George: It feels great to be off the plane. After the double red-eye flight, the thought of yet another flight was not exciting. During the long China Airlines flight, one of the passengers mistook me for a steward. Interesting, I thought, considering that in our section there were only Chinese stewardesses dressed in mauve uniforms, and I was wearing my multi-coloured vest, short-sleeved shirt, and khaki pants. I can only assume that he was as numbed by flight as I was.
The last flight (4 hours) felt reasonable. As we got closer to Thailand, my excitement level started to rise. We were almost there! As we approached the Chiang Mai airport, we could see the lush vegetation and the nearby mountains. Landing, then customs - Ruth Anne was growing visibly agitated - I think she was nervous. Then, finally, meeting Suradet, Yupa, Tutu, and eight of the children, along with a handful of others from Doi Saket.
The children gave us several garlands made from flower buds and string (some of the boys laughed a bit when they saw me wearing the garlands - not sure why). Ruth Anne and Starr each received a beautiful bouquet of flowers - roses, lilies, carnations. (The airport itself had numerous orchids and other plants). Ruth Anne was very exited - hugging the kids, saying how happy she was to be there. The kids seemed a little subdued, distracted - they might have been shy in front of the "new" people.
Then, with arrangements made to come to the orphange in a couple days, it was off to the guesthouse. With Tutu driving, we (Starr and I) could enjoy our first look at the main city of Chiang Mai (Chiang Mai is actually the name of the province, Mueang Chiang Mai is the city). In some ways, the view is quite ordinary - there are cars, trucks, gas stations, stores, overpasses, traffic signs. But the differences are obvious and many - huge billboards with Thai script, motorbikes with helmetless drivers weaving between the cars, the profusion of palm trees, the jumble of ornate buildings sitting next to shacks or even empty lots filled with junk and debris.
The guesthouse itself is very comfortable and perfect for our needs. Thank-you very much, Mike and Debbie! The main level includes a common dining / living area with a separate kitchen. Upstairs, we each have our own bedroom and ensuite (Starr and Ruth Anne are sharing a bathroom). The guesthouse is part of a larger community that includes a guarded entrance, a small park, and a pool (just added in the last few months). Each lane is lined with small palm trees, with a large variety of plants on the individual properties.
The final part of our first day here included a trip to the mall - to exchange dollars to baht, to eat dinner, and to shop for groceries. Dinner at the food court included Thai noodles and a slushie - about $1.50 per person - which tasted great. Enjoyed the sunset over the mountains - not the orangey colour at home, but more like a thick, heavy red against the dark blue of the sky and the darker blue-green of the mountains. Then, shopping at Tesco - much like a large Zehrs. A little nerve-wracking - trying to keep Tutu in sight while Ruth Anne went off looking for hair spray - until Ruth Anne explained that she would call Tutu on her cell when we were finished.
What I found most interesting was not the store itself, but the people in the store. I was expecting to see a large number of dark, short people who looked very similar. What I found was a large number of dark people (usually short, but not always) who looked very different. There was a tremendous variety in their appearance - I was not expecting to notice the differences among individuals to the degree that I did, being a foreigner.
Then, back to the guesthouse for sleep in a comfortable bed!
