Flowers!

I was up around 8:00am --- very tired! I made my way down to the main gate of the old city to meet up with El and Beau to watch the parade. It was cool because the whole walk down was the main road of the parade so people were lining the streets!

We found a shaded area and the parade passed by around 9:30am. There were a lot of bands, flower floats and Asian woman all dressed up! It was fun and different (I don’t remember the last time I saw a parade, and never in Asia).

At 10:30am we thought the parade had ended (and we were ok with that) so we stopped to get some breakfast (SO yummy)! We all laugh because since the four of us have been hanging out (well..Ashley left today) all we do is eat American food! It’s great! Anyway we left breakfast and the parade was STILL going on! We were glad we left when we did as it was getting VERY repetitive!

The boys were going to head back to finish booking their trip south and to nap. My original plan was to head to the park of the flower festival but it was hot and the thought of a crowd didn’t appeal to me. Also, after the boys said “nap” I thought hmm that sounds perfect!

I came back and took a little nap..didn’t really fall asleep but it felt GREAT to rest! I then sprung into “social coordinator” mode for the evening. Krista has a friend visiting from home and Noriko was going to come into town. The plan was to all go out for pizza and then Noriko knew of a club that a lot of the local Thai’s go to! Randi (who I met in China) was also in Chiang Mai, so I invited her as well! I also asked Ely and Beau to come and told them I would meet them at our “usual spot” at 5:30pm. Well 5:30pm came and neither Randi nor Noriko were at the hostel so I went to pick up the boys. I then called Randi and told her I was getting some friends and we would come back to the hostel and called Noriko who said she would be about 20 minutes late as her friend was dropping her off! Luckily everyone managed to get together and we headed out to Duke’s for pizza! It was SO yummy and afterward we did a little shopping. The boys were tired so they headed back and the 5 of us went across town.

On the drive Krista mentioned something to Noriko about where she was staying tonight and Noriko replied, “Oh I thought with you!” My eyes opened wide, because Krista already had her friend, so that obviously meant she was staying with ME! Now last weekend I do remember Krista saying, “Oh you should come into town and Julie and I have big beds so you can stay with us, etc” but I never mentioned that and Noriko never asked me! So I said something to the affect of, “Noriko, what time are you leaving tomorrow because I am meeting with the boys for breakfast” (true story, they were raving about the pancakes at their hostel). She said something about how she might stay until Monday if that was ok! OH BOY! Somehow I COMPLETELY missed this whole “she’s crashing with me for the weekend”! She’s a sweet girl, but I had only met her and spoke with her for a few hours and now she was staying for the weekend?

Anyway, It was too early for the club so we stopped at a little local restaurant bar place (it was pretty)! By 11:00pm I was VERY tired but I did want to go to this club! I always like to see “if I was living here..where would I hang out”. So we went to the club and I really wasn’t that impressed as it was just like something at home! Well, it was a bit different I guess. They had three rooms (2 enclosed with different music) and the middle part had an open roof which was cool. They also had a little “pool” (not deep enough to swim) but I was laughing and saying how in the U.S. you would need to sign a waiver just to get into a club that had a pool in case someone fell in etc.

I am not really a clubber at home and didn’t come half way around the world to go to a club I could go to at home, so Randi and I decided to leave (she still had her backpack from the day)! It was about 12:30am by this point and I was exhausted since I had been at boxing the night before and up early for the parade, so I texted Noriko and said I was going to sleep. I think they came back around 3:00am and I showed her the bathroom and climbed into bed. I like to think I am good at sharing, but I honestly didn’t love the idea of her staying with me (I didn’t really know her and honestly, I like my own place).

I set my alarm since I was going to go to the boy’s hostel for breakfast. As I was getting ready, she said she would like to stay until Monday but if her host family was coming in for the flower festival she would go back with them. LUCKILY, her host family saved me and came in for the flower festival so she was going to head home! Again, I don’t mean to sound like I wanted to kick her out, but it would have been awkward as she would have been here all night and I felt like I would have had to entertain her (I don’t like having to be “on” all the time)!

I got a red truck to the boy’s hostel to try the banana pancakes! They were delicious! Ely and I then went to the internet café so I could show him the inner workings of trip advisor (I do consider myself a pro!) After helping him out I took a truck back (got ripped off but I am so over bargaining) and then decided I was going to head to the pool! This is the pool that I know I can sneak into without any problems, although it was just too hot to sit out so I came back and got ready for church!

I knew there was a shuttle that ran from the old church (the one close to my hostel) to the new church (which isn’t a bad walk, but hot in the afternoon sun/heat) so I decided to get the shuttle. I showed up around 4:10pm (church started at 4:30pm) and the woman said it wasn’t leaving until 4:30pm, which it did! I HATE being late (especially to church) and have no idea why it wasn’t on time, but alas we made it! Church was PACKED and while I didn’t enjoy the songs as much as last time I still had a good time!
I chose to walk back as I needed the exercise and the weather was beautiful! I wandered through the night market, although at this point I am really not looking for anything. I was going to meet up with Ely and Beau, although without cell phones it was just too confusing! BUT, they were able to call me using the hostel phone, so I headed back to their hostel to meet them for dinner. I can’t tell you how nice it is when you find people you just click with when traveling alone. I told them I was glad I wasn’t staying much longer as Chiang Mai wouldn’t be as fun without them. Like I said, I enjoy that the conversation is effortless (you don’t have to think and try to understand every word). And of course, sarcasm and jokes are no problem.

They were getting Indian food but I had already snacked so after eating a bit more we headed out to the Sunday market. Since they both have girlfriends (and Mom’s) I was the expert GIRL SHOPPER! Ugh I HATE being that..but tried my best! Steve, luckily I have already done my shopping for you so if you don’t like it..there is only me to blame!

I was exhausted and by 11:00pm we were about done. Their hostel was right by the Sunday market but I was across town. They asked if I was ok getting back and I said I was, and it is SO nice to be in a place where I feel safe! I obviously keep alert, but I really felt FINE walking back home by myself!

Also, I am going to change my videos soon!

Hugs and kisses from lots of flowers!