In Chiang Rai at the moment to do fieldwork for my thesis, and it's been exactly a week since I've been here. It's been great getting to meet familiar faces once again--Nopy, Narlae and Lung Piak--as well as to meet with new people. Narlae's friend, Phi Liew, is a really friendly guy with the most adorable daughter. He's always offering his time to fetch us between places--a godsend especially when transportation is so unpredictable in certain parts of Chiang Rai. We also got to meet two of Dr Carl's students, on exchange in NUS. One's Russian, the other's English. They've been really wonderful people to speak with, and it's amazing how much you can learn from people from other countries. Greatest takeaway so far? Russian politics, and the British welfare system! Ha.
We spent the first few days settling down. Moving between guesthouses and then between rooms. Nopy put us up at the popular Cabbages and Condoms Inn at first, but the prices were sky-high as it's high season at the moment. So we switched to a cheaper guesthouse at half the price--210 baht a night per room. Spent the first night at the 2nd guesthouse fighting with tiny red ants though. They were everywhere in our room--which is why we had to make the final switch to where we're staying at the moment, which really isn't too shabby. I've yet to take photos of our cozy room--will probably do that soon!
Saturday night market, and one of my favourite savoury snacks. It's mini coconut pastries with corn and stuff, if I'm not wrong. Nice and warm--delightful in the cool Chiang Rai weather!
We had our dinner picnic-style. Each of us were tasked to return with some food to share with everyone. Bad idea--we ended up with too many egg dishes! Overwhelmingly eggy night, it was.
This was taken at a museum in Chiang Rai Rajabhat University. Our Thai friends call it "The Black House". It's essentially an exhibition of art work collected and produced by a famous artist. Can't really make out his name though. Phi Liew's at the extreme left!
Painting of a Muslim Thai lady--really beautiful!
Nopy and I! So the artist has a penchant for making art out of dead animals. There were chairs, tables, sculptures made out of animal skins, bones etc. Was quite a lot to digest for us.
Mandatory group photo.
Nopy and Herman decided to get a haircut. Before.
After. Not too obvious a difference in Herman's hair methinks. Spot the happy barber at the back. He's an uber perfectionist! He spent lightyears on Nopy's hair!
Olga and Miriam on the 4 wheel drive. Hilarious duo. Miriam was acting drunk with a bottle of unopened Chang beer at the back. Should have video-ed the whole thing down!
Quick photo with one of the luk thung performers at the Curly Wurly place Nopy brought us. It's a small outdoor restaurant/cafe thingy, where Thai ladies and men take turns to go onstage to perform a luk thung number. Audience members can then choose to present the performer with a garland of ribbons to express their appreciation and respect for the performer. Lung Piak forced Miriam and I onstage to do a Westlife number before we left. Horribly embarrassing experience, but was fun.
