Left the CM a couple days ago and spent yesterday at The Dome. I like it and decided on a three month stay for $280 per month, which takes the prize for lowest rent I have paid in my lifetime. So here I am finally settled somewhere. I discovered there is a guest staying in my room - a gecko I have named Leroy. I had never seen one and decided to search the internet to make sure it is harmless, as I remember reading of a travel blogger's night in Honduras spent with a black scorpion prancing in the room. The gecko being harmless and cute, I can see myself having hours of entertainment watching it climb the walls.
This morning, thirty minutes before sunrise, I went for a run along the gates of Chiang Mai. A couple of years ago this would not be news but as I have not run in months it was a big deal to feel the urge to get out and move with the wind. I was having trouble believing how I felt - strong in lungs and legs, it was a great run! After three miles my legs became fatigued, but no problem, it was a smooth distance, passing morning markets and robed, barefoot monks chanting and asking for food, feeling in tune with my surroundings. I felt good post-run and on a whim bought a new pair of running shoes to last the three months I am here. I plan to run every other day at dawn, working my way to passing the four gates, I am guessing it is six miles so I should succeed within a month of trying.
Now that I no longer need to dedicate time and energy to thinking about where to lay my head at night, I am beginning to plan how to spend my days. The image is similar to how it has always been - focus and work on activities which interest me and see what happens. Running, photographing, wandering, meditating, visiting temples for dharma talks, thinking, reading, and playing the blues if I can find a guitar.
To illustrate how much of a child I am in this new environment, today I paid the first months rent and deposit, for a total of 20,400 baht. I gave the clerk 21,000 and forgot to ask for the change and she forgot to give it to me. I did not realize the mistake until tonight when I was calculating the daily expenses and discovered I was 600 baht short. After ten minutes of reflection I realized what had happened. I am certain there will be further money mistakes because of the language barrier and my ignorance of cultural details.
