Hi,
Today was a beautiful day in Chiang Rai. Oh, it was hot, but we enjoyed the fact that it didn't rain. It's been four days since we landed on the other side of the world and Mr. Lag is slowly losing his grip.
The almost 'Old School Friday' song was "Right Place, Wrong Time" by Dr. John. Ever been there? It's time for 'Easy Monday' and a tune you're sure to remember: "When you're down and troubled and you need a helping hand, and nothing, whoa, nothing is going right. Close your eyes and think of me and soon I will be there, to brighten up even your darkest nights." Clue: It's about something way older than Facebook. (555) Title is in 4 words. The hook comes tomorrow.
Mornings are typically the best time to get things done when in Jet Lag Mode. The urge to collapse comes in the afternoon. With that in mind, we went out early Saturday morning and shopped at Makro. Nothing special about that except the first of the month crowd. We timed it so we could take the food home and be at Central Plaza when it opened. The Immigration folks come into town on the first Saturday of each month and it saves us an hour drive to Mae Sai, near the border with Burma. While we were standing in line we met with a few expat friends. I learned that there is a new shopping center in Bangkok called 'Terminal 21'. It is a nine floor center that features a different country and theme on various floors. First floor is Rome, then London and so on. Can't wait to check this place out. We finished our business, had some coffee and set out for an adventure.
Our friends Chalit and Amber had invited us to a birthday lunch in honor of both of their birthdays. It turns out they share the same date, four years apart. The lunch was held at an interesting place that means Banzai in Thai. It's made out of scrap lumber and has a unique design. We traveled out of town on what is called the 'Old Highway' and missed the place on our first pass. We didn't mind because the countryside is so beautiful after all the rain in the region. Everything is overgrown and the hillsides and jungles are lush. After finding the place with a few phone calls, we met with the birthday couple and some people we knew and others that we'd seen but never talked to. It was a friendly group and at one point the conversation turned to Mr. Lag. Everyone at the table had an experience to share about the uncontrollable weight that comes over one. We ate, talked, laughed, and then politely excused ourselves. I didn't want to be driving home under the influence of you know who. We got home, took a nap and kept napping into the evening.
Singha Lion in a field of flowers on the Old Highway
Sunday was a mellow day around the house. We have been working on getting Tat (we think that's how he spells it) to relax around us. He's a very studious 17 year old and whenever we enter a room he dashes off. He's starting to get the idea that we want to be friends. A little progress was made and he began to 'hang out' a bit.
In the evening we went to the Night Bazaar with Chalit. It was our first dinner at Sawadee since we've been home. We always have stimulating conversations with Chalit that mostly involve art and creativity.
I don't know how it happened, but they started the French Open without us. We only missed some first round play so we're keeping up pretty good. This afternoon, on our only trip off the compound, we stopped by to see Watch Guy and he had it going on his TV. Today was a good day for many reasons. The yard crew came and groomed our overgrown gardens and we stayed awake in the afternoon. Maybe we're out of the woods.
As the sun began to set in Chiang Rai we slipped into the pool for our first swim in almost a month. Tat played with the dogs and it was a happy time all around.
Have a Great Week.
Peace,
Danny
"Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge
and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you,you will suddenly know everything there is to be known."
~Winnie-the-Pooh
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