It’s
the Lunar New Year (aka “Chinese New
Year”) all over southeast Asia. On the morning before, ancient rituals were
being repeated. The gods were offered a whole chicken and a couple of Cokes!
Households were swept clean, hair was cut, and a billion people tried to get
home for the holidays. We moved on, another ferry but this time back onto the
Thai mainland at Krabi (“Crabby”) Town. Thick mangrove shores instead of white
beaches. But still the hordes of (us) backpackers washed up and scattered away, like the crabs
the town is named after.
Our
first room at the outskirts Diamond Friends “Resort” failed the hot water test,
so we were moved to another gleaming room
that had hot water but no front window! Still, there’s a free shuttle to town,
the only diner for miles, and a giant newish swimming pool. for $15.
In
town after dark there were deep-fried
twisty potatoes, big crab statues, and a Lucky-Red stage but we expected
fireworks, traditional lion dances, and general street mayhem. There was almost
no sign of the New Year at all! (We have been on the road through 3 New Year’s:
Jan. 1, the Lunar New Year, and the Buddhist New Year 2557.) By day the
town’s big attractions are the dramatic karst (eroded limestone) outcrops, and
the prominent temple carved into rock.
I
have to admit we’re getting crabby, not Krabi these days. The incessant sun and
heat. The constant crowds, traffic, and noise that typify Asia today. The lack of variety and
healthiness in the food. I hope to get over it as we enter the second half of
this trip. Maybe these guys at the ATM can lend us a few baht for ice cream??
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