Dancing Around & Chasing Around
Trip Start
Nov 02, 2007
1
31
33
Trip End
Dec 02, 2007
Chiang Mai,
Thailand
Friday, November 30, 2007
About 9.45 I headed back and started my lesson. I had gone for the 2 hour one on one lesson so first they dressed me in the traditional thai dance training trousers, kind of baggy and stopped at the knee :-) I looked a bit silly but was comfortable.
The teacher, Jen (not sure of the spelling) was very nice and she walked me through the first dance. It was fairly simple but the timing and refinement of hand and body positions took a fair bit of concentration. Anyway she was impressed with the way I picked it up and we ran through it with music. My wrists and fingers are way short of the flexibility needed to really pull this dancing off, but she said with daily practise I could get there. Lukily the hand excericses she showed me are the same as the ones for Thai massage so I'l be doing those anyway :-)
I then started the second dance. I little more movement in this one but again wasn't too hard to pick up. Still very impressed she showed me 2 more and another lady arrived to help. Feeling happy with what I had learned and practised it was time for the real fun to be begin. Making me up in costume :-)
They started with my hair (which they loved). They then did my makeup. It felt nice to have someone going to such care over my look and they did make me look fantastic. They smiled and laughed a lot as they went, really enjoying themselves which made me enjoy it all the more. After the make up it was time for the outfit. I had picked out a nice pinky, purply, gold skirt and top so they spent a while getting it to hang just right and tarting it up with gold accessories. I ended up with almost as much gold on me as B A Baracas! Anyway I felt great.
After lots of pictures in various poses it was time for my big performance. They videoed me doing all 4 dances. I was pretty pleased with how I did, as were they. I did make a bit of a mistake on the last one, as I lost the timing at one point and couldn't quite get it back for a few beats. Anyway for a first time I can't be too hard on myself and they had nothing but praise for me.
I went and had lunch (having changed first :-) ) while they burnt me a CD of photos and videos. I watched the CD's with them, which was nice and after a few photos with them I headed off.
It was such a special experience, and was well worth the 1200 baht (20 pounds) it cost.
I headed to the hospital to see if my insurance was sorted. It wasn;t! I was annoyed so headed off to call them. They finally managed to sort it out and I got my passport back. I did have to pay a 60 pound excess which was a bit annoying but thats just the way it goes. If I end up being charged for getting money out to cover me while I was without T-cheques I may look at billing them, but we'll see.
Anyway tonight being my last night in Chiang Mai I want to party. Unfortunately Vera can't make it in to town so I'm going to try and meet up with Clair, Kat and Dana for some Reggae (man) :-) We'll see if the divine wants me to party or not.
Dance:1) Teaching
I hope so.Dana was sick so couldn't make it, but Clair, Kat and some of their friends turned up so we had a nice time. I did a lot of dancing (again) and really enjoyed myself. This little kid (daughter of one of the hill tribe ladies I think) turned up and managed to get everyone up dancing :-) We were swinging her around and picking her up, which was very sweet. Everyone left about 11.30 but I stayed to dance till the end :-) I just love the music there and once I'm away theres no stopping me. Anyway the music stopped at Midnight so I hoped on the bike and went for my last razz around the town.
I went around the moat a few times enjoying the feeling of the empty road at night. Nothing quite like it. I really felt so free it was beautiful. And felt like a nice way to say goodbye to the city that has been my home for the last 28 days.
I had to pack a bit tonight, which was fun as I have a lot of stuff. I'm a little worried that I'll be over weight (20kg isn't much afterall) but I might be ok. We'll see.
Tomorrow I've got yoga, hair and whatever else Vera wants to do before I leave for the train at about 5.
