That word has been coming up for me lately, starting with the fact that I've been driving a scooter around Chiang Mai and environs the past few days, lots of traffic, hazards abound, and it takes a little finagling to make one's way. It takes a little improvisation, scooting between lanes of traffic, creeping up and past when there are a bunch of cars stopped at a light. Basically I just copy what the locals do, and it works (knock on wood). It definitely reminds me of driving in Manhattan, in the sense that being cautious is actually more hazardous than seeing the opening and going for it... within reason, of course. I like it, and it has opened up lots of new possibilities for enjoyment around town.
Yesterday I finally made it up to Doi Suthep which is the famous temple that is high on a hill to the west of town. They say that you haven't really visited Chiang Mai until you go to Doi Suthep, so I guess you can now count me as a visitor. It's about 25 minutes on the scooter, past the zoo, past Chiang Mai University, then up up up, twisty road, not too much traffic, no views now, as it's burning season and the air is thick with smoke.... they call it haze, OK haze. But it was cool to get there, an awesome place where once you arrive, there are still many many steps to climb to get to the temple and pagoda.
Many folks have set up booths to take advantage of the huge tourist trade, food, crafts, little hill tribe girls in full native regalia looking for a few baht. I climbed up, grabbed a prayer card and did the proscribed three circles around the pagoda in a line with monks, Thais and some westerners. A nice trip and I was very glad to finally get there.
Today I spent with 'German Joe' a local musician who has lived here for twenty years and has a house (and music studio) about twenty minutes out of town. That was my inspiration for renting the bike in the first place, as I went out there a few days ago to maybe record a couple of the songs I've written here. I spent the day today, did some tracks for Bhang Lassi and Same Same, had lunch with him and his 15 year old son and his Burmese lady friend of 3 years. then back to the studio to lay in some vocals and harmonies, had a lot of fun getting to work on music like that. He charged me 500 baht for about 3 and a half hours of actual working time, the other three hours were trying to fix whatever problems arose, dead battery in the bass, lousy chord to the headphones, stuff always crops up, especially in the tropics when things corrode quickly. (By the way, 500 baht is about $17, so it was well worth the $5/hour studio time).
Joe also used the word 'improvisation' and he was referring to the fact that you just have to figure out how to get things done sometimes. Stuff happens, people are weird, there is miscommunication, and you just find a way around and through. (like on a scooter, sabes?). It's the way things are in Thailand, lots of improv.
M is sick, exhausted and hanging on, I feel badly for her, but there's nothing I can really do to help, more than buy the vitamin C and be as supportive as possible. We spent our first night apart in the last couple of weeks last night as I was getting up early to go record and she was feeling lousy, so it seemed like a natural break. She wanted the time to herself, and that's fine. She tends to get that way when she's unhappy, and I didn't take it personally. C'est la vie (La vie, he said, going for the laugh)
