My family and I were privileged to be the first official residents in the Sam Rit residency. It was very exciting but quite daunting going into the unknown, but Elysha, her family and friends went out of their way to make us feel welcome and comfortable.
We integrated into the village, communicating as best we could, going for walks and bike rides, seeing the country, the farming practices and the people. We soon learned to say sawatee Ka (hello), smile and ‘wai’ to everyone except children. When riding a bike we ‘wai’d’ with one hand. The greetings in Thailand are very formal with no touching but by the end of our stay we had introduced our new friends to the Aussie hug.
Our holiday seemed very relaxed but we experienced and saw so much in such a short time it’s hard to know where to start and when to stop. My goal was to collect ideas for an exhibition, to experience an authentic Thailand away from any tourists. I also found the time to paint about a dozen of these ideas which I will later develop into larger paintings. I found the studio a very spacious and airy room to work in.
My husband had the most relaxed holiday he has had in twenty years and we sent our 11 year old daughter to the village school during her school holidays. She enjoyed making friends and the Sam Rit compound was rarely without some of her friends.
We left, not without a few tears, promising to return.
We integrated into the village, communicating as best we could, going for walks and bike rides, seeing the country, the farming practices and the people. We soon learned to say sawatee Ka (hello), smile and ‘wai’ to everyone except children. When riding a bike we ‘wai’d’ with one hand. The greetings in Thailand are very formal with no touching but by the end of our stay we had introduced our new friends to the Aussie hug.
Our holiday seemed very relaxed but we experienced and saw so much in such a short time it’s hard to know where to start and when to stop. My goal was to collect ideas for an exhibition, to experience an authentic Thailand away from any tourists. I also found the time to paint about a dozen of these ideas which I will later develop into larger paintings. I found the studio a very spacious and airy room to work in.
My husband had the most relaxed holiday he has had in twenty years and we sent our 11 year old daughter to the village school during her school holidays. She enjoyed making friends and the Sam Rit compound was rarely without some of her friends.
We left, not without a few tears, promising to return.
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