A superhero is born

I lied about the shower. It has NOT been mastered. Still, I persevere in the hope that by the time I leave I will have figured it out.

In the meantime I electrocuted myself last night. No, not intentionally. I just went to turn on a light switch and had a good old jolt up the right hand. I am only happy I had an observer to witness that my hair really did start to stand on end. It's still a little numb up into the elbow but otherwise I'm fine. In fact I was hoping it might have jump started my heart a little and given me a new lease on life. Actually my housemate told me it's a classic story of how superheroes are born so perhaps that's next for me in life. Start helping me come up with a good name since catwoman is already taken.

Orchids are everywhere here. There's a great contrast between the pollution and the care that people take in their gardens and decorating homes/guest houses etc with flowers. It's kind of nice really.

Orchids Everywhere

In other less attractive news I was walking to school the other morning and saw a freshly run over rat. It was not small. In fact I would go so far to say that it was NYC worthy in size, surpassing my cat even. The grossest part was that the guts and goo were freshly squeezed out of it and into my path. It was an effort to hold onto my breakfast. Yuck yuck yuck!

So in the mornings we either do yoga - and I'll use that term loosely here - or Qi Gong before we start class. The yoga is, well, it's a bit of stretching here and there and pulling and bouncing and such, but at least doable with a straight face. Qi gong - not so much. First of all the owner of the school leads it and he looks so much like Yoda I can't help but smile. He also has no neck and so when he does these neck stretches I can't begin to tell you how funny it looks. Mind you, the whole thing is done to this nationalistic sounding communist seeming music and there are parts where we are marching. Yes, I did write that. I so wish I could video it for all to see, but that isn't permitted of course. You'll just have to wait for my impersonations.

I went to this multifaceted doctor of all sorts holistic today. He's American but works here for some reason and came highly recommended from many students that have gone to him. It was a really interesting session that involved Chinese medicine pressure points, chiropractic cracking, neurosomething points, life coaching, nutritional counseling and who knows what else. And all 2 hours for 500 Baht.
I'll try and go again before I leave to have a follow up and see what else he says.

I can't believe it's almost the end of my second week already! We're having a lot of fun at school and I'm glad that our group is all pretty much sticking around next week too because we are of course very comfortable with each other now. It's hard not to be when you're sitting on each others feet and pressing your knees into their butt cheeks. We're quite a large group to go through altogether for more than 1 level. Let the good times roll!

Just Another Temple in Chiang Mai

The Famous Red Taxi Buses

Sunset in Chiang Mai