ITALO-THAI

Had a great welcoming visit from our friends Claudio and Futura , who came up this past weekend from Bangkok after spending the summer all over the Malaysian peninsula. As a bonus, we met their friend Amaglia, a new anthropologist friend in town - another Italian, who is preparing to head out to do research in Nan province, close to the Mekong River and Laos.

A few of the highlights of the visit:

1) EXPLORING DOI SUTHEP BY MOTORBIKE during a (mercifully) rain-free Saturday. A beautiful ride that took us past the temple, up to the Phuphing Palace – the winter retreat for the royal family, whose scatological name brought out our collective inner-12-year-old. After a delicious roadside repaste, we followed a series of single-lane roads down the mountain to a Hmong village, then back up to a lookout point, then down a mossy side-road that led to a remote temple, then a bit too far down an unpaved section of road, before Fee and Claudio (the fearless drivers to whom I and Futura clung, respectively) managed to slog our way out of il fongo with only one muddy sandal and one bruised calf (on Fee’s leg – no cows were harmed). Ultimately, we glided back down the mountain, stopping at a waterfall or two, back into town and a well-earned dinner.

2) COMPARING IMMIGRATION POLICY between the U.S. and the European Union, over beers at a new neighborhood bar. Also discussed the ‘projects’ that are the United States and a United Europe – more on that, I’d highly recommend Henri-Levy’s American Vertigo, where the French author takes a trip around America ala de Touqueville – last thing I read before our trip here.

3) FOOD ! Claudio possesses an extensive Thai food vocabulary, and we marveled at the veritable font of delights that is the nearby food stalls. Certainly more elaboration is due (hopefully with Technicolor photos to whet appetites stateside). The food stalls serve university students almost exclusively, and might therefore qualify as the world’s greatest student cafeteria. Also on the weekend menu was the sushi place next door – Japanese food has recently caught on here in Thailand, and all the better at Thai prices (!)