Jubilee

The Free Dictionary defines jubilee as .... a jubilation or an occasion of joyful celebration.  The joyous time was what a group of Karen people in Chiang Rai had on Saturday, February 24, 2013.  It was a celebration of Taweepon Church's 60th anniversary.  They called it their 'Jubilee & Thanksgiving.'

Taweepon Church was established by five Karen Families who determined to form their fellowship group and build a worshiping place in the village 60 years ago.  That went back a long way, so long their pioneers of the faith passed on.  Only their descendants,  families, friends and new comers were present for the celebration.  All members remain Karen.

The big day began with songs and music.  The singing of the members warmed up the gathering since 09:00 a.m.  Special songs by members of other Karen and neighboring churches followed suit.  Then, history of the church was read, message was shared, offering was collected, appreciation was made, and finally came the 'actual' high time of celebration!

A feast took part as everyone were seated in a modern setting - on a chair and at the table rather than sitting in a circle on the floor - and traditional northern Thai food was served.

There were a curry called 'Hung Leh,' a 'tofu soup' - mild soup with vegetables, pork and bean curd, and two kinds of 'larb,' or spicy minced beef salad - one with cooked and the other with raw meat.  The dishes were taken with 'sticky rice' which came in small plastic bags that each person could easily take without plates, as though it was finger food.  An 'Asian' or 'Chinese' spoon was provided for every guest to take food from the main dishes and  directly feed oneself.  Everything was delicious.  'Dessert' for the day was fruits and coconut milk ice-cream.

It was a merry festivity to the Karen of all ages.  They came in their traditional costume, or most likely in a mix of the old and the modern styles.   Everyone bustled about with  lovely gesture and pleasant look.  What were on their minds was beyond our reach!  The ambient scenario was indeed a feast for the eye to us, as their guests or outsiders who understood neither of their language nor culture. 

The beauty of all was the presence of generations who share the same faith and pride.  The seniors were solemn and sure.   The young were vibrant.

As the older generation has weathered various long hard storms, they are tried but survive.  What is left within is unpredictably of great value!  The younger one has just begun their life journey that could possibly be, in various aspects, much diverse or similar to the past generations.  If only the two could be 'mixed and remolded,'  the young would blossom more steadily and strongly.  And, the old could more highly esteem their hard life lessons. 

For the old, there is no greater joy than to see their growing loved ones grow steadily promising onto the brighter and more successful path.  They might possibly yearn to pour out their 'learned lessons, experiences, word of wisdom and hope,' to the young.  There must be countless of things they wish to pass on, if only the younger ones would have the heart and time to spare.

Yet, life goes on for both, the young and old.  Each holds on to what seems best at a passing moment and the particular season of life.  

As for that day, it was a moment for everyone to celebrate, and everything was generously shared and enjoyed in Karen context.  

Yes, it was the time to share faith and culture.  It was also the time to look back over the long years and to commemorate their  comradeship throughout generations.    The gathering on that day was just jubilant.   

Pride and dignity hung heavy in the air.  Smile floated around.  Laughter rang out everywhere.  Karen or not Karen,  guests or hosts mingled casually.  The spirit of 'oneness' claimed the whole place.  Still, a curiosity popped!!!  A Lahu gentleman softly asked, 'Are you Karen?'  I humbly denied, and he persisted,  'Burmese!'  I laughed and gave him another 'no.'   'Shan,' then, he shot!  I gave my final 'no,' while Kanit quickly joked that I was from Cambodia.

Why was the race still a matter?   Or, was it really matter?  I guess not.  It was just a pure wonder of that gentleman who saw me dressed differently, or simply in a fusion way.  

   

For what really mattered for the very day had nothing to do with the race, but the reason that everyone was there.   We gathered together on such a day to celebrate the journey of Karen people's FAITH,  faith and love for the divine up high and any others around, regardless of race or color.

And, that was the JUBILEE, a celebration and thanksgiving at a small Karen Church in Chiang Rai.

The Town Fair

The cold weather has made our town high-spirited since late November.  Many festivities and celebrations have taken place since then.  And, just as we thought that the town would be out all of the fun by the end of January, we found out about 'The Town Fair.'  

The fair started during the last week of January, and lasted through the first weekend of February.  We did not want to miss out on anything and made it there early.  The fair-ground was crowded and seemed to have ten million activities going on at the same time.  Loud music, announcement, entertainment, games, and many, many people bustling about!  The place was jam packed with all kinds of sight, sound, and smell.  Booths upon booths were all around.  Food and more food was available on every square inch our eyes could possibly turn to.  Next to food was clothing and clothing and more clothing.  It was beyond imagination of where all the people were from, as much as who would eat all the food or buy all the clothing and all the rest!  

