Tuesday July 1st
All good things must come to an end, and the group said goodbye to Thailand at 6:50 AM as our plane lifted off to go to Tokyo, Washongton DC, and then Boston. I (Steve) am lucky enough to stay in Thailand for another week to attend a Thai alumni and current families dinner on Tuesday and then to visit with Thai friends and do a little admissions work. This was a wondetrful and unique trip thanks to every student in the group. They had fun and were a pleasure to travel with, and I believe they learned something along the way. Many thanks to Rick DaSilva and Anne Gardiner without whom a successful trip would not have been possible.
Monday June 30th
Today marks the final full day of the China-Thailand trip. After a leisurely and fun morning with our host families, we gathered at River City to board a long-tailed boat for a cruise of Bangkok's canals, the longest canal system in the world. The return trip on a "rice barge" with tropical fruits we rested at the Phenjati's condominium before traveling to the Phenjati's house for a dinner for all Tabor Thai families. This was happy and unique gathering for everyone, and an appearance by Thai kick-boxers and traditional Thai dancers in masks and costumes made the evening even more special. Kathy and Fernando left after the dinner to join their families for further travels, and Biggy left because Bangkok is is home. The rest of us returned to the Century Park Hotel and prepared for a 3:30 AM departure Tuesday morning.
Sunday June 29th
After a one-hour flight from Chiang Rai to Bangkok, we took a tour of the fabulous Grand Palace in Bangkok. This was the hottest we had been on the trip but the fantasic and beautiful architecture of the palaces that were built in the 19th century by Thailand's royal family was one of the most memorable points of the trip. We saw the emerald Buddha which is one of the symbols of Thailand, and has an interesting history. After our tour was had a chance to rest and clean up thanks to the hospitality of the Phgenjatis at their condominium. Then Biggy's family hosted us for a great dinner at their Zanzibar Restaurant, with Thai appetizers, an Italian main course, and a cake for Samantha's birthday.
After dinner all fourteen students went off for home stays with our four current Tabor Thai families - the Phenjatis, Limapichats, Suppipats, and Ruckpaniches. This is a high point of the trip and everyone was excited and grateful to be a guest of a Thai family.
Saturday June 28th
Our second day of community service took us to an outpost of Baan Chivit Mai up in the hills around 2 horus drive from Chiang Rai. We traveled in three pickup trucks along with some Baan Chivit Mai kids along dirt roads until we reached the outpost. The station grows its own food and after some soccer and volleball/hackysack we had a delicious lunch. The midday sun was really hot so after a rest we walked a kilometer up to the villlage and then walked across the river to the boarding high school that serves this region. Because it was Saturday there were only a few students and teachers there, but they showed us around the simple but beautiful campus surrounded by the tropical forest and mountains. We rode back to the Mantrini and either shopped across the road at "Big C" or relaxed by the pool this afternoon.
Tonight we were the guests on Tabor graduates Jenny and Pat Laophongsit, whose family owns the Mantrini. We had a great dinner with many buffet choices and had a chance to talk with Jenny and Pat. Tomorrow we will fly to Bangkok and our trip will near its end.
Friday June 27th
Today began our two days of Community Service in villages near the city of Chiang Rai. First we visited an orphanage run by Baan Chivit Mai, or "New Life Home." The children here are elementary and junior high school students who are risk for prostitution or AIDS and come here for a truly new life. The school had pleasant classrooms and a country locations and the dorm rooms had two students to a room.
Since the students were all at school, we went to the school where we visited them and there many classmates who come from local towns and villages. There were several hundred students at this Thia public school in school uniforms. The seemed happy to see us and they invited ut to three activities, including making papaya salad, building bamboo decorative ieces and making horses out of giant banana leaves. The salad tasted strong and spicy, the horses were raced with Kathy Jones winning the race, and the decorative bamboo pieces were floated with incense and candles by our students on the pond in celebration of a fastival later in the year to wish for a good harvest.
