I'm on my second week in Thailand where I've been since 03March. I got out of India none too soon as I was completely burnt out on India.
I've spend the last three days in Chaing Mai, Thailand, doing practically nothing. After landing in Bangkok and taking a day or two there, I took the night bus up to Chaing Mai, new friend, dred-headed Californian man Taylor in tow. As in July, Bangkok blessed me easily for my prayers for a travel companion. Eerily like in July when I prayed for a travel mate one morning and met the Aussie bloke Matthew that afternoon, I prayed Saturday morning for a mate and two hours later Taylor popped up on the street in front of me inquiring if I knew a place he might trade his guitar for a mandolin, or someone who might buy his climbing gear. I was interested in his climbing gear and we ate together and talked and soon decided to travel north together and do some climbing.
We appeared at the same travel agent who calls himself Mel Gibson where I'd taken Matthew in July. Just as Matthew had to get a visa and india plane ticket, Taylor needed the same for his trip to India. Then we got bus tickets together to travel to Chaing Mai.
Two days later we arrived in Chaing Mai and discovered there was a good climbing crag nearby. Crazy Horse buttress proved wonderful with probably 20 bolted routes, a toilet, and a couple thatched open shelters. Taylor and I rented a motorbike and scootered out there with our gear. Three days sleeping in hammocks. Awesome climbing. Taylor proved an awesome climbing coach. Meanwhile I shared Reiki with him open his amazed eyes to the wonders of Reiki energy. Birds that sang into the night, bamboo fire cooked omelets, and trips to nearby sulphur hot springs lead the list of fond memories with Taylor.
He left for Bangkok and his flight to India after 4 days here. I took a couple days to realign and planned to go by motorbike to Chaing Rai. Two days in a row I checked out of my guest house with the intent of leaving, but didn't get out of town. I delayed my departure hearing Aussie Matthew was in town and hoping to see him. We finally met Monday morning and I heard tales of his newfound guru-ji in India where together they will form a world healing grid. Funny Matthew has been networking with people into tree houses... and I've been dreaming of sleeping in a hammock in the woods and climbing and finding a kinship with the dred-headed new age tree hugging back to lander types. After breakfast with Matthew, I once again intended to leave, but was faltering in gumption and sitting exhausted after a late night on the streetside. I glanced up to see the sign for Mr Whiskey's Guest House ... a place where I'd failed acouple times to find vacancy, and where there was a great looking patio hangout space. I felt a buzz of energy and decided to get a bunk and some sleep.
A few hours later I relaxed the most in several months hanging out on the patio at Mr Whiskey's. I realized I was exhausted and hence the indecisiveness about leaving. The next few days proved that this was just what I was looking for. In a few hours I had made freinds and shared Reiki and intuition excercises with fellow backpackers. I met two gay guys! Oddly enough I had been carrying a copy of the Celestine Prophecy workbook and that morning had intentioned tapping into feeling the energy flows.
I think about staying or moving here. Chaing Mai has interesting people, and is a great place to access the outdoors and easy to travel from. I wish I had more than the two weeks left before my flight to the USA, but at the same time feel a need to regroup.
