Back in Bangkok

We have been away from the Mercy Centre for a week, headed to Phuket to Eric’s house to enjoy some sun, beach and to shoot some scenic footage.
We arrived back in Bangkok yesterday for some sight seeing. We saw China Town and Patpong road which is just as discusting as you may have heard. Today we went to the Mercy Centre and had a fabulous visit with Father Joe, He is such an interesting man. He told us about AIDS and HIV and his view on how it drives him nuts when people say they are HIV but don’t have AIDS, when in fact you do have AIDS, you just aren’t sick yet. He believes in healthy food and good care and of course medication when needed, he believes that if the people want to eat something that isn’t recommended, they should eat it, if it makes them sick, they won’t eat it again, but not to deprive them of what they may want. He went on to explain Tuberculosis and how just about every AIDS patient has TB, and that is usually what actually kills them in the end. He explained the open air design of the centre and the way that germs stay air born and how important it is to let the air flow freely and not to stay stagnant in the walls of the centre or alive in the air conditioning.
He then talked about the boys going to study at Buddhist school and the monastery, How each child is watched 24/7 never left alone and is given special care and a watchful eye, so as no never be touched by man where they are not meant to be touched. How important he stressed that the kids at the MC are never alone with a man, although he trusts his staff he feels it so important that the children are never with only men, women they can be alone with but never a man as 30% of the MC kids have been sexually abused in one way or another.
Today we did a bit of filming on the river on a longtail boat, then visited some Wats, we were joined by my friend and fellow Canadian and Documentary film maker Aaron, it was great to have new company and to finally meet as we have been emailing back and forth for so long.