Hello, I am new here

[Debp]

The boats are long with many seats that hold 8-10 people. As long as you don't hang your arms or legs over the sides of the boats, they are safe. Being airboats they make allot of noise but fun to ride on. While you might see a few alligators on the ride, you see more water birds, fish and turtles and vegetation. Most places down on #41, have large fenced pool areas filled with big alligators. I got some of my best close up photo shots of alligators from pens like that. The Indian Attractions also have them and often do alligator wrestling to entertain the visitors. They used to be pens with pools containing otters and turtles. Also some pens with cougars and others with deer. The prices always seemed fair.

Sounds like fun.  When I was in North Thailand, I rode in a "long-tail boat".....it's like a very long canoe-type boat with an outboard motor at the rear.  Our tour group took the boat up to the Karin Hill Tribe village....their village was by the water and the "houses" (more like wood shacks) real close to the water were on stilts.  The children all came out to sell colorful woven belts they had made.....the belts all hanging in a row from their arms.  There was also a tiny church at that village.

Our group also saw a "snake show" in Bangkok.....we were on a wider type of boat to get there.  Saw alot of shacks on the way out to the snake show.  The further we got outside of Bangkok, the prettier the wood shacks were.  Some of us also took a "rice barge cruise".....that was really, really nice.  We drove some distance from Bangkok and then boarded the rice barge.   We were towed back to Bangkok by a long-tail boat.  The tropical scenery was beautiful and the "shacks" were nicer and all on stilts in the water.  We saw some typical life along the canal (klong)....including someone getting out of the water after a bath!  (The lady was wrapped in a big towel but her husband was pointing at us.....like, oh, the tourists are looking at you!) 

Thailand was my favorite Asian country as it has alot of different and interesting things to see and do.  Indonesia and Japan were my next favorites.

[islandboy]

That is really interesting, being able to see first hand how other cultures live. You mentioned in another post that you have done missionary work. Can you tell me a bit about what that is like? Our church has some missions work going on in China and Arizona and the Alaska. The opportunity may present it's self to me sometime down the road and I would like to hear the pro's and con's of doing it. Now, I know the biggest pro is spreading and bringing the message of our Lord Jesus Christ, but I am interested in the other considerations of missions work as well. What are your thoughts on this subject?

[Debp]

That is really interesting, being able to see first hand how other cultures live. You mentioned in another post that you have done missionary work. Can you tell me a bit about what that is like? Our church has some missions work going on in China and Arizona and the Alaska. The opportunity may present it's self to me sometime down the road and I would like to hear the pro's and con's of doing it. Now, I know the biggest pro is spreading and bringing the message of our Lord Jesus Christ, but I am interested in the other considerations of missions work as well. What are your thoughts on this subject?

I was never a "professional" missionary.  I did minor in missions but was led into secular work (mainly the travel industry which gave me a view of the religions of Asia).  I think it is very helpful to visit these areas where Christians are a small minority.   Sometimes we never realize that people can still worship very primitively and fearfully...and also live primitively.  This gave me a desire to help Asian missions.

I learned that in Thailand, they are afraid the previous owners of their house/land will be angry at them....so they erect a small house on a pole, so that the "people" (spirits) can inhabit this very small house.  Everywhere in Thailand, you would see these "spirit houses" on poles.....even the hotels and gas stations had them!

There are so many statues of Buddha (all sizes, even to the very gigantic).  Also, in Singapore, I visited a Hindu temple and observed the worshippers.  On the Hindu island of Bali, Indonesia....each "house compound" had shrines built inside of the open-air compound.

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and Java, Indonesia are Muslim areas.  I was not knowledgable about Islam then.

In visiting these areas, of course, there is a language barrier.  But I always smiled and reached out to the people as much as I could....I also wore a cross so they would know I was a Christian.

In the USA in secular work, I just reached out and talked to people each day about the Lord in a natural way.  In my early 20s, I did do volunteer work with a pastor for a year....he had a ministry to the Jewish people.   The pastor, some other young people and I would do door to door visitation/evangelism each week in the Jewish neighborhood.  I also did some nursing home visitation while in Bible college.

The past few years I try to help native missions through Christian Aid.  I realize they already know the language and the culture and can live very cheaply.  I like to help in "closed countries" (Muslim), where a Western missionary would not be allowed to enter.

