Buddha Day

Friday was Buddha day so there were no classes. I went with some of the girls to the women's prison. Our goal was far from altruistic - their rehabilitation center trains them in massage. The idea that these women did something to be put in prison didn't seem like a big deal - the place was recommended. The girls got two hour massages, I kept mine to an hour.  

Fountain in Front of Women's Prison

Thai massage is different from massage in Ketchum.  The main difference is the intimate positions (not sexual) but close contact such as having a leg wrapped around the masseuse waist (both clothed) while she used the position to work the muscle. My masseuse spoke very little English. She said she was from Korat - some distance from here - and that she was going home in December.  The grand finale was a position where she was behind me with her knees in my back and she rocked back onto the table lifting my arched back over the top of her holding me up on her knees. It's taken two days for my back to recover!

Cannas by Women's Prison (Note Concertina Wire on Left)

Following the massage I walked around the outside of the prison. The front looked very pleasant with fountains on either side of the entrance and a wide bed of Canna's blooming. Behind the flowers were rolls of concertina wire to prevent anyone from escaping if they scaled the 16 foot walls. It's a real prison.

Seamstress Outside of Prison
Note: Old Singer Machine 

I visited a Wat and some of another university on the way home.

Buddhas at Temple Near Prison

University Parking - Same Same as Everywhere