From Left : Ramly, Guroon the Gurkha , Ali Rotee and in the far rear is Alis wife.

Day 9 : 21 Nov 2008. Guroon The Gurkha and Ali Rotee .

After adapting ourselves to our new environment around Yunanese Ban Ho Masjid we notice that many people are fond of Ali the owner of small coffee shop who make excellent tea with fresh cow milk.Me like the many locals and repeat visitors used to hang at Alis for our tea joint. Here you meet travellers, locals, businessmen ,intellectuals, political anaylists and ex hippies who have lost track of the hippies trail of the 70s. Its has the aura of Indian Coffee House at Cannaught Circus in New Dehli.People relax for tea get to know each other exchange ideas and info.

Enter Guroon the Gurkha.

I was quietly enjoying my tea when Guroon came and sat next to me. He gave Sawaade Kap greeting with a smile and talk to me in Thai. I knew he must have assumed that I am a local as many others do.Realising that I did not understand him I told him that I came from Malaysia and had just arrived. I mistook him for a travel agent tout looking for tourists who might need a guide for their day trip around Chiang Mai. We didnt talk much but he exchange talk with Ali and left.

Next morning he came again and ordered tea after giving his usual Sawaadee greeting. He was a burly man in his mid 40s stout but not tall.After exchanging talk I was surprised that to learn that Guroon is well traveled having spent time in Kuala Lumpur, Pinang, Singapore, New Dehli, Burma and Kabul.He was in the Gurkha army and had served under the UN.I touch and feel his muscles to tell what a tough guy he is at which he admit doing workout ang jogging every morning.He was cheerful friendly and was all the time undermining Ali jokingly. Enjoyed talking to him but he was leaving for Bangkok tonight on business. He was renting a furnished apartment nearby with fan and ac plus laundry for 3000 Thai Bhat per month.Good tips for people who want to stay longer in Chiang Mai.

Before he left he insisted on paying for for the six of us and openly told everybody that he will be meeting Ali at their secret meeting place tonight, the Snooker Centre.Everybody burst into laughter coz all know that Ali is a pious Moslem doing his 5 times prayer in the mosque and went back straight to his family after closing shop. Ali was lost for word and only managed to smile back at Guroon knowing that he will come back again with his mischief.