Elephants

So excited to see some elephants today.  They were at a resting place and waterfall not far from school.  They come from an elephant farm near school which runs a "Be an elephant owner for a day" program.  I would like to do that one day when I have visitors. I had cycled past the farm yesterday and stopped in. The manager told me they would be at the waterfall most mornings and it was OK to visit and look.
Today I just visited the water hole and watched the elephants and the tourists.  They were great, gentle and gorgeous - the elephants - not the tourists. The baby is about four months old and was very cute. 

Friday Night Pizza Night in Chiangmai

On Friday night we had an advisory group outing.  Advisory is the same as homeroom.  I share the Grade 12 advisory group with Dr Naji (in the blue shirt).  So far we have only met as a group on the first day of school.  However from next week the administration is re-instating advisory meetings each morning for 9 minutes.  I'm not sure why the practice was stopped this year, but its good that we will be able to meet regularly.
Our outing was to an Italian restaurant in the Airport Plaza mall in Chiangmai.  It was also Cindy's (back of the group on the right)  birthday, so we had ice-cream cake as well.  Another cross-cultural experience - eating Italian in Thailand to celebrate Cindy's birthday with one Thai student, one Korean and three other Chinese students, my French/Arabic colleague and Mary the Australian. It was a pleasant evening and a nice way to get to know the students.

Downpour in Chiangmai

Last Saturday in Chiangmai it teemed with rain for about 30 minutes.  Luckily I was in the room at
 my guesthouse.  When I came out the streets were flooded.  The locals weren't phased at all.  Walking, cycling, driving and riding their motorcycles and scooters through the calf deep water. Look at the color of the water!  I did not want to walk in it!!!!!
The water made it impossible to cross the street or to walk along the footpath.  I managed to make it to the corner and amused the passing traffic by taking photos.  Then I  spotted  a sign for a Thai massage, in the beautiful building below. I jumped a small barrier and came out an hour later, slightly sore, but also relaxed and the water had disappeared.

OHS Practice

In need of a toilet (Marian!) in Chiangmai I decided to go into the hospital, but it wasn't the hospital.  The hospital was still a block away.  I discoverved that the building was the Nursing School. All the students and lecturers were sitting outside watching this safety demonstration.  They happily ignored the mad Australian pushing her way up the stairs and then wandering with purpose through the ground floor.  After finding the toilet I stopped to watch the performance.   There was a man with a megaphone, audience participation and cheering and lots of flames.

My Favourite Place at School

The pool is great.  It certainly helps keep me sane.   I have been trying to swim three of four times a week.  The best time is actually at night so I have been having regular starlight dips at eight o'clock.  One night I even saw a shooting star.  During the day the water seems too warm, and the students are often using it.  Its clean, but you don't get out smelling of chlorine.

Rusty Bananas

Rust is the theme for today for the city daily photo community.  They have a different theme for the first day of every month.  I liked the striped patterns on this rusty roof.  The banana plant is there to add context.  This is the back of a village house that backs onto the main road near school.  Some of the home built in village  Lanna style - built from teak and elevated from the ground -can be seen in the background.

Back on the bike

Yes, I have bought a bike.  A ladies mountain bike a Trek skye.  It was the quickest cycling decision I have ever made.  I caught a tuk tuk between two stores and within two hours had negotiated a deal, got the bike set up and  was ready to go.  This shop, Jackybike seemed the most professional and although we couldn't communicate beyond hand signals and the odd word they were very nice and looked after me and set me up with lights, rack and paniers. 

There were posters of Lance on the wall - not sure they had caught up on the drug scandal.  My attempt at a conversation about Cadel Evans didn't really work.

I rode back to school (about 25 km), an effort considering I am not bike fit at all- it took 4 hours.  I did take a wrong turn and so wasted about 45 minutes - some of that cooling down in the office of a condominium development and asking the bemused staff if I could please use google maps to find my way.

Half way up the hill I stopped at the Bamboo House for a coke and to wait out a storm for over an hour.  Then a stopped and looked at ants for a while on the steep sections.  Hopefully it won't be such a long trip the next time. 

I am looking forward to exploring the area around school and if necessary using the bike to get in and out of town. As this article describes Chiang Mai offers great cycling.  It is becoming an eastern cycling epicenter.