Close encounters of the high school kind

Hello friends, I'm writing to you from sunny Chiang Mai. The weather here is nothing short of pleasant, topping out at about 75 to 80 degrees at midday.
I've spent most of the day moseying around without purpose or direction. I tried to go to a museum, but it was closed because it's Monday. I'm feeling really tired and sight-seeing-ed out. So, I finished my book (The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen--really good) and arranged 2 days of cooking classes where Mo went last year when she was here, and had a massage. The Thai massage is where quality meets value. One hour for approximately $3.50. Can't beat that. I also bought a copy of War and Peace. If not me, who? If not now when?
There was a big night market last night. I bought some strawberries in a cup. Much to my surprise, they were salted! It wasn't as bad as it sounds, but it was definitely unexpected.
Today, while walking down the street I ran into someone I went to high school with. She graduated a year after me and we played rugby together. It is completely disorienting to run into someone so out of context. She's teaching English in China and is here during her semester break. We're going to get together for dinner tomorrow.
Did I mention that I met a guy on a bus into the jungle in Malaysia who went to college with some kids I graduated high school with? It's a very, very small world.
Also, have I mentioned that there are pictures of the king everywhere and people wear those "Livestrong" bracelets, but the say "Long live the king" instead? And twice a day they play a song over loudspeakers and you have to stand and be silent for the duration of the song. FYI.
Tomorrow, I will regale you with tales culinary in nature.
TTFN,
Lauren