Stray Dogs

I’ve been seeing a lot of these dogs with saggy tits. It is appearent that these dogs have been ran through by a train of male dogs. It is unfortunate that they are not fix. (This dog is not dead, only asleep)

Alone on the road

Traveling alone can be an enlightening experience, but it can get lonely at times. Not every hostels or guesthouses are filled with opportunities to socialize. Interactions with other traveler are very casual. Sometimes, I find myself alone in a guesthouse for a couple of nights desperate for someone to talk to. Someone who can understand the the words that are coming out of my mouth. A great thing about solo travel is that it forces me to break out of my bubble and do things I don’t normally do. There aren’t any hesitations. Conversations just flows.

Maybe its me. Maybe that Dutch girl was right. I do become attach to people and places easily. Like taking the conversations with Zane as something of a brotherly bond. Once again I’ve fallen into this hole again…I don’t want to become cold blooded or emotionally frigid, but its hard to comprehend whether someone is genuine or not. Its a life lesson that I’m continuing to learn. I dunno. I guess it is what it is. I have friends. Soul brothers. That is not why I am here. I don’t want to become jaded, but I’m tired of trying and putting myself out there. Maybe I’m just not ready for this world. Its all good though.

Journal Entry: 10.29.2013

Reality

There’s a family that lives next to the hostel that I stayed at. The hostel is expanding its building, which means the lot that this family lives on will not be available for them anymore. Its rather sad but its reality here in Thailand.

7 Eleven

I’ve seen more of these here, than I ever had in the States. 7 Eleven in Thailand is what Whole Foods is back home. Minus the produce.

Motorbike ride up Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Rajvoravihara, Chiang Mai

Rented a 150 cc today to get to a temple (Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Rajvoravihara) on top of a mountain. It was an interesting ride. A little scary getting out of the city since traffic was constant. Rode it like we stole it once we got out of the city though. Well, at least one of us did.

 

Rental 150cc motorbike

…

Stairway to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Rajvoravihara

Entrance to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep Rajvoravihara

Joe at a lost of words.

Green Buddha

Buddhism

For centuries, Buddhism has been the guiding light to contentment, peace and happiness for many throughout Asia. Buddhism basically teaches that the answer to happiness is nothingness. To give up all desires, all goals, all urges. To give up being human. Like many other religions, Buddhism was forged out of fear of the unknown, death and misery. It served its purpose. It provided peace for majority of mankind, but what is to become of it when people are starting to realize that nothingness doesn’t necessarily bring happiness? As I walked the streets of Bangkok, Chiang Mai and other Thailand cities I realized that these people have close to nothing and they look miserable. Evidently, Buddhism is starting to lose it potency. Yet a good majority are hanging on to the tiny glimmer of hope that it promises.

Chiang Mai Culinary

Sticky Rice

Chiang Mai culinary is known for its sticky rice. I was fortunate to find a street vender selling it. Typically, sticky rice is cooked in a bamboo over direct heat.

This is what it looks like after the dude chopped the bamboo open. It was pretty good. It had coconut cream flavor with a hint of char bamboo infused.

Khao Soi

Khao Soi

Chiang Mai cooking has a mixture of Burmese and Chinese influences. One of the more popular Northern Thailand dish is called Khao Soi. After asking around town I finally found a spot that serves it. Khao Soi is a curry based egg noodle soup. The curry is mellow and sweet with hints of coconut cream. It is served with chicken, pork or beef. With pickled greens and onions on the side. It was very tasty.

Chiang Mai style sausages

These were by far the best sausage I’ve ever had. It looked very bland, but it is anything but bland. There were so many different herbs and spices. The lemon grass rounds everything out. On top of that it is very spicy.

Roast Chicken and Spicy Pork with Sticky Rice

A fellow traveler recommended this place. There are no words to describe how good the sauce was.

Dessert

Thai desserts.

 

Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is a 10 hours train ride from Bangkok. The city itself is surrounded by mountains and forest, which makes it an ideal place for trekking. Unlike Bangkok, Chiang Mai doesn’t have a proficient public transportation system, which makes getting around a little difficult. Its more laid back than Bangkok, but is starting to gain steam on tourism.

A local outdoor market in Chiang Mai.

A map of Chiang Mai

Our view half way up the mountain. It was beautiful seeing the whole city. It was difficult to capture what was seen and felt.

-From Chiang Mai with Love-

Another city another hostel..

This is by far the cleanest hostel i’ve been in since my arrival.

Cleanliness comes with a cost. As you can see this hostel has a set of rules unlike most. Most noticeable one is that I won’t be able to wash my chonies in sink during my stay. Oh well….

Sukhothai

Sukhothai is a quiet rural place with a lot of ruins from Thailand’s Sukhothai era. Its more of a touristy resort if you are in to that kind of thing. I was in a rush and a bit timid causing me to miss out on visiting the ruins…

I feel insecure about the relationships formed with people on the road. I guess I want everything to last forever…But in reality, everything fades…

Journal Entry: 10.22.2013