The Chiang Mai Escapade | MIR

10. The End

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•••

[Frame]

We bought t-shirts printed with 'I've Been to Doi Suthep' and watched the jade jewel makers made pendants for our necklaces as remembrance of the place. Well, everything about Wat Phratat was just so beautiful- the viewing deck, the Buddha statues, the golden stupas, the intricately designed shrines, the elephant statue, the magnificent feeling when you're up there.

We followed the same trail on our journey back to the city. The forest that surrounded the dirty gave enough protection against the glaring noon sun. It maintained the low temperature as we went out of the bus to eat our packed lunch under the trees.

We sat on the makeshift wooden benches constructed beside path. The bus was parked on a wider area to make way for other automobiles that might pass the area.

P' Kram called us through his megaphone when it was time to go. We were just exploring the path that told about a waterfall far ahead.

We piled again at the back of the bus and teased one another. Keng joined and sat in between me and Fuse. I saw Tee's reaction changed, his face looked sour while staring at Keng.

Hmmm. I smell something's fishy here.

•••

[Book]

The path under the forest was smooth, but when we got to the highways of Chiang Mai, the traffic got a bit heavy in some intersections. So the estimated forty five minutes of travel (as per Keng) from Doi Suthep became an hour and a half. We were just so thankful of the air conditioner inside the bus, though not so cold because of the afternoon heat, but it was enough to aid us.

Keng told us earlier that our next destination would be the Tiger Kingdom. He also told us that we could hold or even cuddle a cub. Aww, tiger cubs were the cutest in the world and I couldn't wait to hold one and take a picture with it! I couldn't hide my excitement as I was thinking of the baby tigers.

I shook Frame who was sleeping on my shoulder. He groaned and hugged my arm more as he resettled his head. Fuse and Tee were also asleep amd Keng went back to p' Kram's side. Oh good. So it was just me.

"You look cute together." A middle aged blonde woman told me as I shook Frame's face to wake him up. I laughed awkwardly at her statement, but my seatmate was determined to stick with me. "I have been watching you since yesterday, when we were still in Wat Phra Singh was it? Yeah. You two look adorable." She smiled at me, but my heart quickened. "Oh! Pardon me my dear! I am Nayla, from Florida." She introduced herself and extended her hand to me. I reached for her hand and shook it.

"Nice to meet you ma'am. I am Book and this one here is Frame." I answered and smiled again. Frame on the other hand tightened his grip on my arm.

"Oh, so much for the formalities. Just call me Nayla. That's who I am for everybody." She retorted with a wider smile.

"Oh, okay... Nay-" I swallowed as I tried to call her by her first name. I meant no disrespect, but I just respected her wish to be called on first name basis. "Nayla." I finished my sentence and I swore my lips quivered. Maybe because of nervousness as I felt awkward with this conversation, and also with Frame clinging onto me? Oh gods! I felt like melting. My nerves slowly loosened a bit as our conversation continued. We even shared some good laughs as we talked about this sleeping monkey on my arm.

The next thing I knew was that the bus stopped and I saw the gate of the Tiger Kingdom. I shook Frame and told him we arrived already and that I was so excited to get inside.