we are so happy we stayed for sunday!

a cluster of photos from our afternoon and evening:
*some of the best indian food we've ever had at le spice....it took us about two hours to find it, as google maps (perhaps not quite as accurate all the time in thailand as in other parts of the world) led us astray about an hour and forty five minutes longer than it would have taken if we would have just asked someone where the restaurant was. that's okay though: the adventure led us south of town through all thai neighborhoods, hardly any english in site, on a nice warm sunny afternoon.
*today was a special day for buddha, so many monks were out chanting at the different temples, and at night people were lighting hundreds of candles and sticks of incense at the wats, and also pouring special water over an emerald buddha in the center of the sunday market. we walked into one wat (temple) right off of the main sunday walking street and several monks were sitting leading a chant, and then thai people were sitting in chairs all surrounding the monks chanting along, the chant broadcast over speakers for everyone to hear. amidst this were food carts and people eating and talking; i love this mix of the sacred and the ordinary everywhere here, in one footstep, in one breath, both.
*some treasures from the night market (silk scarves!) and visions of how long and far it stretches....we walked for over 4 hours and still didn't see everything (and we saw some things several times)
*we bought three little keychain elephants from a sweet old thai woman and two fell off amidst our walk (we were quite sad). then when we were walking later we saw an *actual* elephant walking down the street; it's master was selling treats for 50 baht to people to feed the elephant; we passed on that, but carson took a little video of the glorious creature to share on here later
*it was our friend fawni's birthday at the stroke of midnight, and her friend shawn from portland (the one who owns the house ACROSS THE STREET (can you believe that?!) from the house carson owns in portland) bought her a birthday cake
*and i love finding these little golden buddhas sitting up by the temple walls with wax from long burnt candles dripping down the rock and cement. little altars everywhere.

off to pai tomorrow, oh Na, i can't wait to eat your food again!
lah gohn! (see you later!)
melissa