Shooting Stars

I saw a shooting star.

Its tail blazed with fiery white light across the star-strewn sky from bottom to top for nothing more than 2 seconds, but I knew what I saw. I literally leaped with excitement when I saw it, pulling Siew around to tell him what I saw. But he already knew, as he saw his very first shooting star merely minutes before.

And it was my first shooting star sighting as well. It can be perceived as merely a passing rock burning through the Earth’s atmosphere, but the experience of seeing it was.. magical.

I’ll never forget how three nights ago we were in the village with no electricity, Nong Khiaw (which was false by the way, because there was electric the entire day, I reckon they must’ve modernised overnight), we were by the sole bridge of the village doing nothing but stargazing, while braving the merciless cold winds. Our necks craned towards the heavens, taking in the sight of hundreds – if not thousands – of blinking stars on the pitch-black sky: every minute was beautiful. We almost wanted to just lie down on the bridge to stare at the stars (and shooting stars) to sleep.

We later saw 2 more shooting stars each, and with each passing shooting star, I breathed a wish to the recipient above.

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So yes Siew and I did not shower for 4 days (till yesterday) – my longest standing record of not bathing for such a long period of time. There was a film of black dirt enveloping our entire body – including hair – by then and seriously a nice shower (albeit cold) made me feel so much better and refreshed. There was even some dirt clinging onto my spectacles which I was too lazy to wipe away – I don’t know why I’m this lazy!

Though I’m happy to report that we’re going to be clean and sanitary for the remaining days of us in Thailand.

I’ve sat through a 12-hour bus ride and prior to that, I was feeling confident I would made through it since I had already sat through two 12-hour bus rides while in Vietnam. But there was one thing I wasn’t prepared for, and it was the cold. Trust me when I say it was at least 15-20 degrees Celcius as the bus rumbled and jigged its way all the way to the border town of Laos, even though the bus is somewhat sealed.

Somewhat sealed, because the window which Siew was sitting next to (we were sitting at the back) was being cellophane taped together and cellophane tape isn’t exactly the right material to use to pull together a broken window.

Siew and I were clad in what I’d like to call as the ‘summer clothes’ – a simple tee and a pair of shorts – plus only a jacket to brave the fucking cold for 12 fucking hours. I have not went through such physical torture and suffering, and I probably only slept a cumulative 1 hour through the entire trip, what with me feeling as if I’m being encased in an invisible ice and the extremely bumpy ride through 70% of the journey (sometimes bumpy enough that everyone’s rear end is lifted into the air for a second).

I stared outside the window everywhere in a state of semi-coma, my mind fleeting in and out between consciousness and unconsciousness. Try doing that for nearly 12 hours – been there, done that.

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When I reached Chiang Mai at about 4pm without eating lunch, Siew and I craved so much for McDonald’s that that is what we did exactly: searched for a McDonald’s.

Even though it was like a 20-minute walk from where we stay, we decided that no obstacle shall prevent us from consuming the almighty king of fast food, even though back home in Malaysia I was filled with disdain whenever I had to go to McD’s as I went there nearly every single week.

And guess what we ate!!

SAMURAI PORK BURGER!!! Oh the soft, tender meat patty! Oh what excellent sauce (I’ve no clue what) they used! With mayonnaise! And their don’t have chilli sauce at their sauce dispensers but chicken sauce!! Which tasted a bit like sweet and sour sauce.

It was with joy and gluttony that I sank my teeth and slobbered saliva all over my first burger in about 2 weeks, and a McDonald’s burger impossible to be found in Malaysia at that.

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I’m now writing in a very cool cybercafe in Pai (sort of like Thailand’s version of Cameron Highlands, except more touristy). There are reclining chairs that looked like Osim massage chairs, and I’m now sitting in a comfortable cubicle (no said massage chair-lookalike). Privacy galore!

Interesting tidbit: it’s Election Day today in Pai and guess what, the law prohibits them from selling alcohol on Election Days wtf which is why this town is a little quiet tonight, instead of its small lively nightlife it was famous for.

I’ll be spending 3 more days here before going back to Chiang Mai again. Thailand is so akin to Malaysia in most ways (pertaining to city life of course) that is does feel a little like home.