Buddhas and tuk-tuks and tigers, oh, my!

Buddhas

I awoke  rather early this morning to birds and chimes.  I decided to have the included breakfast here at the house and it was lovely.  A bit of pinapple and some coffe goes a ways toward a nice day.  I wasn’t really sure what I was going to get into today but, after reviewing my goals list, I decided a temple should be the first thing.

I walked a block down the side street to Wat Pan On.  I have yet to learn as much as an iota about temples but I know this temple is great.  It was built in 1435 AD and has a beautiful courtyard with many tables and beautiful trees.  I seemed to be a way stop for many throughout their day, like a mini sesh to spark the spirit.  As I was there, many people entered to pray and light incence.  I took many photos and said some thank yous, it was nice.

I was inspired to walk through the neighborhood and I got no farther than a block when I came upon The Healing Arts of Chiang Mai.  You know what that means, right?  I got an hour massage, of course.  Now, this is like massage # 5 so I was really tender and I didn’t know how to speak the words so I kinda suffered a bit and I was worried that I would feel painful.  I am no Thai massage expert so I just focused on realaxing and letting the healing do it’s job. It’s funny being on the other end of that, ya know    And, just as I suspected, I felt great afterward and was not painful except to the touch, which is normal.

As I continued on, I strolled past the coffee shop and didn’t see my new friends so I continued around the corner to the tailor.  I sat and discussed some of my designs and looked at materials.  I settled upon some linen clam diggers made from a durable linen and a pull over tunic made out of a lighter wear linen.  I learned later that he over charged me and I wasn’t surprised.  But, all in all, I think $60 is fine for a custom outfit I designed myself.

Once I was finished there, I headed back over near my house and stopped at the Wat again when I was lead to ask about the Tiger Kingdom.  Heh he heh, ah, yes, Tiger Kingdom.  Get this; it’s a petting zoo filled with tigers.  Yup, real live tigers.  Yes, I have heard about Sigfried and Roy, I know, it’s a flippin tiger!  But, have no fear, because I sure don’t!

Tuk-tuk

I hired a tuk-tuk for the 7km journey.  I was glad I had my bandana handy as I used it to cover my nose and mouth so I didn’t suffocate from exhaust.  It was bumpy and noisy and quite frightening in traffic but, I did arrive in one piece, just in time to be devoured by a tiger!  I jest, all was fine.

I paid 1300 B which works out to be about $40.  That bought me 3 tickets; one for the babies, one for the kids and one for the teenagers.  I was lead by the lovely ticket lady to the keepers in the cages.  I started with the babies and worked up, I figured it would allow me understanding as to how to approach and touch them.

The babies are funny!  They were all napping, as babies often do, curled up with whiskers twitching.  I was a bit apprehensive of disturbing them even though they’re the easiest to handle.  I know how much I dislike being woken from my nap and nevermind if it were to greet some strangers!  So I hung back to see what would come of it.  I felt their paws and their fur, which was surprisingly rough, like a short haired shepard but more rough than that even.  As they woke up they became frisky and started to rough house one another.  I held one in my lap, belly up, for a minute then my time was up.

I went to the kids cage next.  They were also just waking up from naps, they are big cats, you know.  Just like Harper, only 20x the size.  I watched them play and rubbed them a bit more.  The thing that remains eerie is their stalking behavior.  They stalk each other and if you have strings or shiny things or are moving at them in a way that catches them, they will posture and stalk.  It was unnerving, I wont lie.  But, as usual, I believe that I am protected and I just kept vigillant and aware at all times.  I took a short video in this area and got more comfortable with touching them.

Once my time was up over in the kiddies area I saw the male breeder of the park and he was really monsterous, like 6 feet head to tail and standing over 4 ft, I mean HUGE!  After that, I had some real respect for the teenagers!  As I headed over to them I saw that these guys are big, let me tell you, this is not for the timid or the fearful.  I understand that this is dangerous, I signed a waiver!

I was eager and I entered the cage and started walking over when I was scolded by the keeper.  They carry bamboo rods to thwack the cats on the nose when they are displaying any change in intention like curiosity or playfulness.  They do this to keep them distracted and from playing with us. We were told always to approach the cats from behind and not to touch their heads or paws because this is very affectionate to them and they will react by nudging and pawing you because they like it.  They are truely like Harper, they enjoy being petted and even give a low growl like a purr but when they go to touch you or nudge you, they are VERY strong and can hurt you even though they do not mean to.  I hidmy strings as well as my camera strap because the babies had liked them a lot and were trying to chase my bare feet.

I headed over and approached one and then another cat came over and I backed off, when they are playing it is very powerful, and you don’t want to be near them.  So I looked at one who was lounging and she was so great because she kept her claws in at all times, she really likes people and tries very hard to behave the way that is desired,  It’s so cute to see Tigers completely adapted to human socialization like house cats, it’s really something to witness.

Tigers, oh, my!

