To meditate, or not to meditate

5/16/15

Ok I didn’t make it to the grocery store. It’s a long walk and I’m going to two walking streets, today and Sunday, and my Plantar Fasciitis has been acting up. But I did book my tour to Chiang Rai (on Monday). And if I pay 400 extra bhat, I’ll be able to cross the border into Laos for like 30 minutes. Yoohoo! 

Yesterday, I walked to the temple (Wat Suan Dok) that is next to Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University (no I didn’t just have a seizure on my keyboard, that's how it's spelled) which does the monk chat and mediation retreats. I found the vegetarian restaurant which is affiliated with the one I’d been going to daily by the YMCA.  I got info on the retreat. 

I walked to the University of Chiang Mai Art Museum; it shows the students’ work, which were all art installations. 

I got another foot massage (I know this is over-the-top but at about $7/hr, it’s too good to resist) and went in the pool. (as shown here... just so you know I'm not making anything up)

I went back to the temple at 5pm and did the ‘Monk Chat.’ I thought this was going to be a monk giving a talk to a group of people. Wrong. It’s part of an English-speaking program started by a British guy, who is an advisor at the school there. It is a program that gives monks opportunity to talk to English speakers as part of their learning English. At first I was the only one there and so I talked to a monk and his advisor, who corrected his English. I was kind of nervous about it but then I had to remind myself what I do for a living and that I essentially do this kind of thing everyday. I found out more about the over night retreat (Tuesday/Wednesday) and have since looked up reviews online. The thing is, I didn’t feel totally comfortable the these guys. There was a vibe I was picking up on that pet my fur in the wrong direction. But I could still do it. I am sure it would be valuable. The other part is that I kind of don’t feel like it. I don’t have to decide until the day. I can just show up, luggage in hand, and do it. I just booked my next and last stay from Tues to Sat. I wanted to guarantee I’d have a place to stay. If worse comes to worst, I go to the retreat and eat the cost of the hotel stay for Tuesday. I got the room for under $50/night. More on that later.

The monk chat itself was interesting. The monk is originally from Sri Lanka and traveled all over southeast Asia and has now been at this school for many years. He talked about how one becomes a monk and their daily routine. The advisor explained the different divisions within Buddhism; their Theravada tradition is supposed to be the original and most strict form of Buddhism. Three other Americans joined in the conversation. We were eventually joined by two other monks who, according to the advisor, should have joined us from the beginning rather than staying in the other room trying to learn Thai. When the Americans left, I left with them. So there you go. I can be a good student and go on the retreat, or I can have the extra days to run around Thailand, which is what I have been doing anyway. Anyone want to weigh in?

I tried to go to that vegetarian restaurant for dinner but they close at 4pm (bastards!) so I walked all around and settled on the salad buffet at the hotel restaurant, which was nice. 

So now I am at the breakfast buffet at the hotel... I've sitting here for like 2 hours, doing all my business. You have to pay for wifi in the rooms so I just do this computer stuff once a day during breakfast. I just booked a hotel on the other side of Chiang Mai. The area I am in was suggested to me but I think I want a change of scenery. I booked a guesthouse room (that has a pool) in Old City. I’ll stay there from Tuesday until the end of my stay. 

The next thing I am deciding on is whether to do a Thai Street Food tour. I have not been eating that much actual Thai food, so this might be nice. :)