NO POOL, NO SLEEP, NO PROBLEM! (I apologize for the layout. Blogger kept talking to me in Thai)

5-11 continued

Later on Monday I walked around. The YMCA looks like it’s in the middle of nowhere but it’s surrounded by gems. When I couldn’t figure out that breakfast situation (I have sadly since figured it out, eaten it, and don’t plan to do it again), I stumbled into the restaurant right across the street, that seems to be the only one open before 8am. There is one woman cooking, who will apparently make you a custom meal based on what ingredients she has. A customer, a lovely woman from Australia — who is here doing research for her masters, working in a school nearby for refuges — was teaching the woman English and brushing up on her own Thai. I had a rice omelet, which was yummy. Fried rice is a common breakfast here and it only takes a second to get used to because it’s awesome. 

I also found an artisan coffee shop down the block. They make freakishly small cups of coffee here. You know how they say the US diet includes enormous portion sizes? This is most manifest in the size of our coffees compared to what they give you here. But the place is super cute and I can sit and write there (I go half way around the world, and do the exact same fuckin’ thing I do at home).

I spent the afternoon walking around and getting the lay of the land. I found Nimmanhaemin, a main street with a lot of upper-scale businesses. I bought a cloth journal. I think I have a sickness. I also got my first foot massage, which was pretty awesome. My feet have been swollen since I got here and I’ve been wearing the same shoes since I got here (those orthodics I bought for my Bernie Mevs just before I left- best purchase ever!). 

The basic idea here is that you get moving in the morning and then rest in the afternoon. Maybe you’re heard it’s hot here. And the pool at the hotel is closed. So yes, it’s hot but really not as unbearable as I’d heard. I’m certain I’ve experienced more heat in NYC. 

I made it back to my area and went, once again, to that vegetarian restaurant (I have promised myself I will go here at least once a day). I had a dip plate- one dip was a tahini, lime thing and the other was a warm hummus. Then I had a banana peanut butter shake with coconut milk. Yes, it was fuckin’ good.

When I returned to the YMCA to find the pool was closed, I started researching other places to stay. The internet connection in my room is pretty bad and after getting frustrated with researching, I returned to a place that Tim’s friend Nicole had suggested. I initially didn’t want to stay there because it was $150/night and the place I am in currently is $20/night. But I found discounts on agoba and got a studio room for $80/night with taxes. I had quite a deliberation about this; I have a hard time splurging on these kinds of things. But with the money I already saved, I figured I break even. It’s got a pool (yay!) and a gym (which I am uncomfortable to say I won’t be using) and a bar (which I probably will use). And the location is perfect; it’s right off of Nimmanhaemin. I’m already preparing for the move tomorrow by repeatedly going to the vegetarian restaurant I’ve fallen in love with down the block from the YMCA. It’s interesting how quickly I get attached to locations. 

I ended the day getting what I think was a traditional Thai meal at a highly rated place. I got some kind of noodle and vegetable dish. So far it’s been my least favorite meal. It’s not them, it’s me. I don’t think I ordered well for myself. Oh well.

5-12 

I had breakfast at the YMCA. I wanted brewed coffee and sweet bread-y things, damn it! Well the coffee was instant and the french toast was not a success. I didn't take a picture of it. What is the opposite of ‘food porn?’ ‘Food horror?’ ‘Food frustration?’ Whatever.

I took a car to the Warorot market. Gotta love Lonely Planet. They know how to send you to the place the tourists don’t go (they did this for me in Cusco too). I got there early, which was good because it greats crazy. And there were some tourists there but mostly Thais. Just when I was getting frustrated with not finding stuff I found interesting, I stumbled into the clothing vendors, then the Hmong market, past the textiles and the book store. I was there for hours. It was one of those very rare situations in which I forget to eat. I spent more than intended. I am still on the lookout for viable souvenirs for my family. I experience some kind of low-level rush, or maybe it’s flow, when I am in a new city and able to figure it out well enough to get around. It’s been a while since I’ve felt that but it worked for me here. 







I returned to the YMCA and went back to the veggie place (let the food porn begin) and had a salad and a coconut cinnamon smoothie (with chunks of actual coconut in it). And then went to the movies. I was told people do that here to keep cool. The ‘Avengers’ in English played at 4:30. Okay this time I can’t blame the Ativan; what the hell is going on in this movie????? 

Since I was hungry when I entered the movie, I was starving when I got out. I went to a highly rated Mexican restaurant. The food was very good. Unfortunately, being a picky eater and having a language barrier is not a good combo. Their plates have a lot of ingredients. I picked the one (shrimp quesadilla) that would necessitate me taking out the fewest things. I even had dessert- homemade ice cream and berry sauce.

5-13 

Last night I took to Ativan and slept a lot better. And I didn’t walk into any walls, although it did take some effort. Today I had breakfast at the little place by the YMCA again and had chicken fried rice. The vegetarian place doesn’t open until 10am. Since the general idea is to go out as early as possible to avoid the heat, I’m usually done sightseeing around 1pm. 

I walked to Old City. I went to the Chiang Mai City Arts and Cultural Center and Museum, which covered the history of Chiang Mai. By the end, I was lifting language for a Thailand poetry project. Afterwards, I planned to go to Green Bamboo Massage, which was recommended to me by a friend. But when all was said and done, it was far away and there are massage places on every block. So I shopped and visited some temples. Went back to the veggie place for lunch (grilled veggie sandwich, peanut butter banana smoothie again).

Tomorrow I go to the hotel for 5 nights. I’m going to the veggie place for breakfast. Don’t judge. Somewhere in there I decide whether I attend an overnight meditation retreat and/or do an excursion to a nearby city. Stay tuned. I might do none of it.

The above was a random picture but the temple shown indoors with all the gold is Wat Pan Tao.

Oh, and I’m wearing shorts. And not those knee length jammies I got from Sports Basement a few weeks ago. These are the boy shorts I bought at Old Navy (undoubtedly from some discount rack) like a decade ago, so I’d have them in case I had a ‘boy short emergency.’ I have a bargain-bin g-string from Victoria’s Secret for much the same reason. No matter what some women will tell you, there is actually no such thing as a g-string emergency. I initially thought the last time I wore these short was with Krista when she and I were in Guatemala and sitting in a stone sauna with a funny Irishman and another man who was a friend of the funny Irishman (sorry dude, whoever you are). But I am wrong. I wore these shorts when I took pole dancing. But that’s not my fault. You can’t pole dance with cloth on your legs. Of course I can’t pole dance at all. But I digress. I’m wearing these fuckin shorts.