The Un-Christmas

Man I used to LOVE Christmas.  The decorations, the carols, buying little gifts, all that stuff.  Loved it.
Now, not so much.  Maybe I'm just lazy and cheap but I just don't get as pumped about it as I used to.

The last two trips we have taken, we have been away for Christmas and I quite enjoy it.  Of course, I love having dinner with the family, watching xmas cartoons, baking stuff etc, but the extremity that the holiday has gone to is pretty intense once you have been away from it and realize that it's not like this in lots of other countries and you know what, I like it!  I like it a lot.
For one, if you aren't religious, which I am not, Christmas doesn't really have any significance to you at all.  Like why would I celebrate Hanukkah?  I wouldn't.
Secondly, I feel that the intensity of Christmas grows each year with kids expecting more and more from "Santa"/mom and dad and this "holiday" really becomes about how many presents you get and how good they are.  Again, I love buying a little something special for people but it's the expectation and extremity of it all.  Bah.  I feel like this post is a little Humbug for Christmas day but it's my truth right now.
I am very grateful for, look forward to and love spending time with family and friends but feel that this should be our focus.  Not so much about the external stuff.

Again, as I said in another post, maybe cause I'm getting older but I feel that this time of year, which won't get any LESS extreme could be used as a time for reflection, a time for gratitude, a time to volunteer, donate and keep that going throughout the year as opposed to giving a gift of plastic that is not needed and will likely end up in the recycle if it's lucky.
I know, I know, I can hear some of you saying but I AM grateful and I DO volunteer or donate and that's great!  Now make it more.  Spread it more, share it more, get others involved and support a holiday season with less stuff and more love. 

Wishing you love, health, happiness and a New Year full of growth!

Connection, Community - Chiang Mai

So yesterday I finished 5 weeks of studying at The Old Medicine Hospital here in Chiang Mai.  I learned a ton, met some wonderful people and now have a new skill to practice and share with others.
Since we set off on this journey 8 weeks ago, I was looking forward to arriving in Chiang Mai the most.  I was excited to settle into our apartment, go to school and spend enough time in one place that would allow us to get to know the city, locals and to be able to build relationships.  With this time we have been able to do that.  We have our favorite restaurants that we go to all the time, we know the dudes at the gym, I know my teachers.
This allows for that feeling of community.  Support for locals.  Getting to know the locals and more about the culture here.  Leaving Penticton was kinda tough this time as I feel a real connection to the community there and feel that I am actually a part of it.  What a wonderful thing!
Maybe I'm getting old, but I am more fond of staying in a place for a longer period of time and getting a real feel for it, rather than checking in for a few nights and checking out.
I want to feel and experience the community and how each one differs.  I want to make connections with people.  Locals, travelers, whoever.

In 3 days we will leave this little community we've come to know and move on to another.  I have thoroughly enjoyed my time here in Chiang Mai and would recommend it to anyone who is planning a visit to Thailand.

Thank you for the connections and for your welcoming community Chiang Mai.

 Final week of class.  Oil massage group.

 Great instructors.  Fine, Ya-Ya, Magi, Nanny and Pad Thai.  The funniest Thai I've ever met.

Disorganized group photo.  :)

Old Medicine Hospital

Whoa, it's been a while since I've found time to write, although I think about it all the time.
 
My 5 weeks of Thai massage study at The Old Medicine Hospital is coming to an end with 1 more week to go starting tomorrow.  Oil massage.  I have met some great people and learned a lot.  I very much look forward to sharing what I have learned and helping friends stay healthy and happy!

http://www.thaimassageschool.ac.th/

 Foot massage weekend.

 Graduation level 1 + 2. Learning is hard.  And tiring!

 International friends of level 1/2

 Making a herbal compress.  Smelled soooooo good.

 Graduation level 3+4.  Who's ready for a massage!?

 Overall, my time at OMH has been a very positive one with very friendly and knowledgeable staff and great peers in class.  Although I do feel that if the level of English was a bit higher of a few instructors, the transfer of information would go much smoother and make a lot more sense.  This was unfortunate, as my group had many questions as we got into the deeper stuff in level 3/4 and wanted answers that we didn't really find from our teacher.
The learning doesn't end here of course.  Lots of practice, self study, and more courses to be had.

The school operates a wonderful herbal steam room that is pumped full of kaffir lime, tumeric, ginger, lemongrass and some other herbs to clean and energize you.

Here's to one more week of learning.  I'm really looking forward to oil massage.  My favorite massage to give and receive!

Happy Birthday King!

The Thai people LOVE their King.  LOVE him.  It's quite nice actually, that an entire country has respect and admiration for the leader of the country.  I can't help but think of what most Canadians think of Stephen Harper.  Not so much love going on there me thinks.

After dinner we went out walking to check out the festivities which always seems to include fireworks and the releasing of lanterns.

 No booze today folks.

 Turtle sells good gelato though!

 Love these vehicles.

Chiang Mai

Since arriving in Chiang Mai it's been pretty busy.  Well, for me it has.  I started with 12 straight days in school and have had 1 free weekend so far.  One of the weekend days was spent running to the border so that was a write off.
Here are a few random photos of what I've been able to see when I'm not in school.




Cute Christmas elephants at the mall.

I went to Capoeria and left with less skin on my toes.  Capoeria is amazing though and would really like to pursue it.  Add another thing to the list.

Lantern festival was happening on the weekend we arrived.  It was a gong show with lots of pretty lanterns and possible fire hazards.

Fellow Canadian from Vancouver, Kristina, whom we met in Koh Chang.

My lantern ended up in the tree above some lady selling stuff.  She was freaking out a bit.  Lantern fail.

Weekend Foot Massage course crew.  1 Italian, 1 Spaniard, 1 Thai, 1 Canadian and 3 French.

Lunch break with my favorite kitty.

Coffee lady at school.  She makes a mean cup!

Mr. Soon kitty.

Instructors Ya-Ya and Pad Thai.  Knowledgeable and really funny!