Thailand Trip June 24-28, 2009

Sunrise over the Bangkok Skyline. This is a vast sprawling city that some say has a population of 15 million although I can't for the life of me see how they could ever take an accurate census.
The Service Center/Mission Offices. Here we spent the day training on the fourth floor with the Rempps, our new ERS couple.
We stopped for lunch and drove a mile to the "Impact Center." The grounds were landscaped and manicured with great care.
Notice the big shrubs are all shaped as elephants. Elephants are a big deal in Thailand.
Just across the street from the Service Center and Mission Office was a big Buddhist temple complex. It wasn't hard to decide which building was ours.
This is the group that will comprise the PEF committee in Thailand if it is approved. From left to right: Arun, the country director for Seminary and Institute. He is a returned missionary with a great story. He loves his country and is a good one. Elder Rempp and Sister Rempp. He is 49 years old and she is 55. They are a great couple. Wisan, the Service Center manager and first counselor in the stake presidency. He has a great sense of humor and is as generous as can be. Sister Gibbons and Elder Gibbons.
Wisan insisted that we had coconut milk for lunch. Everyone was served their own coconut but Wisan. He had a delicious looking Mango juice drink--he ordered!
At the start of the meal. By the time we got into it, the lasy susan in the middle was full of food.
Saturday was P-day and Wisan arranged for us to have a 'little outing' to get acquainted with Thailand and her culture. We drove out of the city for a couple of hours and stopped for breakfast at a little village where our driver grew up. As we got out of the car, this monk wanted us to take our picture with him. It must be a money maker for him because he was very solicitous.
We were taken to a little outdoor kitchen-a one woman kitchen on the canal bank and this is where we were surprised with a noodle breakfast. (There were other things with the noodles and we felt is was best not to ask about all of the ingredients.)
Here is our kitchen and our cook with the makings of breakfast spread before her. When I said we were on the edge of the canal, I wasn't exaggerating.
Kathy takes her turn.
I'm only sure of one thing. This isn't bacon and eggs and pancakes!!!

The main canal was wide and before the roads were built this was a main thoroughfare. It is still quite heavily used today. There were a number of boats with big outboard motors that sped up and down with passengers and produce.
We got our boat and our motor was a rower. Kathy and Sister Rempp look great and up for the experience of going to market.
We went down the main canal past a couple of 'intersections--all canals--and then came to the famous floating market. There were literally hundreds of boats with natives selling their wares.
Much of what was being sold from the boats was produce. They load their boats full and row to market while other come to buy--including tourists like us. The sides of the canals were lined with shops selling about anything you could imagine.
It was a lot of fun.
Coconut dock.
We stopped and watched a family making sugar from palm trees. They tap the tree just like the maple trees are tapped in America except they tap the coconut flower at the top of the tree. If they do, then there will be no coconut that year--either sugar or coconut. Anyway, the syrup is then boiled and distilled into a sugar that is then taken from the vats and shaped into sugar balls. It is a lot like brown sugar in texture but while moist it sticks together into a ball and then it is sold for a natural sweetener. Interesting!!
The agriculture was intriguing. There are miles and miles of these small canal systems. They plant everything from palm trees to mango trees to dragon fruit to grapes to corn and we even saw a large 'field' of asparagus. If it is not a rainy time, then the plants get their moisture from sub-irrigating with the canal system. I can't imagine the labor that it took to build this system--and like I said it would cover hundreds of thousands of acres. One Thai told us that they will never starve in Thailand because of the abundance of food. It was easy to believe. The rice however, is planted and grown like wheat in America. It isn't like south India where it is still done by hand. Tractors and modern equipment is used for rice.
Palm trees
Dragon fruit orchards--still sub-irrigated.
We made our final stop at a local elephant ride venue. They had a bengal tiger--loose. I was encouraged to sit down by it so I took a deep breath and did. I even stroked it. After I got up, ElderRempp went to sit down and the tiger raised up on its front paws and snarled. What a huge mouth and teeth. Needless to say, we all got away and stayed our distance.
Mom learned the command to motivate the elephant to move. She grunted just like the driver. However, I think the elephant responded to the driver and probably wondered what that other sound was.
The ride wouldn't be complete without going through a water hole. Four feet of water for about 50-60 yards. Wow!
We were careful not to make this beast mad. I think that the tusks and the trunk are capable of both being formidable weapons.
On Sunday we went to church with the local saints. They are proud of their new building which the Church purchased from a banking institution.
Branch members and sister missionaries.
Always the traditional dinner after the block. However, these folks travel great distance and so spend their Sunday at the church and hold all of their meetings on one day--and it is a full day.
The Petchburi building--a four story former bank. It is spacious and we only use parts of two floors. Of course, the locals see this building as easily remodeled to become a temple. It is in a great part of the city with easy access and so the possibility always exists. But with only one stake and five districts in the entire country and no stakes in neighboring countries, it may be some time before a temple is announced.
We had a great time with wonderful saints. The future of the Church in Thailand is filled with promise.