The bus back to Chiang Mai was not the most pleasant of journeys. I had a seat next to a big guy who basically took up half of my seat. I got chatting to a couple from Birmingham, who live on a Canal boat. They have a flight back booked via Dubai so currently weren't sure how they were getting home. They weren't too upset about it. They said they both had understanding bosses.
I managed to sleep a bit, and at Chiang Mai I got a ticket at the counter for the Green bus to Chiang Rai. This was running 30 minutes late but once we were on our way it was OK.
As suspected, it was cheaper to buy the ticket at the counter than book online.
On arrival, the hostel is OK - seems to be run by a lot of Thai men who sit around a lot of the day smoking stuff. There's a lot of Bob Marley posters around and old Motorbikes.
It's down a quiet street & not far from the town. I had a walk out & got some dinner. Finally tried Khao Soi which is a typically northern curry dish with noodles & meat, tofu or fish. It was pretty tasty & I like the crispy noodles on top.
The clock tower looked quite cool at night, as did the nearby temple
'Chiang Rai' means, 'City of King' - King Mangrai, founded in 1262 as the first capital of the Lanna Kingdom.
'Chiang Mai' means new city.
6th March
The next day I had to find some new reading glasses. My eyes seem to have got worse on this trip & I've been relying on my glasses a lot, but in Pai, I managed to snap off one of the arms.
I found a little shop near the 7- eleven that had reading glasses for 50 baht.
After a coffee & banana I walked to the Blue Temple or Wat Rong Suea Ten.
It was free to enter and I liked the inside, although it was a very modern style.
As with most of these important temples, they are ancient temple sites. A new temple building was conceived in 1996 but construction didn't start until 2005.
I had walked there in shorts & a sun top but put my long trousers & shirt on to go inside the temple complex, as with all these temples you must be 'respectfully ' dressed.
It made me chuckle as there were these two little Thai girls, probably only around three years old, - they looked like twins - and they were laughing and running about but also kneeling next to their mum at the Buddha, putting their hands together in prayer and bowing forward - copying the adults perfectly - even though they didn't really know the meaning of what they were doing.
And it got me thinking about 'meaning' and about life and religion.
We want our lives to have 'meaning'. We hope our lives will be meaningful. Some people believe this life's meaning or purpose is that it is simply a path to another life. A better life.
And that someone or something else is ultimately in charge of our life, and the next one. Someone else is in charge, instead of us.
But does there have to be a meaning? Is it OK to just 'be'?
Religion leads us to live with the future in mind. Another life. Which may or may not happen. No-one really knows.
So if we don't believe that, then all we have is 'Now'
Is it enough just to 'be' 'now'?
Not worry about the past.
Not think about the future.
If we are happy in our present moment - like I was at Pai Canyon for example - Isn't that enough?
Enough of a meaning.
In that happy moment, I am part of the universe. Part of the earth, the trees. the birds, the sky.
When time is gone then, physically, we can dissolve back into the earth.
Is the spirit a separate thing, or just an illusion?
To be truly happy is to be enjoying the moment - not thoughtful of the past or future.
And often the smallest or simplest of moments can be the happiest.
I suppose we try to capture these moments in photos.
I do genuinely get pleasure from looking back at old photos.
So in that way, by looking at the past, I'm also enjoying the present.
And also we can look forward to something and so, get present joy from the future.
But it is the moment that matters. It is all we have.
The past is gone, the future never comes but the 'present' is a gift to cherish.
...........Blue Temple thoughts............
On the way back I stopped for some lunch in a little cafe then at a stall selling fried banana.
There I met a Ukrainian girl, travelling alone. She still lived in the Ukraine. She said she was far from the fighting & Loved her country & didn't want to leave. But she loved travelling & loved Thailand.
It was nice to have someone to walk back to the town with & chat.
I went for a smoothie at the same cafe I'd eaten the night before. It was so sweet, the girl in there seemed genuinely delighted to see me back.
I tried out my new reading glasses - don't laugh 😆
Often, when I'm in cafes or places, I see a person on their own, looking happy, and I think - they are like me, they are alone & appear to be content - and then their partner appears & I get a slight sinking feeling. I think , oh, they are a couple, looking happy, together.
And then I think, can you completely enjoy a moment alone. Is it the same as if you were sharing it?
At the hostel, I slept a bit. They were playing some music which made me feel like I was trapped inside Asia's version of the Eurovision song contest ....
.....it went on for ages
Not wanting to go to bed too early, I went out for a walk & had a coke at a bar, which was over the road from the local 'lady boys' hangout - 69 Bar.
I'm assuming this is perfectly acceptable in Thailand & I have absolutely no problem with any kind of varient dressing or transvestiscism.......or transgenderism for that matter.
'Live & Let Live' is my motto!
On the bus to Chiang Rai, the bus attendant was clearly a man but had full hair & makeup like a woman - a sort of Chinese - Thai style with the chopsticks through a little bun at the back.
Back at Sook Jai hostel the music had reverted to the Jamaican & Bob Marley mix which was marginally easier on the ear.
(Pics taken during the day - obviously )
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