A pretty quiet month here in Thailand. We have to start determining if, and when, we are coming back to the US. I have been very apologetic to everyone I meet about the recent US behavior since the November election and quick to assure them that not everyone agrees with the current administrations policy towards foreigners..etc. I have 3 trips to Canada scheduled for this year, so I felt compelled to craft emails to all, expressing my appreciation for their worth as a country and individually. I also picked up a few more Canada/US patches to put on my luggage and sow one to my forehead.
Everyone here seems to be in disbelief about our recent UN votes in-line with Russia and North Korea, and pretty much every other international comment these days. I am trying to get used to the idea that this vote is representative of my home country, and we are now part of the Axis of Evil. Be careful when you marginalize a country full of desperate white men. The selfishness and racism of every Republican who voted for this is not surprising, but the stupidity sure is. I hope they will be humbled by the end result of getting a first-hand lesson in World History, but I know that will not happen. I would love to use the word ignorant, but that is letting them off too easy.
We are eager to get involved in local Ann Arbor scene again, but not really excited about venturing outside of our protective bubble.
Now that we are back from Chiang Mai, I decided to get so more protective gear for the dirt bike. The riding gear I use is good for road rash but not meant for a hard fall onto a rock. I went down to a local outfitter and tried on a bunch of different setups, and determined to just buy some cheaper versions online and wear them under my current road riding jacket and pants
Walking by our neighbors the other day I saw this animal flopping around
The squirrels here are different than back in the US. They are more like a hairy rat.
I thought it might be that but he was acting really strange, like he was playing and jumping and seemed to be having the time of his life. I then wondered if it could be Sugar Glider (somewhat exotic pet). We went inside and up to bed and I thought we should go back to the house and knock on door to see if they lost their pet. Yep, it was their Sugar Glider. He was already safe back in the cage by the time we got there. Now that I think about it, I never really got confirmation that it was a Sugar Glider. It could have just been a neighborhood squirrel that they put in a cage and feed some acid.
It did add to my reputation in the neighborhood as the patron saint of animals because it was just a couple days before that I saved a pigeon. He was in the middle of the road with a large plastic bag wrapped around his neck. He would not let me get close and finally flew up onto an awning of a storefront. I had serious doubts about my plan, but I started throwing some rocks up there and he hopped over to a tree. I then grabbed a mop pole and climbed up the tree a little and was able to hook the bag like I was gaffing a tuna. “I cant’ believe that worked, I thought.” I came down and the locals were watching me. I felt like Gaylord Focker in "Meet The Parents" when he brings the fake "Jinxy-Cat" home from the animal shelter.
I decided to try and take up the sport of Padel. It is like the Country Club game of "Platform Tennis" in the US. It is a variation of tennis and pickleball. I tried pickleball last year but the constant bending was just too difficult on my back. I guess I could have stuck with it and just not bent over but it would have been difficult as the majority of the pain is not felt until later in the day, so you don't have the immediate, hand touching the frying pan, reaction. I decided to take a couple private lessons to learn the correct way, as opposed to just relying on my tennis skills.
The teacher felt I would be very good and did not believe I was new to the sport. He placed me at 3.5 level. I think that the ranking is similar to tennis. I scheduled my first match for a couple days later. When that day arrived I got crushed. I was just unable to let balls go by me, as you should, to allow them to hit off the wall thereby giving you time to set up a more aggressive return. In addition, the shots into the corner just had me chasing my tail around in a circle with the ricocheting tennis ball. Humbling experience, but the guys were all very patient with me, which I appreciated. The rules and game is fairly simple, easier than pickleball I would say. Unfortunately, for the next couple weeks, my back was in a great deal of pain and could not continue with the sport. Similar to pickleball, there is just too much bending as the ball goes into the corners.
Having played all three sports I would say tennis is the most difficult to pickup due to size of the court and the variability in the racquet response. That being said, I watched some Padel Youtubes and the professionals seem every bit as skilled and talented as tennis players. In regards to pickleball, it is easy to play and the pros are good, but I don't see as much separation in the level of play from professionals, having hit with one in the past. Which explains why it has taken the USA by storm. Even with the back issues, I am not sure I will ever get into it. Its just hard to take these people seriously who are so "passionate" when playing with a wiffle ball.
Fortunately, I am still able to play some tennis. It has been a great outlet to get back on the courts. After high school, I really have not played more than a few times each year until after COVID. I am enjoying relearning the shots. Sometimes I wonder if I could compete with my younger self. I watch videos and try and experiment with different strategies when I hit with people during the week. I never really got into strategy when I was younger, frustrating my coaches to no end. I couldn't even tell you whether my opponent was left or right-handed. I just relied on athleticism to compensate for ignorance. Now I study the game, appreciate my limitations and find other ways to win points. It is the special people, in tennis and in life, who, at young age, or even old, can swallow their ego, and respect the metaphysical aspects of the game.
