Gypsies in Thailand....part 4

 
Well, it's time to tally up the dental costs in between lapsing into happy reveries of Thailand.
It just all goes together!  Our time was too short but we accomplished so much.
Not only did we get our dental work done in far fewer appointments and for a much lower cost,
we had time to sight-see, get a lot of good Thai massage and eat our way around the world!
Everything had gone so well with the dentist, that I decided to indulge my curiousity
about the Thai health system.  I had time to experience that, as well.  More details to follow
in the next post...
But back to dentistry...  Here are the grand totals for Thai and US care.
Bear in mind that not only were the prices better, but the level of care and attention was excellent,
as was the efficiency of getting the work done in as few appointments as possible.
The speed in which our components were crafted was measured in days and hours and not weeks.
Wait times were minimal, generally about 15 minutes if delayed at all.
Best of all, was the gentle, cheerful and supportive atmosphere in which the work was done.
So altogether, it was a really good experience in every respect!

My dental expenses were:                                 Thai prices              US prices
Exam w/panorama x rays +1 additional x-ray  $49.04                  $207.00 
Cleaning and deep planing                                       $296.60                $985.00
Removal and replacement of 2 crowns                $635.57                $1950.00
Cast Metal Partial Denture                                       $391.63                $1400.00
Total                                                                                 $1372.84               $4542.00    Savings of $3169.16

Gypsies in Thailand... part 3

Each day in Bangkok was a kind of decompression from the stress of western society.
We found ourselves letting down and relaxing more and more.  We slipped into a comfortable
routine soon after arriving.  We had decided to stay in one central location for our stay,
rather than trying to go everywhere and do everything as many travellers are encouraged to do.
The simplicity of unpacking once and feeling like you had a home base was preferable to rushing
from place to place.  Apart from our frequent dental appointments, we moved through our days
without set agendas.  We outfitted ourselves with a guidebook and a couple of maps and ventured
off in search of all that is unique to Bangkok.   But mostly we simply lived there!
We absorbed the smells and sounds and sights.  We became attuned to the rhythms of the city.
One of the first things we noticed was our way of moving through our surroundings.
It was a vivid caption of how we were moving through life.  By comparison, we moved fast,
forcefully and in a hard and defensive way compared to the Thais languid, easy pace.
By contrast, we seemed always be in a rush even when trying to relax!
It was an adventure in itself just to slow down and try to match the pace of life that flowed
around us.
When you slow down you feel your body in a whole different way.
In fact, you might discover that you haven't been feeling your body very much at all in our
fast-paced society.  You begin to breathe a little and ease up on the gas pedal.
Everyone around you is relaxed and reasonable.  The very atmosphere begins to pull you
into a better space.  People tend to smile more...even at strangers.  It is part of their gentle lifestyle.
You slowly begin to soften and become like them.

Thai massage is likened to "a thousand gentle waves'.  Thai culture is very much like that, as well.
It washes away layers of stress, hardness and separation.  It brings with it a felt sense of repose
and good will toward all.   Often the hardest part of coming back to the states is that people do not
smile or even look at one another.  When they do, it is often carefully measured and superficiall
It was a good experience to let down and be our naturally soft and sweet selves.

There were so many kindnesses shown to us along the way....countless gestures and smiles.
It was so amazing to be treated so well everywhere we went...

Some people are tempted to unthinkingly take this lovely treatment as their due,
rather than valuing it and learning to emulate this better way....to pay it forward to others.

It has been my experience that one exposure to Thai culture sparks a life-altering process of change.
if you are open to it.   It gentles the soul and eases the mind.
It brings you back home to your best self on a very deep level.
All that is best in you is unearthed, dusted off thoroughly and affirmed.
It is a return to innocence and a chance to begin anew....  

The Gypsies in Thailand continued...

We were in a state of high excitement in the months leading up to our departure.
Heading to Thailand to get our teeth fixed was such a lark, but it also made good economic sense.

