This weekend we attended a gathering of athletes, adventurers and sports enthusiasts at our church. We were happy to meet people who share the same passion. Among those present was  Taekwondo champion Japoy Lizardo, who would be competing in the SEA games this December 9.  

Michael and I were honored to be in the same boat as Japoy. It's a very big privilege to be able to represent our country in an international competition. Michael and I were given a few minutes to speak at the meeting. We were able to show our  video and introduce  the Ultimate Thailand Explorers competition. Among those who approached us after our talk was Elen, a former expat in Thailand. She had a wonderful time as a  teacher in Bangkok.  She talked about the warmth of the people, the delicious food, the year-round sale and the quality of goods. 

Plus, she gave us some tips:   

*As Filipinos, we sometimes pat people's head or ruffle their hair to show our appreciation. It's a no-no in Thailand. For the Thais, the head is the top most part of the body and should not be touched casually. Doing so would be disrespectful.

*Using the toes to point to something or someone   is also frowned upon. It's not good to have your foot point to a person. So ladies have to be careful that when they cross their legs their foot isn't pointing to someone. 

*To get the restaurant bill, we are used to drawing a square in the air to signal the waiter to get  our check. In Thailand, you use your pointing finger to draw circles! That's how you get your bill. 

Elen also shared about the deep love and respect that the Thais have toward the royal family. She was overwhelmed the first time she encountered the  entourage of King Bhumibol in the streets of Bangkok. Unaware that the King was passing by, she was shocked to see everyone on the street stop at their tracks. It seemed like the whole world had stopped moving, Elen described. Everything became so quiet, she thought it was the end of the world! That's how they show their reverence. 

After that, Michael and I met up with our new friend-- perfumer Bugsy Lazo (http://emtipiel.multiply.com). We met Bugsy at an internet cafe in Zamboanga City during our campaign in the semifinals. He and his cousins became our instant supporters! The  night we met was the same night we hit first place in votes! Since he's originally from Manila, we met up with him while we were there. The thoughtful Bugsy wanted  to send us off with a gift,  the first we received this Christmas--two bottles of his most saleable perfume! Michael got a scent called Guimba, which means forest in the Tausug dialect. I got a perfume named Sassy, a blend of citrus and vanilla. It smells heavenly. Now we're sure to smell sweet while doing exploring Koh Samui.  Thanks so much, Bugsy!

As we prepare to fly to Thailand tomorrow, we want to greet everyone a Merry Christmas!  May you have a meaningful holiday season! :) 

Love Samui 

Guess Who is Celebrating His Birthday Today?

His majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej is celebrating his 82nd birthday today!  Here are some very interesting facts about Thailand's beloved monarch!

*The King was actually born in Cambridge Massachusetts on Dec. 5, 1927. 

*His name "Bhumibol Adulyadej" means "Strength of the Land, Incomparable Power."

*His mom Sangwal was a commoner.

*The King came to Thailand from the United States  when he was already around one year old in 1928.

*In 1935 his elder brother, Phra Ong Chao Ananda Mahidol, became King of Thailand. King Bhumibol ascended the throne following the death of his brother on  June 9, 1946. King Ananda died from a gunshot wound to the head while in his bedroom in the Baromphiman Hall in the Grand Palace.

*On 4 October 1948, while he was driving on the Geneva-Lausanne road, he collided with the back of a truck. He hurt his back and incurred cuts on his face. He also lost sight on his right eye. He had to wear an ocular prosthetic. 

*While finishing his degree in Switzerland, Bhumibol visited Paris frequently. It was in Paris that he first met a child of his first cousin, Mom Rajawongse Sirikit Kitiyakara , daughter of the Thai ambassador to France. He was 21 and she was 15. They got engaged in Lausanne  on July 14, 1949, and the couple were married on  April 28,  1950, just a week before his coronation.

*King Bhumibol and his wife Queen Sirikit have four children.

*During his coronation, he pledged that he would "reign with righteousness for the benefit and happiness of the Siamese people."

*King Bhumibol is a painter, musician, photographer, author and translator.

*The King is also an accomplished jazz musician and composer, particularly for his works on the alto saxophone. He was the first Asian composer awarded honorary membership of the Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts in Vienna at the age of 32. (Wow!!!)

*One of his book  "The Story of Thong Daeng" is the story of his dog Thong Daeng (meaning copper). He rescued the stray dog from a shelter that he had dedicated. Of the dog, the King wrote: "Tongdaeng is a respectful dog with proper manners; she is humble and knows protocol. She would always sit lower than the King; even when he pulls her up to embrace her, Tongdaeng would lower herself down on the floor, her ears in a respectful drooping position, as if she would say, 'I don't dare.'"

*The King is humble. In spite of lese majeste laws, which allow critics to be jailed for three to fifteen years in Thailand, he admitted during  his 2005 birthday speech. "Actually, I must also be criticised. I am not afraid if the criticism concerns what I do wrong, because then I know. Because if you say the king cannot be criticised, itmeans that the king is not human", he said. "If the king can do no wrong, it is akin to looking down upon him because the king is not being treated as a human being. But the king can do wrong."

*King Bhumibol is an accomplished sailor and sailboat designer. He won a gold medal for sailing in the Fourth Southeast Asian Peninsular Games in 1967, together with HRH Princess Ubol Ratana. This accomplishment is to be remarkable given his  lack of binocular depth perception.

We hope you're as impressed as we are with His majesty. We pray for the King's continued good health and success on this special day. This psalm accurately sums up our well-wishes:

May God do what you want most and let all go well for you.

Then you will win victories and we will celebrate.

May the Lord answer all of your prayers.

I am certain, Lord, that you will help your chosen king.

Some people trust the power of chariots or horses,

but we trust in you, Lord God.

Give the king victory, Lord, and answer our prayers.

Happy birthday, Your Highness King Bhumibol Adulyadej! 

Love Samui