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Published: June 23rd 2007
Last days on Chang Mai.
Can’t really remember where I left off. I am sure it involved some one puking, or discharging other sorts of bodily fluids. Sick as it is, it really blows my mind at how capable the human body is at taking care of itself. Which brings me to the next “story.”
I picked up that bootleg version of Michael Moore’s new film, SICKO (which even FOX NEWS loved). We talked a bar manager into playing it for us mid day on their large screen TV. It drew a small audience. I know a lot of people have there issues with him, and rightfully so. Even myself, a documentary loving, left wing, tree hugging, film making “hippie”, has some issues with Mike and his approach.
I was very curious to see his approach on the US health care system, some thing that effects all (US) of us, whether we fall left, right, or center. Unlike his previous film, this didn’t have the Left wing spin, which so many from the right despise. It wasn’t a film that argued for the dems or rep, but it takes on a unique and very horrific look into what we call “health care.” At one point he is praising Hilleary Clinton for her initial work trying to create a universal health care system, then he is quick to point out that she, years later had accepted a figure approaching the 7 figure mark from health care lobbyist. Basically saying, dem or rep, they’ve sold out the American people for money, and LOTS of it. Obviously the film has a left wing lean, and doesn’t help the rep. cause, since well, they aren’t to found of most social programs these days (remember the days of FDR…he was a rep, wasn’t he?). With out diving too much into my own political beliefs, I just want to point out how important this film and its subject matter is. I encourage all to see it, even those that hate Michael Moore to see it. Actually, for those that do hate him, I will sponsor your ticket to the film. Watch it, send me your stubs (and thoughts) and I will be happy to reimburse you your $9.75.
I did have a few issues with some of the Mooreisms, but like I said, a wake up call for many Americans, or at least what should be.
Previously that day we meet this Guy named Howard. He had just turned 40, sold his home and all his things in the US after a divorce, and was spending 20 months on the road. Being an ex hippie we were able to talk nostalgia from previous days of Phish concerts and other “jam” bands.
The next day he came with us to the Mountain Temple, which overlooks the city of Chang Mia. Chang Mia is an interesting city. It’s Thailand’s 2nd largest city, but actually feels more like a small town, despite its population approaching the 2 million mark. You get a better feel for its size as you stand next to the golden Buddha a few thousands feet up from the city. We were fortunate enough to have a clear day (which I lacked on my first trip there).
Later on that evening we had a great dinner and took in yet another night market to find such priceless items as Sherk 3 DVDs, Levi knock offs, and carved elephants, and silks. Its always a good time, and has become somewhat of a sport for me, at least the haggling part. Not a huge shopper, but give me a chance to haggle for fun and I am all in. I always do it with a smile, and keep things light with jokes, and sometime have to remind myself that the 10 baht ($.25) I’m haggling over is worth more to these people then it is to me. I will always in the end pay a bit more because I am a farang, but I don’t always have to be a naive farang.
After that, Sam and Jess and Jaika we’re all feeling a bit run down, and with a flight in the early morning, they called it an early one. I on the other hand, needed to go out one last time, one last Chang Beer, and a chance to say good bye to one of the guys that worked at the hostel. Aat, who had worked in Koh Phi Phi, moved to Chang Mia 10 days before the Tsunami killed many of his friends and work collogues on the island. He was a typical Thai from the south, the kind of Thai that had spent enough time with the farangs to be sarcastic, charming, and very likeable. He also sported a great MOWHAK, which caught my friend Sam’s attention enough that he ran out the next day with Aat, and got one as well. Two Mohawks roamed the Libra Guest house, one owned by a farang from Minneapolis, the other a Thai from Sura Tanni.
While I was hanging out with my local friends that evening in this back road Reggae bar (dirt floor, wooden benches, open air), I caught something out of the corner of my eye. It was a baby elephant. For the first few seconds I thought, “Wow that’s cool, and elephant is standing behind me, about three feet, while I sit and drink a beer.”
Then I said “wait a minute there is an elephant standing behind me, and I am sitting in a bar drinking a beer, in a major city.” Obviously PETA doesn’t know of this. In theory, the idea was cute, but I am sure that this poor baby elephant’s life isn’t what it should be, as it is hauled from bar to bar; only to be feed bananas that are sold to farangs for their own amusement as the poor creature takes them from the hand. Kind of sad I know, but then again the world doesn’t always seem to be a happy place, even in the Land of Smiles. It actually brought me back to the film SICKO, which has still lingered through my somewhat clouded, yet curious mind.
The next day we woke early, got the plane to Bangkok, so that we could take a taxi/bus to the port town, eventually ending up on Koh Samet, an island 3 hours east of Bangkok. The traveling portion of the trip was a real bitch, but the reward came as we motored into the island with its clear waters and white sand beaches.
More to come from the Island life.
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Nos-a-los
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The New Deal
FDR...Not a Rep! Keep up the fun. Tell Sam that Denver says hello to him and Dylan "McQuirt."