We enjoyed a simple lunch in the canteen, washed our dishes in the dish line, and then chose to play some soccer, watch a local game that involved a small volleyball and considerable skill for each of the three-player teams, or mingling with the students. The students all wanted our email addresses and greeted us in their limited English, which was still considerably better than our Thai language skills.
The day was a happy exchange for both groups and the departure was not easy. We drove back to the Mantrini hotel, owned by the family of Jenny '99 and Pat '94 Laophongsit for a leisurely afternoon around the pool that is in the cent sourtyard, surrounded by plands and wooden walkways. Tomorrow we will head to another villege inhabited by Karen people and visit the villege and the school.
Steve Downes
Thursday June 26th
(to be posted)
Wednesday June 25th
Three words come to mind when I first thought about the three-day trek in the hills of Thailand: hard, dirty and long. The first day went by faster than I thought it would. After arriving at the first village, populated by the Karen people, I had six words in mind: panting, sweating, walking, slipping, sliding, and eventually falling. But as a group we bonded more, and as we set out for the second day I had a more active perspective on the trip. On the second night, after the elephant ride and swimming in the Mae Taeng River, six more words came to mind: talking, laughing, bonding, listening, watching, and most of all, learning. The third day was by far the best, as we made our way around the second Lahu village. I realized how different their lives were from ours, and how happy they were living in their remote villege. Riding on the home-made bamboo rafts down the river was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
There was so much laughter and happiness that the hard work we had done on the first two days was rewarded on the third day. Looking around, seeing only green vegetation and listening to the roaring of the water made me want to stay there longer. When we got on the truck for the four hour drive to Chiang Rai, I was saddened by the idea of leaving the trek behind. In the end, three phrases describe the trek: character building, amazing, and cultural insight.
Jasmine Questal-Gee
Tuesday June 24th
The Tabor Academy elephant trek was truly one of the most unique and exciting China-Thailand trip excursions. The journey bagen in the early afternoon and continued for two and a half hours of adventure. The elephants, which carried two people each, handled all terrain with ease, never putting their passengers in any danger. Everyone learned the phrases "HUH" and "HAO" used to start and stop the elephants. Every elephant was named by its passengers (ex: "Tiger Lily in the Sun.") All in all, a great time was had by everyone.
The next morning our adventurous group boarded four bamboo rafts and began our way down the Mae Taeng River. We navigated our way through minor rapids where water completely covered our well-built rafts. In areas of clear water we were allowed to swim in life jackets along with our guides as they guided our boats down the river. Many of us agreed that the raft journey was the best experience of the entire trip.
Max Bearse
Monday June 23rd
Today was yet again another amazing day here on the China-Thailand trip. In fact, today was the start of our three-day trek from Chiang Mai, Thailand. In the morning, we all made sure to obtain the proper equipment for our trek. These included rain ponchos, sun screen, and a lot of bug repellent. We were encouraged to pack light, so some of us bought an inexpensive T-shirt to wear all the time. Unfortunately after visiting the local market full of eel meat, grasshoppers and an assortment of exotic fruits, it started to rain. However, when the trek began, the weather had cleared. Our guide's name is Mong, and he is one of my favorite guides so far. A few other natives helped us along the way, including Dino who also guided us along the trail.
The people that we visited overnight were the Karen people. The first village had around 45 people living there. All of their houses were built on stilts, and they worked in rice fields and raised various farms animals. A few of us helped to chop meat and vegetables for that night's dinner. It was interesting and fun that they trusted me with a very large fingertip-to-elbow length knife to cut up the chicken.. In the late afternoon most of us admired the outdoors while playing card games. When dinner came around, most of us enjoyed a very delicious meal. The sleeping area was surprisingly comfortable with the mosquito nets around our blankets to keep the bugs out. This day was the start of my favorite part of the trip. I love how the Karen people can live such simple and happy lives.
