Back in Bangkok

These posts are from the personal blog of Johanna Calfee (www.calfeesinthailand.wordpress.com)

And We Are….BACK!

After 24 hours of travel, our little team has been completely reunited and delivered safe and sound to Beginnings.

Last night, we finally arrived in Bangkok at around 2 a.m. local time (which is 2 p.m. in Lynchburg). Megan Smith, our team leader, proceeded to negotiate cab rides with us, which took a good 15 minutes. I was quickly reminded that no one here is in a hurry…we are officially on “Thai time.” Eventually, we were loaded up and whisked 20 minutes from the airport to Sukhumvit Soi 4, where Beginnings is located. Our taxi driver, like many men I know (side eye at my dad), proclaimed that he “knew shortcut” in broken English and started weaving us into the belly of Soi 4. Soon, we were spit out right in front of Nana Plaza, one of the largest red light districts in Bangkok that sits just blocks from Beginnings.

Anne, my poor taxi mate, got her first eyeful of a night in full session at Nana Plaza. The place was packed with Western men and Thai girls, spilling into the street like an overflowing toilet. Many were already “paired up” and leaving for their destination (most likely, a nearby hotel) but at 2 a.m., the night is still young here, and countless other girls in provocative attire lined every inch of the street and the bars, looking for customers. All the scenes, smells and memories of my last time in Bangkok were suddenly condensed in these few moments, which seemed to pass in slow motion, as our cab weaved through the crowds.

Indeed, nothing has changed for the women of Nana Plaza. In fact, by the looks of things, their unwilling masses have only grown.

Tonight, we will go back inside Nana Plaza for the first time this trip. Four women on our team will experience this underbelly for the first time ever. Please join us in praying that doors are opened, connections are made in spite of language barriers and we can tell many about the Christmas party.