Chiang Mai - Random Thoughts

Our "Morning Coffee" friends
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Alright so I haven't written in quite some time but that's because I've been travelin folks!

I have only been here for 3 weeks and I feel as though I have done so much more than you could ever fit into a lifetime. This journal entry will just serve as random little stories and happenings along the way. I could never be a writer because I can't make this all connect. Instead, here are some spatterings of my life over the past couple weeks.

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I got dreads. You may have seen the pictures but yes, I did get dreads. That's Number 10 on the "Top Ten Things I never thought that I would do" List. I'm not gonna lie but I think I looked pretty cool in them. At least with a bandana on anyways. But after not being able to wash my hair for a week and scratching in between the dreads with a fork, I was ready for a change. That lead me to make a rash decision and shave my head. Yes, I shaved my head. Now this was something that I was planning on doing since I planned this trip. I remember seeing a picture of my friends friend backpacking throughout Thailand a couple years ago. She looked so cool, balls to the wall adventureous and tough that I told myself that if I ever travelled I would do the same. Well, Instead of looking cool, balls to the wall adventureous and tough, I just looked like a lesbian. No really, I did...or still do, I'm not quite sure yet. It's grown in a lot since I got it and shouldn't take much more than a month before I can look at myself in a mirrow without wanting to vomit. So I've been the brunt of many a joke or two from my traveling buddies and have to put sun screen on my number 2 shaved head when I go outside. Thank god for bandanas and for friends who still love me through my "no hair" days.

All the dreads are gone...gettin ready for the buzz
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I find that I like more animals than people these days. I walk the streets and see starving malnurished cats and dogs with mange, near death, and just want them to spend time with a caring human before they pass on. I usually split my meal with a dog or two or end up giving them my leftovers once we leave the resturant. I can't feed them from the table because they will be kicked and beaten my the owners should they stay around. I have heard many a dog yelp, cry and whine from being abused and it is one of the worst sounds I have ever heard. I saw this one dog the other day who had no fur. He honestly looked like a rhino because he was all grey, crusty with shriveled skin and had puss coming out of its eyes with open sores on its back. It was probably the most awful thing that I have ever seen. I gave this dog all of my food and went back and bought him two hotdogs. But he couldnt eat it becuse he didnt have any teeth. He had to rub his face on the ground, mash it up and gum it to pieces. I shooed all the other dogs away who wanted the food just as badly as him and sat with him for 20 minutes making sure that he ate. There wasn't anything else I could do. I felt so helpless. It was way more awful than I have described it but it makes me too sick to think about.

Snot Hands
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I feel that a lot with the animals. In different parts of Thailand there are different levels of malnurishment and respect for the animals. For instance where I am now in Ko Tao, every dog belongs to someone and they are in a loving, caring home. I haven't had to walk around at night buying cat food or sticks of pork like I did in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. And I really think that Bob Barker needs to come to Thailand and send the Thai Government his "Have your pets spayed and nutured message" because it is only going to get worse with all the pregnant animals here.

Getting the shave! WTF...thank god it will grow back!
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On a positive animal note I played with a baby elephant in Chaiyaphum and almost cried because I was so touched by the experience. While the others were getting excited about learning the Thai number system, I left dinner and spent some time with this baby elephant. He was as tall as me and we were eye to eye with eachother. He kept putting his trunk in my lap and was looking for sugarcane for me to feed him. I felt like a little girl at a zoo or carnival. I kept petting him and hugging him and wanted to take him home. He was the most beautiful creature, so loveable and so unaware at how massive and powerful he would become. One of my favorite memories so far.

Lakoton Festival. Floating Offerings. I made this myself out of banana leaves and stalk.
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Krony's Pizza Thai Style.

We were craving American food one night so we went to this little pizza place in Chiang Mai. The pizza was "super expensive" when 1. your average meal costs 40 baht and pizza is 120 baht and 2. I haven't paid full price for a pizza in the last 10 years. I went up to the owner and asked him if he would give us our pizza for free if I made it and he could take a breather. He said sure and so I washed up in the back and got to work. Now before I tell the story you must understand that there was a lot of pressure on me being from NY and all, the "origin" of the pizza pie and having told him the I have worked in a pizza joint for the last 10 years (on and off of course). Well...to my suprise they didn't have a pizza dough machine roller thingy. Ok fine no big deal, I can totally stretch the dough without it. I know how to do it. yeah sure. okay. awesome. well kronys peeps my hand goes right through the damn dough and I am so embarrassed at my lack of skills. I have the other worker fix it while I instead move to sauceing and topping the pizza. Well, Krony you would have been pissed at me and said "reen you're sharp as a marble" or some other mean thing to me. :) I made a mess! (I know, you can't believe it!) I put way too many toppings on and I somehow forgot to cheese a pizza! I kept saying to Jill, "ooooo Krony would bw so mad at me right now" About the only thing I did well was slide the finished pizza onto the peel and put it in the wood fired oven - which was very cool by the way. Needless to say we didnt end up getting our pizza for free and my pride was slightly bruised. So much for starting my "Reen's Pizza" Chain in South east Asia!

Fearless Travellers!
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Official Top Ten List of Things That I Never Thought I would Ever do!

10. Get Dreads

9. Shave my Head

Exhausted and relaxing in one of the many bunglaows.
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8. Eat Chicken in South East Asia: Bird Flu anyone?

7: Drink Whiskey Sodas with the Thai Police

6: Drink a shot of tequillia that was given to me by a 15 year old boy

5: Break all of the health and safety rules given to me by passport health.

Gay Pride
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4: Go snorkeling in the Gulf of Thailand / South China Sea

3: Been asked to not try on a shirt because my breasts were too big. She then proceeded to grab them just to be sure. She clapped for me when she was done.

2: Ate Bean flavored icecream.

1.5: Sat on a squatter because I was too tired.

Yes, we really did cross this bridge. A feat only attempted by Indiana Jones!
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1.25: Shucked Rice with the natives. By far my favorite moment travelling.

1: Given a present because I told a man he was about to loose his money. He thought that I was asking to have his money belt and because of the language barrier decided that I should have the money belt instead of him.