It is Christmas Time, Isaan Thailand.

Back on the 1st of December I was sitting at the computer and typing away when a Big C bag fell into my lap. I glanced inside and saw brightly coloured tinsel. When I looked at Miss Noot and Nong Ja who had been out shopping I was asked, “Did you forget what day it is?”

Five years ago Christmas wasn’t a big thing, especially for a Thai person. So the first Christmas Noot had, she didn’t really get into it, well the presents under the tree she digged a lot. Actually she opened them early as the 25th was too long to wait.

We have come a long way now, Christmas is eagerly awaited (presents for sure) as the Christmas tree lights up the night from dusk till dawn everyday until the 25th.

This year Nong Ja was very excited, she is two and a half now, so much more aware of all going ons. So when the tree was brought down from atop of the wardrobes, her face lit up and she even did a funny little dance. And when all the accessories in the box were tipped out she clapped her hands a laughed.





So the girls went through the process of putting the 3 layers of the tree together and spreading the branches and fluffing the needles to make the tree look as real as possible.

When the tree was finally at its full height of 7 feet, it meant time to start putting on all the accessories and this proved a little difficult as Noot and Ja had different design ideas. Ja’s were more just through the things onto the tree but Noot and Ben for some reason wanted them to look neat and well arranged.

Then all the Christmas lights went on, and the house lights were turned out. The plug went into the wall and on flickered the Christmas tree especially to Ja’s delight.

When the house lights were turned back on, Ja quickly informed Noot to turn them off again. She stood staring and laughing at the tree for a little while.

Then Ja thought is was a good time to pray to the Buddha statues we have in the house, maybe she thought this all has something to do with Buddha and monks, who knows in a 2 year olds head.

I have to put the lights up outside, there aren’t too many and I have been lazy to be truthful, but tomorrow being a holiday will give me time to arrange them across the porch and I sure my offsider will be happy to help me as well.

Brunty