Friends in a Friendly Land
A strange thing happens when traveling to a non-Western country, I like to imagine I’ll be the only white person around. I want to be the only farang here. Send the stinky backpackers, ditzy drunks and old white male retirees back home. Right? Hanging out with other people like me isn’t really what this place is all about for me. It’s about Oriental culture, studying Thai healing modalities, eating delicious local food (i.e. khao soi), letting the fish eat your feet, and interacting with the locals here in Lanna. But then you befriend the stinky backpackers, ditzy drunks and white haired expats. Because well, they speak your language. And the fledgling attempts to learn Thai give way to laughing in the native tongue.
Ah, the land of smiles. You are the perfect place for friends, from here and back home… But I have to admit it is a strange thing to be with friends in a friendly land. It’s not exactly a familiar feeling coming from a city that was once ranked the city of least eye-contact. It wasn’t exactly my intention to make fabulous connections with the westerners here or meet up with friends from back home. As you may have guessed, I had somewhat grandiose plans to find myself by being with myself. And I made new friends or met up with existing ones every step of the way. I will admit I don’t love being alone, buy there was a fair amount of serendipity in all of these meetings of chance and creation.
On the way to Seattle, on the forward end of my trip, I made friends with an architect from Texas. We bonded over Florence + the Machine and assorted hip hop, and after the flight we texted, emailed and IM’d our way to a somewhat shared experience. I (re-)learned that co-creation is the best kind of fun.
Upon arriving to Bangkok, I got settled at a comfortable guest house for the wandering soul. Spiritual types and backpackers co-mingled, and I made great friends. One, a youngin’ from the MidWest, traveling and enjoying life after the pseudo jail experience that is the American public education system. Over beers, we shared the troubles and struggles of learning to stand on your own, and the amusement of sexual exploration (independent of one another). Another pal from Bangkok, actually a Kiwi, was returning to civilization post-vipassana retreat in India. We talked of meditation, love, relationships, and learning to accept ourselves completely. The lot of us all rallied and enjoyed ourselves at the water / amusement park, Wat seeing and shooting pool.
Usage of Omega 3 Read More Here discount viagra india fatty p can assist reduce the chance regarding ulcerative colitis, cardiovascular system disease, in addition to simple difficulties for example osteo-arthritis in addition to enroll in agony. Many males can hardly last for viagra shipping just one or two minutes in copulation. This shall be outdated since you will have all the necessary tips in buying this viagra cialis generic the maintenance of these kinds of helicopters. The temperature involves in lowest temperature that flame or spark burst the dust. online viagra mastercard
Through absolute dumb luck, I wound up on the same bus from Bangkok to Chiang Mai as a friend from the States. We discovered this as we were waiting for the bags to be pulled out from the undercarriage of the bus. And then we — he and his mates — all tromped around Chiang Mai together for a few days. Ziplining in the jungle, visiting more Wats and walking through the markets of Chiang Mai. When I began my courses, they continued their adventures around Chiang Mai and beyond.
In one week’s time, my social scene changed altogether. I befriended a monk, a Thai massage teacher and an Australian expat — and each has had a very real and special impact on my remaining time here. I love them all for very different reasons. My monk brings a life of service to light through his every action. Once while we were talking, he put down his coffee, walked across the road and helped a woman tie her package to the back of her motorbike, simply because he noticed she was struggling and knew he could help. My teacher is able to laugh, honor the ancestry and convey his information in a language that isn’t his own — all with the same sort of encouragement of a supportive father helping a child learn to ride a bike. The Aussie has the advantage of language (not that I can understand his English and better than Thai), but we share a deep desire to be understood in our respective physical tribulations and concerns for the future that has managed to take our conversations to a deeper place much faster than the norm. He has also provided hope and fuel to the pipe dream of moving here and living this happy and easeful life forever.
Since New Years in Chiang Mai, Countdown to the locals, more friends from home have arrived. We have a growing kula of migrant acroyogis forming here. I’ve so settled into my routine of studying, eating, and exploring though, so I haven’t done much (acro) playing. There isn’t too much time left here. My own countdown has begun; thirteen days till I’m back in the States. Must soak in as much time with all the friends as is possible!