Something came over me and I just started massaging her.  I pulled at her neck fur and rubbed into her neck muscles, which were like the thickness of my forearm, working her back and hips just like I do to my cat at home on the sofa.  The reaction was exactly the same.  She leaned into me and started licking her paws and her forearms, cleaning her chest and moving her head to be pet more.  I worked the skin and some of the muscles and then, just like my cat, she was done and got up and walked away to clean herself. She has those keepers trained just like our cats do us.

I went over to another one and gave similar pets but he was a bit more reserved and gave me the signal to back off, so I did.  Just as I did there was another female who was watching with what looked to be feigned uninterest because she had her paws crossed like a lady looking at me then away then back at me and then away and then she put her head on her crossed paws and gave me a look like “me too!”.  I went over to her and gave her some love too and then my time was up.

It was one of the most amazing and unequivocally fulfilling experiences of my life.  I have watched so many shows about cats and have wanted to treat them like kittens so badly, that to actually do it was magnificent!  I will never forget it and I will hold fast to my feelings about the creatures of this planet, we all have higher consciousness and the capacity to evolve in our lives.  We all desire connection with our kind and others and most importantly, we are all creatures of devine source who remain equal.  As I type this it occurs to me that even though we can be trained, we cannot escape our nature, I hope, for the keepers sake, they remain respectful of the power the tigers have.

We tuk-tuked back to the city and I got dropped at the night bazaar.  This place is a trip and if you’re paying enough attention, you can see the dance clear as day.  It’s really hard to explain but there’s this thing that is happening that most people never even notice.  Everyone knows everyone there, I mean everyone works there together and they run the place like an assembly line for shopping and making money!  If you look at something, someone will turn from somwhere and start haggling with you.  If you walk away they follow and if you’re weak or unsure they will harangue you until you either breakdown and buy the thing or run.  Really when you look closly you can see the network of people who are truly behind everything.  There’s just as much Chinese crap at the Thai bazaar as there is in WalMart!  You must be watchful for scams losing value of the Bhat, which is easy to do.  I think “oh, that’s just $10 (= 300B) when really I could have gotten it for 100 B (= $3) When you zoom out and catch a glimpse at the subtle communication and the signals, it’s a lot easier to do business 

There’s this great little place called Lemongrass that has cheap, delicious food and the owner is fun!  Every time I’m in there we have a great conversation. I told him about the tigers and he thinks that’s crazy!  Then I told him about the fish spa and he thinks that’s too much. He teases me and I laugh, he is very helpful and gave me some tips on finding an apartment.  His place is a great hub, he tells me to run things by him so I dont get scammed.  He also informed me never to pay more than 500B ($15) for a tailor, I paid 2000B ($65)  Oh well, you live, you learn  *sigh* where was that zoom out mechanism earlier?  I lost some perspective (and some money).

I was a bit tense so I went for another massage    I just cant get enough!  I must get into classes soon so I can start trading.  Although I cannot complain, 150B / hr is super (that works out to be like $5)

Next stop, a tattoo shop to get a Thai tiger.  I went to a shop I had looked at online before traveling and I really like them.  I was so moved by my experience I have decided to get a tiger on my left leg kind of climbing up in a spiral from my foot to my knee.  I will get it in tiger colors utalizing white and light yellow and black but in a water color style.  The Thai man who will be doing it, Art, is very good and I asked him to design something for me and I would bring him a picture so he can match the colors.  I am excited, this is the perfect time as I wont be doing any swimming or soaking for a while.  Any later than now and I would be risking losing ink.  I know, I know, it’s forever; that’s the point, it’s a tattoo!

Leaving the shop I walked past a row of restaurants what were Indian, Italian, African and French!  I was looking in with amusement when the owner of Le Petit Paris called to me offering to feed me. I asked for cheese and he informed me that cheese is difficult to get and if he did it would be way too expensive to enjoy.  So I settled for a fantastic Indian curry he makes himself.  His place just opened three weeks a go and, let me tell you, it’s a slice of Paris!  Everything is custom designed himself and it’s magnificent!

I keep meeting avuncular men who love giving advice, it has been very helpful.  We chatted about living in Thailand, Chiang Mai in specific but, he reinforced my aversion to Bangkok.  From the sounds of it it has the pains of LA’s traffic,  wherein you can waste an entire day in traffic doing some simple shopping, combined with the debauchery of Las Vegas because it’s a free for all and what happens in Bangkok… topped with the freedom of New York cross dressing as San Fransisco with the ladies and the lady bois disco dancing with the traveling salesmen. I was happy to meet Phil from England who runs a French restaurant in Thailand, it all just seemed so perfect.

I walked home alone, thinking of all the things I had going today.  Buddhas,  Tuk-tuks and Tigers, oh my, Thailand is good.

Next up, I gotta find an apartment so this doesn’t become the story of the year I got ripped off…

Sawatdee-ka!