(My winning Cafe ‘Thamel’)

So, my last post was Sunday. I have until now managed to do day by day, but this week has felt a little different. It has been very much about ARI, and so feels very whole, rather than mini adventures weaving in and out of it.

The evenings have been about relaxing, with early starts to paint murals, and to do workshops. It has been about doing what I didn’t think I had the capacity to do when I first got here, and giving that bit extra.

Wowzers!!! just to pause a minute that is the sweetest iced coffee in the world, hold on……..that is chocolate coffee, yu-um!!

Do people even ever say wowzer’s anymore? This is my last time in this little internet cafe, where I have become a regular to the point of getting free time!!

20.08.13

On Monday Sarah and I paint a mural for the children’s bedroom wall at Hope Home. Here is a bit of a replica of our ARI blog, but for it in full follow the link below.

http://art-relief.blogspot.com.au/2013/08/funky-new-mural-painting-at-hope-home.html

The wall was bigger than we remembered, blue, blue and more blue….

Up early Tuesday to get it finished.

We painted a bug or animal to represent the 7 childrenThe stars and falling leaves were in memory of BoonrotThe tree of life represents ARI and it’s volunteers

The peacock represents Judy the managerYoot with his owl  Phil with his Gekko

An exhausting but precious day we will never forget, just a little something for Hope Home.

I also ran a sensory workshop for the children this day. The volunteers response to this was just wonderful. As they felt it was inclusive of all the children, and it was quality time with the children to just be, and to relax. Recognizing a response may be the tiniest thing, like a rib cage relaxing, breathing steadying, or even a snooze. The aim to give them time out from what is generally a very overstimulating confusing world.

I haven’t gone on a bear hunt for years, it was great fun to begin by singing this. We then darkened the room, and with the creativity of us all we used torches, colored tissue paper to create colors, shadows and movement. Thanks Simon on behalf of a little boy who loved your head torch. An exploding light bulb and exploding light balloons admittedly wasn’t the best idea. But all the more reason to raise funds to get these children the sensory room they deserve and need. I don’t have a photo, it was to dark!!

How cute is this fellow though 🙂

So many workshops this week, and right now I feel very in the moment as I am saying goodbye to what has been my life for a few weeks, that have felt like a few months, I am admittedly little sad, as part of me could stay.

But this one had us all laughing out loud. I was picked to be the elephant in the play as an opportunity to be big, thanks guys. 🙂

Tahli the lionMary the frogFlattering!!These children, young, so not the longest attention span, watched the play with eagle eyes, as the elephant, to big to have friends in the forest, confronted the lion stealing all the food, made peace, and they all lived happily ever after. Of course! Part of the team.

So, I am going to wonder the streets one last time, for now, I know I will be back. I have said goodbye to people I am not ready to say goodbye to. But life has a funny way doesn’t it, there is so much more to come from this, so maybe it isn’t really goodbye.

There have been ups, over the mountains, but also a few wowzer’s (haha! twice in one blog, had to be done) within this journey. I have been hugged, loved, seen, accepted and touched to the heart by so many people along the way, be it here in Chaing Mai or from 6000 miles away.

So, now to go and bye snacks and beer, as Sarah, Mary and I make our way on the night train to Bangok. There I will say farewell for now to Mary, and Sarah and I will continue on to Krabi. Time to be still again, time to stop…..well with just a few adventures along the way.

xXx