Chiang Mai; Heading to India

Had a fun time visiting one of the popular clubs in Chiang Mai called Spicy. Filled with mostly western - falang -guys and many beautiful Thai women, it is one of the biggest dance and hook up clubs in Chiang Mai. My first visit there I went with a lovely Thai girl - Bee- who I had met in town while eating at the small restaurant she owns. The club doesn't really get started till past midnight and stays buzzing to past 4am. Definitely a much different vibe than Americans type clubs. No beautiful cocktail waitresses going around trying to sell drinks. Was primarily very polite and medium built Thai guys taking care of the drink orders. The sign at the front door walking states 3 main rules: (1)No ladyboys -transvestites or crossdressing guys - allowed, (2)No weapons, (3) No sex in the club emphasized with a picture of a guy and girl going at it.

Was an interesting experience going to the bathroom in the club. The moment I stepped up to the urinal I had one of the male bathroom attendants come up from behind and start giving me a shoulder and back massage while I was standing there trying to relieve myself. A moment earlier several guys warned - "Watch out they are going to give u a massage." These two guys turned out to be from Boulder Colorado. Kind of funny place to run into several guys living so close to me back home. They seemed pretty freaked out by the prospect of getting a massage from another guy in the bathroom while taking a pee. Not exactly the most typical experience, particularly for a westerner from the states, receiving a massage in the bathroom from a male attendant in a straight club. A moment later they were raving about how good a massage it was. It was a very good massage and I learned a couple of interesting moves from them. They did some amazing neck cracks on me. Wasn't exactly the easiest to relax, but having already drank several bottles of beer and being half drunk I was able to relax after several moments.

Such a different vibe in the club than back in the states. Very fun and peaceful type setting without the ever present threat of fights and violence so typical of clubs in the states. The Thai girls are so beautiful, most of them at least, and go out of there way to smile and get your attention. Much different than American clubs where most of the attractive women tend to act like gods gift to man and act much more aloof and untouchable. Here the Thai women are full of smiles and much more approachable. Of course many of them are working girls and looking to make some money taking guys home for sex. Makes it a bit unpredictable in figuring out girls motives when you are meeting and talking with them. It's not nearly as crazy as Pattaya or other places in Thailand, but still obviously there. One Australian guy had met and thought he had really hit it off with an attractive Thai woman. He was set to go home with her when she started requesting 1000 baht, or about $30 US dollars.

I myself was already there with a good looking Thai girl so I wasn't worried about trying to pick up any of the girls. Still fun meeting and flirting with the girls. It's a bit of an ego boost with the attention the Thai girls give. I was there later in the evening about ready to leave with Bee when an extremely good looking Thai girl came up to me and said she wanted to have sex with me. I'm not sure if she really wanted to go home with me because she thought I was attractive, or if she was a working girl looking to make some money, probably the latter although I would like to believe the first option. I didn't get a chance to find out as I told her I was already with someone and unavailable at the moment.

Today is Wednesday the 28th and tomorrow I am heading off to Kolkata- Calcutta - around noon. I am super excited to being going to India. Thailand has been unbelievable experience but it is a relatively easy and tourist friendly country, unlike what I am going to experience in India. I am very excited for the challenge inspite of the prospects of getting sick which seem to be inevitable in speaking with everyone who has traveled to India. It almost feels like my true adventure is just beginning upon getting to India and experiencing what is in store for me there. I feel like I am at the edge of a cliff and ready to jump off the edge into the unknown. I am really excited to be going to India to study yoga and meditation as well as visit the himalayas and see some incredible scenery and extreme culture. I have 100 days in India in which I plan to spend in Northern India and Nepal. I will be arriving there as monsoon season is beginning in northern India so the prospects of trekking and hiking in the himalayas will be diminished a bit. Not too much fun to go hiking for days with monsoon season showers pouring down on me. I will find out more when I get there and the prospects of doing so.

