mondays in bangkok

SI LUAN (yellow in thai..im learning something!)

i was peering over the second level of the skytrain stop, gazing at the sun already high in the bluer than normal bangkok sky. i always like to look out over the street vendors starting up their sales with the regulars while i wait for the train to come. i feel like a spy, trying to capture every detail so i can report on it later. as usual, after around 5 minutes or so the train arrived..

i stepped over the gap, into the skytrain car. it was 730am, which means everyone in the entire city of bangkok is on the skytrain going to work or school. this is where my old mosh pit skills come in handy, squeezing into a mob of people and standing strong. i try to shift my body weight with the movement of the car, so i dont go crashing like dominos into the sea of yellow engulfing me.

yes, yellow. this is the king's color, and every monday most thais don some sort of yellow polo shirt to show their love and honor for the king. there are many variations, but most have a pink, golden, blue threaded emblem of the king on the left side in the design of what i think looks like a little palace turret. some polos have sky blue collars, others orange. on the sleeves of some, like mine, love the king is embroiderded, or long live the king. and most every thai person wears them, it's like the country is in uniform on monday.

once i got off the train at 8am on in one of the busiest skytrain stations. i started to walk toward my exit, but all the sudden the yellow sea around me was frozen in place. it was like i was in a play, and the other actors froze around me, and i was in the spotlight, the only one still moving. i realized quickly that i should stop too, and that i hadnt noticed the traditional thai music blasting in the station. this is what had triggered the stop in time. at 8am everyday and 6pm music is played to honor the king and pay respect to him by stopping what you are doing until the music stops. good to know.

i had just gotten cozy in my red chair, rocking it back and forth a little. the previews so far had lasted about 25 minutes, most of them promoting local thai films, many of them looked like cheezy teenage flicks, or weirded out excessively gory horror movies. then the lights got darker, ahh..the movie was finally starting. but no...everyone begins to stand around me. i of course follow suit, hoping to avoid being the stared at forienger who doesnt know what she is doing. the familiar, but different melody of traditional thai music drifts gently out of the surround sound. we all are staring at a presentation showing the benevolence and kindness of the king, in all aspects of life. after 2 minutes or so it ends and we sit. the film now has permission to officially begin.

his face is everywhere. emblazzoned on skyscrapers, his portrait is in restrooms, restaurants, even gas stations. he is always sitting there, watching us all in bangkok. yet after awhile you dont really notice his presence. he is just another part of daily life.

it is odd to hardly ever hear anyone talking bad about the king, like i hear people in the states talking bad about the president or anyone in power in the states. it was almost eerie at first for me to see people giving such honor to a person in power. my american self isnt used to such respect for authority. but i must say, he really is a good king. he cares for his people so much, and has been known to go to villages and hand out food to the people there. treating them like they are just as important as the political people he meets with everyday. because they are.

yeah, but it is still weird for me on mondays. i always forget what day it is, and then im gently reminded every morning as im squished in the yellow. it is still hard for me to understand, but i guess i dont really need to. i just need to make sure i stand still when im suppose to, stand up when i should, and never ever ever diss the king.

PRESSING ON

thanks for your care and prayers for me while im trying to grieve. it doesnt seem as real now as it did last week that my aunt is gone. i guess that is how things go. i wanted to be grieving with my fam for awhile, but i know i need to be here. even though it is hard. please continue to pray for my fam..that would be great. it's great to feel love even miles and oceans away from friends. such a blessing..