A birthday, a wedding, and a baby hair cutting ceremony

The last week has been one celebration after another. Joob's birthday was on Thursday so on Wednesday evening we had particularly active karaoke session. Everyone was a little tired on Thursday morning after all the singing and dancing. I gave a lecture to my 80 second year students in which I relayed the bad news that I would have to cancel their class on Friday. Their English is surprisingly competent when it comes to understanding this type of message! Shortly after the lecture, after attending a staff meeting for a very short time (which is a whole other story), I was whisked off to Bangkok.

Joob's Karaoke Party in Phitsanulok

Less than five hours later I was in the bustling capital city, trying to find my way across town to meet my Ubon friends for dinner and cake. Then it was back to my usual resting place at Pie's. Nong Treuk seems to be getting used to his farang uncle as he didn't scream quite as much when I held him, and a couple of times he forced a smile out for me.

On Friday I met up in the afternoon with the NU gang to go to Samut Prakarn for P'Jair's wedding. It was at a school over looking the Chao Praya River. Lots of photos were taken as the sun went down, with us all looking very smart. The groom was American so I got the opportunity to talk with some (almost) native English speakers for the first time in a month.

Groom, bride and Joob

It was back to Pie's after the wedding and then a reasonable nights rest before meeting up with the Warwick gang on Saturday to celebrate Joob's birthday. After a lovely Korean meal (but costing the equivalent of 30 lunches in the university canteen), we took a taxi, the sky train, and a boat to get to Ploenchit Fair. This annual event is organised by the British community to raise money for good causes in Thailand. Wonderful idea, except that it was a bit too British: lots of beer but not much food. Too many farang too! We didn't stay for very long before we were stuck in traffic again waiting to get to our next destination. Dinner was at a big buffet restaurant where the highlight for me was the opportunity to make your own som tam. After the whole Warwick gang had stuffed themselves completely, we moved next door for karaoke. Basically Joob had the same party twice, just in different cities. That girl does love her karaoke! In between Joob singing and me dancing we managed to eat some delicious birthday cake that P'Min had brought. An excellent evening!

A restaurant where you can make your own papaya salad!

Just when you think things cannot get any better, Pie goes and pulls a super party at his house on Sunday morning for his father's birthday and his baby's first hair cut. The ceremony for inviting monks to cut your baby's hair is almost like the Thai equivalent of a christening. We got up at 7am to start preparations, but already the food stalls were arriving. As on the wedding day, they brought in several different food stalls (drinks, noodles, snacks) that set themselves up in the garden. Guests can just order whatever they want! By 8am I was eating roti (pancakes) and drinking iced tea. I eventually managed to make myself useful when I discovered their were girls in the kitchen chopping fruit. They were particularly impressed by my legendary mango peeling skills. The guests soon started arriving, and then the 9 monks who took their place in Pie's shrine room. Led by the head monk, who will become 'Somdet' on the King's birthday next week, the monks chanted and Nong Treuk got his hair cut. It was all very exciting for me, but Nong Treuk didn't look quite so happy!

Baby Treuk enjoying some chanting

It is always good fun staying at Pie's, but this time it was especially good to speak to lots of interesting people. At one point I was introduced to a lady who a few people were making a fuss of. One of them said to me, do you know who this is? To which I had to reply "no", then I turned to her and said "khun cheu arai krub" (what is your name?). At this point quite a few people started laughing, but the lady replied "Jintara". Later it was explained to me that she is one of the most famous actresses in Thailand -- I doubt anyone has asked her what her name is for at least 10 years!

After the hair cutting ceremony, there was a taxi waiting outside to deliver me at breakneck speed to town. The driver had moments before just seen someone else leave and he was quite excited to ask me in Thai: "Was that Khun Jintara?" To which I replied, "Who?", and then realising what he meant, I cooly continued, "oh yes, that's her" before I told him we better take the toll road because I was afraid to be late for my lift back up north.

I am now on the way home to Phitsanulok. It was fun in Bangkok, but I am looking forward to returning to the countryside where it does not take 2 hours to drive a few kilometers and you can buy lunch for 20 baht!