Adventures of Cal and Anne: Change of Climate!!

One of Cal's responsibilities as Asia Area Medical Advisor was to visit the Thailand Mission and evaluate the Medical Facilities there. For the past two weeks we went there to do just that.

The Thailand Mission covers Laos, Myanmar as well as Thailand.

Our first stop was Laos where we were pleasantly surprised to feel the temperature. We left Mongolia in -30C. and got to Laos where it was +28C. Not too hard to take!

We visited 3 clinics and one Hospital. Often in emergencies the people of Vientiane, Laos go across the Friendship Bridge into Udon, Thailand for more advanced medical care. The Senior Couples visited the facilities with us and were glad to see what their options were for care should they need it!

The Singleys and Jorgensens
when we visited the Australian Embassy Medical Clinic

One of many "Reclining Buddhas"

The market opens very early on Saturday morning and what a variety of products!

Although it was about 70 F.,
the people said it was their coldest winter!!

We met Elder Murray from Magrath, Grace and Bob William's grandson and Lori and Harold's son. It is sure a small world and we were always seeing somebody whose relatives we knew or knew someone who we knew. Gordon Gedlaman's cousin, Wayne: Tom Olson's son, Joshua: a relative of Jack Hicken: people who served in Vietnam with Clark and Doris Wood, etc!!

Elder Johnson, Elder Xiang, Elder Murray

Cal likes sunsets . . .

Fisherman, his nets and boat on the Mekong River

Myanmar (formerly Burma) - there are 2 Senior couples serving - teaching English and doing Humanitarian work. Four hospitals and the SOS Clinic were visited, again accompanied by the Senior Elders. It was great to have the connections and get to know the couples in each of the places. They were kind and always met us at the airports and helped arrange the hospital visits. We felt like we had known some of them much longer than a few days!!

Tun, the driver, the Haymores, Kameron (a pharmacist who showed us around one of the hospitals), the Hobbs

Their driver was an expert guide for the Shwedagon Pagoda -
he shared many insights into Buddhism and the Pagoda

One of the newer Hospitals in Yangon, Myanmar

One of the highlights of our stop in Myanmar was a ride on the train, not a regular tourist attraction, but a photographer's dream. The locals use it to haul their goods to market, sell stuff while it is going, and just to get from point A to point B. It is a three hour round trip and moves very slowly but goes all around the city and out into the countryside. The price was $1. USD and could only be paid that way by foreigners. We had a five dollar bill as well as Myanmar money, but for three of us (Sis. Haymore came along), they only wanted three $1. bills, would not give us change or just keep the $5. bill. Finally we just got on the train and figured when we got closer to the city center someone might have change. Along the way we struck up a conversation with a young Australian and wife who were on the train. He told Sis Haymore he had three $1. bills so when the conductor came along and wanted our money and still would not take the $5., we found the Aussie and traded him the $5 for his three $1. bills and everyone was happy!!

Some views from the train

Harvesting and weeding "water cress" -
(the name a local told me in his English)
yes, they are standing in water almost to their waists

A guy hauling the above product to market

some had big loads on the train

the local quick stop shop

In Myanmar many girls, young and old, and even some men, use "thanaka" on their faces. It is supposed to do many things, cure acne, prevent and/or remove wrinkles, whiten the skin, act as a sunscreen, etc.