Kristy's Post:
A girlfriend and I once agreed that every mother/wife should have their own wife; someone to organize their life, plan the meals, do the grocery shopping, ask how your day was, and some cooking and laundry would be nice. Well, I think I officially have a "wife" of my own. I think I have died and gone to heaven.
I usually leave the house at 6:20 and return between 4:30 and 5pm. When I got home tonight, I was still removing my shoes just outside the door (we are in Thailand) and I was holding my lunch bag. Our mae baan greeted me at the door, said "swadeeka" (hello, how are you?") took my lunch sack and whisked back to the kitchen to finish dinner.
By the time I changed clothes and entered the kitchen she had washed the tupperware from lunch and was working two pots on the stove. The table was set, the fruit was cut for the next morning's smoothie, all the laundry was done and the beds made with clean sheets. Shall I go on?
Many teachers joke and say that the school couldn't expect so much from us if hired help wasn't so inexpensive. Many teachers have more than one person hired, administrators with larger homes have up to 3 people which may include a gardener and someone to clean the pool. Of course most of the families that live in this wealthy community also have a driver; this would include the US embassy employees.
I did have to bite my tongue the other day when our wonderful teaching neighbors who have a four year and are hoping to adopt a baby said that they would have to hire another nanny if when they get the baby....keep in mind they do have one nanny and a cook. :)
Sometimes I think I am living on another planet, but when I return to my home planet, I have to find a big suitcase, because this mae baan is coming with me!
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
We loved Australia
Australia has a lot to offer, but it has its drawbacks. Most notable and inescapable is the cost. Although the Aussie dollar is valued about the same as the American dollar, the cost of goods in Australia is about half again to double the cost in the US. For example, a Kit Kat on sale in a grocery store is $.99. A bottle of beer with your dinner will cost you $6 or $7, a mixed drink $12 to $15.
People in Australia are extremely friendly and easy to strike up conversations with. They always seem willing to give directions, advice, or just chat in a friendly down to earth manner. They are however a little more gruff when working. Waiters, hotel workers, etc. sometimes seem like they are inconvenienced by your presence. Tipping is not customary in Australia, Hmmm. I can tell you it has nothing to do with working long hours. Shops, grocery stores, and hotel desks close as early as 5 or 6 o’clock. Part of this early close feel was because of the Christmas holidays and part of this is my jaded perspective caused by the inability to obtain beer after a day of sightseeing. Beer is only sold in liquor stores, which often closed early.
In the small town of Cairns, pronounced “cans”, the way someone from Boston might pronounce the word cars, was a wonderful botanical garden. We sort of stumbled across it while trying to fill the second half of a day with something to do. Ahnika and Mikayla loved, the flowers and loved taking pictures. There were cacti that grew like vines up the trunks of palm trees, and trees that had trunks and branches covered with huge spikes. And of course a denseness of vegetation that reminded you that this was the tropics.
Just outside of Brisbane was a koala sanctuary called Lone Pine. It started many years back with koalas but is really more of a zoo now, complete with wombats, wallabies, Tasmanian devils, dingoes, emus, birds, and a platypus exhibit. I’m sure I’ve missed some of the wonderful animals on display. Oh! How could I forget, the girls got to see up close and personal, some mating kangaroos. I missed this however, and since no one will describe it to me, I will always wonder how kangaroos do it. I bet you’re wondering too.
The East coast of Australia is dominated by sandstone. Much of this striped rock is quarried to add a beautiful color to the towns and cities. But most important is its erosion to produce mile after mile of long, light yellow sandy beaches. Some are more quiet and secluded, but anywhere near a metropolitan area and you’ve got plenty of people action. The Gold coast beaches are the best because the water is warm enough to stay in as long as you like, yet little chance of death from a box jelly. Near Sydney the water is a little cooler, but nothing like Puget Sound. Bondi beach in Sydney treats male and female the same when it comes to tanning ones breasts.
Some of you old Seattle natives may remember from the TV show Hear Comes the Brides, “the bluest skies you’ve ever seen are in Seattle”. Well, I’ve got to tell you the Australian skies are just as blue and at night the stars are exceptionally bright. It’s quite a contrast coming from Bangkok. On New Years Eve, we were in a small town away from any big city lights and the Milky Way put on a show to rival any fireworks display I have ever seen. I just wish my camping buddies were there to see the Southern Cross as it rose above the horizon and Orion’s Belt almost at the zenith. That alone was worth the price of the plane ticket.
