The Sublime
Also Sublime
I was lucky to rent a BMW here from one of our volunteers for a year at about $160/month. Sure, it was 23 years old, but solid and had a great sound system.
All things shall pass, and she (the BMW was a she) was recently retired.
Most car rentals are three times what I was paying, so it took a week or so before I found another rental from a local mechanic at the same price. While I waited for the car to be ready, Cris took me to and from work, and one day I took a taxi that was one of those little buggies attached to the side of a motorcycle.
Cris would pick me up at the main road, rather than winding through the little sois (streets) that lead to me pink house by the mountain. So, I spent about a week walking through my Muslim neighborhood. That was the blessing of the car situation, because when I was on foot, people smiled and greeted and talked to me. Most people spoke no English, but sign language and my Thai made clear offers of rides to work, offers to share food with them as they ate on the stoop in front of their houses, and lots of curiosity about me. Now, when I drive through, there are smiles and waves and one lady always calls out "Good morning, Teacher!"
The Ridiculous (and Cute)
Cris named this little Mira "Golden Boy". He is like a little rattly tin can spray-painted two different colors of gold.
Actually, Golden Boy is fun to drive because being so small, he hugs the road and is quite peppy running up and down the mountains. People smile at him (or maybe laugh), so he's good for conversation. I ask people in Thai if they think he is cute or ugly? I like to say the word ugly in Thai - naa gliat. No one says he's ugly because Thai people are so polite.
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| Veggies, tofu and fish balls - about $1.10 |
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| View of the sea from my classroom door |
Also Sublime
I was lucky to rent a BMW here from one of our volunteers for a year at about $160/month. Sure, it was 23 years old, but solid and had a great sound system.
All things shall pass, and she (the BMW was a she) was recently retired.
Most car rentals are three times what I was paying, so it took a week or so before I found another rental from a local mechanic at the same price. While I waited for the car to be ready, Cris took me to and from work, and one day I took a taxi that was one of those little buggies attached to the side of a motorcycle.
Cris would pick me up at the main road, rather than winding through the little sois (streets) that lead to me pink house by the mountain. So, I spent about a week walking through my Muslim neighborhood. That was the blessing of the car situation, because when I was on foot, people smiled and greeted and talked to me. Most people spoke no English, but sign language and my Thai made clear offers of rides to work, offers to share food with them as they ate on the stoop in front of their houses, and lots of curiosity about me. Now, when I drive through, there are smiles and waves and one lady always calls out "Good morning, Teacher!"
The Ridiculous (and Cute)
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| The stickers on the rear window says "We love the King" |
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| The air ventilation system |
Cris named this little Mira "Golden Boy". He is like a little rattly tin can spray-painted two different colors of gold.
Actually, Golden Boy is fun to drive because being so small, he hugs the road and is quite peppy running up and down the mountains. People smile at him (or maybe laugh), so he's good for conversation. I ask people in Thai if they think he is cute or ugly? I like to say the word ugly in Thai - naa gliat. No one says he's ugly because Thai people are so polite.