Yet, the Town Fair had just about anything possible to offer for all walks of life, including us!!!  It was our delight to find special exhibition from each provincial district and some special governmental departments. We found our favorites, one from each.  Chiang Khong District's won our hearts for their exhibits and also the products.  Kanit took to their Tai Lue jacket and asked to try it on.   It looked quite nice on him.  

Another winner of ours was Chiang Saen International Institute for Skill Development's.  They offered a hand-on-experience workshop on how to make "Kohm," or "Lanna Lantern," or a traditional paper lantern of the North.  The procedure was simple as the staff provided us with ready-made bamboo frames.  All we needed to accomplish was to do the pasting and a little decoration.

Regardless of all they had prepared, it still required a lot out of us.  Kanit got a head start.  I followed suit at a snail's pace.   

The job was more tedious and time-consuming than what we would have thought.  The night wore on as we were working away.

Others finished their projects and gone.  So did Kanit.  I was a bit slow.  It was not until a little before midnight that I could finally accomplish my 'kohm.'  The staff were both overjoyed and much relieved to see my product.  I was the last and they were more than happy to see this 'Cinderella' leave, so that they could quickly clean up and close for the night.

We carefully held up our 'kohm' and walked proudly a long way to the parking lot.

Two special 'kohm' found themselves a home late that night. They greet us cheerfully every morning from then on.  What a lovely little present from the Town Fair! 

Yummy School Lunch

Baan Doi Chang is a school at a village on one of Thai mountain tops at the elevation of 1600 meter in Chiang Rai, the northernmost province of Thailand.  Students are 700 hundreds children from the village with the same name.  From K-12, the students are from diverse backgrounds.  Most are from Akha Tribe, the rest are from various tribes including those without rightful Thai nationality, from either Burma or Laos.  Thai language is obviously not their mother-tongue, though it is the official language used in this school.  Family's economic and social position is often in jeopardy.

Regardless of multiple differences each holds, all share one cherish beauty.  JOY!  Despise of being in a remote mountain village, living with far less life necessities, and receiving who-know-what too little than other fellow citizens, JOY in the dear hearts of these students stays alive and bright shinning.  Smiles and  laughters ripple out contagiously jubilant delight, like a gentle touch of warm sunshine along with sweet gentle breeze.  So  refreshing to all souls!

Joy may not easily emerge in the city, but so naturally out here.  Children seem to take pleasure anywhere and also in everything they do, especially during lunch hour.  Officially lunch is compulsory.  The government provides for younger students only, but the headmaster knows better.  He is well aware that most of his students come without breakfast, let alone the noon meal.  With a loving care from all teachers, the headmaster came up with a policy that all are to bring cooked rice from home, in order to enjoy a humble dish that would be made from a stretched out lunch budget together.  It is a simple meal for all/

Lunch hour is gleefully welcome.  Everyone runs to queue up in their classes and await for delicious lunch to come.  

Two by two, assigned partners from each class turn up with a pot full of hot lunch.  With them arrive the mouthwatering smell that soon fills the hallway!  Lunch is here, cheers rise from the crowd.

Dish of the day is the NOODLE soup with scarce little pieces of meat.  Yet, the inviting smell suggests YUMMY lunch that must be worth waiting for.  Everyone with a bowl in the line is now moving up toward the teacher.  Each receives generous amount that would satisfy both taste and hunger.

With a bowl of hot lunch in hand, everyone dashes back to their desks.  And, patiently they wait for their classmates who are still in line with empty bowls.

                                   

Yummy hot NOODLE soup looks so good.  It is hard to tell if it is  a good idea to be the first in line to receive their share, then sit there waiting!  Yet, something is always worth waiting.  And, sharing the blessing with friends must be another JOY each day.

Surprise .....

January is a bit chilly in Chiang Rai, as it is the northernmost part of the country.  Though the temperature appears mild to the westerners, it is still pleasantly cold to most Thais.  The mornings  always welcome us with mist or fog which keeps the sun a bit shy to greet the day.  But, that does not last very long. Once the sun could break through, the temperature would soon rise up.

Our family often starts such days rather early.  Kanit leaves for school before seven while IngSong and I get ready for our morning walk.  Yet, it was a little different on one cool morning.  Kanit had said goodbye and gone off the door, IngSong was in the kitchen for a little clean up.  There came Kanit's rather loud calling from the front and abruptly the door was open, revealing our  neighbor with what looked like a 'stick' in her hand!!

