It's funny how in the last four months since I left the working world, every day has the same feel..no Monday malaise, no Thursday energy surge, no Friday anticipation...just an even keel of "today". And this has been the case moreso while out of Canada (seriously, who parties that much on a Tuesday?). Anyhoo, right now I'm sitting in Hua Hin and while the weather is warm and pleasant, the overcast dusk sky makes me feel so very Sunday evening. So now I will take this opportunity to reminsce on some fond memories of my adventures and try to encapsulate this mellow Sunday night mood through my extensive prose. And here we go...
Joe and Amara "Marlboro" of Joe's Maboro Guest House in Chiang Mai. I don't think I ever wrote about this couple, but Claire and I will never forget them. When we first arrived in Bangkok we decided very quickly to head to Chiang Mai for the trekking adventures. I did a quick asiarooms/hostelworld/lonelyplanet search and came up with a few hostels that had so-so reviews, and then found Joe's. The named clicked wiht me because I remembered that my friend Tania had stayed there when she visited the year before. So I called to make the reservation, and Amara picked up the other end. The conversation went something like this:
Me: Hi, do you have a double room available for tonight?
Amara: Yeah, you want fan or A/C?
Me: Fan is fine.
Amara: yeah, I think so, weather getting cold anyway (note to reader: the temperature was hovering around 25 when we got there)
Me: Sure okay...say, can we also get someone to pick us up from the airport?
Amara: Yeah, you come and handsome man, VERY handsome man, he wait for you, he have long hair...VERY HANDSOME! *AMARA LAUGHTER*
A short sidebar: Amara's laughter is something like the sound of a car engine trying to start...an old car that's smoked 2 packs a day for 20 years that is...
Me: *laughter* okay, sounds good- see you tomorrow!
When we got to the airport, indeed Joe was waiting for us and he was a very cool and laid back guy. The room itself was a dark little prison cell and we thought that we'd likely stay for the night then find something after we came back from our trek. We'll I'm glad we avoided such high-maintenence tendancies. When we got back, they asked us how it went, if we needed anything, they told us to take a rest, and it was a really cool feeling of 'coming home' for both of us...quite parental of them. Whenever we'd be heading out, we'd get an invitation from J&A to sit down with them, have a drink and sample some of Joe's cooking (spicy squid soup anyone?) and the best part, to hear Amara's stories. Joe would always ask her "These girls just shower, why you tell them dirty jokes???". That woman was hilarious...she is in her 40's, married with 3 kids, wears heavy rouge on her cheeks and parties like a rockstar...typical conversation in the morning:
Me: Good morning Amara, have a fun night last night?
Amara: Yeah, I go to bubble dancebar, I go dance on stage, the falung (foreigners) ask me if I married, I say he not here, you no worry *AMARA LAUGHTER* . My friend they give me too much to drink so I dance *shakes about in a hokey-pokey style*.
Me: *Laughter, Laughter, Laughter*
So, if you should ever find yourself in Chiang Mai, look up Joe's. It's a bit of a hole, the other guests are quite questionable (older men travelling by themselves...instant giveaway), but make friends with those two and you'll have hilarious memories for life! Now that's worth $8 a night!!!
Ahhhh, well, I have to head back to Pattaya now, so that's about it. My weekend in Hua HIn was nice btw, went with my Uncle to the golf course yesterday, we talked a bit of business while he played a round and I drove the golf cart...haulin butt at 7 km/hour! The course was spectacular and the day was gorgeously warm with a nice wind. Good times indeed :)
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