Sunday Night Walking Street Market

This is one of the reasons I love Chiang Mai. The Sunday Night Walking Street Market is my favorite market in SE Asia. Most markets have the same kinda things; jewelry, textiles, bags, clothes and all kinds of little trinkets. The SNWSM has all those things but also has interesting things I've not seen anywhere else in SE Asia (by that I mean Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia and of course all of Thailand).

N and I had planned our day around this market. After the mtg we would go to some fabric shops (for her curtains) and then go to the SNWSM. My first mistake was forgetting my money and my chapstick this morning (chapstick is especially important when using a motor bike). Doh!!! But N had cash so it was ok. We ended up getting carried away at the fabric store (see photo below of N loaded down Thai style on her bike). The plan was for her to take the fabric back to the house, I would pick up some curtain rings and we'd meet back up for the night market (and she could bring me my money and chapstick).

The old "I'm home now and don't feel like going back out" settled into N's mind and I was on my own...without my cash! Doh! And with dry lips...Doh! I had about 1200 baht on me ($36). Not sure how far it'd get me but I was not going to miss the market.

I started out "arrrrrrrrghhhhhh...how could I forget my money and my chapstick and why are there so many people in my way!!! arrrrrrgghhhhh" (the market was very crowded-dang farangs!) I come across a lady selling natural lotions and (drum roll please) CHAPSTICK. But it's 40 baht (the equivalent of 4 necklaces). Hmmmmm. I couldn't go through with it, my lips would make the sacrifice. A few minutes later (and 2 purchases later) I stumbled upon another natural products stand. More chapstick! 75 baht?! But wait...there's a sample. Woohoo! Soft, moist lips for free.

My mood is improving with each purchase and pretty soon I'm laughing out loud at my success. I found the same place I'd been to my first time here 4 years ago, and every year since, to stop and have a drink (a Beer Lao Dark, never seen that before!!!) That's always the time I look over the things I've bought and count up how much I have left.

My night ended with a Mike's Cheeseburger (the best in CM) and 40 baht to spare, only because I forgot about it, could've bought that chaptick.

It can be done!

Myth: Americans can't drive on the left side of the road.
Fact: Americans CAN drive on the left side of the road. I did. Proof will be provided soon via YouTube. Not only did I drive on the left side of the road, I drove a standard with the stick also being on my left side.

Myth: Most people are not good at driving a motor bike.
Fact: Most Thais ONLY drive motor bikes. Some are perfectly comfortable carrying their 2 kids along.

Myth: Foreigners can only find accommodation in a 5-star hotel or a cheap guest house.
Fact: When you have the right source backing you up you can find a home that suits you and even fills a need for familiarity.

Ok, let me get to the details. I chauffeured W & N around (yes, on the left side of the road) in a borrowed 4-wheel drive Suzuki hard top. I enjoyed every moment! Then we rented motor bikes. Isn't N cute on her bike!!!

W & N found the perfect place for them. It's situated in a quaint Thai neighborhood replete with roosters. We've already made friends with the neighbors who are puzzled at these foreigners who have moved in next door. The neighborhood is complete with a noodle lady, laundry lady, a locals bar and even a nosy neighbor who will fix your Fino when it stalls.

Today we drove half way up Doi Suthep mountain on our bikes. It was getting late and we didn't want to drive down in the dark so we didn't stay up there long. We're planning to go back on Monday and explore some hiking/running trails. Stay tuned...

Sick

The late nights have finally caught up with me. I've been sick for about 3 days now. I haven't missed school but I did miss the mtg. After the letter that was read a few weeks ago I didn't want to take the chance of getting anyone else sick. But with school, the kids are usually snottier than me. Plus it's really not that much work. It's a 3-minute walk to get there and the kids mostly play. I did keep my distance with them but didn't feel like I should miss the last few days of the term.

Have I mentioned I'm going back to K2 in January? One of the K2 teachers quit and the school is desperate to fill the position, desperate enough to ask me to leave my Nursery class to take the position. It means a raise which is nice so I can save money. I'll go back to working til 2pm but it's only for 6 months so the money I'm able to save will be worth it!

I think I do enjoy teaching K2 a bit more. It's so cool to teach children how to read! And they have such funny things to say. I'm sure I'll enjoy the next 6 months.

Gardening in the City

Last week at a nearby park there was a Green Fair. You could buy anything organic from a t-shirt (organic cotton) to coffee (I stocked up). I also decided to try out gardening. There were vegetable plants and herbs for 20 baht each. So I bought sweet basil, parsley, kale, water chestnut, lettuce and a tomato plant. I also bought a few other plants to fill in the spaces of my newly painted patio. Here's a few photos. Any advice on gardening? My only experience is when I lived with G & S on Marietta Run Rd. I LOVED eating vegetables I'd just picked! Hopefully I'll have the same experience here.

More Face Lifting

I picked up W & N from the airport around midnight. I was on a roll of late nights. The first thing W wanted to do was get Som Tum from a street vendor and get a massage. Amazingly enough you can get both at 1am on Soi 22.

The next day we had a great time relaxing and catching up. It's so great to have friends visit!!!!!

Just before W & N headed south to Phuket, they painted some of my apartment. In my living room they painted one wall a soft yellow. It looks really great with a painting I have with lots of bright colors. I was able to help with the next project of painting the patio walls a bright yellow. They're not quite 6 ft tall so it wasn't too big of a job, but what a difference! It looks amazing! We moved some plants around and I feel like I have a whole other room. N posted the before and after shots on her blog. Check it out.

I bought the train tickets for Chiang Mai today. We leave next Saturday. I'm so excited to be cold up in the mountains!!!

The Fun Has Begun!!

It began Sunday when a South African couple who is a friend of a friend of a friend stayed with me. They just left for the beach this morning. They are awesome! I've only known a few people from South Africa so it was neat to hear about what it was like. They also had spent 10 years in Namibia. They are now involved in the sign-language work in George, South Africa. I'm sleep deprived from all the great conversations. Of course it was totally worth it. I'll need to get a good night sleep tonight because tomorrow I'll be picking up W & N from the airport around midnight. I'll be bouncing off the walls with excitement anyways.

Then Sunday K joins us for a night. She's here from southern Thailand for a wedding. She'll head back Monday, W & N head to Phuket Tuesday for a week. The fun continues on the 19th when we head to Chiang Mai!