Safeway feet has a name

I see her very often playing around with other kids in the area. I started unconsciously noticing her, perhaps waiting to be called upon again. I found out her name is Poon from the kids calling out to her. I believe that's her nickname or shorten version of probably what is the longest name in the world. I'm finding Thai people have incredibly long full names. I know you're thinking because my Thai language studying is not up to par but google any Thai politician or superstar....All of their names are a mile long #facts. (Common nicknames Poon, Porn, Chai, Kai, Put, Oat....)

Anyhow, I think Safeway feet  Poon is the leader of a gang. Although she is less than 4 ft tall, 4 or 5 years old she runs the yard like its a prison. For example, there's a motorbike stand where bikes line up in front of the complex to pick up residents (like me) that don't want to walk to the subway and be a pile of sweat when we get there. As the bikes roll in from the subway dropping off residents that hitched a ride from the subway to the complex, it is Poon's self assigned job, I'm guessing, to press the horn or every motorbike that comes in. The drivers let her ring the horn, she giggles, they giggle and drive off. If that doesn't convince you of her power, let me tell you about what happened last week. One evening a motorbike driver I'd never rode before tried to over charge me (rarely happens but it does). Poon stepped in and he didn't know that she was the official horn presser. While he is trying to squeeze more money out of me and not letting her press the horn, she walks over to the motorbike stand and gets an English speaking driver. She calmly explains in Thai I only know because of the tone of her voice and the few Thai words I know) that  A) it is 10 baht
(28 cents) from Big C (the grocery store) and he wants 30 baht (85 cents) from me and most importantly B) he didn't let her press the horn. hahahhaha.
I cannot tell you how hard it was to keep a straight face when she pointed to the horn, with a force that should have moved the bike. I have seen her for weeks press countless horns and to think this dude had the gall to try and over charge me AND not let her press the horn....the nerve. (yes, I'm well aware of the 62 cents I should not have cared about...but justice for the horn needed to happen)

So the driver Poon brought over asked me in English if that happened and since he sees me everyday he knows my routine so was sure I was being overcharged. He told the guy something in Thai and held Poon's hand. He gave the guy 10baht and he angrily rode away. I realized why he held Poon's hand, because she looked liked she was about to take on that guy the instant he left. I tried to give him the 10 baht and he said don't worry about. I asked him to give it to Poon and tell her that's for her hard work and coming to help me. She just looked at me annoyed, accepted the money, kindly Wai'd me, I Wai'd back and she ran off to take on some other criminals I guess.

He laughed and said "she is very strong little one". I could not agree more.

Being saved by kids all the time.

Anne with an "e" in Bangkok

My real life Thai Insurance commercial moment

I'm not sure if you all are familiar with those long Thai insurance commercials that tug at your heartstrings and make you cry. Watch it, be prepared, you've been warned. Anyway, I totally had a moment in Bangkok recently that reminded me of those commercials.

My apartment is near an open vegetable market that opens before Jesus wakes up (at the crack of dawn) until just minutes before 9:23 am (I'm guessing because they have somehow miraculously cleared out by the time I'm there at 9:25 am) My landlady showed me this market once and I try very hard to go there, but you know that getting up early thing.Not my cup of tea. Still not a fan turns out of early early mornings. One of my elderly neighbors has seen me at the market and decided she'd show me the ways of politely haggling in Thai. I am so grateful for this because now when I show up they're like "oh you're that Farang (foreigner) with Khun (Ms) "I cannot pronounce her name". They give me her local "discount". I'm not sure how this works, but I neither question it nor complain. My lovely neighbor even once showed me a shortcut to get to the market through our complex, which saved about 10 mins and having to pass a smelly bridge area.

I missed going to the open market for something like 2 or 3 weeks (during that "cold winter snap" 70 degrees in Bangkok) because I wasn't feeling well. I wasn't seeing my neighbor very often also. I opened my door one morning and bananas where tied to my front door. I was so happy because I really wanted some fruit but I missed going to the market and I didn't have time or energy to go to the grocery store. It happened 2 more times when I caught her one morning putting the fruit on my door. She smiled and probably said something like take better care in Thai, because I'm still not excelling at speaking Thai as much as I would like. #seriouslifegoal.
I thanked and Wai'd her. I said, in Thai, I was doing very very good. She pat me on my arm and walked down the stairs. I don't know exactly which apartment she lives in, but I always see her around.
I was told later that she asked the coffee shop girls (young girls that help/force me to practice Thai with them) if they had seen me, because of course I'm always at the coffee shop that I can throw a rock from my place and hit it....I have a problem, I know. She also asked the market vendors I go to if they had seen me and what my favorite fruit was. My landlady said she had asked her if I was ok and the landlady told her I just had a little cold because of the weather. My landlady is the greatest and helps all the time also.

