Thai Tales 2

The Front of Santitham Guest House

Today I woke up scratching the side of my wrist just above the bone and below my pinkie finger. It's just one of a larger collection of mosquito bites I am collecting. It's rainy season in Thailand and the days are splashed with random torrential downpours, or sometimes just a drizzle. They never last long though, so it's easy to wait it out. I did that yesterday before I headed from school to a spa for an herbal steam sauna (for 30Baht or $1). I did that two days before when I headed to a yoga class and came out to find it pouring. I hung out chatting with the teacher for a bit and then the rain was gone and I was out and about again. I think it would be OK to be in the rain too.

Santitham guest is a smaller more personal place. I've seen others - in fact a very nice new place opened up around the corner from the school, but truthfully, all the dark teak wood and personal touches make my place feel a little more like home. When I arrived I was donned with a wreath of Jasmine flowers and given coconut milk to drink straight from the coconut and fresh watermelon. Plus I have 2 single beds and a day couch. My suitcase sleeps on one, the random junk from my bag stays on the other, and of course the last, by the window near the running water outside and the chirping birds is my bed. It's strange to be in a single bed again, but less strange than still sleeping on "my" side of the bed in a larger bed when James isn't here. So I am comfortable. Besides, they advertise on the website that they have "European" mattresses.

My Bedroom

Our Sitting Area

I eat breakfast at the guest house only because it's ready when I come downstairs. But to be truthful, it's also filling enough to get me through the morning. The fruit salad has a strange looking fruit - much like an albino kiwi with disorganized seeds scattered throughout instead of around the center. It amuses me. And all the mango is just up my alley. Plus we have toasted mini croissants and sometimes, for a special treat, Noon (the housekeeper) makes us sticky sweet rice with coconut pudding on top. It's tasty.

I was wary of eating just off the street. I thought I'd be cautious (well I still am) and just eat where westerners go, but those places are on the other end of town and as I discovered, walking takes a lot longer than I had in my mind. So round here we eat at all sorts of places. Little homely shacks with a few tables strewn out front where there are 6 options on a strange looking menu, and sometimes at air conditioned fancier places that have caught on to the school's clientele. I've avoided all the spicy dishes, though of course things are still well-flavored. There's a nice cashew chicken dish and I really liked my noodle dish from lunch today. I feel more authentic about my visit to Thailand this way. I confess though, the other day I had no idea where to eat dinner and ended up with a Strawberry smoothie in one hand (disgustingly sweet made with syrup and ice and yogurt - ugh!) and a bag of chips and ramen type noodles in the other. Yikes.

7 Eleven Across the Street

I'm figuring it out though. Last night after yoga I even found the night bazaar. I wondered through a few laps of trinkets and bits and bobs and sat down in the rattier looking local spot next door to McDonald's and opposite Haagen Das and Starbucks. Yes, they have them here too. The tuktuk ride home almost left me with a sore throat because of the car fumes and how fast he was going.

And finally I am almost finished my first week of the Thai massage course and I'm pleased with how it has all gone. I am glad to have my previous training just to support and fill in some of the technical Anatomy and Physiology stuff, but otherwise it's turning out to be pretty comprehensive. I will need a lot more practice before I will feel really confident (right now I know enough to give 1.5 hour massage but only with my manual close by my side), but then I have another 2 weeks today, don't I. All things considered, life is good.

Friday Night with Some Friends from School