Sidewalks in Thailand and Endings

The Moat Around the Old City

Sidewalks in Thailand are not made for walking. They are actually set up especially so that one can park a motorbike closer to one's destination or for food vendors to set up shop. It's good though, because it means you better pay attention when you're walking in the street or you'll be roadkill.

I'm done. I just graduated from level III of Thai Massage and received my fancy government approved certificate. Very special. I feel elated for some reason. It's been a fun week. Not necessarily the actual work we have done, but what we did around it. We turned out to be a pretty nutty group with a lot of humor and maybe not much else! Today we spent much of the afternoon practicing on each other and snapping ridiculous photos of each other in the most awkward of positions. It happens alot in a Thai massage session, but I guess it's not normally out there for the general public to see. That just makes it all so much funnier.

Lunch Break - Manuel, Haley, Nura, Phil, Krisztina, Natasa, Michelle and Misha

Graduates of Level III - Silly Seven and Walid

I'm going to miss the little humming bird who wakes up with me everyone morning. I'll miss Noon who makes my breakfast - sometimes instead of fruit, muesli, yogurt and croissants she makes a real treat like sticky rice with coconut and mango, or these other delectable treats that look like macaroons but are mushy and can't decide if they are sweet or savory. It's going to be hard to remember that I can't just walk out the front door without a sweater knowing that no matter how it cools down it just won't cool down that much. I'll miss my favorite lunch spot that still has no name but makes the most satisfying meals no matter what I order - and of the course the unbelievable brownie desserts. YUM. I will miss our odd little group who all went out last night for a final dinner together and had so many laughs and such good fish!

The Silly 7 - Krisztina, Phil, Manuel, Nura, Tik, Haley,and Natasa

I won't miss the exhaust fumes that get caught in my throat every time I walk down the road or ride in a taxi/tuktuk. I won't miss the pushy ladies with their really annoying wooden frogs that they shove in your face and start rattling making the most annoying sound (if you did buy one, what the hell would you do with it anyway?). I won't miss morning exercises. I had my fill of the fake yoga and chi gong sessions so Wednesday was my last 9am exercise session and I happily skipped out of the last 2 days of it. I think I couldn't have kept a straight face through "play basketball" or "move your Tight (that would be the word for Thigh) to your chest". In fact, if I "spring" my waist one more time I think I will surely come unsprung. I won't miss John's (Chongol's) ridiculous references to pressure points using random entertainment trivial like Mick Jaggers mouth, ET's finger and the reference to breasts as (and I'm not kidding here) traffic jams. Big and small of course, but still, traffic jams. Ish.

I will come back to Thailand. I don't know when, but I know that it's a comfortable place for me. There's an ease to existing here that I love. I'm not sure I could handling living here, but certainly more visits. And next time not just for studying, I wouldn't mind actually getting to SEE the country more. And the beaches?! Next time...I promise.