Hello Everyone,
Another reason that I needed to delay the WHY of what I like about Thailand was that I needed to re-read the book and find the words, ha ha ha.
This information comes from the book, "Thailand Fever". The two words of Thai that I like are greeng-jai and naam-Jai. Greeng-jai is defined in the book as "the feeling of her parents" Though there is no material obligation in the Thai up-bringing, there is Kharmically. In Thailand, the parents come first. The family is a strong unit. Everyone thinks of what everyone else is up to and how they can help. I may be making this stronger than it is, however, believe me when I say that it is VERY strong. One of the major causes of breakup between Westerners and Thai is with the Westerner his parents are on their own and will stay that way. Hopefully, one of his siblings will come forth and do the dirty work to get Mum/Dad into a nursing home.
In Thailand, a girl may become a prostitute with appreciation from Mum/Dad in order to send most of her income home to Mum/Dad. Or a bar girl, or a massage therapist or or or any of lots of jobs depending on what education and opportunities have come her way. When Westerner meets the lovely Thai and the start the relationships in serious "we are getting married" no matter how much the lady says that she will not be sending money to her parents or that money is needed for her parents or someone else is taking care of her parents . . . . sooner or later, the Westerner ought to expect the Parents to move in with them and be cared for by the supposedly RICH westerner. Well, you can see that this could be a problem eh.
Now, 20 years ago if I would have been in that situation, well, I was the typical westerner. I lucked out in that my Father passed quickly, and my sister took the job of taking care of Mum. I was a coward in that department. And admitedly have not even given really great thanks to my sister for having done the work that she did. Hmmm soon. Probably right after I finish this blog.
Now, Naam-Jai is about flow. That all of life ought to flow . . . here is a paragraph from the book:
You could say everything starts with naam-jai, literally "juice of the heart" or "flow of the heart." While independence is at the core of a Westerner's self-esteem and image, Thais judge themselves and others in Thai society primarily based on the degree to which they show naam-jai. Naam-jai is "generosity" a desire to give one's time, resources, and attentiopn to othes just for the good feeling it generates in both. A person who shows naam-jai will not ask for money or any kind of payment in exchange for her generosity. The Thai will even feel uneasy accepting a payment that is offered for her generoxity, because this suggests that she did it for the payment in stead of good will. Thais also show naam-jai each time they show concern for another's welfare
When Thais show naam-jai, they will not expect a direct return from the person they have helped, but Thais do believe that generous thought will bring them a reward in the long run. This is partially influenced by Buddhism.
OK, where I saw Naam-Jai the most was in the how all the people of Thailand move around on the streets. They flow. Especially the cars. If car a is leaving a safety space in front of his vehicle someone else will WILL head for it. Everyone seems to be in a hurry, yet I never saw anyone stressed out because they couldn't get into some hole. Nor did I see anyone stressing if a hole was taken.
Someone explained it like this to me. "I am honoured to allow you into this space that is in front of my vehicle. I hope that it makes your day better. My reward will come later. I am not doing this looking for a reward however. I am not looking for anything except to help those around me have a better life. I am staying in awareness of how I affect everyone around me where ever I am"
Now, if everyone and I do mean, EVERYONE works through their day, through traffic, Congestion, walking, Grocery store shopping, EVERY instance of meeting anyone EVERYWHERE . . . all of life flows and there is no need of horn honking. Why would anyone ever need to honk if they were honoured to be able to make a space for the other person rather than demanding to have the space. AWESOME huh.
Steve, pointed out to me another interesting point. Thais live and breathe Buddhism (and Animism) They are not looking for conversations from Westerners about how Buddhist are they. It is imbued into their very cells. They don't know anything else. Ajhan Nannadhamo once told me that while he was a Monk in North East Thailand he was shown a Bible that was written in Thai for the purpose of converting Thai Buddhists to Christianity. In that book, Christ was the son of a King and was a Prince with lots of Wealth in his early years. Ahhhh Christianity ain't it great how they twist the truth to convert people. The reason for this was that the Buddha before becoming the Buddha was the son of a King etc.
