Sunday. A Perfect Day.
I woke at dawn because of a once a year celebration in Mae Hong Son.
One thousand Buddhist monks all parading down a 3 week closed off section of downtown with hundreds of worshippers placing alms in their bowls.
A 1000 monks!
Its hard to not have a great day when you start off with a 1000 monks giving you prayers. Breakfast of Champions!
Next event in my amazing day:
I head off on a wild goose chase to visit a Long Neck Karen Hill Tribe using a map that was written in Thai using ancient measuring techniques long lost in our generation. In other words, the map didn't work. But I trusted.
I followed my instincts and at every crossroad or T intersection I would go with what seemed right. Finally, after an hour or so and I am at this point big time lost and at another T I see this small Thai lady squatting on the side of the road and she points to her neck and points to go up this rutted dirt path. I interpreted that she meant to see the people with the Long necks go that way. On the other hand, she could have meant if you go that way you will break you neck. Both seem plausible.
Well me being me and determined to see the long neck Karen village off I went dirt biking with all my gear and sure enough I finally made it to the Karen village. Thank you squatting lady.
Wow! A whole village of long neck women who choose to place these metal rings around their necks starting as young girls and continue adding to them as they grow older.
Lots of conjecture as to why they originally did this but theories range from preventing tigers from carryinbg them off to making them less attractive to other tribes men to it simply being a stylie thing to do. Your guess is as good as mine.
Next event. I got to take that ride of 1864 turns back towards Pai where I would spend the night before the final push to the Golden Triangle.
I get into Pai and set up with the top Thai massuse for an hour and a half full on real deal Thai massage. I didn't know my body could get into those shapes and didn't know the sound of my kneecaps cracking. It felt great!
Head into town and run into a couple of musicians who I knew and wham! get offered 2 more gigs on Monday. Ok. I will stay till Tuesday and then I am out of here. (he says feebly) No really. Laos is calling and it's hard to get good opium here ;^)
So recap on my perfect day:
1000 monks morning into Karen Long Neck village into the 1864 turn higway into Pai into Thai Massage from the master into getting 2 gigs into a late night jam session.
I don't know if life could be much better. Well maybe a little lovin' but other than that.
Sending blessings.
4 comments:
Hey Jeffie M, Richee B here, totally digging your adventure blog. Vicarously living your experieance in that amazing part of the world and enjoying your views through (soon to be opium-tinged) rose-colored sunglasses. I really hope all this "inner peace" stuff helps your golf game:). In the meantime keep the posts coming. I think we'd all like to hear some of these far-eastern jams you've been involved in. Any remote chance at a You-tube-ish type hook-up? Maybe you need to upgrade to Thailand 2.0. Keep the Som Tum flowing, in every sense of the word. Richeee B
On motorcycles and Buddhism I was wondering if you got one of those little Buddhist bells to hang off your bike? I have some friends who are veterans who hang them from their Harley’s. I asked about them and they told me they were a kind of Buddhist charm to ward away evil. I was just wondering.
jeffre- have tried multiple times to send you additional messages, my own ineptitude with blogging undoubtedly to blame. Thought I'd try again to tell you I am most definitely tracking your adventure's and wishing you continued good juju....what songs are you playing when you're gigging? I'll bet you're in Laos.Here I go again/Miguel
think I've got how to do it now- had to sign in....details,details..ever onward, my brother!!!miguel
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