A Dialogue

by, Suzi and Jared

After a much needed month of independent adventures, team Suzi and Jared are back! We met up on March 3rd, where I had to lie my way past security at the airport to meet Suzi at the baggage claim (lovingly greeting me with sweaty palms.) We then immediately hopped a train to Chiang Mai (after being bestowed many gifts that Jared picked up along the way.) It was nice to be back to the noise, dirt, street food, and begging baby elephants in evening rush hour.

We jumped on the train with a mere moment to spare. Packed with a bunch of drunk backpackers, ordering buckets of assorted beers and liquors, it seemed like the perfect venue to reconnect after such a long time. Good thing that we could close the curtains on our smaller-then-twin-sized-bed and exchange stories of hour long meditations, nutritional therapy lectures, emotional yoga moments, near-misses in crazy Thai traffic, Brazilian super models, and Bangkok brothels. At some point, I thought i heard one of the European tank-tops run to the bathroom to let loose his bucket in time. After 16 hours on our scheduled 12 hour ride to Chiang Mai, Jared and I bounce off the train, into a tuk-tuk, and whiz off to a cheap guest house in the heart of the backpacker district.

Thursday morning found us in the back of a truck with 5 European travelers making our way to first a local market then a farm to learn how to cook Thai food. At the market were pigs feet and fish sauce, a dozen varieties of rice and the slaughter of live fish to order, fried chicken feet and cell phone stores, Suzi with a mouthful of some unknown Thai fruit. Tommy, a 23 year old Thai guy, was quite the impressive teacher as he walked us through rows of palm and papaya trees, lime bushes, ginger, cilantro, lemongrass, eggplant, basil, and pineapple. Jared was awarded with many smiles and giggles as the other members of the group affectionately listened to him stumble over his eagerness to continue to learn Thai. Really, I just made more of a fool of myself then anything, and caused us all to eat 20 minutes later then our scheduled time. But at least i learned important life lessons... like how to say ginger in Thai (which I've already forgotten.)

Making curry paste (from scratch, with a mortar and pestle!!!), soups that were always too spicy for Suzi, noodle dishes, spring rolls, and some weird coconut milk desserts. We could hardly eat just the beginnings of it all, let alone the leftovers 2 days later. After having spent all this time in different kitchens, I couldn't break my old habits and had to be told countless times to"Keep the pan on the heat and use the metal spatula like Thai way!" Tommy ordered. Bob and Cathy, the 'Jared way' didn't really work out for him this time. After a long and hot day in the kitchen, it was back to the room for a nap.

So much more has happened, and so much more to come, but for now we will leave you in suspense while we cross into Laos tomorrow. The plan is to be there for two weeks before returning to Northern Thailand and then on to Nepal. Until next time....