Conference time in Thailand Feburary, 2015

It's a hard life - we have to attend our yearly conference in Chiang Mai, Thailand in February. Fortunately it is held in a big, older hotel, where we re-connect with other teachers, learn what's going on in 8 other countries (yes, 8!), hear wonderful stories and teachings, and are inspired to see what the father is doing around our world. We also use the week before to visit doctors, dentists, stores and hair salons (not necessarily in that order of importance!) We return with spices, clothes, gadgets that we cannot find in Tibet. Plus we usually return 5 pounds heavier from the wonderful street and conference food. The soft beds, bathtub/showers, warm temperatures, and hugs from friends feel like heaven.  This year we heard new visions for ELIC - exciting stuff! It's a great organization. I wish I could share photos of specific friends. If you want to see more photos of the same city, so back a year and I'm sure you'll find a greater variety!

I also was fortunate to attend a second conference concentrating on the people here, and met people from England, U.S., Australia, Ethiopia, Mongolia, Korea, India and Thailand! Such stories! Such depth! I was asked to lead a workshop to consolidate a teacher's notes and found the information rich.

Of course, if you are in Thailand, you may as well go to the beach, so Leianne and I spent 4 days (via overnight train, airplane, bus and ferry) visited beautiful Ko Samui to see her friends and actually lie on a beach for a morning. We danced, snorkeled, ate and soaked up the sun. On the way back, we stopped in at Bangkok to visit the fabulous Jim Thompson Silk Museum.

Our welcome dinner for more than 600 teachers, spouses and children. Lots of hugs and smiles.

from the train ChiangMai to Bangkok.

Ferry from Bangkok to Ko Samui

Snorkelling - I should have taken more photos.

View from our hotal in Bangkok - what a night - got off the bus in the dark, expensive taxi ride, lost reservations, transfer to another hotel, no internet, but a/c and a great travel mate. Thanks, Leianne, for a fun trip!

Bangkok's water taxis.

Samples of silk at different stages of processing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The main floor of the Thompson house (built on stilts),  shows a wooden block carved to print designs on silk fabric. Beautiful!