It made sense on another level, as well.
Experiencing Thai culture is a valuable part of the journey.
Thailand is justifiably called  'the land of smiles'.
There is an air of gentleness that pervades the land.
The lifestyle is modest and easy-going.  Everything is reasonably priced.
It is an easy place to be...  Thai people are patient, cheerful and fun to be with.
Their values are less materialistic and they are far less stressed than we are.

Life is meant to be enjoyed, but struggling financially within our present greedy system
robs people of much of that enjoyment.  People feel increasingly helpless and enslaved
to a cold system that values personal wealth over the common good, especially in the
realm of health care.
I was tired of living by those standards.  I have my own ethics and standards.
I prefer a kindler, gentler way, a more generous and heart-felt way....the Thai way.

In upholding one's ideals, sometimes you have to vote with your feet!
It would be good to go back to that 'home of my heart'.

                                         ***

As our plans were finalized, we had excellent communication with our clinic and guesthouse.
As part of their service it is customary to help with airport transfer and your hotel room.
We would be landing late in the evening after some 30 hrs. enroute, so we welcomed a ride
to a comfortable small hotel for the first 2 nights.  That would give us time to rest, acclimate
and find our way around our new neighborhood- the place we would call home for the next 2 weeks.

Amazingly, everything we needed was within walking distance of our guesthouse.
Our dental clinic, a hospital, and Thai massage were all within an easy mile.
Walking around, discovering everything was a delight!
We were staying in an area that is culturally quite diverse.
Within a few minutes walk, we found the African and Arab quarters, Korean and Japanese
neighborhoods, old canals lined with teak houses on stilts and ornate temples were
jostling for space with modern malls and other western trappings.

Bangkok is a visual feast...a gastronomic one, as well!
We wound our way through streets lined with food carts laden with delicious foods, fruits and veggies, many of which we had never seen before. The aromas were so amazing!
Really good food was cheap and plentiful around the clock.
Tiny shops filled every available space.  Pop-up markets!
Here was a whole nation of small entrepreneurs setting up and breaking down every day.
Melissa, who sets up booths at art fairs, was enchanted!  They made it look so easy!
One of the markets we discovered was set aside for deaf people.  They were a cheery bunch,
signing away and clowning with each other.  Making the most of life!

There were hi-rises interspersed with old traditional neighborhoods where chickens still wandered
the dusty lanes.  Everything was a patchwork of old and new, garish and sleek, homely and modern.
The streets were crowded with bright nail polish hued taxis, tuk tuks, motorbike taxis, buses and cars. Traffic jams in Bangkok are legendary. We were constantly surprised at how amiably traffic flowed ...
no one got impatient or honked their horns. People calmly made way for others to get where
they were going safely.  The contrast is amazing!  This is the way to live!

The feeling of freedom and good will that pervades Thai culture was heartwarming  to our gypsy souls.  Joking, good-natured haggling over prices, smiles all around, easy-going days are the norm here.
It was so good to shed the stress of western life and to immerse ourselves in the Land of Smiles.
It always feels like a homecoming to me.

People watching is as varied as it gets. Thais mingled with Europeans, Americans, Aussies
and Africans in their variety of native dress.
Arabs, Chinese, Indonesians and Indians were living side by side in an array of cultural
and religious styles.  It is dizzying for a first-time visitor.
Somehow, Bangkok manages to encompass and make space for them all.

One morning we wandered the Arab quarter and had breakfast in a Yemeni restaurant.
The Muslim owner quickly surmised that we were Americans and told us that they had all been praying
for us as Hurricane Sandy approached our shores.  He addressed us as 'my sister' and 'my daughter'.  
Arab women were stand-offish as a rule, but not always.  How we need to break down these
judgmental stereotypes...

We walked miles each day between dental appointments, squeezing in as much sightseeing as possible. Every other evening was reserved for a good 2 hour Thai massage.  When we were too
bushed to trudge on, we hailed taxis or tuk tuks for a dollar or two... a luxury that could not be
easily afforded back home.  Eventually we mastered the wonderful skytrain and subway systems,
as well.  It was all quite fun!   Lots of exhaust fumes, though!

