One week has passed in this oasis of beauty interlaced with Choas
Chiang Mai is a city of opposites.
Wats (Buddhist temples) are nearly every block, but so are 7-11's.
The opposites are so striking and the people seem to not notice the thousands of years difference in architecture and design.
Motorbikes, cycles, taxis, tuk-tuks, people, cars, and buses all intermingling and weaving.
NO collisions but inches separate cars and motorbikes each day.
Everything is teetering upon chaos, yet nothing has fallen/broken. the people accept the way things are and the efficiency that this country has in almost every aspect is rather remarkable
So far we have done a whole lot -
- open air markets day an night brimming with food and goods to buy
- Hike up a mountain to a Wat on the hill
(it was about 11km with a killer grade than another 306 steps to the top)
- Muay Thai fighting match was loud and we bet with other locals and farangs
these guys and girls really put them selves into the match
- Factory tours of pottery/jewlery/woodworking/silverware
- Just mixing in with the people, going to class and eating alot
street vendors have the best food around and everywhere is littered with restaurants
People of all different classes and races are all mixed together here
a shack will be right next to a huge modern shopping mall
some people walk and others drive suv's
It makes me more grateful for everything that i have here and all the luxuries i can afford
the other thing that i regret to inform everyone stateside is that we are loud, materialistic, and often plagued by our lust as compared to the people here.
no place is perfect, but I can argue that some aspects of Thailand are better than in our own society
I'll never disown America and it's ways, but i will surely add some elements of Thai culture into my own everyday life once back
(more pictures to come when my internet is a little faster )
