Winter Vacation 2010: Day 7

13.2.10

Shabbat- We walked to Chabad- about a 30 minutes from our hotel and right next to the Shang-ri-la. We got there at 6:02 (supposed to start mincha at 6), lit candles, and sat for about 15 minutes till they started mincha. It was not the most pleasant davening experience as it was very Israeli and Sephardi with everything aloud, chanted, and with next to no singing. The men's section was in the front and the women had 2 rows in the back and behind a lattuce mechitza. The guys in front of us kept pushing their seats back. The one in front of me had enough room to put his legs out straight which meant that they kept pushing the mechitza back. It got to the point where I could not sit with my knees in front of me so I pushed and told them to move forward. They did for a bit...

After services, Yo and I were looking for a place to sit when I saw someone I know- Nina Alexander (worked for AFHU) and her husband Matt. Then since we were the only ones speaking English in the room, we attracted the other English speakers in the room. That is how we met Michal Aryeh, a speech pathologist from NY/NJ.

Dinner was a zoo. There were close to 200 (or more) people and it was noisy. I was impressed that they had the meal down to a choreographed science. Between the salad/fish course and the soup they sang about 10 zmirot/chassidish songs that everyone knew and between the soup and chicken wings, they delivered a few divrei Torah. It was interesting to see how they split it up and good to keep in mind for the future since it got everyone singing and clapping. Then there was an oneg and we stayed for a little. Pesach style banana bread, pineapple, and watermellon slices...and Johnny Walker Red Label (skipped that). They went around the room and asked people to introduce themselves and share a story and pick one of the 120 songs in their song books. Yo was called on and since it was Parshat Mishpatim, she shared the Saadia position on revealed and reasoned laws as they connect to Chukim and Mishpatim. Go Yo!

After sleeping 8 hours, we got up and did it again. Got to services (there are about 500 Jews living in Chiang Mai but the the only shul is Chabad) in time for Baruch Sheamar (with time to spare). Services were over 2 hours later and we sat with Michal and her friend Moshe (NY) for lunch. There were about 50 people plus a group of older Israelis. Lunch was great- relaxed, real zmirot, not rushed (Friday night they did birkat hamazon before people had even finished eating so that they could catch them before they left). The salad course followed by zmirot (reg and sephardi) and then rice and chollent. It was amazing having a course of red meat! In Thailand!

After Birkat, we scooted out and came back to the room where I slept for 3 hours. It was much needed and then got up and walked around a good chunk of the old city and the moat. Came back to the room after shabbat, grabbed our bags and went out to dinner at a veggi restaurant where I had a great noodle dish (50 Baht) and then to internet where I again got to talk to Ari. YAY! Yo and I both wanted drinks so we headed to 7-11 after scouring the streets and still not satisfied, we kept looking. Ended up bumping into the couple from Holland who were on our bike-ride and they told us that there was a market and set up for the festivities for the Chinese New Year about a 10-15 minute walk away- so we went. It was fun. Yo ended up getting a slurpie at 7-11 and I got a mango and strawberry smoothie as well as a new pair of Thailandi pants. I love that the fold-over is a different color and that they have a pocket- all for 120 Baht (about 4 dollars). We found the flower market. As we were walking, I mentioned that I was thirsty and had to pee. Yo thought that my Aviva-ism was hilarious when I said- I wonder if I stand on my head, if that will take care of both. Oh well...didn't find out. Smoothie for the thirst and hotel bathroom for the other.