So...on to the dental part of the story!  We had appointments at the same time for our initial
check-ups.  After a gentle and thorough exam, a treatment proposal was given to us.
Prices were plainly marked and various options were listed.  Less expensive crowns, mid-price and higher priced were discussed, for instance.  We had time to ask questions, confer and make decisions.

A deep planing and cleaning would be handled in one visit, not 4, as is done in the US clinics.
Melissa was advised that her gums and teeth were not as horrible as she had been told.
Her situation was straightforward and easily remedied without expensive add-on treatments.
We were amazed!
Cleanings such as these can be painful and nerve-wracking...but not in Thailand!
The dentists and staff were so gentle, non-alarmist and supportive that we actually found ourselves
falling asleep during the cleaning,  Our people are so rough in comparison...and rushed.
Appointments followed efficiently day by day with some allowance for our holiday schedules as well.
We were greeted warmly every day by the smiling staff.  'Hello Miss Robinson!  How are you today, Melissa?!"   They made us feel like family.  The clinic was one of our 'homes away from home.' 

We never imagined looking forward to going to the dentist, but just that's what happened!
They took so much time with us, making sure that every detail was perfect.
They were so delicate, gentle and patient.
It was dental heaven!

The prices were just as friendly!  Melissa's treatment and prices are listed below:

Thailand                                                          US______________________
$53.21 -  initial visit with 4 x-rays                 Initial visit  $120
$263.82 - 5 cavities (7 surfaces)                                        $936 
$260.56 - Root Planing for 4 quadrants                             $1186 ($800 uninsured price)     $577.59   total                                                          $2242 ($1856)  total
to be continued...

The Gypsy Ashram goes to Thailand

Well...in a completely different vein...

A few months ago, one of our gypsies called me about some problems she was having
with her teeth. She is a young, uninsured, hard-working artisan struggling to build her business.
Like many young people starting out, managing a roof over your head, finding a reliable car
(and mechanic), buying insurance and all the other necessities of American life can be quite a juggling act. Paying off college loans, travelling to art shows, buying supplies and equipment
all make for a lean existence at times. One must also pay for the occasional dance class
and splurge on something beautiful to wear now and then, too.

She had called several dentist offices for quotes and recommendations for care over a 2 year period.
The estimates she received were open-ended, higher than what she could afford, and to make matters worse, she was pressured into all sorts of expensive add-ons wherever she went. She was given to understand that her teeth and gums were so bad that she needed to commit immediately to lengthy
and high-priced treatments. In the interim, she was surprised to find that no one would even clean her teeth or fill her cavities until she had her 'disease' treated. Prices continued to rise as did her fears.
Each attempt left her more demoralized and with feelings of being misled and manipulated.
It was time to do something! I suggested dental tourism.
I had been putting off dental care myself for a few years. I could afford it with some effort,
but I felt that prices were exploitatively high and I just didn't want to participate in our system.
I have dental assistant friends who have shared some inside information about the marketing courses
they are forced to take. Sadly, their jobs have become as much about aggressively up-selling unnecessary services as caring for patients. The tactics that are employed are blatantly manipulative.

Going somewhere like Hungary, India or Thailand where prices are far lower, without sacrificing quality seemed like a good idea. As we talked things over, Thailand was the favored choice for both of us.
We could get our dental work done, receive a lot of great Thai massage and see the world through the microcosm that is Bangkok.
The next day a woman told me that her elderly mother was quoted $1650 for a crown at the dentist
in my neighborhood.  Heavens!!  Things were worse than I'd thought. That sealed the deal for me!

I searched flight fares, dental quotes from Bangkok clinics and sought out an old favorite guest house
and Thai massage school. Wonderfully, I found that for the price of that crown that we could pay for
a return flight, our guesthouse, meals and still have a little left over for affordable dental work!
I also felt that the Thai dentists would take more time and be far more gentle and patient oriented.

Without any further thought, we chose a clinic, booked our flights and then competed with each other
to pack the smallest bag. Gypsies travel light and on short notice, after all! We are not bound by cultural mandates and are free to make our own way in the world.

to be continued...