We took a week to visit Amy's parents in Chanthaburi. It was about a 3 hour ride on the motorcycle. Amy and the dog followed behind in a hired van. The ride was uneventful, other than the auxiliary lights I had installed last month failed. I rode around her parents neighborhood looking for a local scooter repair shop. I was directed to an alley but when I woke the guy up he pantomimed he would be of no use. I was riding home and saw a car speaker shop. I pulled in and flashed my lights and showed him my melted wires.
He nodded and got to work. best $4 I have spent!
Interesting arrangement at her parents house. When we arrived, her mom took us up to the guest room. It looked like the unused wing of a country estate where all the furniture was covered in drop cloth. The AC didnt work, I slept on mattress with no comforter or sheet, and Amy eventually relocated to the couch downstairs.
The next day I took the motorcycle out for a ride. I rode past all the places we visited a few years back on our first trip here.
After I got back, we all went out to dinner along the ocean. Obviously great seafood in this area.
After dinner we walked Max around the neighborhood. The swallows were out in full force. Not sure what caused this, but it was a nightly chaotic event
This little fledgling bird sat outside the window all evening. HE seemed to be able to sleep in that position. Quite impressive.
The next day I noticed all these rabbits around the city. Not actual rabbits but statues and pictures.
I asked Amy and she casually mentioned that Chanthaburi is called the "City of the Moon" so they use the "rabbit in the moon" as the mascot. I was like, "What are you talking about? do you mean the Man in the Moon?" Apparently there is this whole other group of people across the world that have no concept of the man in the moon, but rather spent their entire lives worshipping a rabbit image. I immediately Googled and saw this:
Really? you got a dead rabbit from that? Agree to disagree I guess.
We had lunch along the water. I am always obsessed with these Archer fish when I see them. Their ability to track objects as they fly through the air is mesmerizing.
Unfortunately soon after we returned, Amy's sister's dog passed away. We dug a grave in the yard and had a small ceremony
Back to normal life in Bangkok. SomTum lunch and evening walk with Max to visit the neighborhood diva.
Max had a little extra clothing on to keep him from mucking with the stitches he received from a minor surgery to remove a couple persistent bumps on his skin.
Every time he comes to Thailand he goes under the knife. I know he is voting for a return trip to the US sooner rather than later.
The local monitor lizard caught a snake. In ancient times, if you saw something like that you would build a city on the spot!
After tennis one day I thought I would try one of these ice bath spas in attempt to heal my back. I did not know what to expect but with the unrelenting heat and humidity here I welcomed any reprieve. Here are some pics I stole from google reviews. Young, fit and energetic people enjoying the locale.
Then there was me just sitting in this freezing cold box at 9 in the morning on a Tuesday.
I followed another persons lead and just alternated between saunas and ice dips for a few cycles. After a couple times through I was able to stay in the coldest bath indefinitely as long as I kept my hands out of the water. My hands have never been able to handle temperatures changes very well. Gets worse with age, but not really a big deal in the grand scheme of things.
I spent a day riding the scooter down to the Muang Boran Fish Ponds by the ocean. Basically a bunch of reservoirs that people stock with fish that attract a variety of bird species. I did not get pictures but saw some pretty amazing birds. I got lost on a trail and ended up on a single track path.
Normally a trail like this is no problem, but instead of the motorcycle I was on my scooter, which has about a 5 inch clearance. I bounced along for a bit and, per usual in Thailand, I emerged into someones backyard. A guy was lounging on the porch as if it was an early 20th century opium den. I gave a low whisper, "Sawadee" (hello), as I rolled through the grass and into the front yard and the street beyond.
After that I walked the pier along the ocean to view the Mud Skippers. I have never actually seen Mud Skippers in person. Fascinating how prehistoric they appear
When the tide goes out all the males build these little pools by removing mud and then guard them vigorously. It was like watching a National Geographic special. If only I could have stuck with my dreams of being an animal behaviorist.
Near the end of the month I took the scooter down to the Thai National Museum to get a free 2Hr tour with an english-speaking guide. The woman handling the tour was from Illinois and had only been in Thailand for a few years. She was an Asian Studies major in college. The wealth of information she possessed was incredible. We walked through the museum exhibits from Prehistoric times, the spread of Hinduism/Buddhism, wars with Burma and Khmer, up until the current Rama monarchy. She mentioned that the museum offers classes to become a tour guide. I was eager to give it a go, but they don't start again until next October. In the meantime I am becoming a member of the volunteer group and also looking at joining the Siam Society to attend lectures in the city.
Until Next Month,
Darren
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