I could have watched them for hours - the kites dancing in the wind, and the kids below just trying to hang on. Long after my father and I flew kites year after year at festivals back home, it still amazes me the wonder that can be had from a bit of tuppence for paper and string. It seemed appropriate then as at Sanam Luang - the royal field - in Bangkok, even a monk marveled as the world - and kites - flew by.
Thailand is certainly an interesting place - and perhaps one of my favorite places on earth. What's not to like - the massages? the beautiful temples? the nice and helpful people? Almost the whole of the experience seemed appropriately humbling, perhaps even revealing the realm of heaven... as in the story of the reclining Buddha... Thailand just seems to get down on your level - making you feel... at home.
We spent our first couple of days in Thailand roaming around the city of Bangkok - first in the old, and then in the new. "Wat" infinity... we visited more than a dozen temples and a few malls that seemed like temples - with 7 or more floors in their pagoda. Everything so shiny and overwhelming - what to buy? what to do? where to massage?!
Well, we made a couple of good choices! We caught a movie at Central World Plaza, as we heard the audiences stand for the national anthem before the show - and that we did! Of honorable mention here was that our theatre was a "happiness" theatre.. with love seats, day beds, complimentary popcorn and soda, and blankets..very nice! But why did it seem that there were only couples sitting around us? :)
Soon, we were off to Chiang Mai! I made a reservation on the sleeper train (which made mom a bit nervous), and it was wonderful. The pillows, sheets, and vibrations of the train made for an easy ride. There, we met a backpacker - David - who entertained us marvelously during the non-sleeping hours...
... and then, the real fun began! First, we headed out to see some more temples, and did some shopping in the city. In the market, we found a "fish spa" - a place where you can have little fish nibble at your feet.. a quite tickly pedicure! It was a bit weird, but the fact that we were able to make it through the whole 15 minutes proves that you can get used to anything!
Then is what came to be the highlight of our trip in Thailand - the elephants. I remember seeing some photos of a friend riding an elephant through a river in Southeast Asia - and immediately adding that to my list! Still, as I started researching places to ride, I became disheartened by the state of the magnificent beasts in the region. So, I decided to book a day tour with the Elephant Nature Park - a sanctuary and rehabilitation centre for elephants located about 60km outside of Chiang Mai. We spent the day learning about, feeding, and even bathing several of the elephants in the park. Incredible.
It was perhaps more than appropriate that I finished the book Water for Elephants while out in Chiang Mai. Meeting the elephants, and spending time with a certain family reminded me how "life is the most spectacular show on earth." One family - of a 6, 13, 14 year-old with 2 parents - was traveling for 365 days together.. what an amazing thought. It was incredible to hear of their adventures.. see the eye-opening education provided to these lucky children.. and imagine doing such a trip myself someday - what role models they were.
And then, it was time to head back to Bangkok and on to India. I think I'll refrain from mentioning our train - I mean bus-train-bus-train - back to the capital city. Perhaps mom was right in being a little nervous about the so-called "sleeper" train. "Wake up! Do not forget get anything! No problem! Bus free!" :)
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