Still here

Rock climbing was exhausting!!! I highly recommend it but only if you are in your peak physical shape. I was not. The night before I went was my first real meal since I have been sick. I love how I always have to do the stupid thing first i.e. sign up for rock climbing before I am all better. I learned my lesson big time. Barely slept the night before so when my instructor picked me up in the morning the first words out of his mouth were, "Are you okay?" He said these same words to me about 50 more times through out the day. We picked up another girl around my same age and some experienced rock climbers and we were on our way. Last time I went rock climbing was also in Thailand and it was with Louie so I had the excuse that we was a boy and stronger then me, so he was just naturally better. I didn't have that excuse this time, but I will say my partner (her name was Sunshine) is a massage therapists (this came in handy when she gave me a massage later that night at a bar) plus hard core into yoga. I def was the weakest link. I decided since I sucked compared to her that I would provide the comedy relief. Well I didn't decide this all the Thais did. Apparently my physical and mental struggles were hilarious to them. In my defense I am certain that they decided to bump us up a level to intermediate. They told us that beginners usually do 3 climbs and we did 5. 3 in the morning then lunch, THEN we had to hike up this huge mountain to do 2 more! The last climb they were laughing at me so hard I thought they might pee themselves. I think I was so exhausted that I went crazy. I couldn't stop laughing at nothing, I was cheating as much as possible, I couldn't stop shaking, and I'm not sure if I was even speaking English anymore. After the last climb I thought I was going to throw up. After the nausea went away we repelled down a cave, which was a lot of fun. The whole day was fun! I'm sure it sounds awful the way I described it but I laughed a lot (at myself mostly), saw some beautiful scenery, and got a full body work out. After they dropped me off, I walked into the sitting area of my guest house and the first thing out of someone's mouth was, "Are you okay?" So my rock climbing day started and ended with that question. So here is the lesson people, DON'T GO ROCK CLIMBING AFTER BEING SICK! I'm sure everyone but me would have figured that out before hand.

Later I went out with Sunshine (still don't know how I managed that) and met a lot of people who have been in Chiang Mai for awhile. It is a very easy city to hang out in. So many things to do and learn here. I've decided to stay longer so I will leave at the end of this week for Laos (just got an email from a friend who will be there the same time I was planning on being there!). Getting a little anxious because it is very easy to spend $ here on courses, but I also decided to just go with the flow. I really like this laid back traveling, I feel like I will remember each place better rather then it all blurring together...hopefully. My agenda this week, so far, is going to an organic Thai farm for cooking, zoo, and taking a jewelery making course.

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