OK. Well, not much more to say. I have exchanged address information with Yupaporn the Traditional Thai massage therapist. I am attempting now to get a letter translated. Then sent to see if we can mail back and forth. I will be advertising for a local tutor to is native Thai so that I can learn the language. Then we will see.
Currently the Big thing that is next is that I am off to Fiji to learn how to do the Oneness Blessing 2-10 May. Cost is over $6000 with air fare included. Airfares were cheaper, but timing was off. Our local cheapy airline ran 3 specials for Fiji starting in January for return flights for less than $700 with a few nights in Fiji. Well, now the flight will cost over $1000 by the looks of it. Oh well, ha ha ha.
I am doing, OK financially for this. However, I will be in the hole a few thousand and all saving wiped out. How important is this Oneness Blessing to me? Everything that I own and more. It is my future. It is my life.
After that. Then I will save up and return to Thailand to explore more. Both the land and by then I may be in conversation with Yupaporn and we will see what happens along those lines.
I will keep everyone informed as I have always done thorough this blog or in private emails.
peace
gene
may you all be well and happy
Wednesday, 6 February 2008
Sunday, 3 February 2008
Bangkok 4
Hello Dear Ones,
The first day I arrived I had a snafu with the hotel. I had elected to come to Bangkok early in the morning and had told the Asiarooms.com that I wanted early check in which my receipt showed. Just because I had it on my receipt didn't mean that I could get the idea across to the hotel clerks. I slept for 4 hours on a 1 1/2 meter couch until I got my room. By that time I was no longer tired enough to really sleep. I went walk about around close to get toothpaste (remember they take away anything larger than 100 grms.) some drinking water, and food.
I chose a small clean looking, Thai restaurant that had a picture menu. Got some Basil fish rice combo. The servings are smaller and probably closer to the proper amount for anyone person to eat. I paid $4.30 (120 bht) for this incredibly delicious meal. Next when I returned to the hotel I saw that I could get Traditional Thai Massage in the hotel. I didn't really know if the price was fair for me or for the lady, but, preferred to get my first massage in the safety of the hotel. I scheduled it and returned to my room.
I suspect that some of you have had a TTM. It is a pressure and release massage with the client fully clothed or at least in some pajamas. What makes it very interesting is that the Massage Therapist uses their entire body to position the client or to work the client. First was a crossing of the toes and an attempt to push them to the floor. First the right foot over the left then the left over the right. Next was press and lift up the shin. then one leg is pushed out at a 45 degree angle with the lower leg tucked back in. The MT sits in this space and proceeds to work the inner thigh of the other leg. Taking particular attention to the tendon that is prominet when the other leg is also pushed out at a 45 degree angle. You can find this by just spreading your legs and finding this hard ridge of tendon running from your groin toward the knee.
At first it is press and let go with the heel of the hand. Then the elbow is used and is pressed very very firmly right up to the edge of the groin. Down about 4 inches and again down 4 inches and usually one more time and all repeated 3-4 times. Switch to the other leg same thing. then the MT with both legs spread like a frog on its belly, the MT presses and releases from the knee right up to the groin with less than an inch separating her hands.
Now you all know if you think about it that for us guys we have this wonderful dangly thingy hanging down the middle of the groin. it is getting more attention that it is used to. The cloth of the pj's are TIGHT and pressing TIGHTER. Now I have heard of one man bragging that he didn't get an erection. I really don't know how. However, please allow me to state that it is not a sexual erection. it is an energy erection. Happens quite frequently during massasges. Thing is to just relax and allow it to happen. ie, don't encourage it with your fantasies. And definitely don't attempt to grap the lady MT who probably is black belt something and anyway you go about it your are very exposed if she gets the least bit upset about a grab.
Every Thai Traditional massage therapist that I have ever had just smiles when the see the erection. It is very common. It comes and it goes and all is well.
From the inside of the leg they then get out of between your legs and take one leg and bend it from the hip across the other leg and proceed to work the outside of your leg with hands and elbows.
