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Published: October 13th 2006
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Clap Your Hands Believe it or not, earlier today I actually found myself spontaneously clapping my hands in a public place. Out of pure joy.
I was sprawled out alone in the sun on a comfy pool-chair, drying off from the swimming I'd done in the fantastically clean, clear little pool of the D2 hotel. Of the many things Americans and other westerners take for granted, access to a nice gym with a nice pool, a steam room, and a good, hot shower is probably not too high on anybody's list. But, they are wonderful things to have when you get a chance to have them, especially in the humid, buggy, dusty north of Thailand.
After seeing the sun this morning and eating some good toast, I decided that I just had to set off for an afternoon of self-pampering. My host, Esther, called her gym to tell them I'd be coming. Then she hollered at one of her many man-servants to drive me to the D2 hotel on his motorcycle.
The ride was pleasant enough on its own, with a cool wind blowing my hair back and Thai people smiling as we passed: all more than
a little entertained by this happy-as-a-dog Farang. The D2 was an intimidating-looking building, massive, guarded, and extremely modern. Walking up to the front, I found there were two men paid to open the doors, and others there to greet me and show me where to go.
The inside of the place was like some kind of post-post-modern-neo-contemporary-swanky-deco wonderland. Everything was subtly colored glass and pools of light, and all the functional items (chairs, couches, tables) were wild--yet unobtrusively modest--shapes. The architecture was equally impressive and the whole place came together like a great play.
Shoot up to the tenth floor and you find the D-Fit gym. There's not much there in terms of equipment, but the view from the top of one of the tallest buildings in Chiang Mai more than makes up for it. I had a solid workout, mixing stretches and calisthenics with dumbell and barbell work, and a few handstands for good measure.
After lying a while on the wooden-slatted sun deck to catch my breath, I changed into a D-Fit robe and headed downstairs to the pool. Amazingly enough on this clear, hot day, I didn't find a single person there other than
the Thai boy whose job was to lay out my towels and bring me cold face cloths when I needed. I floated and swam and dove to the bottom of the fresh, unnoticeably-chlorinated water, alternating my pool swims with time in the sun. Afterwards, I took about four showers and paid a visit to the steam room. The best part is that all of this opulence cost me not a dime.
It seems that, no matter where I go, the same kind of good fortune, good feeling, and good connections follow: and that's something to smile about.
My Walk Home My walk home from the D2 took me through Chiang Mai's famous Night Bazaar: a remnant of the markets that ancient traders set up along this famous commercial route centuries ago. The shopkeepers and vendors were just setting up when I went through: passing under a pair of hotels into an out-of-the-way food court.
The place was decked-out with all sorts of Asian foods. Alternating with the regional Thai-food stands, there were middle-eastern, Indian, Vietnamese, Chinese, Korean, and Japanese vendors as well. I was happy with a chicken kebab pita and some Indian Saag Paneer
over white rice.
Ordering at the middle-eastern counter, I got in a great conversation with a Thai Muslim woman about Ramadan and the feasts of Eid. She let me in on the dates of the festival and I told her about the fasting I did last year. She has some friends in America and she's studied there in the past and she loves it.
All my time in Thailand, the only religious evidence I've seen has been of the Buddhist faith. But, on top of my conversation with this woman, I also saw a massive mosque pouring out people. Further down the road of the Night Bazaar, I saw some fantastic Hindu shrines. Then, even further down the road, I saw my first Thai Christian church. The place was decorated with sculpted reliefs of a Buddha-like Jesus sitting cross-legged and gesturing with his hands. Next to this was a similar Buddhist-styled carving of the Archangel Gabriel visiting Mary and Joseph.
I guess it's like the Thais say, "Same-same, but different."
Everywhere I've gone so far, I've seen things so odd and new and culturally unique, but they're just on the surface: covering up a humanity that
is really just the same everywhere.
A little further on the road, I saw a field filled with middle-school kids, practicing in a marching band. I listened to their song, heard them miss notes, and watched them stumble over one another as they tried to make their formation.
For the second time today, I found myself clapping my hands.
"If you're happy and you know it clap your hands (clap, clap)
If you're happy and you know it, clap your hands (clap, clap)" (If you're readign this blog after October 27th--and you are--you'll notice that I've added some interesting photos with lame captions. Enjoy.)
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Aaron Brown
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very cool. How'd you manage all of that for free?