As we came into Sydney, we diverted to the east and spent the day in the Blue Mountains. It was the weirdest thing. Three little tourist trap towns blended together, servicing thousands of people that come there to view the Blue Mountains from three or four easily accessible vantage points and a few miles of trail. It might be comparable to Paradise lodge at Mt. Rainier National Park except more people in a smaller area. The valleys were immense, capped with shear walls. It was a look that said, “impassable.” But somewhere out there we are told, are miles of wonderful trails without the hordes of people. I just wish we had the time to explore it.
Sydney itself was a blast. If you ever go, get a hotel in the suburbs near the train line and do without a rental car. We paid $50 for the whole family to have a pass that let us travel on any train, ferry, or bus. They are all interconnected and allow you to travel anywhere in the city, even to the beaches. No hassles, faster, easy to figure out, and honestly quite fun.
When people think of a postcard view of Sydney, they think of the unique design of the Opera House. Now that I’ve been there, the Opera House is only one part of a triune beauty, which also includes the bridge and the harbor. The bridge adds strength to the scene, while the harbor, with its movements of dozens of passenger ferries, adds some life.
On our last day in Sydney we hopped off the train at Central station in search of Paddy’s market. This is the China town section of the city. Although not as high quality as Pike’s place market in Seattle, it was several times the size, with a large selection and the prices couldn’t be beat. I bought a zip up fleece with an embroidered “Australia” and a kangaroo for 20 bucks.
Twice we visited a revived, old town portion of Sydney adjacent to the bridge and the harbor called The Rocks. It had high quality shopping and great places to eat and drink. On the weekends it had a street fair with wonderful gifts and souvenirs. Preserved in one of the old buildings was a free museum to teach you all about Sydney’s beginnings.
We had a great time in Australia. There is plenty of beauty and plenty to do. We were very fortunate to have 18 days to see most of the eastern seaboard. If the price comes down I think the Wood House would all agree that more exploration is needed.
People in Australia are extremely friendly and easy to strike up conversations with. They always seem willing to give directions, advice, or just chat in a friendly down to earth manner. They are however a little more gruff when working. Waiters, hotel workers, etc. sometimes seem like they are inconvenienced by your presence. Tipping is not customary in Australia, Hmmm. I can tell you it has nothing to do with working long hours. Shops, grocery stores, and hotel desks close as early as 5 or 6 o’clock. Part of this early close feel was because of the Christmas holidays and part of this is my jaded perspective caused by the inability to obtain beer after a day of sightseeing. Beer is only sold in liquor stores, which often closed early.
In the small town of Cairns, pronounced “cans”, the way someone from Boston might pronounce the word cars, was a wonderful botanical garden. We sort of stumbled across it while trying to fill the second half of a day with something to do. Ahnika and Mikayla loved, the flowers and loved taking pictures. There were cacti that grew like vines up the trunks of palm trees, and trees that had trunks and branches covered with huge spikes. And of course a denseness of vegetation that reminded you that this was the tropics.
As we came into Sydney, we diverted to the east and spent the day in the Blue Mountains. It was the weirdest thing. Three little tourist trap towns blended together, servicing thousands of people that come there to view the Blue Mountains from three or four easily accessible vantage points and a few miles of trail. It might be comparable to Paradise lodge at Mt. Rainier National Park except more people in a smaller area. The valleys were immense, capped with shear walls. It was a look that said, “impassable.” But somewhere out there we are told, are miles of wonderful trails without the hordes of people. I just wish we had the time to explore it.
Twice we visited a revived, old town portion of Sydney adjacent to the bridge and the harbor called The Rocks. It had high quality shopping and great places to eat and drink. On the weekends it had a street fair with wonderful gifts and souvenirs. Preserved in one of the old buildings was a free museum to teach you all about Sydney’s beginnings.
We had a great time in Australia. There is plenty of beauty and plenty to do. We were very fortunate to have 18 days to see most of the eastern seaboard. If the price comes down I think the Wood House would all agree that more exploration is needed.
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