Others

Hi,

The daytime temps here in Chiang Mai are warmer than Chiang Rai, and the nights are in the low 60s.  That’s right, we’re in Chiang Mai, but for one night only.

The ‘Easy Monday’ song had a few friends respond right away.  Some of you will kick yourself when you realize that you know this tune. “Something inside has died and I can’t hide, and I just can’t fake it, oh no, no.  It used to be so easy living here with you.  You were light and breezy and I knew just what to do.  Now you look so unhappy, and I feel like a fool.  And __ __ __, baby, now __ __ __,  though we really did try to make it, something inside has died and I can’t hide, and I just can’t fake it, oh no no.”  Clue:  The singer has a huge catalog of hits and she also has many hit albums.  

This morning we drove down to Chiang Mai for an appointment with one of the many doctors in my life these days. What used to be a 3 hour trip is now 4, due to the ongoing road work.  Our mandatory stop for food and pie was yummy as usual.  We got to Chiang Mai a little after noon.  In the course of my appointment, the doctor asked a series of questions and then put clues together and determined that I’m anemic.  He offered solutions and we discussed the steps to take to restore my blood health.  

Our overnight stay will be in our favorite hotel, The Dusit D2.  It speaks to us on so many levels.  In an effort to give us the type of bed we requested, they gave us an upgrade, and now we’re in a suite.  

We walked down a long alley to a restaurant we like.  The idea of walking back, after our meal, was not very appealing so we hailed a Tuk-Tuk.  We found one and quickly discovered that it was an electric model.  Apparently, there are more and more of them being converted to electric power.  There are two reasons why I like this idea: they use no fuel, and they make no noise.  Tuk-Tuks are a large contributor to noise pollution.  

In Southeast Asia there is a car service called ‘Grab’, which is similar to Uber and Lyft.  We use it in Chiang Rai and Bangkok and it works out well.  We took a Grab to meet friends for dinner at a place called Duke’s.  It’s a small chain of steak and pizza restaurants.  Tonight, for the first time in 45 years, I had a steak.  It was a suggestion from the doctor.  Conversation was mostly centered around health issues, which is not always the best topic for dinner talk, but it was OK in this instance.  

Yesterday’s birthday events concluded with Nitchanan opening gifts at home.  She was still a little wound up from this school party, but once she realized that the gifts were all for her, she began.  Now she has three different kinds of coloring devices, and books with blank pages so she can do her ‘art’ and save it.

Nitchanan handing out her presents, not realizing they were all for her.

Nitchanan handed me different colors and told me where to draw, sometimes.

As the evening progresses and nightlife begins, there’s nothing like the sounds from the Hard Rock Cafe providing the background for an evening in the hotel.

Have a Happy Tuesday.

                        Peace,

                                  Danny

“Questioner: How are we to treat others?

Ramana Maharshi: There are no others."