9: father's day ii

Thank you, Anonymous, for your comment on my post yesterday. (You rescued everyone from a series of disastrous haikus!) I need a little time to mull your question over... so, the answer is: coming soon.

Today was Father's Day in Thailand. For more information, you can read my post from last year [click here] for details on the traditions and history of the day. It's crazy that I'm getting to experience holidays twice! Below are a couple pictures from an evening excursion to the park with some church friends... which included com-roi (floating lanterns), candlelight singing, and fireworks!

[Rama IX Park]

[1 kg of baby oranges for less than a dolla'!]

[And! The orange peels made perfect wax-guards]

[photo credit: julia biasi]

[L-R: Me, Tseka, Julia, Steph // photo credit: julia biasi]

[Lighting candles and singing/humming the King's anthem // photo credit: julia biasi]

[Beautiful fireworks]

[When people were done with their candles they just stuck them to rocks, surfaces or in the dirt. Still burning. It was beautiful, albeit dangerous]

[Lighting the lanterns! // photo credit: julia biasi]

[photo credit: julia biasi]

[L-R: Me, Erica, Tseka, Steph // photo credit: julia biasi]

[White lights everywhere!]

[Our "Father's Day at the Park" group! // photo credit: julia biasi]

[For more photos from tonight, see Steph's post by clicking here]

And... a quick matter of prayer!

A few weeks ago, post-runs, I started experiencing acute pain in my left foot. I finally was able to go to the Orthopedic center today and have an X-ray and CT scan done on it. The doctor thinks it's either a stress fracture (which, is my opinion) or a benign bone tumor. I go in again tomorrow to find out the results from the CT scan. (Shout-out to my awesome parents who woke up when they got my text at the doctor's and helped give me good counsel!) I'm thankful that I am in a country where I can get good medical care-- but it was a hard/emotional morning. Making medical decisions alone is not easy, especially when every decision comes with a price tag attached to it. However, I am glad that I'll soon know what is wrong. Please pray my appointment in the morning goes well and that I can start taking steps (pun intended!) to help my foot mend.

Also, if you can pray specifically that God would steady my heart and help me to find balance in the midst of all the craziness of wrapping things up-- farewell events, unexpected medical appointments, teaching, ministry commitments etc-- I would greatly appreciate it. I want to finish well and as a real person (as opposed to some frantic sleep-deprived basket-case).

Thank you so much! :)

23b: good day

I know that a post a day is a tad excessive, so twice a day is pretty much out of control... But today was a good day, and, I'm half a world away, so whatcha gonna do ;) Here are a few highlights.

First: Checked off Bucket List Item #22 today: touch a monitor lizard! It was so exciting to get to mark that one off the list. Good thing I was already running...

Second: The woman that I tutor, Pinta (/Siew), and I were talking about my Half Marathon, and she has a friend who was also in the race. She contacted him, and found a race picture that was taken of me in the final stretch! I love it! She is so sweet, and also a believer. I loved that we have that in common. 

Third: Classes went well tonight, but after classes was even better! I got to hang out with Allison, an IMB journeyman serving here in Bangkok. We went to Terminal 21 (a mall) and enjoyed some CupcakeLove cupcakes with a little side of DQ ice-cream. The cupcakes were really adorable, but I couldn't take any pictures because we were nibbling our contraband while...

...watching Hunger Games! Agh! So fun. Partly because it came out here before America (we're special!), and partly because I got to see it with Allison, who is, great. It's always a bummer when people leave, but the trade off is that new people come. I love that I've had the opportunity to brush shoulders and get to know so many different people in the last year and a half. God is good! 

23a: green road

There is a mysterious path dubbed "the green road" that supposedly connects two parks: Lumpini (BTS Sala Daeng) and Benjakiti (BTS Asok). Twice I've gone in search of this road, but to no avail. Leading me to think, to quote the bangkok by bicycle blog "it was, like unicorns, mythical." But this morning on my run, it became my challenge. I couldn't leave Bangkok with this hanging mystery. I'm happy to report that thanks to GPS technology and lots of wandering (I had 7 miles), the green road has been found! I'm going to document directions for future sojourners to Thailand, or perhaps to benefit any Thai friends here who would like to travel this lovely road by bike or foot.

DIRECTIONS BETWEEN LUMPINI & BENJAKITI

Begin at Benjakiti park. When you enter the entrance closest to BTS Asok, keep walking straight and exit the back gate. If that exit is locked, any exit on the far side will do. Turn right and walk to the dead end.

Then turn right through the gated area

Make an immediate left. You'll see a bridge on the right, and a paved path on the left. Take the paved path.

Congratulations! You're on the green road!

There are some stairs periodically... but it's the price you pay for not having to cross the street or deal with traffic.

 And parts of the road still are green... though much of it has eroded away.

And you're at eye level with some of the houses, and have a great view of the streets!

 When you get to the end of the road, you will have the option to exit straight or exit to the left. Exit to the left. You'll pop out next to the sidewalk, get on the sidewalk, and continue in the same direction. You'll see Lumpini Park on your right hand side. The first entrance will be Gate 1.

If you want to go from Lumpini to Benjakiti, just exit Gate 1 and turn left.

When you see the gate's entrance on your left, enter.

The green stairs will be straight ahead. Climb them and continue on your way!