OH, forgot to mention. The touch is not light. It is like the are demons attempting to press all the goodness or yuckyness out of you, ha ha ha. I can take pretty deep massage and really enjoy it. However, about the 4 time that the MT presses on that groin tendon close to the crotch I am very ready for her to go somewhere else.
After the legs are the arms. hand presses and elbow. Elbow into the palm was awesome. Then your are turned over and pressed all up the calves, ham strings, buttocks, back and neck. Next you are turned over again. Asked to sit up and deep elbow work into the top of the traps and neck. Then the MT sits back against the wall, lays a pillow between her legs and you lay back against her where she can lay steaming hot towels on your forhead and later your neck. She washes the face and neck and proceeds to massage your face and neck while you are laying back comfortably. Then you sit up again and she does this thing where you lock your fingers behind your head, she lifts on your arms while standing with one foot on your quad and twists your body sideways. Another is to lift your arms over your head while putting her knees into your back. Then you are done, well done, truly done, YEHAH. 450 baht (I was getting 28 to 1)
Finally Steve and Nok show up the next day and STeve and I are off to his favorite place. 2 hours of reflexology, Traditional Thai, and some herbal ball pressed onto your body afterwards.
it wasn't good. The lady that I had was doing step for step what the lady that was working with Steve was doing. Like she was learning how with On Job Training.
The next day, Steve after a bit of prodding took me to another place that he had heard about. Owned by a Chinese lady. he found it by finding the one that did a bit of extra hanky panky work for extra pay and it was across the street. A huge dirty old looking building. I went in alone. NO one spoke english. Needed a sign on the door, English not spoken here!!! Still they know what I want. I am guided to take my shoes off and sit in a chair that looks like a shoe shine chair and put my feet into a wash basin. There a young lady has filled the basin with warm/cold water and uses a small scrubby brush to wash your feet. Next into some cloth slippers and guided to where the toilet is as a suggestion. Go in do my thing, come out and she is waiting. Guides me to a small room with a small single bed in it and a cloth curtain. There is a set of PJ's on the bed so I change and sit on the bed. A young girl walks in and hints that I am to lay down.
This one knew what she was doing and got me twisted up down, sideways, backwards and cleaned out really quick. I got her name as Goh, however, I needed to get her number to identify her for the next time. The next time was the next day and I thought that I got my message across to have work with Goh again. Nope. Who I thought looked like Goh I gave to STeve so that he could get a really great massage too. I took the sour looking angry woman that I ought to have said, "NO THANKS". I didn't quite get sick from her anger, but it was close. She would just leave and come back 5-10 minutes later and start up where she left off.
Meanwhile from STeve I hear yelps and yowls and conversations and we learn of the ladies number. . . 18. The next day I came in and got with #18. Then I had her for 7 more days. We developed a repoire. We have exchanged phone numbers, email addresses (though it is her sister's daughter that has the email) mail addresses. She has a desire to come to Australia. I told Steve 4-5 months ago to tell his lovely wife that under no circumstances do I want a Thai Wife!!!! Ha ha ha.
I will say at the time of this blog that Yupaporn I hope will become a friend. I have intention to communicate with her. I developed loads of respect for this woman and look forward to returning to Thailand for another massage or 10, ha ha ha.
During those 10 days of being in Bangkok, I was observing another interesting situation. We lived just off a 2 lane BUSY road. When I was dropped off on my first day from the airport traffic was virtually at a standstill. Other times it is roaring past and scooters and Dtut dtut's everywhere. This road lead to the 6 lane Sukumvit highway. I may have mentioned that the lane divider white lines are used casually as sort of guidelines???? sometimes the 3 lanes on our side of the divider was 4 vehicles wide not counting the scooters. Sometimes more then with scooters packed in between them. It looked like utter chaos. Yet it all flowed surprisingly smoothly. I attempted to take a movie picture of it with my phone from the back seat of a taxi. However my phone camera is only good for 30 seconds and you really need 3-4 mintues to get a real understanding of this incredible flow.
