Feb 12, 2002: To bed at 10 last night, awoke at 2am. Really couldn't get back to sleep so I took 1/4 of a sleeping pill. Mistake. Woke up on time but was a zombie until I caught a nap in the mid-afternoon.
I have a tendency to put things on my calendar — things that would be fun — sanuk — and then wimp out on them. It's not like "Oh! Tuesday, Bungee Jumping!"; I'd seen a lecture from the author of a book I'm interested in ("Slithering South", by Steve Van Beek) at Alliance Française. I was still tired, but I had an excellent 50c dinner from the frig', lay down for a nap. Happy ending: woke up on time, successfully asked reception for directions (in Thai), got there with time to spare. I am so proud. And the Receptionists find me entertaining (or maybe they think I am a rich single farang who will take them home to live in a mansion. Well, part right). Incidentally, there's a very popular T-shirt (for women) in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. It features 3 Thai characters. The first is distinguished — I don't mean like it has a University degree but rather that it doesn't look like most of the other characters (some are remarkably similar, I'm learning). It turns out that it means "Single". As in unmarried.
The presentation was "The Mekong Nobody's Seen". Van Beck would seem to be to the kayaking equivalent of a Surf Bum: In 1995 and 1997 he went on an expedition starting in Kunming, China (about an hour flight from here), west and down the river in China that becomes the mighty Mekong further south. Quite an adventure. When he's not trying to break his neck in Class 5+ rapids, he is apparently a Writer.
"Doing stuff is good". Repeat after me, Scott. When I actually get my ass in gear I am seldom disappointed with what I've chosen to do. I just wish I lived a little closer to a city (San Francisco, but I'd settle for Boston, a few others maybe) that I could experience this kind of stimulation more frequently. It wouldn't feel so much like I'm growing old on a farm somewhere. I like Chiang Mai. It has a pulse. Westford is comatose.
As an added feature, I've found a spot with cheap beer and some ambiance at Alliance Française.
Also in the Chiang Mai news as it were (Chiang Mai doesn't have an English language paper; I get the Bangkok Post which gives me a feeling for the world, and there's always the Bangkok politics to enjoy): I think I'll go to "Pai" ("bpye") for my upcoming "mini vacation". Let's try at Thai tongue twister:
"Pie bpye die my?" ["Can go to Pai?"]
Pai is supposed to be quite stunning, but the white water rafting season literally dries up with the end of the rainy season. They just finished running trips this week. So it could be really really quiet. I'll take a public bus about 4.5 hours, bring just changes of clothing and "support" stuff (mosquito repellant, stuff to read...). It's very nice having a "place": home away from home, to use as a base. Especially when you're not paying for it (as it would seem).
