Nowadays, people love things to be done in second, like assemble your own furniture in minute – think of IKEA. Or, makes coffee drink with 3-in-One packing. Now, deliver a website with design and CMS engine ready – TemplateMonster.
Through this project, I realized that Thailand will be another new hub for GEW (Global Entrepreneur week) in Asia. So far, there was Gew Malaysia, Gew Indonesia etc. So I was going to work on this portal ‘Gew Thailand’.
After a few discussions with client and expected GEWThailand.com had to be ready as soon as possible due to a big event coming soon on November, so that client could start inviting partners and participants to register. Well, was it possible to be up and ready with design plus CMS engine running in 2 weeks time?
From pass experiences, most efficient way and make things easier, preferable towards those ready templates such as TemplateMonster.com. Another issue was about which platform to be used? Since GEWThailand’s contents were not comprehensive. Well, personally still prefer WordPress rather than Joomla or Drupal. Coz I found it much more user friendly for clients.
Picked a few templates, which personally think it was suitable for GEWThailand structure such as Events listing, feature articles etc. After clients glanced through and gave some explanation, and quickly make decision and go ahead for the purchase.
After familiar with the template, found out few missing part such as events listing has to be customized and other minor modification on the original template. Luckily managed to get some helps from our internal developer who was quite experience in WordPress.
Week 1, pick the template and run on the hosting sites. Manage the contents and such as new menus, new slider.
Week 2, customized the events listing and registration form which based on Joget Workflow instead of putting efforts on the existing wordpress form wizard. Touched up the final contents and files, finally it has ready to showcase.
So, what was exactly my task? To complete the mission I have to be a Designer, Project Manager, Web Master and Quality Controller!
Finally I have time to blog since traveled from this trip since June.
This mission trip was organized by my church (pkcmc.org). There were 12 of us on this trip, which sound like 12 Apostles. It was a first ever trip that experienced people of Thailand, and it was the longer travelling time on road – took almost 8 hours from Chiang Mai to Terd Thai (border of Myamar).
This was only highway to North, and we stopped by roadside for duck noodles.
Well, we managed to stop by some of the tourist attraction like famous Chiang Mai Hot spring. The place was huge and not many tourist around; we were the only group here.
This was the front entrance with 30 feet high water pressure spray from ground.
Nearly 10 hours journey from LCCT to Terd Thai, finally we reached center and already night 8pm local time, most of us were pretty tired and time to settle down our packing coz we had to wake up at 5.30am next day.
It was morning 6am and all the center’s children had settled down to praise the Lord together. Some of us giving the praise and worship performance and some testimonial; although we had different languages and there were a barrier, but some how GOD gave them wisdom to have someone did translation for us.
Yun-Nam Noodles, it only cost 20Bath (approximate RM2); overall it was unique (sources, peanuts, pork) and taste delicious.
Yau-zha-gua (油炸鬼) cost 1Bath (10 cents). It was crispy coz the size was only quarter of the original size we had in Malaysia.
Apart of that, roasted egg was new to us!
After we had our breakfast and it started rain again, but it didn’t stop us to go on our journey – to visit our beloved villagers.
Now I understand how useful we need a jeep with 4 wheels drive? It was the machine can overcome the mud (烂泥) and wet. This was the Jeep bringing the team up and down hill everyday.
Although it was 8km drive from Terd Thai town to Hill top. It took 30 minutes to reach Lau Wan village.
View from the top, it looked like Cameron highland. Weather was fine when we visited, if during year end and the temperature could fall down to 15 degree.
First impression when we reached the village. It was so much difference from the town although it was 8 km apart. They live in raised houses on low stilts, with a large porch leading into a square living area with a stove at the back. The roof is steeply pitched.
This was our church. And it was built since 2003. There were many churches around Terd Thai Hill, many of them were sponsored and donated by Malaysian Church.
According to my phone’s GPS way point indicate that another 10-15km will be reaching Myamar’s border. Never though of coming so close to this point.
Terd Thai has different Hill tribe, there were Lahu, Akha, Yao, Khamu etc. (http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/hilltribes.html) and Lau Wan village was lived with Akha tribe. This tribe originated in Tibet.
Looked at my slippers- red mud had accumulated into 3 inches. The dirt and mud did not make me felt regret being this place, but my feeling was amazing while listening to the kids singing together with Pastor Daniel.
He wrote and sang all his song; most of the songs had healed those lost soul in this village. When he started to sing, children from village started to gather here and where they learned and sing along.
Each time we reached Lau Wan village, those innocent smiles has touched my heart and make me feel wonderful too. That was called spiritual smile.
I wish I could speak their language, to teach them how to manage and improve their living conditions.
More children picture from Creadaq.com.
One thing about Akha tribe, man did the cooking for guests. But woman taking care of their daily meal at home, coz man hardly cook most of the time.
I really respect the way they worked as a team and prepared the meal for us.
It was not first time I watched my mum killing live chicken. But this was first time I was watching live pig been ’sacrificed’. The screaming until silence, making my heart pumping so fast!
Akha’s dinner served! Where was the roasted pork?
We had great time with the children, we played games, and sing together. Once they got used to it, they start get closer to us.
Well, this journey has brought me a lot of messages. To understand and discover the other truth life in other part of this world, who need us to change their life styles.
God brought me here to listen, to feel, to see things that I had never seen before. To make sure things beyond us has appeared right in front of us. Through this journey, he gave us wisdom that what we should do when live in this world. We were stronger we become….
Lau Wan village and Children, I miss them. And may GOD bless them all.
