Wai waang Jai (ไว้วางใจ – on heart) To trust, to have confidence in and conviction

Chapter Sixteen

I introduced the Kulab family (กุหลาบ – Rose) to John and Beverly Paisley. Nii Kulab (Mister Rose) cultivated a hectare of land and laid out the rows for Mr. and Mrs. Paisley. He used a small English made Fordson tractor. A hectare is approximately two and a half acres. I explained, "The rent is based on the honor system similar to share farming in the United States." It is my hope to help the Paisleys make a decision whether they want to garden in Thailand or not. Maybe my experience will be beneficial

Furthermore, "It is a little different in Thailand. Nii Kulab's family will assist you in every phase of your garden. They are not your employees. His family are your partners. He will teach you how to drive a tractor. The proper use of various implements related to the tractor will be your next instruction. Then his family will help you in planting and harvesting your hectare."

I continued, "You should be able to plant about a half an acre to start, then three to six weeks later plant another half an acre. Depending on how much work you and the Kulab family want to invest, you can have five to ten harvests a year. The secret is good water control, and correct rotation of the soil. I buy seed in bulk. There is no charge for the seed. Your helping family have already planted one eighth an acre of Peaches-n-Cream corn."

I went on, "There is no investment on your part, unless you want to purchase your own equipment, or want to rent one of the houses in my compound. As long as the Kulab family members are working with you, your responsibility is to share half of the harvest or half of the proceeds from what's produced. One fourth of your yield goes to me as rent. You keep the remaining quarter to can, freeze or earn on what is sold. Nii Rose will make the arrangement to sell that portion of your crop to the wholesale market."

Lastly, I added, "The choice is yours. Do you want one big yield a year, or would you rather make several smaller harvests? We will support you either way. The people on the farm are one big family. They will make it better for you just because it is their nature to be of assistance. Also, you can catch all the catfish you want to eat from the ponds."

The decision was his and his wife. I experienced a peace within my heart. The garden will be a part time venture for them. I felt good about giving them an opportunity to enjoy life their way. Martha and I want to be friends with them regardless of what they choose to do. The twenty-five percent that they give me will cover the cost of seed, fertilizer, gas for the tractor, wear and depreciation of equipment.

Martha had good feelings about the Paisleys. We reminded ourselves that they are self-determined solid people who want to support their words.

They returned that afternoon. John said, "We are ready to sign the contract."

"Handshakes are how agreements are sealed in this community. People are as good as their word."

"I like the way you do things." We shook hands, and promised we would be fair with each other.

Nii Kulab demonstrated the techniques of operating the Fordson Tractor to the Paisleys. He told him that the English named their company in honor of Edsel Ford, Mr. Ford's son, John, cultivated a quarter acre before dark and gave Beverly a chance to drive the tractor. She politely informed him that was a man's job. He planted a big smile on his face and kept working.

The following day after breakfast found them working in the field with a hoe planting common garden vegetables. The Kulab family added a few Thai veggies and fruit. That evening before dark Nii Kulab instructed him on methods of using the planter. Again, he and his wife worked until it was too dark to see.

Just before dawn on the subsequent day they laid out a very slight dusting of fertilizer. After that they came back with hoes in hand putting weeds to death. I noticed they put down golf tees where they had planted tomato seeds. As soon as the evening meal was over, both of them were in the field driving tomato stakes into the ground about three inches from the golf tees. My mind smiled. What a genius idea! It is simple, yet practical.

Watching them work sent a warmth to my heart and through my body. Their work ethic was comparable to Martha and me. A hammering in my chest, caused a flood of adrenaline to flow. Excitement overtook me, making my thoughts fly away.

Granny shared that Pappy happened to plan to take her on a second honeymoon in several months. They secured a compartment on a train tour to explore Thailand. It was a twenty-one-day journey. At every scheduled stop a bus would pick them up to explore the town or historical stop.

As soon as Martha heard the excitement in their voices, she began asking question after question. Her last questions were, "Are they still taking reservations? Would you mind if we tagged along?" While hearing their replies, Martha gave me THE LOOK!!!

Her gawk told me she wanted to go with them. I asked, "Who do we see about the trip?"

"Go to the travel agency off the lobby of The Crystal Dragon Inn. Dawkmymy's cousin runs the bureau. Tell her that Dawkmymy recommended you. When you do, there is an automatic discount."

"Are you sure it will not bother you if we traveled with you?"

"It would be wonderful. You will probably be the only people we know on the trip. Beside you two understand Thai better than we do.

John and Beverly were faithful to plant a new crop of corn every three weeks and other vegetables every six weeks. Three month later the garden was harvesting its first crops. Both of us left the Kulab family in charge while we were gone.

Monday, the Rot fi Thai (รถไฟไทย – Thai Train) was waiting for us. After we put our luggage in our compartments, then we boarded a bus and took a quick tour of Chiang Mai. Dawkmymy's cousin, Daed (แดด – Sunshine,) was leading the group. She pointed out interesting and important things about the city. Many points most of us had not considered previously. Her fiancé, First Lieutenant Robert (Bob) Taylor, was on the tour with her.

Tuesday, we loaded on the train headed for Lampang which goes back as far as Chiang Mai. War with the Ava-Burmese and internal wars in the 1600-1700s caused their population to dwindle. Today, it is the second largest city in Northern Thailand. We were in awe of the history of Thailand.

