THE ULTIMATE
Welcome To My Life Is An Adventure - by Dawitt Abraha THE LAST TUESDAY OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2016 WAS THE COLDEST DAY FOR THE LAST 20 YEARS ON RECORD IN CHIANG MAI, NORTHERN THAILAND. THE EARLY MORNING HOURS: THE daylight temperature registered at 10 to 12 degrees celsius. It warmed up to 14 during the mid-day hours and stayed on for a little while. The evenings became colder progressively. Riding my motor bike became a challenge with the wind chill factored in. I retreated to the shopping malls for refuge. I probably had varieties of soups, ate solid foods and drank more tea than I should in a single day. But my soon to be seventeen; on the first Tuesday of February 2016; young body needed assistance in combating against the elements. Some businesses were closed during the early parts of the day. During the day there were not as many pedestrians, motor cycles and cars even in the busy hours and In addition, it kept on raining throughout the day. Many in the pedestrian population resembled the "Eskimos" of Alaska in their heavy outfits. The exceptions were tourists who hail from the frigid zones of North America, Europe and or China. THE SKIES were blanketed by thick clouds. It was overcast for the whole day. THE EVENING: Last evening/night of January 26, 2016, I felt so cold and could not keep my body warm enough. My apartment is not equipped with a heating system. There is usually no need for that. No one has space heaters around here. It does not really get that cold enough at my elevation. So I did some stretching and some walking. Still cold. One or two glasses of wine . Still cold. I got into bed and started reading. Before I knew it I fell asleep so early in the evening. I got up in the middle of the night to clear my bladder. It was eerily quiet around 2;30am. FROM my balcony I could not hear or see any signs of life; No dogs barking, no roosters crowing, no pedestrians or vehicle traffic on the roads . It was too unusually cold for any normalcy. The usual call and response of the roosters came around 5:00am. The city was beginning to wake up to its coldest morning. I could hear an occasional motor vehicle sound in the distance. None of the early morning avid cyclists showed up that morning. No stray dogs walking the streets aimlessly. I kept on doing some basic yoga exercises and occupied my body in power walking. From time to time I would refill my water boiler and make more tea. I sampled all the varieties of tea that I had in my pantry. My tea pot was the busiest it had been in all of my 30 months residence in Chiang Mai. That previous night and the morning that followed, my tea pot "saved" my life. What made Tuesday, January 26 of 2016 feel so cold was its sudden unexpected appearance .Add to that the cold rains. I heard of hailstorms in some suburb areas like SaanKhaemPhaeng. I have heard of some 10 deaths (not confirmrd) on that day and or on the Wednesday following it. The city of Chiang Mai had been having warmer days in a stretch during the preceding weeks. For the rest of the month of January the city has been experiencing slightly warmer weather. MY SEVENTYTEENTH SEVENTYTEENTH CHAMPAGNE BREAKFAST BIRTHDAY PARTY on Tuesday, February 02, 2016 in Chiang Mai Northern Thailand IT started around 9:30am. It was a great party and full of fun; old time music (African and western) and dances, two varieties of champagne, a small birthday cake, carrot cup cakes, blueberry cup cakes, two varieties of hummus with carrot sticks and celery. The house was full of primarily single old timers, a few with spouses. I delivered a brief speech welcoming everyone and explaining the line up for the activities of the day. I went on to counselling the group against growing up. I stated that getting old is a health hazard. The party ended around noontime. Then I had late lunch with an x girlfriend and her group of friends and family. In the evening I went out to The Jazz Club for smooth jazz and a few drinks. (cool) (cool) (cool) (cool) (party) (party) (party) (party) (party) :P :P :P :P END OF MY DAY. CHINA TRIP, April 2016 Left Chiang Mai Thailand on 12 April with Patrick (who had lived and ran businesses in China for 25 years) and with Tom . Arrived at Hangzhou late. Took taxi from Hangzhou airport to Hangzhou and then onto Wukang. Stayed at Patrick's three bedroom condo in Wukang, a suburb out of Hangzhou. Tom was too tired, stayed in apartment. Seth treated Patrick and me to a late night very delicious "Habachi" style dinner. I went along to explore and enjoyed the night out. The following day: Spent part of Tuesday in small and exquisite Moganshan town. Mouse showed us her design offices in Moganshan. Had lunch with her in her office. The most delicious and best lunch one can have. She has a cook who prepares meals for her office staff of designers and decorators, every working day. I also visited the world famous Lu Wang Gallery of block paint portraits. Every night Patrick's family would treat us for dinner. They are gracious hostesses especially, Mouse. She has one delightful of a princess daughter aged 7 and a son 12. Her husband's named, Rat. They jointly ran a design company. Lunchtime; we'd explore on our own . Seth