I got a copy of Lonely Planet India, a huge book taking up much space in my bag, but will be invaluable in helping me get around what promises to be a challenging and exciting journey. I have no idea really what to expect in getting to Kolkata, situated in northeastern India and the cheapest city to fly into in India. The street called Sutter street is supposed to be a top spot in the city for backpackers and foreign travelers. I anticipate extreme poverty and many scam artists and beggars looking to make money off myself. Have been told to expect it to me much more in my face and pushy than in Thailand, which can get a bit annoying in Bangkok. Will be a chance to meet some interesting folks in whatever other travelers and expats are in India at the moment. Probably won't be a whole lots of travelers in the city as well as the country as it is the hot season and monsoon season is quickly approaching. Chiang Mai was a bit slow in terms of tourists and Khao San Rd in Bangkok is quite slow at the moment. So much different than back during the high season in Dec and Jan. It is actually a bit nice walking around without the huge masses of travelers and party goers existing during the high season.

I come back to Thailand Sept 8 for a little over a month and a half, in which I plan to visit Laos, perhaps Cambodia, live in some of the Buddhist forest monasteries to practice meditation and save money, and also refresh myself in some more thai massage classes before heading home Nov 3. Five more months left for me in my journey which I expect to be quite profound for myself. I do not expect to be the same person after this time. Hopefully will have acquired much more peace of mind, wisdom, and insight into myself as well as have a different perspective on life, particularly in regards to the excessively materialistic style of living in the west and America. It's all taken for granted the high standard of living available to many living in America. I have found it very nice and liberating to travel with merely 2 bags full of possessions. Also able to see how people can be happy and live life without having such a unbalanced emphasis on money and owning stuff. More emphasis on family, community, and spirituality.

pichets studio

Pichet's studio that he works out of is quite interesting. Piles and piles of incense and candles are off to the side along side many Buddhas and photos of important Thai monks meditating. Lots of clutter throughout the space with papers and other stuff scattered throughout. Large space however with lots of mats and cushions lying around. No more than 10 people in class right now as it is the slow season. I would imagine during the busy season of Nov through March it may get upwards of 30 people, which would be too much.

It is requested that each student at the beginning of each wk bring in four offerings for the Buddhas and other important figures key in Thai Buddhism and Thai massage. These consist of incense, candles, lotus flowers, and fruit. The stacks of incense look like piles of bottle rockets that could blow up at any moment. I'm not sure why he doesn't light the incense up and please the Buddhas and other celestial beings. Looks almost like yrs worth of incense stocked up.



The classes are quite laidback and informal, reflecting Thai culture. If one is coming looking for a structured class with a syllabus and lesson plans they are going to be disappointed. There are plenty of other thai massage schools in the Chiang Mai area which do offer that type of western style teaching however. However watching Pichet demonstrate thai massage in his style it is highly apparent that he is a genius in the field. He makes some of the most complicated looking stretches and moves look so simple and easy. His main area of emphasis is teaching students to feel the body, get out of your head and stopping thinking so much, which causes headaches. When we are up in our heads trying to think and analyze what we are doing, the energy flow in our bodies and hands gets disrupted and is reflected in the massage. Pressure becomes uneven and the person being worked on can typically feel and sense this. The key is to slow down and feel the persons body you are working on, observing areas of tightness and constriction and how they are reflected in other segments of the body.



Problems in the legs in the legs are reflected in the hips and lower back, which then affect the upper thoracic and neck region. It is a very holistic approach and respects the fact that the whole body is completely interconnected. Everybody has a unique body and needs to be approached that way. Most schools in the area teach structured routines with not much emphasis on feeling and sensing subtle nuances in each persons body. In a way Pichets style is similar to the teachings of Rolfing back in the states, with the idea of various segments of the body and how they are all interconnected and effect each other. It is amazing watching Pichet at work, as he is able to transition the person he is working on as well as himself so smoothy and effortlessly. He is always using his knees, elbows, and feet in the stretches and massage in creative ways. Interesting watching his massage peoples necks with one of his feet, while the other holds the shoulder stretching the region.



Another aspect of the laidback approach in class is the carefree way Pichet lights of cigarettes and smokes whenever he wants. Thailand in general is not quite as concerned with political correctness to the degree the west is. Not as many rules and laws governing this sort of thing, although I do see smoking and non smoking areas in many of the bars. Not really that bothersome though, as the bld is build with lots of openings and space for fresh air to move through. Got some noisy birds flying into the classroom and hanging out in some baskets up high, chirping away. They are fun to listen to although they get a bit annoying after awhile.

