I'm in Pai, in the north of Thailand, getting ready to undertake a 30+ hour traveling excusion to Cambodia. My 30 day visa is running out, and I had hoped to make a quick visa run to the Burmese border, but that turned out to be much harder (read: expensive) than I first thought. SO - I'm heading to Angkor Wat a bit earlier than planned. I was sad to leave Metta, where I'd felt really great about helping, learning and meeting the varied people, and I'm glad I stayed longer than planned, even if it means seeing a bit less of the north. Chiang Rai and Mae Hong Son will have to wait for another trip, and of all the places I've visited, Thailand is at the top for return visits. The culture, people and countryside are fantastic. There is so much life here, and while it's adapted to western travelers, it has not lost it's own amazing truth. Riding in the back of minibuses, seeing the scenery from the passenger side (back) of a moped - these are such great memories. Driving by an elephant camp, going deeper into the mountains on crappy dirt roads - all of this and so much more - the world is an amazing and diverse place. That being said, I'm tired, fairly dirty, and more than a bit sad to have left behind some new friends. However, Christmas is coming, and I think, the beach. I'm planning on finding a nice, simple (cheap) bungalow, and laying low. My friend Sophia will be meeting me for New Year's in Bangkok, and I'm really looking forward to catching up and having a partner in crime to check out the city with. I have some great pictures to post, but my camera cord is somewhere in the depths of my bag, and honestly, I can't be bothered to dig it out. Sorry guys. On a more philosophical note, I had a really great conversation about feminism the other night. It's a bit too dense to go into here, but for all of you (and I'm sure there are a lot of you) who want to hear about how I realized I was wrong, remind me to fill you in the next time we're having a beer (or a glass of wine, God I miss wine). Philosophers come in all shapes and sizes, and I've been taught more in 3 weeks than I have learned in certain college terms. Some things I've garnered in the past month, from a variety of sources:
1. Noodle dishes use garlic, fried rice uses onion.
2. When using oyster sauce, use it liberally.
3. Every live needs a neutral.
4. Take things slowly, especially chess and electrical work.
5. When at all possible, don't compare anything - take everything as it is.
6. Stop being uptight (this means you - and me). Either laugh at it, change it, or leave it.
Will I be able to apply any of these lessons to my own daily life? Time will tell. Oh, and listen to Charles Bukowski - "How to be a Great Writer" (drink more beer, among other nuggets of genius).