was a gracious host taking me and Tom to the Moganshan mountain sides. On Thursday morning, April 16, took high speed train from Wukang to Hangzhou and onto Shanghai. In a blink of a moment we covered a distance of many kms, arrived Shanghai before we could realize. Shanghai is a vast city with an estimated population of over 25 million. Impressive skyline of world famous architecture and buildings.The golden domes and the needle stand out in my memory. Walked the board walk around The BUND and the board walk along the Huangtzou river. Enjoyed people watching on Nanjing walking street. Vendors aggressively approach tourists with all sorts of merchandise. It has a feel of like walking in a crowded NY City street, but much more intense. In downtown Shanghai stayed at Home Inn Hotel corner of Hongmai Rd and Chengjiaquiao Rd. We changed hotel to HaiYan Hotel,325 Bao Ding Rd in Hong Kou area of Shanghai, part of old town nearer to the Shanghai-Osaka ferry and near the famous historic prison Chulang close to the Dalian Rd metro subway. Very good value. COMMENTARY: people ordinarily speak out loud compared to Thailand. Breakfast wholesome. Sadly and in a humorous way, myself and Tom fell victims for the notorious tea ceremony scheme. On Tuesday April 19; originally we were scheduled to have taken the two day boat trip on a ferry from Shanghai to Osaka Japan. That did not pun out on the grounds that our informal tour guide was not feeling well. In its place he suggested we accompany him to visit his properties in HaiNan islands located on the South China Sea near the Vietnam border. We flew out of Shanghai on China Eastern Air to Sanya island and stayed at Patrick's two bedroom condo located not far from the marina. We started exploring this town right away. The local people look different and have a different dialect from Shanghai, populations looks also very diverse. The following day went around local markets and revisited Patrick's hangouts of his younger days there. Everyday we'd walk along the beaches. Every day and primarily most evenings I'd see some, mostly young female group dance exercises and I did join in a couple of evenings to the surprise of dancers and onlookers. On Friday, April 22, late evening/night and on Saturday and Sunday mornings, April 23/4, it was thundering and lightning, thick dark clouds followed by downpours late in the night and on off during the mornings. I took my morning taxi to town. Flooding everywhere. I could see sewage pipes overflowing onto the streets. Municipal employees were opening up draining gutters and manholes. The beaches seem to be understandably deserted with water and sewage flowing into the ocean. Rains stopped by 11:00am. Lower temp cleaner streets subsequently. The rivers were muddied up and there was a whiff of organic smell during the day. Disclaimer: Observations are my reflections of places and persons I encountered during my travels.They may generally be of middle or working class background and or peasants. There is almost always a multitude of crowds everywhere, a sea of humanity. Routinely;I would notice persons spit on streets without reservations. Observed apartment buildings seemingly not fully occupied.and some building constructions ongoing not full speed and or discontinued. Cars and electric motor bikes drive over granite/slab stone service roads or walkways/promenades along with pedestrians There is an atmosphere of negotiated settlement of sharing the roads as well as of zebra crossings. English not as widely spoken as in say Phillipines or Thailand. Google/Chrome and FB blocked. WiFi provided free by most businesses. Limited number of foreigners in sight. The fashion or attire of younger males/ females resembles much like the fashionable Chinatown in downtown Washington DC or that of NY City. Sunday, April 24. Had lengthy discussions with Michael, Australian, wine importer, a 6 year China resident with Chinese wife and 2 year old daughter. Met him inside MCD. He shared his experiences and was knowledgeable. Also, came across briefly a Russian tour agent inside fruit/veggie market. SANYA TO KUNMING KUNMING Arrived at around 10:45pm. Found hotel through airport shuttle bus co. High altitude town. Cool Temps below 20 C. Befriended tour company agent, booked hotel near train station area. Monday morning; walked towards train station. Sat down for tea in front of a square frequented by seniors socializing wiling away time playing musical instruments, games. Grandparents looking after children. Tuesday morning, April 25, met with Fred Delshad, Australian of Jordanian descent, teaches English language, 8 year resident of Kunming, lived in several countries including Ethiopia for 2 years in the sixties, practices B'hai faith; has family married to/with Eritrea and Ethiopian spouses. He treated me at 9:00am to breakfast at his residence. Met with Ingle who is on her day off. She took me to the City Park on the west side. Walked inside park. Observed beautiful flowers and plants. Cultural dances all around park; participated in a couple different dances. Sat down for senior ballads. Ingle's friend Lily joined us at the park. I stopped an American girl, Shannon, to practice English conversation with my new