[islandboy]

Thanks for sharing. I would like to add if anyone else reading these posts has done any missionary work, even in the US, I would enjoy hearing about your experiences.
I would think in some cases language barrios and culture differences, and local customs would make a big difference on how you could approach people.
Even here in the United States, we deal with some of these same divisions, but usually there is someone that can speak both English and say, Spanish or whatever language is required to get the message across.
In going back to our on-running nature talk, the Seminole Indian's & Other Tribes, have various attractions and museums, that give glimpse into their culture and history. They also have animals for the viewing public, offer boat rides and swamp buggy rides.

[Debp]

Thanks for sharing. I would like to add if anyone else reading these posts has done any missionary work, even in the US, I would enjoy hearing about your experiences.
I would think in some cases language barrios and culture differences, and local customs would make a big difference on how you could approach people.
Even here in the United States, we deal with some of these same divisions, but usually there is someone that can speak both English and say, Spanish or whatever language is required to get the message across.
In going back to our on-running nature talk, the Seminole Indian's & Other Tribes, have various attractions and museums, that give glimpse into their culture and history. They also have animals for the viewing public, offer boat rides and swamp buggy rides.

Yes, knowing the customs is very important.  Like in Asia, do not pat a child on the top of the head (like we do in the USA)....that's a definite "no-no".  Also, when sitting on the floor, don't ever "point" your feet at another person.

The Seminoles & the other tribes sound like they have an interesting tourist attraction.

[Kristi Ann]

Warm Welcome to Christians Unite Forums islandboy!! 

[islandboy]

Thanks for the warm welcome (MsGuidedAngel) and the same goes to you. I look forward to reading more of your posts. I visited your webpage and will do so again soon. Your forum topic matter looks very interesting.

All of the Indian Tribes in Florida, have an interesting history and culture. I enjoy their handicrafts (beadwork, sewing skills, etc...). I  once had a beautiful handsewn quilt in the Seminole colors of red, yellow, white, black. There is not room here to share their history but that info is available easily with a web search.
I think what makes Florida, special is it's native plant life, everglades, (sea of grass), wildlife, forest land, and it's heat wave and mosquito population. If I could change two things I would reduce the amount of mosquito's and turn down the heat to the 70 degree range year round.

[islandboy]

Debp,
 Out of curiosity i was wondering are there any Indian Tribes in your State? I often hear about reservations in the North & Southwest, but I was wondering if there were more tribes in your area?
I did a bit of research on Native American Tribes in Florida, and discovered there were several different tribes. The Apalachee, Calusa, Choctaw,
Creek,Miccosukee, Tequesta, Jeaga and Ais tribes, and the Timucua Tribe.
The Seminoles were not or ginally a single tribe. They were a mixed alliance of Northern Florida and Southern Georgia tribes that banded together in 1700's to fight invaders. This included people from the Creek tribes and Miccosukee, Hitchiti and Oconee Tribes. Today the Seminoles are a united sovereign nation, and their people speak two languages and have different cultural backgrounds.
The original homelands of Florida's Creek and Miccosukee Indians were in the northern part of the State, but since the tribes of southern Florida had been conquered and shipped to Cuba by the Spanish, the Seminoles moved into the area. Some Seminoles were removed to Oklahoma by the US government.
The Seminole Nation has five different reservations in Florida, but all of them are governed by the same tribe. Big Cypress Indian Reservation is the largest, but the Hollywood Reservation is where the seat of the Seminole government is located.

[Debp]

Debp,
 Out of curiosity i was wondering are there any Indian Tribes in your State? I often hear about reservations in the North & Southwest, but I was wondering if there were more tribes in your area?

Islandboy, there are some tribes here, I think.  I do hear about one tribe that runs a casino (they sometimes put out a commercial during elections, when a law might effect their casino).  I forgot the name of their tribe.

Arizona has alot of Indian reservations.  Once on a day trip to the Grand Canyon, we bought some beaded necklaces from a couple of Indian women.  They had their wares spread out on blankets on the rocks above a canyon.  A thunderstorm was coming up.....alot of atmosphere!  The storm came and the lightning was flashing down into the Grand Canyon as we drove off....it was quite a sight!!  I love rain and thunderstorms.

