Day 3: A Nervous Nomad

It was a 12km climb for the bus on our way to Doi Suthep temple. There was a golden pagoda towering over everyone else situated in the middle of the temple. I donated a small sum and got a white lotus, which I proceeded to fold as I taught by my mother. I held it and walked around the golden pagoda three times, following Thai custom. After that, I had to take the candle and slot it into one of the holes there. Dion, seeing that I had a problem melting the wax accumulated in the holes and sticking the candle there, offered to help. I was very grateful for her assistance, as I was absolutely clueless at such tasks.

Afterwards, Fye led us in reciting a Thai Buddhist prayer, and we merely parroted her without understanding the contents of our recitation. The rest of us prayed for good luck in the coming year ahead and decided to draw lots which predicted our luck in 2016. Jin Hu, Fye, Fay, and Dion all had great predictions, and it was then that we generalised that the whole shelf of predictions were all favourable and positive. I was the last to get my lot, and for once, I did not spill all the lots on the floor by shaking the container with my usual brute force. As luck would have it, I was the only one who got a prediction “You are unfortunate now.” I laughed it off, and took a photograph of the prediction. I did not need divine help to evaluate that myself.

We took the cable car ride down, which was most disappointing. There was no scenery to admire as the cable car was enclosed in a tunnel. It was nevertheless an experience being squashed up in a single cabin and waiting for what seemed an eternity to obtain fresh air again. The ride was only three minutes. I would much prefer the climb down the flight of 308 steps, as there was at least a cool breeze to enjoy. However, we were running late then…… and beggars can’t be choosers.

We returned back to the hotel and gathered our items. I asked Janice to bring the survey forms along with her in case we could conduct surveys if we had the fortune to run into youth during OTOT.

Fye then brought us for lunch at a local Thai restaurant, which had the most mouth-watering and appetising dishes I have ever tasted. The fried fish was crispy, yet the meat was succulent and juicy, and my table liked that dish the most. Other dishes we tried were: tom yam, green curry chicken and pumpkin leaves cooked with bacon. It was a satisfying meal.

Everyone decided to split up and explore at our own time. Somehow it had been decided that it was pointless to continue on with work, and that we should focus on relaxation for the rest of the day, as CMU interviews the following day was more critical to our research. I explored Maya Mall with some other friends and Fye. We played the arcade there which was relatively cheaper than Singapore. At the rooftop of Maya Mall, we saw a sight overlooking the bustling streets of Chiang Mai with mountains in the distance. Fye pointed in a general direction and said that the mountain there was where Doi Suthep was. I expressed disbelief and doubt, but took her word for it.

We met up as a group, and was introduced by Fye for a Thai massage. As all the masseuses at the recommended outlet were occupied with massaging the rest of the group, I went over to another outlet nearby with Jin Hu. It was shabby and seemed like a questionable establishment. In the end, the massage was far from expectation. Having injured my left arm before, it was all the more painful after the massage, and as I was pasting spare medicated plasters I found in my bag on myself, Fye was rather apologetic, despite it being no fault on her part. It was an experience nonetheless, as I agreed to being massaged by a “ladyboy” (as they say), much to the amusement of my group members when I related to them.

We ate Mugata, and the frying equipment was layered with a cube of pork fat (as far as I know of). It was a good meal (though possibly unhealthy) and we began walking back to the hotel. Halfway through, someone suggested going to a bar, but others were not keen. Moreover, the entrance fee was not worth the trip. The group deliberated at the city square for a good twenty minutes or so, before heading off to the hotel. I did not mind it at all, despite the change in plans of not going to the bar, but I was astutely aware of my surroundings now. I plugged in my earphones and realised that the hesitation and communication breakdown at the city square, coupled with being removed from my much needed sense of familiarity and quiet for the entire day, was fuel for a nervous breakdown. There was also no work done for the entire day, in essence, meaning that my energy for the day was sapped with no deserving purpose whatsoever except in the name of fun.

I snapped at Fay, which I most regret, but could never apologise enough. The whole group fell quiet and we were silently walking back to the hotel. Janice and Natalia were concerned, and I tried explaining my emotional state in disjointed terms, feeling slightly better as I did. We decided to explore the night market near our hotel. However, I wound up as being irritable and having a phobia of people again, hence returning back to the hotel room earlier than my roommates. That must have been the worst impression I could have given anyone. A sensitive, unfathomable loony in short.

I got back to the hotel room, broke down and enjoyed being lonesome, taking a hot shower after. I received a message from Natalia and Janice asking me to take care of myself. I started being irritated at myself for losing control and seeming vulnerable for the umpteenth time, then finally felt myself being overwhelmed by fatigue and sickness. That was expected, considering I had a sore throat ever since the trip had begun.

After eating my relaxants for anxiety, I was knocked out promptly.

Not before concluding that I was not a social creature. And hoping to forget the day’s events in a blink.