Wednesday, Sukhothai goes back to 1238. It was its own country. The ruins date back to early 1400s. We left there to go to Takli which was a small village with an Air Force base outside the town. A movie theater, restaurant and a couple of stores popped up since the U.S. enlarged their presence next to the little city. The warpower sent a chill up my spine.

Thursday, found us in where the overpass was reconstructed that became part of the Thailand-Burma Railway. It was built by slave labor and prisoners of war in 1943. The slaves were workers who were promised good wages and plenty of food. They did not receive either. The Japanese controlled Burma and Thailand from 1941 to the end of WWII. In 1947 the structure was closed, and reopened in 1957. The movie The Bridge on the River Kwai was based on the twelve-thousand-six-hundred-twenty-one people who lost their lives.

Our heads hung in prayer that cruelty in the world would cease. My whole body tightened and tingled. Discomfort settled in my soul from thoughts about Chinese criminals raiding and murdering entire communities. The exception was the young women that they could sell to the sex slave market. My stomach shook, and bile rose to my mouth. I wanted to smash someone's jaw, but who? The Chinese populous in Thailand were good people. They ran the gamut from the very rich to the very poor fleeing a corrupt regime, not letting them to be free spirits.

Friday through the next Monday, located us in the excitement and wonder of Bangkok. There were tours every morning starting with breakfast and ending with a late lunch. Our free time found us revisiting some of the places we discovered from the sightseeing. Night time exposed some of us remaining in our train compartments, and others taking advantage of the half off price of the Dragon Inns in the Bangkok area. We shopped and ate till we collapsed.

Most of us were tired, forgot a lot of facts, or were glad to be with friends, family, freedom and the facility to frolic in it. Our senses were lifted, and our energy and good moods were boosted in spite of the weariness. The group felt a closeness, coziness, confident and communal drive that drew the different travelers together. The bonds that we made will last persistently like a family engaged in a common purpose.

Second week – Tuesday and Wednesday, sent everyone along the Eastern bank of the Gulf of Thailand from a little North of Chonburi to Sattahip. The Royal Thai Navy battling with the French in 1893 was interesting. The French Navy was not as prepared for close combat. The Royal Thai Navy and Army fired on the first two ships causing the lead ship to scuttle on the shore of the Bang Pahong River. Its crew was captured, and put in Bangkok Prison. Twelve French and Three Thais lost their lives.

The hunger and greed for free resources provoked the French to declare war against Thailand. The fumbling had them pulling out hair from their beards. The lack of knowledge about the Thai forces caused their faces to flush a dark crimson. They were befuddled as their minds struggled about their defeat. The conquered hung their heads as the world laughed.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday, discovered the thirty-six of us enjoying a jog across the Gulf of Thailand too Ch-am. Then we made a dozen stops until we landed at Sukat Thani on the Tapi River. The white sand beach at Ch-am was the least commercialized of all the beaches. The day market at Hua Hin was smaller than Chiang Mai, but had as much variety. We spent Friday night enjoying Dragon Inn studio apartments. Saturday morning, we travelled further along the Eastern coast of the Gulf of Thailand to Nakon Si Thammerat, then back to Surat Thani where we spent the second night.

John, Beverly, Martha and I bought some veggies, fruit and water buffalo steaks at the day market late Saturday afternoon. Everyone was on their own the rest of the day. The See Puuen (สี่เพื่อน – four friends) as we called ourselves had planned to cook our own supper. There was a charcoal grill on the balcony and a two-gas burner stove in the studio. John's experience in gardening had given him more than a basic understanding of farming. Being a city boy had not limited his view of farm life. A warm sensation ran throughout my chest as John and I shared the best farming techniques while supervising the steaks on the grill.

Listening to the two women discuss recipes supplied waves of encouraging ideas circling my mind. I felt at home interacting among the See Puuen. No one was attempting to out talk the other three. We were at ease with each of the group.

Sunday morning, the motley collection of men and women traded one large boat for three shallow keeled vessels that propelled our party to the trip's next place. Wandering along two rivers, a canal and a bay fathomed our tour docking outside Phuket on Phuang Nga Bay. From 1545 there has been an influx of Dutch, Portuguese, English and French traders seeking tin and rubber. We travelled back to the Gulf of Thailand, and North to Bangkok. Our diverse band of sight-seers were in awe of the Thai people's ingenuity to maximize nature and creativity.

Monday – Friday: It was dark when we embarked by train to Nakhon Ratchasimo (Korat.) Our compartment was the same deluxe Pullman we had journeyed in from Chiang Mai. Morning breakfast welcomed us into a bright new world of Issan. The language of Sawadee (สวัสดี - hello) has become Sabaidee (ສະບາຍດີ.) It was similar but different. Most Thais that encountered the tourists on our train knew Issan, Central Thai as well as English. Not only were there differences in language, but a different history emerged over several hundred years.

As our band visited a dozen of Northeastern communities we saw that the largest industry was farming. The practices had been handed down for generations. Most were in debt. They had no resources to explore more up-to-date procedures. Hopefully, the interest from the Thai authority, U.S. aid and Peace Corps will make it possible to explore finer ways of growing. Thus, agriculture will provide a favorable financial future in rural life within Issan. Perhaps the skills we are using on our little farm will impact these farmers.