I quickly approached the door to figure what was going on, and just to be greeted with a very lovely surprise.  My neighbor was holding her freshly homemade sticky rice in a bamboo stick which she was very eager to share with us.  It has been a custom for people in this region to cook newly harvested rice in green bamboo sticks.  And, that was just that my neighbor did.  She had filled uncooked rice and water in the stick, left it overnight, then grilled it over the open fire in the morning.  

After peeling off the outer charred part of the bamboo and cracking it open, she came over to share her one and only rice in bamboo stick with us.  Right there by our partially open front door, four of us stood and fed ourselves with this specially cooked rice which was called, 'kao larm.' The rice was nice, warm, soft, fragranced and flavorful.  The morning was lovely and the warm relationship was 'celebrated'.  We were grateful and pleasantly enjoyed our surprise.  What a memorably precious way to begin the morning with!

Our First Yi Peng

Yi Peng Festival in the north is Loy Krathong Festival in other parts of Thailand.  It takes place in November when the moon is full, the rivers rise, the rainy season is waving goodbye, the cold season is knocking on the door, farmers are finishing harvesting and more than happy to welcome some fun. Yi Peng is the time to float the 'krathong' or floating lantern in the river and to release the 'koam loi' or wish lantern into the night sky.  

Our family had our first Yi Peng in Chiang Rai on November 28, 2012 when IngSong and I flew back from Bangkok on the airline that gave complementary 'krathongs' for the event.  They were cute looking but were traditionally different, as they were made from bread dough not banana leaves as the accustomed ones.  We admired them and asked for five so that we could share with Kanit and friends.  Yet, our hope to come back and celebrate Yi Peng together was in jeopardy when we reached Chiang Rai.  It was raining hard when we landed at the Mae Fah Luang International Airport.  Kanit picked us up and took us to dinner.  IngSong gave a thought that we could munch on the krathong if we failed to float them that night!  To our delight, the rain let up as we finished our dinner.  

On our way home, we looked around to see how people would celebrate Yi Peng.  To our surprise, Chiang Rai remained as nice and quiet as ever.  Yet, one extra ordinary thing we noticed was the glistering candle-lit little things in front of most houses and stores everywhere we passed by.  It was a feast to the eyes indeed.  Kanit told us that the little things which appeared to be candles in  tiny earthen containers were referred to as 'pra-theep.'  The local lit 'pra-theep' in such night to show their appreciation to the divine of faith, people and other objects.  'Pra-theeps' were placed near what people wanted to show their gratitude to, such as their gates, stairs, windows, wells, barns, and burners.  Lighting 'pra-theeps' could also relate to the celebration of light, with the belief that they light up their path of life.  To whatever reasons one might have, the town was lit up with 'pra-theep,' which we found it much lovely and were drastically taken by it all.

After getting some 'pra-theep' sold on the street, we went home to deliver our 'krathong' to our friend, lighted 'pra-theep' on our porch, then went on to the riverside nearby.  There we found people from various faith but one shared common purpose, to celebrate!  IngSong bought more 'pra -theep,'  Kanit got his camera ready, and I practically were too taken by all sights and sounds all around than to be able to do anything.  My two men directed me on every step on the rather muddy path, in the midst of loud noise from the fireworks and firecrackers.

On the bank, IngSong prepared our krathongs. Then, one by one we went down onto a make-do floating raft to float them, in the midst of the merry crowd.  Some were on the raft, some were picnicking on the bank, some were busy getting sky lanterns to rise up into the air, some were dancing, some were selling the 'items' of the night, others were drinking or minding various joyful business.  Many were having fun with the fire works and fire crackers. 

Everyone was enjoying themselves.  Smiles painted everybody's face and laughters rang out all around.  We were at awe to take part in our local festival.  It was a very lovely time.  We enjoyed it completely.

The night wore on.  Many came and left after floating the lanterns.  Many remained and enjoyed other activities.  As for us, we floated the lanterns, tried our firecrackers, roamed around, looked on the dance, watched the lanterns floating down the rivers and up into the night sky.  It was splendid to watch the river lit up with string of glistering candle light and the night sky dotted with beautiful little lit up  lanterns.

Our 'pra-theeps' were still sending cheerful light when we returned from the event.  It was such welcoming little things.  As tired as we felt, we lingered on as we could not stop talking about our first 'Yi Peng,' that it was so special to have bits and pieces of the celebration.  We felt grateful to learn and participate in this beautiful festival when each and all gathered together from various faith, yet with one common goal - JOY!