The Perepeluks Take Over Bangkok

They made it! After a long (long) journey, the Perepeluks have arrived safe and sound! Kerry, Liz, Dustin, and Leta will be living it up here in Thailand for the next 3 weeks! We do wish ALL the Perepeluks could be here though. I might just have to photoshop Jenny, Ryan, and Garret in some of the pictures.

Waiting for the "Purple-Lucks" at the airport. They came Thursday night.

Seeing them for the first time in almost a year!

Starting off Day 1 with fresh fruit and yogurt.

Dustin's first lunch in Thailand! The Thai version of macaroni!

Leta's first lunch! Chicken teriyaki with rice.

Kerry and Liz waking up their taste buds.
Even when you ask for no spice, the food comes spicy!

Leta is already in love with the flowers here.

We spent the first day here touring our neighbourhood and school. I thought everyone was doing so well with jet lag, but as I am typing this (in the early evening), they are all snoozing! It's a 13 hour time difference from back home. Takes a few days getting used to.

In the neighbourhood behind our apartment complex.

First family photo! Checking out the river.

Tiny toilets at my school.

Leta meeting my students.

Dustin and his new girlfriend.

We will be busy being tourists over the next while, but we will try to keep you all updated on our adventures every few days or so.

School's Out for Summer!

I'm done!!! The last day of school for the students was on June 15th. I am now in the middle of having two weeks at school in my quiet, peaceful classroom, planning for next year. Then it's two whole months off! Did I mention that my parents, brother, and sister are coming next week?! Be prepared for a few posts on "The Perepeluk's Take Thailand By Storm"...coming soon.

'Wai Khru Ceremony' is a Thai ritual where students pay respect to their teachers, present flowers (that they arrange by hand) as a gift, and ask for a blessing in return. Usually it takes place at the beginning of each school year, but since the Thai school year just started...we had it at the end of our year. It is nice to be a part of such special traditions.

The flowers I received.

On the last day of classes my students gave me this masterpiece- a diorama of our classroom.



A student made out of paper.

A student in real life.



Yesterday, we celebrated Canada Day! Yes, it was June 23rd...and yes, it was at the British Club...in Bangkok.
We ate delicious food and drank beer and wine from Canada!!!
I also won a door prize!!! A gift voucher to a skin clinic. First time I have won anything in years and years!

Ohhhh Canada!

Cooking With Poo

WARNING: You may not want to read this post immediately after eating. Could cause an upset stomach.

I took my first ever Thai cooking class this weekend! It was awesome! The course was called "Cooking With Poo". Before you start thinking, 'has Melanie lost her mind?' Poo is the name of the lady who taught the class.

The day started off with a tour of a "live, fresh market". It was probably the highlight of my entire day. After living in Bangkok for almost 10 months, I thought I was close to seeing it all. I guess not...



Chickens, ducks, and other birds waiting to be sold to the next hungry customer.

 

If you don't want to butcher them yourself, you don't have to.



Not sleeping.



This market had all sorts of creatures. Living or not.
It was somewhat terrifying walking down the aisles, as you never knew what was coming. I wish they told us to wear rubber boots. Slime, blood, and all sorts of things were splashing all over the place. It also smelled horrible. But....I loved it.
Here are some catfish.

Giant frogs that were trying to escape.



Some type of river eel maybe? Your guess is as good as mine.



Yummy, yummy.

Okay, this is something better. Mushrooms.
There was no rhyme or reason to the market. Snakes, pigs, vegetables, bettles, fruit....randomly found here and there.

Crabs.

Bettles and pieces of buffalo skin.



Banana leaves packed with chopped up frog parts.

Rice.

Lychee



Some of my favourite fruits.

Rambutan.

Some bean/pea things that grow on trees.

Still living.

Intestine

Bugs. All kinds.

At the cooking school. The school is located in one of the biggest slums in Bangkok. Over 100,000 people live in it. Poo is an amazing woman with a big heart and gives a lot to her community.
Poo taught us how to make three delicious dishes. All of the recipes were adapted to suit the taste buds of foreigners.
Here is Laura pounding spices for massaman curry. 



The first dish I made. Lemongrass salad with minced chicken. An explosion of flavour!

Massaman curry, one of my favourite dishes.

 

Poo and one of her assistants preparing all sorts of fruits for us to taste.
Too bad Canada can't grow this stuff.