With a last-ditch effort I threw him off me, but as I struggled and spluttered to get my head above water and collect some much needed oxygen two more climbed on my back.  I was pushed down into the water, as hands and feet and bodies worked their way up onto my shoulders and head.  I couldn’t hold it any longer, and gave in, legs collapsing, and my body plunging into salty darkness…
I came up laughing and whooping as the spluttering kids, flung off during my sudden dive, circled back …

Today finds me sitting at home in Boulder Colorado watching the rain fall and freeze in a surprisingly swift partnership of grace and poise: each drop pausing in time when it touches earth, car, or grass. Yes, I’m back in western world, and as I slip back into some of my old habits, my mind reflects on its journeys over the winter.

I spent ALL day working my way from the north of Thailand to the south. Really it was meant to be a multiday trip and I understand why. This place is designed to take time going from one place to another, not try and rush it.
I thought I’d fly and gain myself an entire day for not much extra $$ and a heck of a lot of my time saved, but it turned into one of those days where I feel like I’m being drowned by the wave and dragged …

Tomorrow I leave Chiang Mai. I meant to stay only about a week or so, but it’s been almost a month. The peace and harmony existing here is astounding and refreshing at the same time. Men and women go about their daily tasks with an air of flexibility and understanding I’ve rarely seen in the world. An experience I had yesterday displays some of the qualities quite well.

Another week has past it seems, but I can’t decide if it feels like just yesterday or a month ago that I wrote that last letter. I’ve been in Pai (Bye with the thai phonetics), for most of the time. Pai is a laid back town way up in the mountains north of Chiang Mai by 136km or a 3 hour scooter ride with brief stops along the way to rest my bum.