the sites, the smells, the sounds, the sweatiness.

Seriously, I can't say I have been this sweaty in my life.  Whether it's 8am or 8pm, it's HOT here.  Maybe it's prep for our big move this summer?  I'm hoping the promised "dry heat" makes it more bearable in Nevada, but I'm skeptical.  


One evening we ventured out for dinner and walked by Erawan Shrine, very near to our hotel.  As we approached, you could hear the music and begin to smell the incense.  

Erawan Shrine is known for the dancers who perform.  I kept wondering why the lady in front thought she could take center stage... and would she move so I could get a good video without her in it?  :)  I learned that people pay for dancers to perform as an accompaniment to prayers.  Sometimes there were only two dancers, sometimes eight, all depending on the price paid.  The article linked is really interesting about a day of work for the dancers.

Between dances, if they are not paid to dance, the girls immediately take off their hat headdress and rest, check their cell phones or get a drink.  It looked like tiring work!  They work 8 hour days and go home with about $30.00.  

Being a Christian, it felt sad to see people give large amounts of money to a shrine.  Another adoptive dad (who has lived in Thailand before) told us the shrines are all very fancy and well-kept because people give and give to preserve their place in the next life.  That is also a sad reason why orphans and street children are not adopted and cared for as they would be in many other cultures... this life is not of value.  The next life is where you should invest your money and energy.  

Oh, that each of us would realize the worth of each life and use our "treasures" on things of value. 


"...what is worthless is exalted by the human race."  Psalm 12:8


Blessings, angela