Wats going on

One of the complaints I hear from many westerners is that they get burned out from visiting wats (temples).  Not so for me.  Every one is different, and while the theme may be the same each place has it's own beauty.  Here are some pictures of Wat Jet Yod in Chiang Mai, built approximately 500 years ago.

 

Talking the Talk

I spend two hours, three days a week, at the Y learning Thai words.  I have a large vocabulary stored on  my computer - not in my brain.

Tuesday and Thursday mornings I attend more classes here, where the focus is on sentences and tones.  If you can't sing, you will never be able to speak Thai.  For example, "khaaw plaaw khaaw" means "plain white rice."  But each word has a different tone, sort of like singing in the shower, and if you get it wrong, well, just eat what they bring you.
This place is also a travel agency, so if you become fed up with slaughtering the Thai language you can always plan your escape to some other part of the country, where, of course, you will  need to speak Thai.

The Neighborhood

Here's one of my favorite Thai restaurants.  But the picture doesn't tell the whole truth.  Directly behind where I am standing to take the picture is an 8-lane "Superhighway."

Many of the main streets in Chiang Mai are congested with traffic.  But with a little exploring you can find alternate routes on a quiet soi like this one.  A "soi" is a side street adjacent to a major street.  They are usually quiet and pleasant to walk.

Home Sweet Home

Here's where I live.  Top to bottom:  inside the apartment; the balcony; and view from the balcony.