Saturday Kick Back

In Chiangmai, the largest city in the North it's a cool day today and like everywhere on Saturday one spends it kicking back a bit. After a little business I wanted to spend the day easing into the weekend. First I had to book a new room. The one that I've been in since coming here faces a noisy street requiring ear plugs. It's about $9 for fan and hot shower, but the noise is too much for us old guys ;) So, I went room hunting and found a great deal. Since I signed up for a course in reading Thai at the AUA ($120 for 60 two hour classes, six weeks) I wanted something within bicycle riding distance. Here's what I found: located along a quiet lane 3/4 mile from the school, a friendly guest house with a large room. There is air condition if I want to turn it on or a fan. I will use the fan. I'm getting use to the heat and it's really very comfortable in Chaingmai now, about 86 degrees during the hottest part of the day and 70 degrees at night. The room has a small fridge, cable TV, warm water shower and comfortable furniture. Since I was booking for six weeks instead of $10/day I'm paying about three dollars/day with electricity and water extra (less than $15/month).
With the business out of the way it was off to the local park. The grounds are groomed like the large park in Bangkok on a smaller scale. There's a fish pond in the middle. After you rent your bamboo mat for thirty cents and buy your munchies such as half a sliced cantaloupe for thirty cents, a small bag of chips for the salt and a small can of coke another thirty cents. So for a buck or less I'm all set for some serious kick back. I spread the mat in a shady spot next to the pond, put the iPod onto 14th century recorder music and watch the world go by. The kids alternate between feeding the pigeons and whooshing them to flight. An old Chinese man feeds the catfish and their antenna pop out of the water. I read and study musical theory while couples spread their mats out in secluded spots and talk. All this kicking back is getting me tired so I put my hat over my face and take a nap as pigeons fly overhead.
Since I saved myself so much money I may splurge tonight and take a two hour boat tour up the river and see how life is along its banks. They throw in fruit and drinks about midway as part of the $12 fee. I hear there are some grand old teak homes along the river bank and the cool of the evening will be welcome. Yeah, I owe it to myself. It's been a tough day in paradise.