Kathy Jones
Sunday June 22nd
During our day in Kunming we did many things. After our plane landed from Zhongdian, we went to eat Cross-the-Bridge Noodles. After that we were given free time to explore and shop in a small section of the city. We then flew into Chiang Mai, Thailand, and after a great welcome dinner and dancers we relaxed for the night.
Max Houck
Saturday June 21st
Today we continued with our routine of waking up early. However, everyone seemed extra tired because we are not acclimated to the high altitude of Yunnan province. After a Chinese breakfast we all got onto the bus and went to a remote and beautiful Tibetan Buddhist temple. On our way there, our local guide Peter explained to us the different kinds of Buddhism. Also Mr. Downes informed us that although the days of the trip are only half over, our journey in Asia will speed up when we go to Thailand and it will go by quickly. Once we arrived at the temple it was amazing how well it seemed to fuse with the natural habitat of the mountainous region.
After the temple we were treated to a special surprise. We went to an actual Tibaten family's home and were treated to the native drink of yak butter tea with barley powder. The general reaction to th tea was that it was an acquired taste that we did not have.
Fernando Gonzalez
Friday June 20th
We arrived in "Shangri'La" via good roads and expert driving. Our trip did not have the adventure of James Hilton's Lost Horizons. We did hear his plot summary on the way. Thus we expected beautiful landscapes and high mountains. What we did not expect was the amount of modern c¹nstruction going on. At present a tourist mecca is being built. There is a contrast between large modern buildings and the villages that surround them. Yet even there, prosperity shows in the number of new homes being built.
In the morning we went to the local monastery and toured its Assembly Hall - Yellow Hat for those who know their Buddhist sects. The prayer wheels, drumming, and bead purchases gave everyone an actvie understanding of the religion. We also rode horses. Some of those riding lessons certainly paid off for the horsewomen. The guys were out of their element, but enjoyed it all the same.
In the afternoon there was free time to explroe or just rest. Some of the sites included monks playing billiards, women in traditional dress with their children, the localdepartment store (with bargains, candy and a better sense of how local people live), and smaller shops. Getting laundry done was a welcome boon. In short, spirits are high and we are having a good time.
Anne Gardiner
Thursday June 19th
Today our group has left the beautiful ancient city of Lijiang and is now heading toward the Stone Drum Town and Leaping Tiger Gorge. Part way through our long bus ride we say goodbye to Min and we are given a new tour guide named Peter. We approach Stone Drum City where we encounter an old woman with a goose on her head. Peter explains that this is a way for her to make money. We roam the ancient town which is filled with stone stairs and chain link foot bridges near the first bend of the Yangtze River. We then go to a good restaurant with excellent food and an incredible view of the mountains.
Finally we reach Leaping Tiger Gorge after 2 hour bus ride, and we can see the behemoth of the river. We went down about 500 steps to see the incredible power of the rapids, which no one has ever rafted through alive. It was an incredible sight with the intensity and speed at which the water flowed. After many photos we walked up the 500 steps and boarded the bus to ride yo the hotel in Zhongdian.
Wallace Frigon
Zhongdian is a mostly Tibetan town at 10,000 feet altitude. We had dinner at the hotel and rested this evening to get used to the thin oxygen and get ready for our travels near Zhongdian tomorrow.
Wednesday June 18th
Wednesday was the eighth day of our trip. After breakfast in Kunming, we boarded a fifty minute flight to Lijiang. On arrival, we met Min as our new tour guide. Min took us to a delicious lunch at a local restaurant in the Old Town part of Lijiang. We were then given three hours of free time to wander an explore the Old Town and its many shops. Later that day we had dinner at another local restaurant and we were given the option of attending a dance performance displating traditional Lijiang costumes and culture, or of exploring more of the town. Afterward, we all headed to bed for a good night's sleep.
