It Was The Best of Times, It Was The Worst of Times

 ...  wait a second, somebody already wrote that.  Thanks to Mr. Dickens.

Chiang Mai Has Been Fantastic

We enjoyed the Loy Krathong festival so much.  

It was an experience like we've never had before.  It's a festival where you can literally let your troubles float away—if only it worked for Seattle traffic!

Picture this: people crafting beautiful little boats out of banana leaves, tossing in candles, flowers, and maybe even a few stray hair strands (because who doesn’t want to share their bad hair day with the water goddess?). As these krathongs drift off into the night, it’s like sending your bad vibes on a one-way trip to nowhere while you stand there hoping your golf game doesn’t sink faster than your floating basket.

Part of the fun for the day was the parade we ran into.  We got there just before it started and were able to mingle with the floats and the performers who were just cute as kittens.

Muay Thai Kick Boxing

Talk about new experiences!  We took an evening and went to the fights.  Neither one of us had ever even watched kick boxing before...  and we had a blast.  

It was an international championship with fighters from different countries and included both men and women fighters.

It was an outdoor venue and we walked in through a small alley way lined with bars.  For a first in my life experience, a Thai midget woman tried to hit on me.  I thought Sonja was going to wet herself she was laughing so hard.  But, you've got to admit, she did have good taste.

We had ringside seats and were able to watch some really good, competitive fights.  And to do it in Thailand was such a bonus.  The crowds, the atmosphere.  You couldn't help but get into it.

Thai Farm Cooking School

A day at a Thai farm cooking class is like stepping into a culinary episode of “Survivor,” but instead of battling for immunity, you’re just trying to figure out how to turn a pile of fresh vegetables into a Pad Thai without accidentally summoning the spirit of Gordon Ramsay. Picture this: you’re knee-deep in basil, trying to remember if you’re supposed to chop it or just give it a stern talking-to. Meanwhile, your instructor is casually tossing ingredients into a wok like they’re confetti at a parade, while you’re over there measuring fish sauce with the precision of a NASA scientist. By the end of the day, you’ll have mastered the art of cooking (or at least made something that resembles food), all while bonding with fellow participants over mutual confusion and the realization that no one actually knows what “a pinch of salt” looks like!

But, of course, Sonja and I rocked it!

Umm... was this supposed to taste like that?

Just kidding.  Everything we made from pad thai to khao soy to mango sticky rice was wonderful.

So, what was the "worst of times" Bill?

There was a great musician in the seventies that wrote:  "You don't spit into the wind, you don't tug on Superman's cape..." and you don't drink the water!

At the cooking class it was hot, humid and there was pitcher's of ice water on the tables.  I let my guard down and made the mistake of drinking that water.  Oh Lord, I will never make that mistake again!

I'll spare you the gruesome details.  Suffice it to say I spent the next 4 days in bed, eating nothing and just hoping I could keep water down.  It felt like my stomach has declared war on  my entire digestive system. Suddenly, you’re questioning every life choice that led you to that point.

When life gives you Thailand's Terror, just remember: it’s the universe’s way of telling you to stick to bottled water!

I'm almost fully recovered now and a much wiser man.

And with that, we're heading on.

Tomorrow we're headed to Laos.  Getting their via a two-day boat ride down the Mekong River.  Then to Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, Cambodia.

We did modify our travels based on my episode and we're going to be coming home early.  We knocked three countries out of the itinerary (Philippines, Sri Lanka and India) and will be heading home December 10th.  I think we may have bitten off a bit much with a 3-month trip and that's the silver lining.  We learned much about ourselves and the limits of being senior citizens.

We'll touch base from Laos!