Thailand Honeymoon 2/24

Thailand! Land of deep Thai massage, gorgeous beaches, ubiquitous souvenirs, and fresh, delectable Thai cuisine. My fourth excursion, it was Niru’s first. Thailand held a promise for us both, one of familiar exotica for me and a series of first experiences for her.

We visited two main parts. Phuket is a delightful playground with plenty of beaches to soak in the sun and water, jet skiing, parasailing, swimming, and other water activities, and temples, though we didn’t get in the ocean more than once, except for wading in the night coolness one evening. Chiangmai inland is a busy village atmosphere with a plethora of knickknacks, clothing, massage and food to vie for precious time. Our time found us involved with various entertainments from an aquatic show, tiger sitting, and elephant riding to lazy bamboo river rafting, temple hopping, and relaxing massage.

Our one Sunday service was at the Chiangmai Christian Fellowship, one of many churches, well attended and active in local benevolence. The Egyptian pastor invited congregants to visit his office any time, but we couldn’t manage it this trip. The preaching was convicting, but I can’t recall the scripture.

Niru exclaimed a number of times of her 'firsts'. Watching a dolphin show while they did acrobatic jumps and humorous antics, stroking one for pictures, and with a seal's kiss, too, riding an elephant after watching them paint startlingly beautiful pictures, feeding and washing enormous elephants and being kissed by them. Other firsts for her were watching monkeys frolic with their masters, allowing boa constrictors wrap around her neck, floating down a river on a bamboo raft, and playing with 5 mo old white tigers and traditional colored cubs and taking photos with a large male too complacent to do more than smile occasionally. Of course, the Thai massages were new and the last one challenged her limits, leaving her putty in the therapist's hands.

I particularly enjoyed a first for me, but a mainstay for Niru; rich, dark henna. The artist copied lovely patterns, and I was very sad as they faded away too quickly. We visited a honey plantation and a tea farm, picked green tea and ate delicious earl grey ice cream. Our driver, Pye, was very accommodating and attended to all our transportation needs. We prayed for his conversion and let the Holy Spirit have him.

The days ambled by too quickly, and the time came for Niru to go back to India and I to China. Our honeymoon there in Thailand proved beautiful, and we had a marvelous and grateful time visiting one of God's most magnificent areas of Planet Earth.