Meth: a Ticking Timebomb Gone Viral

Phra That Doi Thap Chang

Today was a beautiful day in Hua Hin. The rain had gone and the sun was shining. After breakfast, Nada and I decided to go to a temple called Phra That Doi Thap Chang which is high up in the mountains thirty-minutes ride away from home. When we arrived (unbeknown to us) there was a celebration going on called the Kathin Robe Offering. I'm unsure what it's all about, but there were a lot of solemn-looking people and monks saying prayers over a loudspeaker.

We made an offering (cash), lit a candle and burned some incense in the temple. Apparently, the money will be used to build a new, even bigger temple, which has already begun construction on top of the next hill.

There were six unusual human-like statues surrounding the main temple. Two of them were male but had drooping breasts. I laughed at them, before asking Nada if they were ugly ladyboys. I've never seen her look so serious. She then told me they were ghosts that haunt the grounds and that they didn't like people poking fun at them...SHIT. Still not taking things too seriously, I told Nada that perhaps my ghost (Angel) might like to stay there with the six others. It was then that I looked down and we were standing in the middle of a mosaic depicting a Yin and Yang. I rolled up the right sleeve of my jacket and revealed to Nada a Yin and Yang tattoo on my inner forearm...spooky or what? LOL.

On the way home, we called into some markets and I was the only Farang there. Coming from Australia, where I spent a lifetime as a Caucasian majority, there's something quite strange about suddenly becoming part of a minority group. I will often complain to Nada about how Thais see and treat foreigners as second-class citizens, but at the markets today, I enjoyed standing out in the crowd. Even at the temple, I was the only Farang in sight and instead of feeling awkward, I danced to the music...much to the amusement of one of the monks.

I've written quite a few jokes and one day, I hope to do some stand-up comedy...which may help explain this unusual hunger for the spotlight.