Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day at my school was so much fun! I didn't know what to expect or if they celebrated Valentine's the same way we do in Canada. Well let me tell you, it is a big deal here!!!! My first clue was all the hard work we put into the decorations the night before. I personally cut out 200 hearts to be used during a game we had planned for the next day at school. My hand was so sore but it did look cool! The kids don't hand out Valentine cards here, but instead stickers!!! And oh boy, I don't think I have ever seen so many stickers before in my life! Every student had brought in a pack of stickers and walked around sticking them on all their friends and me! My shirt was covered and it made me feel so loved. This school, the teachers and students has made Thailand become home to me and on this day I could not stop smiling. All of the teachers brought gifts in for each other. I felt bad because I didn't get them anything (I didn't think Valentine's Day was so big here). I got pens, stickers, chocolates, flowers, and the principal at my school got me a beautiful shirt! My student Ethan got me a chocolate rose and Haruka got me a yummy Kit-Kat!!! All the teachers kept asking if I was going to dinner with my boyfriend, after saying no 100 times, they thought it was strange I didn't have special plans. Well on Sunday I found out why...... while I was at the mall every couple was holding some sort of Valentine gift!!! Girls were carrying around dozens of roses, balloons, stuffed animals and more! Even the guys were holding flowers or gifts they had received too! It was insane how they exchanged gifts in public, then walked around showing off their gifts! I mean yea in Canada we do gifts and chocolates and it's a holiday celebrated by couples, but I was so surprised!!! I did celebrate Valentine's Day by going to the movies!!!! I saw Deadpool and it was great!!! I loved it way more than I thought I would. It was hilarious and everyone should go see it :) 

Chinese New Year Weekend!

I started off my Chinese New Year weekend by doing a 5K run to raise money for Cancer. It was at Lumphini Park, which I never knew existed until this weekend. There are actually so many parks in the city that make you feel as if you are out of the city! The run was very busy and so many people came out for the great cause. This is the only run or fundraising in Thailand that goes towards cancer research and a Canadian helps run the event!!! They are hoping to expand the fundraising possibilities but it isn't something that Thailand is doing right now. It was weird because Canada does so much for research and fundraising for cancer and schools, communities, runs and so many other people help raise money. I was happy to help where I could. It was really hot out even though the race started bright and early at 8 am, so I didn't run the whole 5K but I'm proud of what I did! After the race they had free ice cream, and coffee and were giving away prizes!
Then that afternoon I met up with Mary and her friend Erin to go visit China town! Yes there is a China town in Thailand, and what better day to visit it but on the Chinese New Year! It was very busy and a lot was happening! They had fruit everywhere and food stalls, and Chinese traditional clothing for sale. There was also a lot of gold stores all down the streets. I have heard if I want to buy any gold to go to China town because it is a fair price and real! The streets began to fill with people to the point you could not move anymore, so we decided to head back into the city. We went to my favourite little place to eat W-District and had some dinner and drinks. It was interesting to see China town but I don't think I'll be rushing back, a little to busy for my liking. The next morning I met up again with the girls to go to the Chatuchak Weekend Market, which was amazing! I loved this place so much! They had everything and anything you could possibly think of. They sold clothing, shoes, food, desserts, souvenirs, home decor, and so much more. You could spend hours walking down all the secret paths to find new shops! I spent a lot of money here buying things to send home :) Well a lot of money in Thai terms but probably only $40. We then headed to the nearby park to sit down and have a rest. While we were sitting there some Thai University students came and asked if they could ask us some questions. This has happened to me about 3 times now. International schools want the students to have confidence to speak English to foreigners, so as an assignment they are asked to interview people and speak English while getting it on video. I feel famous when this happens!! lol My guy was so nervous but did a good job! Then called it an early night because school was in the morning! We celebrated the Chinese New Year at school with games and food! The kids all dressed up in traditional clothing and looked adorable!!!!!! The teachers made crab, prawns and rice for lunch and it was delicious! I love all the seafood here! The food will definitely be missed when I return home.

