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Published: January 17th 2006
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Northern Tribe Priestess
These hats are sold by the Northern tribespeople who very persistently peddle their wares everywhere.This is my friend Ron from Israel. Sawadee Jouw!
I have learned that in Chaing Mai, the ending of words, which in the rest of Thailand is kaa for women, is Jouw. The Thai people love it when I do this, because I lucked onto the info, and most people don't know it. The north is a slightly different culture, called Lanna culture, which has had different influences than the south. Burma was in control here for a couple of hundred years, and the language, food, and crafts are influenced by that.
I am having trouble typing because me wrists and hands are hurting so much. I went back to the blind place today, hoping for a more gentle massage, but the only one available was So again! I had a long talk with him, explained that I needed it gentle, and he smiled and did it just how he does it despite me cries and requests for less force. No more So for me...
I am still in love with Chiang Mai. I love so much about the culture; the indoor-outdoor feeling to everything, the small cobbled streets, the Thai sensibility about beauty with greenery, lights, and craftmanship everywhere. I rented a bike today
Pigs Heads
A common sight in the market for the rest of my time here (30 baht a day!), and it is even more fun to toodle through the streets like the wicked witch of the West (same bike!). There are even little Toto dogs all round with their little coats on. Thai people love to dress up there doggies.
This past Sunday I went to cooking school on a Thai Organic farm. It was so beautiful! There were little bridges going over streams, covered verandas where we chopped and prepared, and a gorgeous family garden with herbs, vegetables, and bannana trees. We started out by going to the market, which was an experience by itself. It was enough to nearly make me a vegan again. There were ton of fish stuffed into tanks swimming against the glass trying to get out, bags of live frogs lying all over each other, pigs heads on a table, and butchers everywhere grabbing the wiggling things, banging them on the heads and chopping em up. Wow. The sights and smells were amazing.
Once at the farm, we went to the garden and were shown all of the ingredients and where they grow, we picked some, then brought the ingredients
to the veranda o prepare. We cooked all day, made three dishes which was more than twice what I could eat including green curry, spring rolls, bannanas in coconut milk, and coconut shrimp soup. Have a mentioned that I love Thai food? And that I get to "go out for Thai food" at least three times a day? Wow! Plus and average dinner is a buck, buck fifty if I want a drink. I feel so pampered here. Anyway, it was a wonderful experience both for learning to cook, but mostly for being out in such a beautiful Idyllic place. I was there with two Fins (they have more expression than in that movie Nathan!), two brits, and a woman from Belgium.
Thats another thing that I'm loving. My massage school is so international, I am mixing with so many different cultures. My school has people from France, Belgium, Spain, Ireland, England, Israel, Malta (where's that!? Small island/country near Italy where the language is Semitic, and the people are descendents of Arabs and Europeans..), China, Japan, Quebec, USA (where's that!? Big country south of Canada where the president is a war-monging idiot, and the residents are hiding their heads
in the sand out of embarrassment..), Italy, Ausralia, Pakistan, etc. It feels like being at an international summer camp.
This week in massage school we are mostly reviewing last weeks routine to practice, get pointers, and get it down. I love the days in school, giving and recieving and learning. I am finally starting to memorize the routine, though its taken a while. Make sure you all sign up for a practice session when I return; I'll need lots. Thai massage is based on an energy system, much like Chinese medicine, but instead of meridians, they call them Sen Sib, which means ten lines. The lines differ slightly from the meridians, but are pretty close, and definitely the same concept. The idea is the liberate places where energy is stuck, as well as work the muscles. You always start from the feet because the energy must move up your body, and to do a full routine takes two hours. Its actually very dificult to cut that down to one, which is the norm in the states. Today we practiced doing a one hour, tomorrow hour and a half, and Thursday we do the full two hour routine. I hope
I can function tomorrow ater being pummeled by So today!
Last Saturday was children's day in Thailand, which is a big festival. I went to a celebration where there were booths, stages, etc. I got some good photos of Thai kids doing traditional dances etc. I happened upon the celebration, so got to go to a non-tourist one; in fact I was the only farang (foreigner) I saw there. I tried some squirmy looking thing that ended up being Squid, and also a white puffy thing with a sweet orange insead that turned out to be a steamed bean cake. I liked it.
I've still been going to too many markets. The crafts and clothing are so beautiful and so cheap, I want to buy everything and bring it all home! I can't of course, so I'm learning to let go.. it brings out the hippy materialist in me..I want I want I want! So I remember once again that they are only things, and I can have some, and enjoy looking at the rest, even if they are practically free! The bargain hunter in me is in a state of overwhelm...
Well, my body needs rest,
so I must hop back on my trusty bicycle and head to my guest house. I miss you all, and appreciate having you all to relay my experiences to.
Love,
Suzanne
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Hilary
non-member comment
Thank you
Dear Suzanne, Thank you so much for reporting on your travels and adventures. I have really enjoyed reading your blog and being transported into another world with a slower life rhythm. Right now I am all hunched up with stress from meeting tight deadlines and trying to do more than is humanely possible. Reading about massages made my body salivate with desire. Sign me up for one of your sessions when you return! Love, Hilary