Chiang Mai

Three nights ago as i sat with Goen, Toben, a youngish German, who was eager to drink that night and seemed like he was not going to take no for an answer and Anthony the oldest and i would use wisest, but that't not really the right word for it, most traveled? he had a walk, a steady calm, a confidence of sorts, an Australian, with dreads. And me, seeing his long dreads made me a bit jealous as i removed my hat to feel my bald spot. Goen had met these two on the internet and they were all planning the slow boat trip down the mighty Mekong into Laos. I was not part of the plan, it was OK, i had my own plans and the nagging fortune from the day before in the back of my mind. Having spent the last two days with Goen i knew i would miss his company but was also ready to go it alone again. After they made there plans, dinner was on everyone's mind, so we set out for the Sunday walking market in hopes of some delectable street food. It is never hard to find in Thailand as abundant as mosquitoes. We hit the flooded market four strong, it was the largest group i had ever been with in my month long trip and it felt odd. It gave me the feeling of walking down shakedown street one looking back for the others, making sure no one was left behind. Anthony reminded me of Colin, seemingly to stop without notice and seemingly unworried about losing the group. I have come to terms with Colin's way of doing things on his own time and so i did for Anthony even though i was STARVING and wished he would put some pep into it. We entered a temple grounds right off the main street that had traffic blocked to turn it into a walking street, i love that. As we entered there was a makeshift food court, i also love the term food court, the idea of so many options so close together. I love a food court. We dispersed and decided to meet again at the tables with our chosen meals. Goen and Toben, able to speak the same language, went one way and i lingered trying to decode a menu as Anthony plotted along to one of the many carts. We all seemed to enjoy our chosen meals as we discussed, mouths full, who was going to buy and try the fried crickets first that we had all encountered on our trip. I had green curry soup with chicken and bamboo with noodles, it was amazing and spicy. Toben bought the crickets and we all stared at each other. Many of you very well may have had them before, but for me, at home in Vermont i remember the way they smushed when i stepped on them when i found them in the basement and the idea of that happening in my mouth was not that appetizing. we all grabbed one and with a cheers down they went. Nothing really, i was expecting something, but it was just crunchy. No big deal. Everyone seemed disappointed haha, i can see their faces. Goen after his second trip around the court and never full no matter how many meals he ate took them, as no one else wanted the rest, some 100 crickets. He reminded me of Chuck "you know me, i could always eat" i have heard him say a million times. We walked back to our guest house and on the way i bought some fresh pineapple. The Thais sell fresh fruit everywhere and sometimes they have these little packets of salt, sugar and chili ground together to dip your fruit in, quite nice really. we got back to our place and Anthony, reminded Toben of the early hour in which there trip would commence as he ordered a round of beers with a knowing smile, he headed for bed. One Aussie down we looked around and picked up another. Dorrian was his name and i grabbed my cards and dice and taught all three how to play, 3man, 7/11 doubles, up the river down the river, golf and of course, Asshole. All of which are American drinking games for you old folk reading this. The night passed with laughter and the shouting of Chuck D, i don't know how to spell it but its a Thai version of "cheers". After i had particularly hot hands at 7/11 doubles, Toben decided i was in need of a good natured headlock as he was on the receiving end and had been doing all the drinking. As he let go he said, arm around me "are you sure you don't want to go with us tomorrow"?, Goen seemed to heartily agree that i should. Even beer's effects on social moral aside, it felt good, i mean why wouldn't right? I debated, and as the night ended and the seven flights of stares seem to go by in a blink of an eye i was doubting my plan and my fortune from the day before "you should not go" i read. The next morning came and i awoke with a smile. I was happy, truly and a bit surprised and a little impressed. I decided to get some brunch it was close to noon anyway. I headed out for some grub, green curry was on my mind. I found it and a laundry mat, i was beginning to smell, mental note of its location. I tried to find a huge temple that i could see from the hotel and i walked into a sign on a different temple wall that offered mediation workshops every Monday at three. I checked my watch, Monday, 1:00 pm, awesome. I found the temple that i was looking for and walked by a bunch of westerners talking with Monks and as i made my second lap around the grounds i stopped and looked unaware of the sign just in front that said literally "don't just stand there and stare, come talk with a Monk about Buddhism", i chuckled to myself. Not really knowing what i want to talk about i sat with three Monks, i asked about suffering and loss and burdens to carry. We discussed reincarnation and finding your calling in life. I left admittedly tearful, for a whole host of reasons. I sat with 15 minutes to spare before my mediation workshop and thought about those who i have lost and wondering where they were in the world now, assuming reincarnation is real. It was nice to know that the world had not lost all my friends and family members spirits. That maybe they were here around us not as a being that hovers over us as i have liked to imagine them, but as other people, or birds or the like. i walked to my mediation session feeling better. I entered a small temple and was unsure just what i would find and i found a Monk sitting with his eyes closed as i knelt to make my silent approach (always be lower than a monk is) his eyes opened and i sat down in a cross between bewilderment and awe as he spoke. I felt like this was something mind alteringly special, and that i had just stumbled upon it, so haphazardly. Suddenly the hairs stood up on the back of my neck and i knew my fortune had been right all along, this was the start of something.