In The Comfort Zone

I was looking on web-sites for volunteer vacations where my family and I could go to experience another culture by lending a hand, gain a new perspective on life, and vacation. Some destinations were Costa Rica -- helping a village in the rain forest plant crops (that had been previously eaten by animals that are protected under the U.S. wild life preserve, in fact); Peru -- helping a village in the mountains rebuild a school and teach their children English and how to use computers; and Thailand -- helping the Monks translate songs, care for the elderly and the disadvantaged.

Learning more about the Thailand trip, some of the dangers included the Avian flu and possible human-to-human mutation of the disease. Clicking around on different news topics brought me to a story on Thailand's huge AIDS population. One outcome of this epidemic has been the Temple of Doom, where AIDS infected people are left abandoned to die. Some have been found left on the door step of this temple, dropped off by family members, as if they were an unwanted pet.

Thousands of white sand bags surround a Buddah inside the temple that contain the ashes of the dead who were abandoned there. And even more horrifying was found in this excerpt:

"The temple is also used to engender fear of AIDS. Preserved naked bodies of dead patients encased in glass are on display along with a baby floating in formaldehyde. Sculptures made of bone fragments fill a garden and lopped off body parts - hands, feet, penises - are seen floating in glass jars." -- The Standard. Mon. June 5th. "Where The Unwanted Wither"

Auburn is certainly a cozy little place to stay sealed up in. . .