Raymond Buckland ... continued

Raymond Buckland is a sprightly 78 year old gentleman with a wide ranging reputation
as a metaphysical researcher.  His interest was sparked early in life when he came across
a relative's library of spiritualist writings. He was hooked and it became his lifelong passion
to learn, experience and share what he discovered with generations to follow.

His father, also a writer, was a king of his gypsy clan.  He married an English woman
and became one of the first 'settled gypsies' in England.  That caused no small friction
with his Roma mother and other female relatives. The new bride suffered rejection
and harsh treatment at their hands.  He knows what it is to have a foot in both worlds...
that of the Roma and that of the gadje (pronounced 'gowjoes') or non-Roma.
He gew up in an age of transition within their communities.
Young Raymond published his 1st article at 12, but he was 35 when his 1st book was published.
Since then he has written over 50 books on a wide variety of  metaphysical topics.

His first lecture provided an overview of Roma history with a few new insights that were
clearly the views of an insider rather than a cultural anthropologist. Along the way, he made
few apologies for some of the questionable attitudes and activities of his people, but he was able
to lend a humorous and compassionate understanding to the picture.
We were treated to a great slideshow of early photographs of the travelling Roma.
Mr. Buckley described the lifestyle, customs, beliefs of his people.  He also gave a good history
of the vardos or wagons with all their various styles. For those of you who need a vardo 'fix'
now and then, this is my favorite site..  http://gypsywaggons.co.uk/varsuk.htm 

In the later lectures, we practiced various forms of scrying, meditating, use of crystals
and various other methods of developing communication with your higher self and with
the non-visible world.   His experience is vast and covered not only Roma techniques,
but the various methods of spiritualism.  He told stories about how it took him 50 years to
make contact with his own father after his passing.
His friend, famed psychic John Edwards worked hard for 3 years to reach his own mother.
It's not often that you get to talk with someone so honest and knowledgeable about these topics.

In passing on his experience, one of the most memorable things he shared was that
"Spirit speaks first".   What he means by this is that as we notice our thoughts and impressions
throughout the day or when we ask for help, the first lightning-fast, fleeting impression
comes from spirit.  All subsequent thoughts are coming on a slower vibration.
Information from the spiritual realm is characterized by its swift and subtle quality.
Meditation helps us slow down, clear the mind and listen.
With time, we learn to discern these messages.

In all, Raymond Buckland was an inspiring guide and fascinating personality.
He was not a stereotypical Roma by any means, but he is a good historian
and a living link to his heritage.
We were grateful for all he shared with us...

Raymond Buckland, an English Gypsy

Back in 2000, I was living on a houseboat on Lake Lanier near Atlanta, Georgia.
That is a story in itself which will be shared in time, but for now, let me say that
it was a perfect gypsy set-up.
It was cheap, easy and when you were ready for a change, all you had to do
was turn the key in the ignition, cast the lines and go wondering on the water.
When you found an island with a sandy bank, you would just beach your boat there,
tie off and live till your supplies ran out.  Sleeping under the stars, revelling in the simplicity
of life.  No electricity, complete freedom, back to basics.
My old houseboat afforded just enough shelter, but it was spare enough to leave you living
close to the elements.   It was heaven!

A houseboat existence also left me with a bit of a home base...not too much, not too little,
from which to travel.
That summer, I indulged a long-held fascination with Spiritualism and it's roots.
Spiritualism is the belief in the continuation of life after the transition we call death.
150 or so years ago, it was a movement that swept America and England.
What remains of it in today's America are 3 communities: Camp Chesterfield in Indiana,
Lily Dale in upstate New York and Cassadaga near Daytona, Florida.
I decided to go visiting, one by one.
What I found was a quirky and wonderful assembling of psychice, mediums, healers
and investigators.  The camps are visited by all manner of interesting folk, as well.
I went as a bit of a curious and somewhat skeptical observer.
Having had plenty of unusual expereinces myself over the years, I knew that these things
are real and I wanted to spend  a little time among these people.  In particular, I wanted
to interview some of the older folks who had been born with gifts of healing.
My plan was to go to Camp Chesterfield and spend 3 weeks-3 months there,
observing and writing.
That was 12 years ago.  I am still here.  An unexpected chapter of my life unfolded here
and my beautiful boat days came to a close...
All good Gypsies must stay flexible, lightly attached and open to the call of Spirit.