My Sak Yant Tattoo

This was one of the most special things I have done in my life. I had done some research into the Sak Yant tattoos for a couple months and knew it was something I wanted. With my birthday approaching I thought it would be a cool gift to give to myself. Sak Yant tattoos are beleieved to be magical and bestow mysitcal powers, protection, and good luck. These tattoos are done by monks in the Wat Bang Phra temple. There are many different rooms in the temples and different monks in each room. Some monks are known for specialities or ways of tattooing. Most use a sharpened bamboo needle to do the tattoo, others use a traditional tattoo gun. The ink is also made by the monks and some of the ink is known to have snake venom in it. Thai people have many of these tattoos all over their bodies. The tattoo loses its magical power over time so you have to get a new one to protect yourself again. While waiting to get mine done I saw many Thai males with tattoos that covered their entire backs and chest. It was amazing the detail and time they have put into these sacred tattoos and made me realize that they are so much more than tattoos and by getting one I should respect the meaning. My friend Elise wanted one as well so she came up the night before to stay in Bangkok so we could take a bus to the Temple the next morning. We read the earlier you get to the temple the smaller the line, so we woke up at 5:30 am to catch the 7:00 am bus. The temple is in the city of Nakhom Chai Si, which is in the province of Nakhom Pathom. It took about and hour and a bit to get to the bus station and then a 20 minute motorbike ride to the Temple. The motorbike ride seemed a lot longer because there was three of us on the bike and I was on the back so my feet didn't have room on the pegs and I had to hold them up myself giving them one hell of a workout! Once we got to the Temple we found our way to a room, we didn't know the difference so this one worked for us! We bought a carton of cigarettes, flowers, and incenses as payment for the tattoo. It cost a total of 75 baht which is around $3. When we got into the room there was around 30 people already waiting to be tattooed. We got in line and waited our turn. There was also a couple from Europe who were waiting to get tattoos as well. There were two monks giving tattoos in the room we were in. One was doing the traditional bamboo needle tattoo but he only gives the tattoos to males. Monks can't touch females so it becomes more difficult to do females, so I guess he just decides not to do them. The other monk used a gun to do the tattoos, and the Thai people in the room said he is really good and known for his work. So we got in line and shuffled our bums as people got their tattoos. Watching the others in line get tattoos was such an amazing  experience. Some people were covered in tattoos and others were getting their first Sak Yant tattoo just like me. While one person was getting their tattoo, two others that were in line would help hold your skin tight while the monk gave you the tattoo. The tattoos went very quickly in about two hours I probably saw about 25 people get tattoos done. Then very quickly it was my turn and the Thai people next to me were motioning me to go next. I got very nervous and felt my face go white. I got up to the monk bowed down and put some tip money into his bowl beside him. I took of my cardigan turned around and hoped for the best. With the Sak Yant you do not know what tattoo you will be receiving. The monk reads your aura and decides what tattoo you should get. The small room with about 50 people now was already hot but as soon as I felt that familiar sting of the needle the instantly began to sweat. I did not want to show pain as I had an audience and I wanted to embrace the meaning of the symbol that would now be on my left shoulder for the rest of my life, and like that in 5 minutes the tattoo was done. As the monk wiped the tattoo clean he blew on it and whispered the blessing into the tattoo. I thanked him and it was done. No words exchanged between myself and the monk but he just gave me a gift that would always remind me of my special time in Thailand. Elise was up next and had a more difficult time. This was her first tattoo so she was making faces of pain, then almost passed out when she tried to stand up!!! So we got out of the hot room and sat outside and got a bite to eat. Then some of our new Thai friends showed us another room of the temple where we could get another blessing done by the head monk. We gave a 40 baht offering (around $1.25) which gave us a package to bring up to the monk. When we got to him he spoke to me a bit and asked where I was from and if I had just received a tattoo. He dipped his sticks (I don't know the technical term for them) in his blessed water and tapped it in my head. Then his assistant took a gold fleck and placed it on my forehead. The monk then asked me to stick out my tongue and placed another gold fleck on it. They place these gold flecks on Buddha images all the time, so it made me feel special. Then he said another blessing for me. This day was amazing, except the fact that the needles are never changed and I could get Hep C (but the chances are low and the tattoo is magical and will cure me of the illness right?). So the final product the monk chose for me is called the Hah Taew, 5 lines Sak Yant. This is a very popular one given to women in Thailand. When I began researching the tattoo I would then look around to see if people had them and this is the one I saw the most. The five lines represent 5 magical spells.
 
1. The first row prevents unjust punishment and leans in your favour when the area is grey, cleans out unwanted spirits and protects the place you live in.

2. The second row reverses and protects against bad horoscope constellations and bad fortune.

3. The third row protects you from the use of black magic and anyone who tries to put a curse on you.

4. The fourth row energizes your good luck, success and fortune in your future ambitions and life style.

5. The fifth row is to gain charisma and attraction to the opposite sex. It is also is a boost to the fourth row. The origins of the Hah Taew is magic power born from the four elements, fire, water, air and earth.

I feel blessed to have had this experience and would definitely go back to receive another one if I get the chance... even though my mom would probably kill me :)