Mr Maroot

 "The difference between involvement and commitment is like having ham and eggs for breakfast, the pig was committed while the chicken was involved."
                                                                                           - Anonymous Saying

The hotel served me Ham and eggs for breakfast - Yes Ham!!!

My futile attempts at telling the waiter that I was a vegetarian vent in vain. I truly hope that the Ham that went un-eaten didn't get recycled to another guest.

This inspires me to master my Thai Phrase book even harder.

Mr. Maroot looking at the rain
 from Hotel North

I met Mr Maroot shortly afterwards, a retired government official who now walks into lodges and guest houses and offers free tourist advise to while away his time.  Mr Maroot or Nui as he calls himself came very close to re-defining the city map I was carrying, in such a way that the main attraction was his home and everything else revolved around it. "There's nothing like local knowledge", claimed Mr. Maroot. He rendered an artists version in a handwriting which looked more like a doctor's prescription note. "Over there is where you can find Motorbike rentals", he said. I am yet to find out where 'Over there' is located.  We spoke at length about the local knowledge and the Chinese moon festival  in September in Chiang Rai where free food is served to every visitor who is welcomed with great hospitality.  I wasnt sure if this man was looking for business. Suspicion was quickly replaced by amusement as he started singing a happy birthday song in Mandarin in his deep base voice. Quite the performer. I might hang out at his place this evening for a cup of tea and get a giraffe view ( as he calls it) of the city.  Mr Maroot reads national geographic during his free time which is very limited ever since he became a 'pensioner'. "My time is best spent with Foreign visitors while educating them on local culture within Chiang Rai". I promised him that I would email his photo that was shot at the guest house I stayed at - the least I could do to make this old man happy.

Maroot means 'The Wind God' in both Thai and Sanskri- this man definitely came like the wind from nowhere and made my day more memorable.

Now it's time to rent a bicycle.