Now what was the most incredible is that in the 10 days that I was in Thail and I only heard two horns honk. Bangkok was LOUD compared to what I am used to, yet no horns anywhere, every. I hear that the rest of asia is not this way.
I couldn't figure out why until Steve pointed out a book to me called Thailand Fever. it is written by a Thai Woman and a Western man (not a couple) about the serious differences between the Thai and Western Cultures. It is a must for anyone that is considering going to Thailand. It is really great reading and will give all sorts of levels of understanding to anyone that is going there.
However, what I learned in that book I will tell you in the next blog. Tis late once more.
Peace
gene
may you all be well and happy
The first day I arrived I had a snafu with the hotel. I had elected to come to Bangkok early in the morning and had told the Asiarooms.com that I wanted early check in which my receipt showed. Just because I had it on my receipt didn't mean that I could get the idea across to the hotel clerks. I slept for 4 hours on a 1 1/2 meter couch until I got my room. By that time I was no longer tired enough to really sleep. I went walk about around close to get toothpaste (remember they take away anything larger than 100 grms.) some drinking water, and food.
I chose a small clean looking, Thai restaurant that had a picture menu. Got some Basil fish rice combo. The servings are smaller and probably closer to the proper amount for anyone person to eat. I paid $4.30 (120 bht) for this incredibly delicious meal. Next when I returned to the hotel I saw that I could get Traditional Thai Massage in the hotel. I didn't really know if the price was fair for me or for the lady, but, preferred to get my first massage in the safety of the hotel. I scheduled it and returned to my room.
I suspect that some of you have had a TTM. It is a pressure and release massage with the client fully clothed or at least in some pajamas. What makes it very interesting is that the Massage Therapist uses their entire body to position the client or to work the client. First was a crossing of the toes and an attempt to push them to the floor. First the right foot over the left then the left over the right. Next was press and lift up the shin. then one leg is pushed out at a 45 degree angle with the lower leg tucked back in. The MT sits in this space and proceeds to work the inner thigh of the other leg. Taking particular attention to the tendon that is prominet when the other leg is also pushed out at a 45 degree angle. You can find this by just spreading your legs and finding this hard ridge of tendon running from your groin toward the knee.
At first it is press and let go with the heel of the hand. Then the elbow is used and is pressed very very firmly right up to the edge of the groin. Down about 4 inches and again down 4 inches and usually one more time and all repeated 3-4 times. Switch to the other leg same thing. then the MT with both legs spread like a frog on its belly, the MT presses and releases from the knee right up to the groin with less than an inch separating her hands.
Now you all know if you think about it that for us guys we have this wonderful dangly thingy hanging down the middle of the groin. it is getting more attention that it is used to. The cloth of the pj's are TIGHT and pressing TIGHTER. Now I have heard of one man bragging that he didn't get an erection. I really don't know how. However, please allow me to state that it is not a sexual erection. it is an energy erection. Happens quite frequently during massasges. Thing is to just relax and allow it to happen. ie, don't encourage it with your fantasies. And definitely don't attempt to grap the lady MT who probably is black belt something and anyway you go about it your are very exposed if she gets the least bit upset about a grab.
Every Thai Traditional massage therapist that I have ever had just smiles when the see the erection. It is very common. It comes and it goes and all is well.
From the inside of the leg they then get out of between your legs and take one leg and bend it from the hip across the other leg and proceed to work the outside of your leg with hands and elbows.
OH, forgot to mention. The touch is not light. It is like the are demons attempting to press all the goodness or yuckyness out of you, ha ha ha. I can take pretty deep massage and really enjoy it. However, about the 4 time that the MT presses on that groin tendon close to the crotch I am very ready for her to go somewhere else.
