Thursday, January 7, 2015 Rain, Rain, Rain, and Jane’s Kitchen

Today the sky was dark. I hoped it would not rain. I went out to the Bird’s Nest Cafe, an organic coffee shop and restaurant where they allow people to get some food, park, and use the internet for some time. The internet was working well, but was very, very slow. I had a light lunch, a latte, and eventually got some work done.

I left to return to the 3-Sis at about 2 PM, and it seemed as if I felt a few very light sprinkles. I pushed on, hoping the rain would not start until I got to the 3-Sis. I had more than a kilometer to go, and it did start raining, and it really rained. I got wet, completely soaking wet. Fortunately, my knapsack protected my computer from the rain very well. It does rain in Chiang Mai.

I was hoping that the rain would let up, as the Green Papaya Sangha meditation group meets on Thusday nights at the Yoga Tree, about 1 and 1/2 kilometer walk from the 3-Sis. By about 4:30 PM, the rain had stopped, so I went down to Jane’s Kitchen for some dinner. Jane’s closes at 6, and I got there by 5 and was the only customer. Jane and I chatted. She is Thai, but sounds very American. I learned that the first part of her life was in Chiang Mai, and then when she was 12, her family moved first to Southern Illinois, and then to New York City. After college in the U.S. they returned to Thailand, first to Bangkok, and now back in Chiang Mai. Jane sounds American — her speech sounds like someone who had always lived in the U.S. When she speaks Thai, she sounds like a native Thai (which she is). Jane’s Kitchen is small, and they are an organic, vegetarian restaurant, using local organic produce. she also makes her own pasta and all pasta sauces and salad dressing.

I ordered a pasta with pesto sauce, a side salad, and an iced tea that is Earl Grey with lime, and something else…maybe a little mint…but something else, too. It was very good. The whole meal was very good. This is second meal I have had at Jane’s, and not to be the last.

I was about ready to return to 3-Sis to get ready for the Green Papaya Sangha meditation, when the rain came again, heavily.I waited for a little bit, and the rain did not subside. Jane insisted on loaning me an umbrella, and I made the walk to The Yoga Tree, rather early, but dry. I just chilled in the lobby until the class in session completed and people started arriving for the Green Papaya Sangha. Over 40 people came in spite of the rain. It was a good session. By the time it was over, the rain had stopped for a short time, and I made it back to the 3-Sis dry.

Next: Full Day of Rain and a Hot Stone Oil Massage