We woke to sheets of rain rattling the sheet metal roofs next door. Mol and I dusted off our residual tiredness from a long two months at school with a helmet-sized plate of cut mango, pineapple, kiwi, and papaya. Fruit nourishes our bodies throughout the day. As the rain subsided we began our foot powered trip to Wat Pra That Doi Suthep which rests in the mountains overlooking Chiang Mai to the west. Our 4-speed granny bikes provided a nice alternative to walking and brought us to the base of the climb. Amidst screeching cicadas and a babbling brook, we relaxed at a mountainous temple which straddled the creek. We rested there at the peaceful overlook and quietly maneuvered through the multilevel temple. The structures looked to be hundreds of years old. Moss covered the sides of every staircase. Ferns laced the pillars leading to the massive golden Buddhas. We continued on the the Doi Suthep via the steep trail to meet the throngs of tourists crawling all over the golden-plated temple with an amazing lookout over the city. Never have I seen such a mix of active spiritual practictioners, casual observers, and amazed foreigners in the same place. As someone who falls predominately into the latter categories, I am also is inspired by and increasingly exposed to the words and teachings of Buddhism. Particularly, I am continually reflecting on how I can integrate mindfulness and gratitude into my daily life.
Today started with an hour long bus ride with a gang of tourists en-route to have a day with Elephants. Before today I was unaware of the significance and history of Elephants in Thailand, which is deeply intertwined with culture, spirituality, and work. Our guide, Chang Wood shared that the Elephants are not just for the Thai people, but for everyone in the world. They offer locals health and wealth and tourists an experience - bot important. There exists a mutual feeling of belonging and existence between humans and the animals. They are massive pampered pets with great financial, spiritual, and historical implications. We fed them mashed bananas covered in rock salt, pineapple, and sugar cane cubes and walked with them to the top of a hill. We swam in a silty pool, scrubbing, hugging, tongue rubbing and massaging them. The proximity and intimacy with them was certainly memorable and incredible (although don't touch mamas nipples, she will kick you). What was more memorable and long-lasting however, were the interactions with the friendly Mexican family who also joined us, our tour guide, and the Mahouts. We talked about travel experiences in other parts of Asia, mindfulness and being present with yourself before you can acknowledge your surroundings, and compared differences in American culture on either side of the boarder. We practiced gestures with the Mahouts who spoke little English, and spoiled the badass 18-month-old Chinese/German toddler who enjoyed all 8 hours of the excursion with his solo traveling mother. From someone who still dreams of the long isolated days in North American Mountains, I also find so much meaning and solace among millions of people with unique behaviors rooted in their unique experiences. Peace and love.
A picture post to follow soon.
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