After the legs are the arms. hand presses and elbow. Elbow into the palm was awesome. Then your are turned over and pressed all up the calves, ham strings, buttocks, back and neck. Next you are turned over again. Asked to sit up and deep elbow work into the top of the traps and neck. Then the MT sits back against the wall, lays a pillow between her legs and you lay back against her where she can lay steaming hot towels on your forhead and later your neck. She washes the face and neck and proceeds to massage your face and neck while you are laying back comfortably. Then you sit up again and she does this thing where you lock your fingers behind your head, she lifts on your arms while standing with one foot on your quad and twists your body sideways. Another is to lift your arms over your head while putting her knees into your back. Then you are done, well done, truly done, YEHAH. 450 baht (I was getting 28 to 1)
Finally Steve and Nok show up the next day and STeve and I are off to his favorite place. 2 hours of reflexology, Traditional Thai, and some herbal ball pressed onto your body afterwards.
it wasn't good. The lady that I had was doing step for step what the lady that was working with Steve was doing. Like she was learning how with On Job Training.
The next day, Steve after a bit of prodding took me to another place that he had heard about. Owned by a Chinese lady. he found it by finding the one that did a bit of extra hanky panky work for extra pay and it was across the street. A huge dirty old looking building. I went in alone. NO one spoke english. Needed a sign on the door, English not spoken here!!! Still they know what I want. I am guided to take my shoes off and sit in a chair that looks like a shoe shine chair and put my feet into a wash basin. There a young lady has filled the basin with warm/cold water and uses a small scrubby brush to wash your feet. Next into some cloth slippers and guided to where the toilet is as a suggestion. Go in do my thing, come out and she is waiting. Guides me to a small room with a small single bed in it and a cloth curtain. There is a set of PJ's on the bed so I change and sit on the bed. A young girl walks in and hints that I am to lay down.
This one knew what she was doing and got me twisted up down, sideways, backwards and cleaned out really quick. I got her name as Goh, however, I needed to get her number to identify her for the next time. The next time was the next day and I thought that I got my message across to have work with Goh again. Nope. Who I thought looked like Goh I gave to STeve so that he could get a really great massage too. I took the sour looking angry woman that I ought to have said, "NO THANKS". I didn't quite get sick from her anger, but it was close. She would just leave and come back 5-10 minutes later and start up where she left off.
Meanwhile from STeve I hear yelps and yowls and conversations and we learn of the ladies number. . . 18. The next day I came in and got with #18. Then I had her for 7 more days. We developed a repoire. We have exchanged phone numbers, email addresses (though it is her sister's daughter that has the email) mail addresses. She has a desire to come to Australia. I told Steve 4-5 months ago to tell his lovely wife that under no circumstances do I want a Thai Wife!!!! Ha ha ha.
I will say at the time of this blog that Yupaporn I hope will become a friend. I have intention to communicate with her. I developed loads of respect for this woman and look forward to returning to Thailand for another massage or 10, ha ha ha.
During those 10 days of being in Bangkok, I was observing another interesting situation. We lived just off a 2 lane BUSY road. When I was dropped off on my first day from the airport traffic was virtually at a standstill. Other times it is roaring past and scooters and Dtut dtut's everywhere. This road lead to the 6 lane Sukumvit highway. I may have mentioned that the lane divider white lines are used casually as sort of guidelines???? sometimes the 3 lanes on our side of the divider was 4 vehicles wide not counting the scooters. Sometimes more then with scooters packed in between them. It looked like utter chaos. Yet it all flowed surprisingly smoothly. I attempted to take a movie picture of it with my phone from the back seat of a taxi. However my phone camera is only good for 30 seconds and you really need 3-4 mintues to get a real understanding of this incredible flow.
Now what was the most incredible is that in the 10 days that I was in Thail and I only heard two horns honk. Bangkok was LOUD compared to what I am used to, yet no horns anywhere, every. I hear that the rest of asia is not this way.
I couldn't figure out why until Steve pointed out a book to me called Thailand Fever. it is written by a Thai Woman and a Western man (not a couple) about the serious differences between the Thai and Western Cultures. It is a must for anyone that is considering going to Thailand. It is really great reading and will give all sorts of levels of understanding to anyone that is going there.
However, what I learned in that book I will tell you in the next blog. Tis late once more.
Peace
gene
may you all be well and happy
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