just 200 meters from the Bus Terminal. I was ready to go to bed.
Good Night in Surin.
Dad at Home
Aree Samphan
Phaholyothin Rd
Bangkok, Thailand
Picture 1 Snow time - looks good and beautiful,
but awful when you have to think of driving to work.
Picture 2 Apartments along many streets
in New York City (NYC), New York, USA -
Streets were covered with snow, and cars
were stranded and immobilized.
New Yorker and Snow Storm in December 2009
Dear Dad at Home
Aree Samphan, Bangkok
More than ten million people are living, playing and working in New York City. Two million are using mass transit to get to their daily destinations. According to Wikipeida around 48% of New Yorkers own cars, yet fewer than 30% use them to commute to work daily. Imagine the town got hit by the 20cm of snow, it stopped everything, business, work, school, etc.
We are hopeless and yet helpless against the snow storm. Not to mention about how much City has to pay for all the clean up. New York City still has to spend quite a great deal of money, man power, and many more days to clear the snow from major highways, streets, and sidewalks.
Christmas tree at Emporium Department Store
SuKhumvit Road, Bangkok, Thailand
The Christmas Eve for Thais in the US.
Dear son,
in Brooklyn, NYC
It has been a turbulent time for people living in snow zone, like in the north of the United States, Europe along the Alp Rhone Region, mountainous areas.
However, in Thailand, during the month of December of every year, it is usually great. Firstly, people in hospitality related business, like hotels, tour agencies, restaurants, etc. they are happy for there will be more customers than usual. Secondly, November and December are the cooler months – 23-32 degree Celsius are considerably good – 22-23 degree Celsius during the night time and not more than 32 degree Celsius at the maximum, which is ok for me. Thirdly, and particularly this year, people are beginning to be more relaxed and confident in the prospect of Thai economy. There are many signs showing that we will be better from now on.
However, weather is just like our life. We have good time and bad time, up and down, and whatever we have, we will have to bear with it.
Dear son – Christmas time is the time westerners like the Americans will celebrate and go to visit their families, back to their home town, and see their parents and relatives. I could remember the time I was a Thai student studying in a small university town in the United States. Thanksgivings and Christmas times were quite lonely for foreign students like me then. The university was closed during the eve, so I watched TV, old movies, watching American footballs, all kinds of Bowls (Special Football Games) and spent sometime writing letters home (back to my parents in Thailand).
It may be the time you find a girl you love and she loves you. It doesn’t matter who she is, Thai or non-Thai, rich or poor, it may be the time you consider having a family of your own. There was a proverb, “The rolling stones gather no moss.” It suggested that it is about time you have to settle down, having a family of your own, have a house of your own, have kids, and learn parenting.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year 2010.
Dad at Home
Aree Samphan
Phaholyothin Rd
Bangkok, Thailand
From standing the lowest step up: Waraporn,
Supaporn, Anchalee (in light blue), Nattanipha (in pink shirt),
and Pracob - Posted for a group photograph
At the Ketawa Stylish Hotel,
Muang Chiangmai
Pracob Cooparat
E-mail: pracob@sb4af.org
Story and Pictures
Summary
It was a part of a trip, 3 days and 2 nights to Muang Chiangmai, Chiangmai Province, by using a microbus, Toyota Commuter, with capacity of 12 seats. Our group members were 2 retired university professors, and 4 doctoral students at the Faculty of Education, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand.We stayed at Ketawa Stylish Hotel, Muang Chiangmai, to I wanted to really learn what it was "A Stylish Hotel".
We also would like to thanks the management and staff of Ketawa Hotel, or a very warm and "stylish services" they provide us.
Ketawa Stylish Hotel
Ketawa Stylish Hotel Chiang Mai Info
Rating: 4 Star Hotel Location: Riverside of Ping River
Address: 121/1 Charoenmuang Soi1 / Bumroongraj Soi2, T.Wat Gate, A. Muang, Chiang Mai, Thailand
From Agoda.com - Small, and unique, this boutique hotel tries to appeal to all with a myriad of rooms color tones. The hotel is across the river near the banks of the Ping River, and a short tuk-tuk ride to the old city. The best feature of Ketawa by far is the 24 hour use of the room, meaning you do not have to check-out at a specific time, rather you can use the room till the time you checked-in at. Enjoy Thai meals at Restaurant by La Gondola on-site, and if you get bored, there are plenty of restaurants all within walking distance. For your trips in and around Chiang Mai, rent a car at the hotel, or book at tour at the front desk and you are all set.