Margeau Frigon
Tuesday June 17th
It is hard to think that one week of our tour has gone by, starting with our flight to Beijing and ending with a flight to Kunming. Today ended the week right, waking up later than usual at 8:00 AM. We had a buffet breakfast at the hotel and checked out. We then piled onto the bus to drive to Thanksgiving Temple and Big Goose Pagoda. We lit two candles, one for each eye, and lit incense at the main part of the temple. Near the temple was the Jade Room, where images of Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism, were carved on the wall ot of jade. Behind the Thanksgiving Temple was the pagoda, which we couldn't go into because the earthquake last month may have made the foundation unstable. The pagoda already leans to the left a little because too much water was taken and ruined the foundation.
It is named the Big Wild Goose Pagoda because of a story that goes along with the monk that foundad the pagoda. When the monk who founded the pagoda was traveling, he got lost in the Gobi Desert. Nothing was there except a wild goose circling overhead. He followed the goose and it eventually led him to a water source. Saving his lfie and enabling him to bring the sacred Sanskrit texts to the Thanksgiving Temple. Upon returning to the temple he built the pagoda and named it after the Wild Goose.
So after the temple we went to a silk factory where we were shown how silk is made and we all got to try stretching out some silk to make a blanket. Then we went on to lunch and a four-star hotel, buffet style. After lunch, those who wanted to went to an internet cafe. Then we boarded a plane and flew to Kunming. We had a light dinner at the hotel and then free time. The first week ahs been a blast!
Carly Browning
Monday June 16th
We arrived at the Terra Cotta Warriors at around 10:30 in the morning. We entered the first pit and gazed upon row after row of soldiers, each one different from the next. There were archers, foot soliders, charioteers, and "canon fodder." Each status was disinguished by the hair, clothes and shoes. After much picture taking and history learning we walked to a round theater where a movie about the warriors told us about their history and construction. Then we walked to museum where the bronze chariots were stored. The chariots were only half-sized compared with a real person and the bronze was beautiful. Then we walked to pit number two. This pit was mainly empty except for a few horses and broken solders. Then we visited pit number three which contained body guards and other solders. They were set up as though they were guarding a general, although the general was nowhere to be found. The terra cotta warriors are a fascinating look into the Qin dynasty of ancient China and truly are the 8th wonder of the world.
Samantha Bobo
In the late afternoon we walked through the Muslim quarter of Xian, including a mosque. Although built a thousand years ago, the mosque is still used today. It blends Chinese architecture and style with Muslim beliefs and prayer practices. The courtyard was open and leafy, with the birds a contrast to the busy city outside.
Sunday June 15th
Beijing, the capital of China, is a city of around 11 million people. In recent months, the city has gone through a city-wide renovation in order to accomodate the Olympics this August. The city has taken on a modern look, with many new buildings such as the National Stadium and the Aquatic Center and its bubble surface. These two buildings are for the Olympics. With this renovation and large population growth, the 10,000 square-mile city has demolished much of the hutong, or traditional courtyard homes of the people, in order to widen roads to prepare for the influx of cars and people. In the past two months, the city has closed all factories in order to relieve the city of smog for the Beijing 2008 Olympic events. By creating a successful Olympics, China hopes to attract world attention and awareness in the modern world of today.
Alex Nugent
In addition to seeing these spectaular Olympic constructions, today we visited a 900 year-old temple south of Beijing called Tanzhesi. It had many temples and buildings on a mountain slope and some unique parts of history, along with trees that are hundreds of years old. Later in the day we met Tabor graduate, Dede Nickerson, who has worked with film producers and stars in China. She took us to a wonderful lunch in downtown Beijing. We also visited the "dirt market" of hundreds of stalls selling everything, and finished with a tour of Beijing Film Studios where movies like Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon were filmed. Around 8:00 PM, we boarded a sleeper train at crowded Beijing Station, and headed in relative comfort for Xian.
