Mai Pen Rai

Well traveling to Sukothai was everything I was told. I ended up catching a 2 bus because, well......mai pen rai. And this particular 2 bus became almost a school bus, picking up so many people and students that not a single person could fit on the bus because every seat was taken and the aisle was packed. And the aisles here are not made for anyone with hips to begin with. But yes, I got really friendly with the woman next to me who kept sleeping on me. Also, I made it to Sukothai without being able to read the ticket (I can read my usual tickets so I know what gate to go to), and without being quite sure if I was on the right bus (a lot of the buses have the city names in English on the outside. This one did not). So it was adventure time!

Well I made it to Sukothai and even helped a French family get to a market once I arrived. Silly newbies don't know how to work a suntow (I am saying this lovingly). I was then able to see where some of my fellow teachers live and am now convinced that Thailand LOVES the color pink. I can just thank my lucky stars that only all of my curtains are pink and not my walls. And the bed! I may have 3 twins but they have these lovely queen sized beds that you can roll around in forever. Two of my beds are fondly nicknamed by my friends as the boxsprings, and you can imagine why. My final bed and the one I sleep on is a spring mattress where you can feel every spring. I really don't mind it too much, except when this particular spring likes to stick me in the side or the butt all night long. But back to the lovely beds in Sukothai. They are like my boxsprings but they have a little bit more padding. And for once I lost the "hog the blanket" fight that occurs when sharing the bed. I am absolutely not complaining about my beds, but I am saying the beds here are lovely, just lovely.

So back to Friday night, we had dinner at Poo Restaurant. It served some American food. I got Sukothai noodles, something I was told I absolutely needed to try because they are only made in this city. Oh and a banana milkshake. I know, I used to hate bananas. But this tasted fantastic! And it came with a straw shaped like a heart. In fact, the whole restaurant was fascinated  with hearts. Heart shaped dishes, food, straws etc etc. Then we went to the Chopper bar where all the farang hang out. There are a decent number of farang in this city, though they are usually honeymooning couples or families with younger kids. We feel left out even with the farang because of our age and how relaxed we are in Thailand.

So anyways, we get back to the apartments luckily by tuk tuk. Apparently they stop running after 7 here. What a way to enforce a curfew, at least for the farang. And side note: there are different styles of tuk tuk depending on the city. Okay, well we stayed up talking English, as is typical and then slept in the next day.

Saturday was supposed to be zip lining through the jungle. First off, it was not through the jungle as it turns out, but above it. Between two tall mountain peaks. Way, way, waaaay above everything else. Secondly, it was not to be. During the rainy season it is closed because the rocks are too slippery etc etc. Thirdly, you have to supply your own gear. So we still want to do it, but we have to wait until October. So instead, we went to Big C, found out that KFC does not have biscuits here :( and saw adorable animals at the pet shop. And we were risking it, going to Big C. The store is a ways out of the city. You can take a tuk tuk there but if you do not ask the driver to wait for you, well......how does a 2 hour walk sound? And I am not exaggerating. Well I managed to communicate wait for one hour to our driver  without knowing the word for hour or time (note to self: find out the words for these when I get home). So score one for the kru farang! At night, we went to the night market and saw......well.......it reminds me of May-Day, but without the dancing with ribbons part.

Then last night we stayed up until 2 am watching Doctor Who (no, my Netflix is still not working. Patiently *coughcough* waiting on the plug in.) I am willing to give the show another chance. We were watching episodes from the third season and it seems better than the few I watched of the first season. Oh, and I decided that in a couple of years when I am more settled I am going to have a figurine set of the Weeping Angels. This will happen.

Okay, well today. We are taking a spontaneous trip to Phitsanaluk. So ferris wheel and mall here I come! (Really I am going for the ferris wheel, you know that, right?) Then back to Uttaradit. Do I know when the buses leave for Phitsanaluk? No. Do I know when one leaves from Phitsanaluk back to Uttaradit? Nope. Still going? Yep. Mai pen rai baby. I have my overnight bag from this weekend, a bank card that works now, I can speak enough Thai to function, everything is going to be fine. ;)