Chinese friends. She was a good sport. Lily suggested we go eat dinner at her favourite restaurant; her treat. The food was delicious ambience and decor and service great. Dan Lu (studied computer programming in England 5 years) and his night duty nurse joined us later. I ate so much that I felt sleepy. Dan volunteered to drop me at my hotel after he dropped off his girlfriend. KUNMING TO Dalli Wednesday Dalli has two parts to it; charming exquiste old town and cookie cutter modern newer town. First night got a taste of noisy old town upper walking street full of fruit stands nuts veggie and novelties vendors. The lower walking street is full of hip Chinese and world boutiques cafes and eateries with modern and Chinese music. Thursday in Dali: Rented a bicycle went around city park lake. Visited Three Pagodas, Confucius Park. Went out to Mad Monkey club for music and dancing. Met with saxophonist and music teacher, Ralph Thomas, previously of Chiang Mai. Friday in Dali : Breakfast at The Jade Emu. Left that morning for Lijian. Lijian : Friday, April 30. Met Wolfgang (Dr) and his son Fabian who can speak Mandarin (was educated in Shanghai University for 5 years). His language skills were life savers in booking hotel room and finding places. Even then the hoteliers in old town played bait and switch. Saturday, April 30 Met also an Israeli young lady who asked to join in bicycle trip to Baisha. Rented bicycle and visited old village of Baisha and Nexi. Explored newer and traditional village living. Listened traditional Baisha and Nexi music. It was a great workout China Trip, April/May 2016 Cool to cold temps. Shangrila Yunan Province : MAY 1 and 2: Old town Shangrila still rebuilding after the fire of 5 years earlier. Cobble stones narrow roads, auto and pedestrian lined with boutique Tibetan and other clothing jewellery gift items, stores, cafes and restaurants. Municipalities crew water hose and clean streets early morning hours. Most taxis boxy VW sedans, reasonable prices, mostly metered and some not. Stopped at local eatery owned and run by a member of Tibet nationality for breakfast of tea, yak buttermilk and bread to be stuffed with spicy condiment of spinach onions chilli paste. Delicious and not expensive. Shangrila was cold for me even in the springtime May 2016. It stands at a high altitude. Visited a monastery and mountain side higher elevation scenic viewpoints. Commercialized undertaking with ubiquitous fees to be paid for this and first entrance fees. Old town Shangrila is cute, picturesque, boutiquey with cafes, eateries and hotels catering to mostly local upper class and some foreign tourists . Kunming : Revisited After a couple of cold days in high altitude Shangrila, it was time to take the bus to Lijian and travel from Lijian to Kunming by train. Spent two restful nights of May 4 and May 5, 2016 in Kunming. On Friday, May 6 flew over to my present day Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand home base. P.S. My original plans were to travel back to Chiang Mai from Kunming via train to Xhishuanbana and then transit by bus cross over the Laos border to the Thailand side. However; by this time I had had enough travelling . I had to begrudgingly abandon that plan. Chiang Mai is celebrating it`s 720th birthday bash this weekend of Friday 5-7, Sunday, February 2016 with a spectacular line-up of activities. FRIDAY : Friday, February 5 started with the grand exhibitions of Orchid flowering plants and Bonsai plant growing and decorative arts competitions inside The Public Park (Suan Buak Haad) in downtown old town CM.On the other side of the old town, at The Thapae Gate Plaza, Miss Flower CM beauty contest took place.A panel of judges decided on the runners up and on awarded the number one titles respectively. SATURDAY: I missed The Parade celebrating Chiang Mai town's 702nd birthday. Some towns and cities say Happy Birthday to themselves with champagne breakfasts and fireworks. ln CM we do all that and top it with a kaleidoscope of intricately designed floats that are the envy of any major town and city. I am at a Na Dee Cafe in Nong Hoi having green tea and chocolate muddy cake. And thinking about my Temple Girl! She started a weekend part-time research job with Chiang Mai University School Of Public Health. And pondering about life at Seventyteen and beyond! I am also having my motor bike washed at a nearby gas station or petrol station. And reading my magazine . It is all good for one day in the life of a retired active guy. After my tea I headed back to Suan Buak Haad Public Park. There on the street outside were all the elaborately decorated major floats parked from Chiang Mai main town and from it`s greater Chiang Mai surrounding suburbs parked. There had been an earlier morning time parade originating from The Governor' residence destined to The Public Park. There were all sorts of curious crowds of voyeurs, both local and international spectators. The Annual Flower Parade and Shows are only one of our Chiang Mai phenomenal cultural attractions for residents and tourists alike. Webmaster: Dawitt Abraha - Email: [email protected] - Copyright © Protected - All Rights Reserved 2021
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