Friendship Greenhouse

Some people touch our lives only briefly...
while others leave a lasting impression
and are never forgotten.

-Anonymous

There are only three days left before we leave Thailand. For sure, once we land in Manila, my heart and mind will shift gears, and will be focused on more immediate concerns. All that will remain of the past year in this country will be the pictures I took, the journal entries I have written and a heart full of beautiful memories.

As the day for our departure draws nearer, I feel like I'm on fast-track mode. I want to take as many pictures and write as many journal entries as I can. If I had my way, I'd be posting blog entries more often than I already have these past days!

You want to hold on to something so beautiful, so precious.

You want the moments to last forever.

You just want to make sure you'll never forget...


I have discovered these past weeks that friendship, just like plants, can be made to grow faster given the right environment. Put trust, love, care, concern, unselfishness, fun, laughter and compress all these qualities into a series of quality time together, and you have a friendship that grows deeper and stronger. It really feels like we entered a friendship greenhouse and ended up with a friendship that has grown so much in just a few weeks.

For the past two Sundays Ut and Oy have picked us up from Hope of Chiang Mai so that we could eat lunch together.

The Sunday before last (September 14) we had lunch at a native Thai restaurant where we had our fill of northern Thai cooking.

On our way to Chiang Mai City

After a delicious meal

After lunch, we went to a lovely tea house beside the famous Ping River. It is called Vieng Joom On, or the Pink Tea Shop.


They serve over a hundred different varieties of tea. We had Dream Tea and two kinds of cheese cake. The place was so cozy and homey, with soft music playing in the background--a perfect setting for an afternoon cup of tea with dear friends. As it was raining outside, we spent a little more time just chatting, and taking pictures of the lovely surroundings.

"Please make yourself feel at home!"

This is a real samovar!

We would have wanted to sit outdoors if it were not raining.

Photo op

Last Sunday (September 21) Ut and Oy picked us up from church again.

Ut took this photo of Ernie and me on our last Sunday at Hope of Chiang Mai church.

They took us to a Thai restaurant on Fah Harm Road that serves the best Khao Soi in the city. Khao Soi is a noodle dish with tasty soup laced with a bit of fresh coconut milk.

Mouth-watering Khao Soi

Friendship is so much fun! There is always something to smile about!

After two rounds of Khao Soi, we went to this coffee shop for some very good coffee and cake.






There were even special fans attached to the trees which gave off a cool mist!

I just want to thank you our dear friends. Ut and Oy, for having been so kind and helpful to us. You have made our stay in Thailand so special. Thank you for loving us, thank you for your friendship. I know that someday, somewhere, somehow, we will see each other again!