Bob on Diversity

”Yea, that’s a good word for it….diversity.

In MaeSot, Thailand on this Thursday morning and I’m sitting inside a coffee house/bike shop called Braverly. It’s a very comfortable setting, almost too comfortable. Whether you want to lie down or stand up or sit there’s a place for you here. Ray and Candace Ward (Outpour Movement Ministries)opened this place a few months ago as a training ground for young women with entrepreneurial desires. The managers and employees are all female as a way to avoid gender/cultural conflict. The primary emphasis is as a coffee house but a couple of new bikes and accessories provide another price point to consider while you’re here. In the back storage area there exists a small sewing center that serves as an optional training ground for underprivileged women desiring to earn a living. I’ve been in and out of here a lot these last  three days as I write and watch the flow of mankind pass by on the street and sidewalks just outside. I’ve also indulged in way too many cinnamon bagels and cups of caffeinated coffee during this time.

So…diversity. Across the street I see a brand new residential building totally unoccupied with an unfinished parking lot. It was in this same condition over a year ago when we were here last. It doesn’t look like anything will change with it anytime soon. Next door to that is a single family home, beautiful except for the wrought iron spikes that sit atop the ornamental fencing surrounding it. It seems that most every home in town has the same element including barred windows. Graffiti is almost non-existent…..although excessive signage covers most areas where graffiti artists could have had a marvelous time. Outdoor seating is prevalent and the weather provides for year round enjoyment…except for March, April, May and June when the smoke season kicks in as well as 100+ degree weather. Oh, and July and August during monsoon rains when you can get a taste of what Noah witnessed way back when.

Dang….yeah, diversity. Seeing half a dozen guys riding in the back of a flat bed truck thats loaded 15’ high and haphazardly tied down.  Not the guys…..no, they’re sitting on top of the load leaning into each turn in order to prevent the whole truck from tipping over. I just saw a fire department water tender with five or six guys sitting on top of it.  I think the rig is used to wash down streets near a construction project. Motorbikes everywhere and they seem to be like swarms of bees every time you come to a stop light. Its so crazy bad that you need to signal a turn even if you have a hint of changing course while you’re driving. Forget to flip that warning signal just once and you’re guaranteed to clip one of those little winged space bandits. Then there’s the tsangtau(?), a covered pickup truck with bench seating in the back. Its a variation of a taxi and normally has a set route of travel. Normally 6-8 people can ride in the back but I don’t think I’ve seen one yet that doesn’t have 10-12 people, including those standing on the rear bumper. All this on top of the fact that they drive on the left side of the roadway here. It’s not too bad as long as you have an automatic transmission in your rental car. Try driving with a manual transmission and attempt to coordinate your left foot with the shifting left hand and your world gets pretty interesting very quickly. Oh, and getting gas at a service station! There’s no self serve here. You pull in and tell the attendant the octane rating you want. They do the dirty work of fueling and wash your windshield in one fell swoop.  On top of that they throw a 2L bottle of water in your lap before you drive out.

These words and photos don’t exactly reflect the sum total of what Thailand really has to offer though. The people are some of the friendliest you’ll find anywhere and they exude pure joy during an extended  conversation with them. The architectural designs here are dramatically ancient all the while mixed with modern conveniences and technology. Food is irresistible and remarkably fresh, along with some of the most vicious hot spices you’ll find in the whole world.

Oh, the diversity thing. Actually Thailand is diverse in its own way. Much like the USA there are many variables in all aspects of life. From colors, shapes and sizes all the way to sights, smells and sounds, Thailand parallels the USA on a separate track but headed in the same direction. Political differences divide as well as unite and spiritual contrasts are magnified with the abundance of Temples, churches and mosques. A few days as a tourist doesn’t really allow for the big picture to be established in your mind but living with the locals’ opens you up to the drama of the five senses.

Speaking of diversity….Our days are down to six here in Thailand with our thoughts starting to ramp up towards a New Zealand departure on Wednesday.  We’re ready for the next step on our path but have sincerely appreciated the time with family and close friends in this place. New Zealand will offer a fresh new perspective of our world at large.  No family and friends but I’m sure that will change quickly as we connect with the friendly folks down under.