The Design is quite unique. I like the style, and I got some ideas to integrate into our plan to build a new house in Bangkok. Ketawa has only 13 Bedrooms, small enough to be able to treat their customers individually.
The pool is small and contains salt water. It is for soothing rather than for swimming.
The polished cement floor, without carpet nor ceramic tiles, which is in trends of modern styled houses in Thailand. I personally do not like carpeted floor in houses or hotels in Thailand. For Thailand is quite humid and mostly warm, no need for any kind of carpeting.
Dinning Room
Dining Room is large. I like to spend time talking with friends while zipping coffee or other refreshment.
The atmosphere of morning meal – breakfast, that was memorable for me. It was more like having breakfast at home
I also appropriate style of the hotel - high ceiling, Large bedrooms, and the atmosphere similar to a large house than a hotel.
I appreciated their home made ice-cream. It not only taste good but also to make it to fit demands for people with concerns for nutritional requirements – no transfat, just pure and fresh ingredients.
Shower typed bathroom is appropriate for me and I think most clients would like it that way. I myself hardly use the bath tub to really soak my body in Thailand. Mostly, I enjoy hot or warm shower, though I usually had just the cold water shower.
Locate near excellent restaurants along Ping River, Muang Chiangmai.
Reception Area
At the reception desk
The Lobby
At the lobby, open air, no need for air-conditioning.
The lobby
The lobby you can make you feel at home.
Quiet corner
Waraporn and Supaporn
on the right side - the stair case to walk up
to the second floor
The Swimming Pool
The swimming pool, with salt water
The swimming pool and the wooden floor
Swimming pool and plants
Dinning Room
Dinning room with plenty of space for all the guests
Our breakfast
I looked at the menu and ready for breakfast
Ready for breakfast
Set of American, European, or Thai set of breakfast
Ready for the breakfast?
Jam, butter, and fresh bread.
My prefered breakfast - omelette with cheese and ham,
hot coffee with milk, orange juice, coffee and iPhone for Twitter
It was ideal for writers, academics, creative, who want to have new environment, not to worry about time and appointment – stay like your second home, home away from home. I thought it would be very conducive for me to find some free time and stayed here for 10 days or 2 weeks, to finish my writing of some sort – with my laptop, a digital camera, and quiet time to work on something.
I think of what they called “Snow Birds”, the term a senior couple who I met in Maine, USA called themselves. In Maine, the state like a rooftop of the northeast region of the United States, they will close their home during the months in extremely cold winter, save money from the electricity bill and spend relax time in the warmer months somewhere else. Ketawa Stylish Hotel in Chiangmai may be ideal for snow birds – fly to somewhere else, like Chiangmai, with warmer weather, to enjoy different environment and naturally warm hospitality of the Northern Thais.
More like home away from home.
Background
Most of the people have their own dreams but how many people can make their dreams come true. Sukanya is one of those smart lucky women. After graduated from the Faculty of Architecture at King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, she worked in a famous architecture office for a few years before decided to go to Italy, the place that all artists would like to go once in their life. Work experiences after coming back from Italy changed her to be an expert traveler and designer. And this is the starting point of an inspiration to build her master piece under the name ofKETAWA Stylish Hotel. The hotel is the right place for someone who prefers to be in the comfortable and stylish place.
KETAWA Hotel located in the peaceful historical Wat Kate area along the Ping River, Muang Chiangmai. “Family and Friends welcome” is the concept of the hotel. That is the reason why the hotel lobby area is created as a living room with open indoor and outdoor terrace under the old apple tree. To lie on your back, sip a cup of tea beside a swimming pool at any time you wish. To make KETAWA lively, all 13 rooms are decorated with different colors, moods, tones and scents. This idea based on the cultural mixed which is the distinctive point of the area the KETAWA located. Guests will enjoy choosing their favorite color tone for their stay.
You should once in your life visit KETAWA even though not staying there but at least going to appreciate a dream that come true of a woman who dares to fulfill her life in the way she desires.
