Lesson 1: Elephants don't have shock absorbers

Pachyderms as a mode of transit: So you want to use the common Thai elephant to get over a hill do you. Please note that each step of the elephant dangles you precariously toward either of its sides in alternating fashion. Your conveyance, depending on bathing frequency may produce odor or stop to eat at a moment's notice. Other odd hobbies include elephant soccer, painting, and dart throwing (yes we saw all of these). Your mileage may vary.

So Thailand. We're in Chiang Mai now. For those of you without a working knowledge of Siam other than that really important spot in Risk - it's in the upper left hand corner of Thailand, near Burma and Laos. Truly a very cool place though, higher in the mountains than Bangkok it's peaceful monks and happy city dwellers make this a very chill place. Today and elephant show (some of the paintings were actually quite good . . . for an elephant) and tomorrow a Thai cooking course.

I'll backtrack. Phuket was beautiful, but something was missing. It was another white sandy beach but somehow the character we so often seek was missing. We ended up eating at the same place next door over and over, lethargic from the sapping heat and humidity. It was to no help that C and I alternated nights of poor sleep - one too many days at the beach I suppose. It's not fair to criticize such a lovely beach, but experiences are what they are - and for some reason we really weren't into it. C'est la vie . . .

So a couple of flights later - here we are in pretty little Chiang Mai. I noted in the book that the Thais really love their King. They have to, it's the law. Criticizing the King - what does that win you Bob - Why it's a Seven Year Prison Sentence. Wow, I'd like the King too. We lucked out at our already ultra modern and hip hotel - they ran out of regular rooms so upgraded us to a suite. 4 rooms is more than we deserve, but we'll take it - along with the orange box of picked peeled fruits (kumquat relatives yesterday - sweet rice in banana leaves today) that arrives daily. Wandering the street markets and eating pad thai cooked in front of us. Truly hard to beat.

So I'm off to be a culinary master tomorrow. No more travelling by elephant I think. For as my grey hairy friend conquered the hill with aplomb. Hanging over his brow as he cautiously trundled down a hill lined with the dung of his immediate predecessors leads one to enjoy but not need to repeat the experience.

I should note that I will be home shortly. The 1st of the month as it were - I'm taking C to the darkest corner of Thailand I can find tomorrow and leaving her to the natives. Really she's staying to teach and work for a non profit aiding Burmese refugees for two weeks in Mae Hong Son (closer to the border and even harder to get to - don't worry they have an airport). I shall hot step back to Chiang Mai - Bangkok - Hong Kong and home - whereupon I'll volunteer my soul again to the great Adobe profit monster. It lives atop the San Jose towers and grows fat upon the intellectual property of us lowly code monkeys. :) In reality, I'm weird and always excited to come back and get back to work.

Time to tilt the glass up in Thailand. I'm making Curry Paste tomorrow.

Asa