So it was very heartwarming to know, be reminded, that if were to go missing that someone would miss me. I seem to have guardian angels everywhere I go. #myownthaicommerial

Anne with an "e" in Bangkok

So this Thai Wedding I attended...So informative

While I was watching (damn YouTube) how to break free of duck tape, because I think its necessary to be prepared in all situations (i.e. kidnapped, trapped, etc, etc) from some former CIA spy dude...I realized I had not posted the pics from Josh and Phacha's wedding. It was a real experience. I took notes and everything.

So for starters, its longer than a Catholic wedding and shorter than an India wedding...just to give you some perspective. There's a walking procession for all with the grooms posse. Many of Josh's group was made up of foreigners with no clue about Thai weddings or the order of things so we were all winging it (some, me, resorted to googlizing what the hell we were suppose to do. while others simply and haphazardly followed) There was some chanting and carrying of "gifts" and "offerings".

Josh, the groom, had to pass various challenges to prove his love for his bride, Phacha. It was pretty cool and Survivor-like (not really but there was push-ups, chicken dance, singing, and a few other interesting tidbits). Following the challenges was an interesting gathering with everyone surrounding watching the blessing of EVERYTHING (gifts, jewelry, food, money,weather, family, friends, etc, etc). There was a speech, a prayer, a sprinkle of something flower or seed like, a passing on and repeat. It looked a little like a talk show with the oldest lady (Oprah role) doing the "giving away speech" in some ancient Thai dialect that 90% of the Thais could not understand nor translate for the us, the Farang (foreigners). So a monk, i believe, fellow....so lets call him the MC (Dr. Phil with a microphone) gave everyone in the wedding party directions and encouraged (hyped) the process along. This was very useful for Josh and ALL of us because we needed some direction. After the the blessing and praying and the constant chanting from Dr. Phil "one million baht", "one million baht"....the couple moved to a pair of alters and we lined up and took pictures and poured water, tied strings, gathered rope, blessing the couple. It felt a little like a marathon, but more interesting hahaha.

The reception was held soon afterward. With so much good food and lots of glorious story telling of the couples many first. I was so happy I was able to be apart of this experience. I love seeing the wardrobe changes by Phacha and Josh's confused/relaxed/confused/exhausted face going through his wedding day. I'm so grateful for this because now I know what to do for my next Thai wedding.

Please enjoy the pictures and video...sorry they're all over the place.

 

The procession 

 

The chicken dance

Oprah on the mic

MC on the mic

 

Clearly happy!

So traditional Thai dancing

No crazy, no drama...

My first question is why no one told me how ridiculous those dots looked on my blog...never mind.

I find it funny people insist on new years resolutions and "starting over" on the first of the year. You know you can pick any day to start anew. Matter of fact, I pick a new start or reset date on average 3 to 6 months in a year. hahahaha.

I'm not going to do the oversimplified reflecting or in "in hindsight" dialog that's popular during the beginning of the year. My basic motto as always "do better than yesterday". Everything else is just extra.

My complex is near a river. Near the river is a very small area of shops and run down homes. This is where a handful of unfortunate Thais live that cannot afford condos or homes in the increasing cost of development happening around the city.They sell ice cream, coconuts, chicken and anything to make a buck.

A few weeks ago, I was walking home one night and a tiny little girl walks up to me. There are kids playing about the river or along the sidewalk so it wasn't so strange. She was 4 or 5 maybe bare feet (Safeway feet) and really cute. She was clearly trying to instruct me to do something, but due to my level of Thai now (learning to write the alphabet) I was lost as to what Safeway feet wanted. I figured it wasn't too urgent as she was pulling my dress for me to walk forward slowly. Safeway feet continues to talk about her day, I think, and I continue walking home. We walk a few feet and I hear a lot of dogs barking. There are strays all around and people take them in, but I've never heard this many before. Safeway feet, annoyed, pauses and points in the direction of the barking, like to say "see I was trying to tell you, lots of damn dogs". I start looking around for any adult like human that might know this little girl and it felt like an episode from the Twilight Zone where EVERYONE has disappeared off the planet. Then Safeway feet pulls my dress as to signal me to "get your shit together and lets go". I say to her, "Look, I'm a little afraid too now". My English is lost on her so we continue walking and as the barking got closer and louder she grabs my dress tighter and I sort of pick up the pace.  We reached a gate where maybe 10 dogs were barking like crazy and looking to chew through the metal fence. We hurried passed it.  We get to an opening, a makeshift shanty town alley way, and Safeway feet smiles at me like "ok, this is my stop". She gives me a pleasant thank you and Wai (bow in respect with hands in a prayer position), says bye and runs off.

This little incident reminded me that we are not alone its ok to ask for help whenever we're afraid.

Happy New Year everyone!