There are what is called 'settled Gypies' and roaming ones.
I find myself somewhere in the middle...and it works pretty well.

So back to the story... Raymond Buckland was coming to give a series of lectures at
Camp Chesterfield and I was excited to meet this half-Roma son of a Gypsy king,
prolific writer,  and avid psychic investigator and teacher. 

to be continued...

Serbia and the Gypsies continued....the Aftermath

 At this camp, I witnessed the most inhumane living conditions of the Roma 1^st hand. 

I was so incensed and upset by what I experienced that I could suddenly think of nothing else. 
I had come looking for answers and I was choking on what I found.   
But there was no doubting  that I needed to witness this for myself. 
The scene burned its way into my psyche, branding it forever. 
My driver tried to take some of the edge off the experience by taking me on a long drive.
He turned off his meter and we drove slowly back to the old city.  He started to share many things. 
"I know where a Gypsy Museum is.  Would you like to see it?" 
"I remember an interview with a Roma teacher...I think I can find his place."  
We spent several hours together finding the places and people.   
It was a valuable experience in many ways.
He opened up and we began to talk in earnest about the situation from various perspectives. 

"In the time of socialism, everyone had a job, an apartment,  education and security. 
Despite differences, we lived as equals.  When Tito died and our system crumbled, factories closed,
the economic changes were too much, the war took place and we lost everything.  Society is
still struggling for even basic necessities.  I myself am 40 years old, and I still live with my parents.
I am on a long waiting list for an apartment.  My girlfriend and I cannot marry and raise a family
as a result.  I work 2 jobs, long hours to make ends meet.  This is the case for many Serbians now.
If apartments were given to Roma ahead of Serbians, there would be turmoil.  We are all waiting.
This camp has been here for 2 years.  Most of these people are recent arrivals from Kosovo,
hoping to find a more hopeful situation in Serbia..  They would be at the bottom of the list for housing.  They might wait many years for help."  

The situation was complex and difficult, yet this was insufferable.  I had only a few hours left
before flying back to the States.   I agonized over what could/should be done.  My first thought
was to find a way back to the camp and give my extra cash, but there was no way to make that happen. 
A part of me wondered if it would be received as an insult.  
I was deeply moved by their plight, but I couldn't find my place in the situation. 
Everything that I tried to do was blocked on some level.  I would have to wait for guidance. 

When guidance came, it was not what I expected.
I wanted to DO something...and quickly.  Instead  I was told to do nothing but pray...for now...
and to pray hard!    I was reminded that that is the most powerful act.       
I put all my heart and mind into it.  I prayed that the government would no longer turn a blind eye
and that it would move these people to shelter that was decent and safe. 
I thought of nothing else for many days. 
I returned home, a bit heavy-hearted, but with a sense of force and determination.
Prayer has many times turned impossible situations around. 
I went back home and back to work with their situation pressing in my mind and heart.

Just 7 days later, as I was scanning for news articles on the recent International Roma Day.
I stumbled on camera footage of the very same camp! 
On that day, the camp made headlines around the world.
It was being dismantled by order of the mayor of Belgrade!    Incredible!

People were being  registered for services of all kinds and they were being moved into various kinds of housing and otherwise resettled in safer conditions.   I also found that there were many NGOs, media and welfare organizations on the scene, monitoring the situation.    Though there was some criticism of decisions made by the government, the evidence bore out that the Roma were given new housing in many cases and that they were well-treated.  They were given money to live as well as funds to rebuild homes in their old villages. Families remained intact and were carried by buses.to their new homes.   Army trucks and personnel came to load their goods and transport them to new locations.
They still faced struggle for sure, but at least this burning garbage dump was behind them.

To all my readers, thanks for your patience these last months.  This was a difficult chapter to write.
There is still much to understand and learn...

warm salutations to all the good Gypsies...

next. post.:.a weekend with Roma author, Ray Buckland... and.meeting some unexpected Gypsies!