Hiki BBQ

Sunset January 30, 2011

Tanabe Sunset January 30, 2011
This is from our balcony. I tried to capture the warmth and light - it was truly stunning. Enjoy!

Christmas in Thailand December 2010

We are on the three islands of Koh Nangyuan, in the Sea of Thailand. This is about a six hour bus ride and a two hour boat ride from Bangkok. Paradise. We tried to relax and enjoy our many blessings, but even in paradise, nothing could compare to the week with the children of Baan Unrak, one of my favorite blessings.
Thank you Pyar

We printed these for all of those wonderful people who supported the home and school through the Christmas card fundraising and general support. Here with are both with our favorite Mimis!!

Location of Baan Unrak School and Home in Sangkhla Buri, Thailand. It was about a 5 hour van ride from Bangkok. We met our fellow volunteers in Bangkok the morning before leaving for Sangkhla Buri. We were fortunate to meet some 20 amazing people, all living in Japan and working as ALTs.

Christmas in Thailand December 2010

Christmas Day at Baan Unrak, enjoying some homemade coconut icecream.

This is one of my favorites from the trip. Pyar and mimisan enjoyed a lot of time together. These smiles are what Christmas is all about.

I fell in love with this sweet girl. We are on the roof of the home for Christmas morning enjoying time and gifts together.

We stayed at P Guest House in rooms most of the week. This was our view from the restaurant, right above our room. Gorgeous!

Pyar and Enau, a very special youngster.

Christmas in Thailand December 2010

Sweet water buffalos, there are two females and two babies. They are fairly new to the Baan Unrak home. They help with farming and give milk for yogurt. No eating these sweet animals, thank God Baan Unrak's philosophy is no cruelty to animals for our pleasure - so only veggies here to eat! They have a beautiful garden that starts just below the buffaloes house.

A typical home in Thailand. This gentleman is a farmer at Baan Unrak.

These are two houseboats that all the volunteers stayed on the last night of our week trip.

Pyar and his sweet friend enjoying class together.

My titi on the left. Most of the children liked their photos to be taken, they have great smiles.

Christmas in Thailand December 2010

Teaching and learning with some of the first graders. Pyar and I were lucky to have an amazing group of students. There about thirty in this class, ranging in age from 5 - 7 years.

At the front of the school taking a break with new friends. The tall blonde is Tonja, she was there volunteering from Germany. The girls are too cute.

Pyar and friend enjoying some free playtime.

Our sweet first graders showing their fine work and great smiles.

We were trying to get together for a group photo after class one day.
We had a blast. The teachers and students are incredibly kind and inviting!!

Christmas in Thailand December 2010

Sewing Center at Baan Unrak
We were lucky to have a tour of the facilities at both the school and home of Baan Unrak. Here, women are sewing while a baby sleeps in a kind of hammock.

Baan Unrak School
The school has about 150 students. Here, the students and faculty are having photos taken for thank you notes. We got to help paint some of the signs with the amazing children at Baan Unrak.

We just had lunch at a stop after riding the elephants. What a wonderful and beautiful experience along the river. Next we will walk a bit and go river rafting, standing up on bamboo boats - trying our very best to not fall off, or down.

Our sweet elephant seemed to love the water crossings. Some of them would hold up their tails and trunks, maybe for balance or something more. I especially loved meeting all of the beautiful elephants. Elephants are very gentle.