Why Go Just To Stay?

HIYA!

My translation work for the temple is over so a friend and I are visiting another friend in Chiang Mai, a city in the north. We all know each other from the temple we all lived together at, called Phu Pha Fa Nam, several years ago. Good guys, I like 'em both.

The day my friend and I, his name is Somchai, left BKK, I walked from his house to the bus station. He would'a come with me but had some bad stomach problems. Took about 5 hours. It seems that it's about 20 kilometers away. I really enjoyed the walk. One, walking is just great. And two, this is the Thai New Year season. That means it's a three-day event. The Buddha said you get five benefits, personal, health benefits, from walking. I can see that I may very well realize them all during my trip if this past few days of lots of walking is any indication.

Since this is traditionally the hottest time of year, a custom was born to honor older people with water that you add a nice fragrance to. You pour a bit over their hand then show some respect. Very nice. Well, it's been twisted and distorted into something quite different. A real blast, almost litterally.

Out on the streets it's water fighting time. People toss water all over the place mostly aiming for each other. It's a fun time. Well, walking from Somchai's house to the bus station I got doused and splashed and bashed with enough water to bathe me and wash my clothes several times over. I showered and washed my clothes before leaving Somchai's house but that was ridiculous in hindsight. I slept like I've never slept before on a bus. Amazing.

That day Somchai felt like hiking up a mountain that is just by our other friend's house. His name is Woody. We left the house at 7am or so and got back about 6:30. Wow. What a walk that was. Forests are so beautiful. Never mind all the trash that littered the entire walk. For sure it's disgusting. How could people be so careless? Go to a forest for the beauty of it then litter it to sickness. Just the same, forests are majestic. Just look at the bark on a tree. Any tree. Zowie.

Took five hours to hike through the forest and make our way. Couldn't find a trail so we went along the water. At one point I slipped on the slippery rocks and fell a little skinning and bruising myself. Still hurts quite a lot when I strain it while walking. I haven't given it any rest either.

Then we walked most of the night around a part of the city. Got back after being on foot for about 18 hours.

Then this morning I came to the northernmost point in Thailand. Mae Sai city. On the border with Burma. There must be some people in the Burmese military government who see the viciousness of it all but it sure seems the majority do lots and lots of wicked things. Recently they moved their government headquarters to a remote city north of the former capital, Yangon (formerly Rangoon). According to the newspaper I read, the government officials didn't inform the population or even the government workers. Unbelievable. How on Earth...? Even more unbelievable (truly - I don't believe this one despite my feelings towards American governments) is that I heard the reason they moved the government headquarters is that they're afraid that the US is going to bomb the country. Just can't believe this one.

I have a lingering question that, for some reason, I never think to ask when I am in the presence of immigration officials. But why should I have to leave the country just to stay? My visa expired today so I came to the border, to leave the country, to come back in, to get another stamp in my passport, to stay another 30 days. So what's the purpose of it all? Well, the only thing I can see is that some people in the Thai government have that much more work to do. Oh, and I spent some money on transportation, food and water, and a place to stay the night.

That brings me up to the present.