Thailand, part one

Its quite late for my standards but i cannot possibly break my promise on the second day already, so I will write my entry for today.
I just got back from the screening of a documentary in the cultural centre slash liaison office of the Goethe Institut here in Kigali. I got lucky and my friend Jon joined me as my boss and her husband didn't want to go and gave me their invitation. The film was about a woman, half German half Rwandan who was born a 100 years ago in Rwanda, on the shores of lake Kivu who came back when she was 95 to see her father's house and to show it to her daughter and grandson. Interesting pieces of Rwandan history mixed with very personal and subjective memories of the woman who was raised by Belgian missionaries after her parents died, hidden from the rest of society for being mixed-raced. Interestingly she said that everything was great under the early German rule (her father being a German Military) and that it all went downhill with the Belgians which caused major sniggering in the audience.
Afterwards we tried out a new Chinese restaurant, wasnt very impressed by the food, although apparently all the Chinese go there, and Jon will be back for the Karaoke - gigantic screen with a majestic bad taste round table in front of it. And on a not so funny side, I think I saw my first person getting knocked over by a car in real time - he was conscious though.

And now to my own personal "Jahresrückblick", though not in chronological order. Today, the first part of my Thainland trip in October. Some of you might have seen some pictures on facebook already, so I will try and find some non published pics. For the others, as usual, check out the link "more photos" further down on the right.
So, I went on a trip to Thailand to visit my friend Liz who lives in Bangkok at the moment. I had planned strategically for a week in the mountains, one on the beach and one in Bangkok and that proved a great mix. Also, it helped that it was a "proper" holiday without any obligations, just relaxing and so for the first time i got back from leave without saying it wasn't enough of holidays.
The tip about Boklua View Lodge in the northwest of Thailand near Nan came from a colleague of mine here in Rwanda and it was beautiful, quiet, and tucked away in the mountains - indeed Thailand has its share of hills too, much to the dismay of my stomach. I also made the lovely aquaintance of Thoun and Doug who run this place as well as with the really decent coffee culture - i hve become such a coffee snob since in Rwanda. Here Iam with the two in one of the many coffeeshops in Nan.
















They gave me their most lovely bungalow with a top to bottom window and view onto a creek, I spent so much time there adjusting to holiday mode and the time change...
















...there and in the restaurant with my daily portion of fern salad, iced coffee, creme caramel and Mochito. In between Doug took me to trips in the area, the village of Thoun's family, the national park, one of the many royal family's projects and some local temples - of which the north is of course full.















More on beaches, yoga and Bangkok tomorrow. Good night.