Friday

how did it get to be Friday... but enough. Last night was one of the magic events of the trip. We had a Thai buffet with my favorites - young eggplant fritters and rice with veggies. We carved bamboo cups and put rice whisky in it and toasted. I would not recommend the rice whiskey if you had something to do the next day, but I was good an only had a very small amount. The buffet was terrific.. and they had two music folk playing a guitar and a funny looking single string fiddle with a bow. The music sounded Gaelic or like a step dance. After the meal, we lit large lanterns... I will have to get pictures with this so you can have a small idea. It took five of us with a lighter to get it organized and ready to go up. When in the air, it went about to the top of the mountain and then sailed off to the north. We each had a "balloon" and so the group lit about five. We made a wish for the year and our life. It was very magical to look way way up in the sky and see the lanterns floating off. I would guess they were about 1/4 mile up and way.. and still burning. As it happened, my balloon experience included Dan, Anne, Sheila and Dan's wife Ellen.. so once again the elephant tribe was united. We all slept like logs. This morning I sorted my stuff out .. treasures for friends.. what goes to Cambodia.. Can you believe it.. bonny goes to Cambodia. After breakfast..my favorite .. scrambled eggs and cheese with a hot fresh baked roll and coffee with fresh squeezed OJ... heaven. we did yoga. I did the last walk to town with me and noted all the wonderful flowers and green trees. We again had a great lunch at the school and then gave the children treats and crayons, and books. The children at the school are Hill tribe and to a person, they bowed and said thank you. It was very emotional since we have all come to love the children. While they are not rich kids, they brush their teeth after each meal and smile and look healthy.. and appear to enjoy everything. Not a drop of rain here.. temp in the mid 80's... everything rich and lush.. I looked at the faces and thought.. you have to be taught to hate.. they only are open and caring....
After the school experience, about 6 of us went to the caves. I was OK going in but shortly after we started, I could feel that there was very little oxygen in the room and I was a little concerned about breathing. We were with two women who had lanterns. I crawled trough the first small opening.. but I was very happy that all the others except Monika and Utta her dtr.. said I don't think so. They saved me from having to wish that I was in Kansas. Before we turned around, we did see the bats hanging from the ceiling.. no big deal for me.. but the lack of oxygen and not being able to ask.. how long in a small space etc. made this a challenged. I really enjoyed the Chang (elephant) beer when I got back.. I have had more beer this week.. 2 a day than I have had since my Buddha days.. I am not saying only 4 precepts in the am...killing, sex, lying, stealing and leaving off the alcohol. At night I say all 5.. then for a 1/3 of the day, I am following my precepts...
Tomorrow at 10 we will leave this wonderful place and go back to Chiangmai and directly on to Bangkok for two days.. then Cambodia.. so.. bye for now... b.