I love flip-flopping down the little side streets of Chiang Mai and seeing what I might stumble across. I got a haircut at “CUT ‘EM ALL” with the slogan “All Men Must Cut!” The barber was a follicle surgeon! A real Professor Keratin. Okay, I’m embellishing. He was good. I paid him double I was so happy with it.
I’ve been wanting to buy my friend a plant for his flat. There seemed to be a nursery nearby, but I kept hitting dead ends. I asked this little kid and his mother about it. We needed translator apps to communicate. Apparently I needed to walk through a school, but the gate was closed.
Walking down the street a few minutes later, the little kid caught up with me on his scooter and pulled out a pre-translated message, which read, “The nursery is quite far. I’ll take you there.” This kid couldn’t have been more than 16 years old, but the road was quiet, so I said yes and hopped on!
This took us into Dara Smile Academy – a HUGE school, with a sporting section, a cooking class section, a sound of music section, you name it. There were three security guards at the gate, but they let us right in. The kid gave me a big smile and bow after been dropped off, and scooted off.
There was no nursery, but some kind of school fate was going on, with food stalls everywhere. Or perhaps this is just how lunch is served at this school? I bought some Pad Thai to look as if I came there intentionally. I wasn’t really sure if I was allowed to be there or not, and didn’t risk taking any photos, but it was all quite a nice surprise!
A couple of nights before, I went out on a solo mission and found a talented blues band playing. My favourite tune included the lyrics “I’m going where the weather suits my clothes”. An elderly, knee-slapping woman was seated next to me. “They’re really good!” I said to her. “That’s my son on drums!” she said back. She was from Switzerland and has been living in Thailand for 8 years on a Retirement Visa. I asked her how that all works. Again, it’s simply a matter of how much money you have in your bank account.
I looked around and took it all in. There were two elderly locals who looked like very old friends, sipping on Sang Som from small glasses. Also nearby was a tattoo-clad gang, some ladyboys off duty, someone whose entire ear was an earing, and some street food vendors chatting away.
Ahhh Thailand… I love you.
Next: Thailand #26 – Boiled Eggs & Silence
Previously: Thailand #24 – Doing it My Way on the Highway
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