Riding Side Saddle

Under the glow of the November full moon, I ride home side saddle on the back of my host sister’s motorcycle. Spotting the first star of the evening, I make a wish.

We ride past . . .
. . . beauty shops closing for the day
. . . piles of charcoal to be burned for cooking
. . . new car lots
. . . small family restaurants
. . . shops with hand made traditional tables, baskets and other items

With each passing vehicle, I could reach out and touch them. I try and tuck my feet in closer to the motorcycle to avoid harm. A family of four rides by on their motorcycle – child, adult, child, adult - squished together on the seat.

We’ve just come from the annual Tat Luang festival where . . .
. . . loud speakers blare promoting a variety of products
. . . vendors sell traditional clothing, food, footwear and the latest fashions
. . . dust forms as the crowds walk along the dirt pathways between booths
. . . garbage swirls around our feet and we watch carefully so as not to trip on plastic
twine
. . . festival goers enjoy the traditional festival foods of BBQ chicken and Kha Lam

Throughout the day thousands of people have slowly circled the Tat Luang temple three times in preparation to give alms. As we walk through the temple grounds during the late afternoon, the remains of the day’s offerings are before us – incense, marigolds, purple orchids, and small orange candles. Later in the evening there will be a candle light procession around the temple.

While I ride, I carry our bag of Kha Lam – sticky rice cooked in coconut water in stalks of bamboo and I reflect on my first experience of riding side saddle. How much more comfortable I have become. I relax and enjoy the moon shining down upon us.