Pichet says I work like a buffalo when I am doing massage. I am using too much effort and muscle as opposed to relaxing and allowing my body to do the work. Take many yrs to master the finer and subtler arts of thai massage. His approach is much different than how I was being taught down in the islands. My teacher down employed alot of thumbwork during the massage. Apparently there are 2 different styles of Thai massage, northern and southern styles. Northern is more laid back with more yoga type stretching incorporated. Southern style is more point work working on the Sen and energy lines of the body. I myself enjoy learning more of the stretches employed in Thai massage. The southern style is a bit similar to trigger point massage in the states which I am already familiar with. More taxing on the body and fingers. Was able to get one wk in with Pichet and hope to get one more in when I get back to Thailand in Sept. after visiting India.

Start classes with Pichet

Finally getting around to starting thai massage classes with Pichet Boonthume this wk. Had to delay for a while for various reasons, including Songkran - the water festival - which cancelled classes for the week, going to Pai and then staying in Lisu Village, and another wk having to travel back to Bangkok to pickup passport from Indian Embassy. So far about 8 people in class, half guys and girls. Slow season so not as busy as it would be from Nov through March. Met my first traveler from Portugal, a guy who was previously learning thai massage at a regarded school in Kathmandu Nepal. Class is pretty informal and relaxed. Start class shortly after 9am with chanting, then have Pichet do a bit of a lecture and demonstration. Afterwards and through the afternoon we are free to practice on each other.

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Had met a beautiful Thai girl named Saly who I was able to spend some time with before she embarked to Italy. There she works at a resort as a food artist carving up watermelons and fruits and stuff into wonderful artistic creations. She was such a sweet and charming girl characteristic of so many of the Thai women, particularly it seems in the north of Thailand. It seems to be the nature of backpack traveling that you meet and connect with certain persons for several days or perhaps longer, then have to disconnect and move along. Kind of sad at times but makes me value and attempt the Buddhist principle of Non-attachment, not to be confused with detachment.



Met an interesting American girl named Liz at yoga class the other day who coincidentally graduated from Penn State University. While I mentioned that I grew up in Pennsylvania and my brother attended Penn State, I didn't describe to her my lovely experience of spending time in the county prison of Centre County. Would have definitely given her a different impression of me i'm sure. At PSU she received her masters degree in some aspect of Marine Biology and has had the opportunity to travel throughout the world and various islands including Fiji. Not sure exactly what kind of studies she was doing there but sounded quite intriguing, her explaining studying certain aspects of the ocean floor and traveling in a submarine. She was only in Chiang Mai for several days till she was off to Bombay India. Ultimately within the month or so she was traveling to Kathmandu, Nepal to volunteer teaching science to the local kids. I checked out the website of the program she was participating in and discovered it included paying a fee to take part in. I travel to India in 2 and a half wks at this point, arriving in Calcutta on a Thursday, I believe the 28th or so. I definitely want to visit Nepal while I am in northern India. Unfortunately it will be monsoon season, not a great time for doing extended treks into the himalayas.

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Met my first Colombian family in Thailand while traveling by bus from Chiang Mai to Bangkok one night. Not a very comfortable journey as the trip is over 12 hrs long sitting in a small little seat with very little leg room. For the some reason they call it the VIP bus, giving you a positive sense of foreboding for the bustrip. Once your on the bus for several hrs reality sets in, particularly if your squeezed in next to someone else. Then for some reason the bus driver always seems to turn off the lights around 8 or 9pm, right when you want to start reading to keep busy. Of course the private lights set for each seat rarely work. I brought a tiny flashlight to remedy this situation and provide suitable light for reading. For the 2nd part of the journey I had a chance to sit next to the beautiful daughter in her late twenties, I believe her name was Katalina. The first 6 hrs or so I sat next to her father, while Katalina and her mother sat one row over. Mother and daughter were attired in colorful Indian clothing. I found out talking with Katalina that she is a devotee of the Sathya Sai Baba, one of the most famous gurus of India. I have been familiar with Sai Baba for many yrs and previously thought it would be an interesting experience to visit his ashram and receive his blessing. However he is located in southern India, a bit too far from the northern areas of India I intend to be traveling. Sai Baba is known for his curly, frilly high hair and the ability to materialize objects and sacred ash from his hands. Whether or not his abilities are authentic or sleight of hand magic, it would still be a memorable experience to visit such a revered figure in India and Hindu religion and culture.