Taking in the scenery

One of the things I am enjoying about blogging is that I am becoming more aware of the world around me. Somehow, the thought of sharing my experiences helps me notice the beauty in the everyday and find more meaning in the details of life. I find myself clicking snapshots more often, pondering the significance of daily events and storing up moments as content for future posts. It's been an unexpected but welcome side benefit.

This week I have been looking at our muubaan with fresh eyes. Muubaan is the Thai word for neighborhood, literally meaning "group (of) houses". Our muubaan is an eclectic mix of old and new, rich and poor, tidy and overgrown, Thai and Burmese and "farang" (foreign) and all sorts in between. Being close to the city, it's had quite a lot of character layered into it over the years and I enjoy that. 

A neighbor sweeps before the heat of the day hits  

As they say, a picture can tell a thousand words, so here's a few snapshots in an attempt to convey the essence of the place we call home. (Secret - this post is as much for me to have a remembrance of our life here as it is to share our daily surroundings with you all).

Welcome to Nong Pratheep neighborhood

The daily route in and out of our muubaan

One of the first things you notice in any Thai neighborhood are the spirit houses. These are miniature houses strategically placed on the corners of properties as homes for the evil spirits. Often these houses are quite ornate as the hope is that the spirits will dwell there and leave the main residence alone. 

Property owners bring offerings of food, flowers and incense to keep the spirits happy so the spirit houses can get quite colorful and overflowing. This one above has always caught my eye on the corner of the main road and the one below is at the bike repair shop. 

Bike repair is not the only business running out of our muubaan either. Being close to the city, we have a lot of work spaces mixed in with local residences. These range from NGO offices, to laundry services, to AC repair shops and just round the corner from our house, there is a noodle factory.

Bins of noodles awaiting pick-up

These are the yellow egg noodles that form the basis of the Northern Thai dish "Khao soi" for which Chiang Mai is famous. The factory is small and open on one side (probably not the most hygienic) but it means we can watch the process in action. The guys who work there always seem to be having so much fun and give a cheery wave - though they all kept their backs to me the day I brought my camera!

Speaking of food, good street fare is always at your fingertips in Thailand and our muubaan is no exception. From mini-markets, to street-side stalls to mobile food outlets, our Thai neighbors love to eat out and on the go! 

We have just discovered Khun Noi's chicken cashew nut dish around the corner from us and it is delicious! 

Khun Noi - everything is served with a smile!

Kab muu (crispy pork crackling) is sold on almost every corner of our muubaan along with plenty of other kanom (snacks). 

And if you don't want to go out and get your kanom, no worries - they will come to you.

Snacks on wheels Thai style

Scooter delivery is perfect on the narrow alleys (soi)

Our neighbors ordering dinner from the travelling meat cart

One of our regular stops on the way home from school are the fruit ladies - simple tables set up outside homes to make an extra baht or two. Pomelo and mango are some of our favourites.

There are neighbors who are growing their own fruit too like this amazing jack fruit tree, just around the corner.

And I've no idea what this is growing from a vine on the electricity lines! Any ideas?

All these are very typical for a Thai neighborhood and could easily be found elsewhere around the city. 

Wat Nong Bpaakrang

There is one sense though in which our muubaan is far from a microcosm of the wider culture. 

We do have the usual Buddhist temple (left) but I have also counted at least 4 Thai churches in our immediate neighborhood! This is really quite unusual considering Christians make up less than 1% of the population in Thailand. 

River of Life Church, just down the street

I have yet to discover the history of how our muubaan became such a hub for Christian activity (though the presence of several mission agencies here may have something to do with it) but it is wonderful to know that believers are lifting up the name of Jesus on our block. 

So what else do I love about the space where we go about our daily lives? I love the birdsong; I love the greenery and the flowers; I love that the people (and most of the dogs!) are friendly; I love that the kids can bike around freely and explore a space that widens their perspective on the world  . . . . .  and I love that there is much more to discover that I don't know yet.

Chillies growing by the road

Honestly, this post has only touched on some of the gems in our muubaan, and it's already too long! So you'll just have to come and visit if you want the fuller story!