Saturday June 14th
First we visited one of the Ming Tombs, called Ding Ling. The Emperor WanLi was buried in an underground palace with several chambers. The right and left chambers were for his Empresses and the rear chamber was for Wanli. But for an unknown reason, all three were placed in the rear chamber. Most artifacts were destroyed upon the opening of the tomb, and any surviving artifacts were removed. Three thrones and the burial platform remain, and replica coffins were placed in the rear chambers to recreate them. The air was stale and the stairway down was very long. But the experience was exciting.
In the afternoon, the Great Wall was huge. The part that we visited is called Mutianyu. This wall is famous for its Ming guard towers. The walkway was often steep, and it was slippery due to rain. When we climbed to the top of the towers, we could see the entire mountain range and the wall disappearing into the mist.Trevor Babbitt
Tonight was the Tabor dinner in Beijing. It was at the China Club near Tiananmen, and it featured some delicious food. There were new students and their parents, alumni, and current students Ding, Ceci and Tony. In all there were 43 people. Our host was Tabor graduate Dede Nickerson and her husband. Many thanks to our hosts and guests for welcoming us!
Friday June 13th
Greetings from a very hazy Beijing. Today was jam-packed with some wonderful experiences. First, for all you parents, friends and families checking our progress; we're all doing well and are slowly getting used to the time change and the rhythm of Beijing. It's been a blast so far and we've only been here (technically) for a day. The students today were anxious about the day and it started off very well. This morning we visited a high school in Beijing, called #2. It is a school of aboutr 2,000 students. After a nice tour of their main building, stopping to enjoy their driving education classroom complete with 20 simulators (very cool!), we spent the last 30 minutes or so in an English class conversing with students and sharing gifts.Overall it was a wonderful experience and our students learned a lot about Chinese schools and the work load and pressure they have. There were a lot of smiles and waves upon our departure.
From there we went to have lunch and although the food has been different for most of the students, they've had a great time trying new things and yes, filling their stomachs. After lunch we went to visit the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. The Forbidden City was a favorite due to its curious history, amazing size and architecture. The students took many pictures that we hope to get up on the blog soon. Tiananmen Square was also interesting and we enjoyed being out in the openness of the area despite the hazy, overcast day. From there we made our way to our Peking Duck dinner, which was a big hit with everyone. Once done with dinner, we again boarded the bus and headed to an acrobatics show. The show was very exciting, but we all were very tired and ready to get back to our rooms once it ended. Upon our return, the students all checked in early to get some rest and prepare for our long day visiting the Great Wall, the Ming Tombs and our very special dinner hosted by Dede Nickerson '86 tomorrow. Have a wonderful Friday Tabor community, ours was great! Oh, and we did hear about the Celtics. Go Green!
Rick DaSilva
Thursday June 12th
We are here! After 13 uneventful hours on the Washington DC to Beijing flight, we passed through the gleaming new Beijing Terminal and crossed the center of the city to reach our hotel. Our dinner was Chinese style with common dishes around two large circular tables, and the general reaction to the food was "excellent." Surprisingly it was hotter in Marion when we left than in Beijing when we arrived. The city air quality is better than in past years and construction is everywhere, although there are still plenty of residential alleys and backstreets where small simple housing is the rule.
Tomorrow is a big day for us with a visit to possible Tabor partner school Beijing #2 High School, a walk across Tinanmen and tour of the Forbidden City, a visit to the "center of the universe" at Temple of Heaven, a roast duck dinner, and finally an acrobatic show and a walk around near our hotel. There are quite a few sleepy eyes this evening nuy we will all be awake before sunrise tomorrow as jet lag fades away.
Ceci Xu (Tabor '10) and her Mom were kind enough to welcome us to our hotel. Biggy Suppipat flew solo this afternoon from Bangkok to Beijing, negotiated a taxi to our hotel, found his own dinner at a restaurant near the hotel, and was waiting for us when we returned.
Steve Downes