[nChrist]

We have a large amount of Sovereign Indian Nation Land in Oklahoma. I can't even list them all, but we do have Apache and Comanche Lands close to us. In fact, our area of Oklahoma is rich in Indian history. As an example, Geronimo and Quanah Parker walked the streets of Lawton many years ago. Many of our counties are named for various Indian Tribes. Example, I live in Comanche County. Other examples close to us are Kiowa County and Caddo County. Some of Geronimo's last battles were fought with the soldiers from Fort Sill. Geronimo ended his days on Fort Sill in prison and is buried there.

If memory serves me correctly, Oklahoma has Sovereign Indian Lands belonging to over 30 Tribes. I say "Sovereign" because they are in many ways a "Sovereign" Nation. They have their own court system, schools, government, etc. They can also grant or deny access to whoever they wish.

[Soldier4Christ]

Illinois is pretty much the same as far as being rich in Indian history. The state was named after the Illinois, the Illinewek Indians as they are sometimes are called. At one time there were the Chippewa, Foxes,  Kickapoo and many others. Some of my ancestors were of the Fox tribe. The battle with Black Hawk, of which Abraham Lincoln was a part of, took place here. Most of the cities in Illnois were named after the many minor tribes.

There is a Black Hawk museum in Rock Islands were there are still many Indians that gather in various tribal celebrations although there is no reservations in the state. The Shawnee National Forest is another such area in southern Illinois. Most of the Indians from Illinois were forced onto reservations in Oklahoma.

[nChrist]

I think that we do have a large area in Oklhoma that is Sovereign Shawnee Nation. I know that we have a city called Shawnee. I really wish that I knew more about this subject. I've always known that large portions of Oklahoma are Sovereign Indian Nations, and I know that the history is fascinating. We live 40 miles from Anadarko, and they call themselves "Indian Nation USA".

I'm also part Cherokee, but I had a not of trouble trying to get very much specific information. There was a time when Indian women were disowned in some Tribes when they married outside of the Tribe. That appears to be the case with my great grandmother. Overall, I would say that the relationship between Indian Tribes and Oklahoma has been good and one of mutual respect.

[islandboy]

A few more interesting facts about the Seminole Indians Clans (extended family units) in Florida. There are eight Seminole Indian clans in Florida, Panther and Bear, Deer and Bird, Wind and Bigtown, Snake and Otter. Clan members are not suppose to marry with in their clan. (I suppose they don't want their family tree to have one branch). When the last female in a clan passes on, the clan is considered extinct. Example of this is the Alligator clan is extinct. The Panther clan is the largest clan in the Seminole Tribe today in Florida. Each clan is characterized by strength or courage or endurance, etc...
There are 6 reservations in Florida. Fort Pierce and Tampa, Brighton and Big Cypress, Hollywood and Immokalee.
The biggest money brought in to the Tribe is from  their Casino's.

[Debp]

A few more interesting facts about the Seminole Indians Clans (extended family units) in Florida. There are eight Seminole Indian clans in Florida, Panther and Bear, Deer and Bird, Wind and Bigtown, Snake and Otter. Clan members are not suppose to marry with in their clan. (I suppose they don't want their family tree to have one branch). When the last female in a clan passes on, the clan is considered extinct. Example of this is the Alligator clan is extinct. The Panther clan is the largest clan in the Seminole Tribe today in Florida. Each clan is characterized by strength or courage or endurance, etc...
There are 6 reservations in Florida. Fort Pierce and Tampa, Brighton and Big Cypress, Hollywood and Immokalee.
The biggest money brought in to the Tribe is from  their Casino's.

Very interesting about the different clan names....I had never heard of those before.

[islandboy]

Straight from the Fort Myers News Press, A rare orchid was discovered at Corkscew Swamp Sanctuary in Collier County. First of type found in 12 years.
With graceful petals drooping like a Mark Twain mustache, the pale, spectral flowers haunted the trunk of an ancient bald cypress. The 400 to 500 year old tree to which the orchid is attached is 150 feet from the boardwalk, and the orchid, bearing nine flowers ( most ghost orchids have two or three flowers), is 45 feet above the ground, making the line of sight from the boardwalk 150 feet. In order to see this rare ghost orchid you need the help of a high-powered spotting scope. Ghost orchids are endangered and on the states list of imperiled species, as it's two main threats are habitat loss and poaching. Collecting wild orchids is illegal. The rare orchid was discovered by two visitors looking for owls and they just happened to look in the right spot.