A TALE OF TWO HASHES
The introduction to this blog post will begin with its conclusion. Chiangrai's February hash was received by its attendees, during and after the fact, with very contrasting and often opposite opinions on its character, veracity and worth. In much the same way as those who have been to London and Paris usually consider them two of the most important cities in the world, people usually rank one above the other, and in doing so talk one up and denigrate the other in order to support their opinion. Positive comments on the hash included "there were so few checks", "the hash was long ". "does it get any better?", "we hardly set food on a paved road", "not for the faint-hearted","just wonderful', "now that was a real hash", "I loved it", "so much fun", "I didn't know such a beautiful area of Chiangrai existed until now", "the food was delicious" and "the hare and hostess are lovely". Negative comments on the hash included "there were so few checks", "the hash was long". "does it get any better?","we hardly set food on a paved road", "not for the faint-hearted", "boring', "worst hash ever", "the food wasn't hot" and "the host is a boor". Comments in which it is difficult to place a value judgement included "my knees are not up to this", "the white HHH sign is situation upon a white pillar" and "I didn't bring enough water".
The 24 attendees comprised mainly walkers and,
possibly due to the length and often difficult terrain of the course, even the usual FRBs generally sank to their level. The route began with Dickensian undertones through a somewhat difficult jaunt up Doi Saken to the local temple's funerary rite area, then to take on a nature walk, then downhill and along a road to a seemingly never-ending and hypnotic rice farmers track rife with hordes of tiny, flying beasties. Hashers then experienced a local village, followed by navigating their way through rice fields which had taken on a lot more water and mud than was there when the trail was set the same morning. Some of the bridges in this section were considered dangerous and un-navigable by some, who then, maybe channeling a mind set from two odd fellows named Johnny, gave up on the set trail and found their own way back to the circle. Hashers then trudged their way through the peaceful hamlet of Ban Doi Saken to the waiting
cuisine and amber fluid. The circle was begun by the ever reluctant yet sort of hardworking, a bit inspiring and teacher-esquely darkishly humorous GM, Frozen Ring (he must be trying to impress H2Hoe). He himself had experienced somewhat of a 'Dog Day Afternoon'. Bitten by a local mutt on arrival that morning to guide the virgin hare, he then ended up walking almost 22 kms whilst gaining 4th degree sunburns, was let down by the absence of the official photographer and the only members of the choir who knew any songs, was not given due respect by a band of Japanese guests and was usurped by 2 long term DOBs. Needless to say Kiwinee and Wirgin Bluce have now been unanimously voted in as GMs for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 hash seasons respectively for their efforts. The Virgin has thus now finally taken on his appointed role as Hashbeer although he will be missed this month as he is off to finally lose it (in Moose-Maple-Mountie land we think). Virgins anointed were John and his better half (the Stroker made both her parents come simultaneously), Peter and Soymali (Virgin Bruce made them both come), Mary (came on her own as she lives in the house and is the daughter of the smily lady named Nui who owns the house, prepared the food and owns a den of inequity in Jet Yod's notorious bage-light district), Get (Mary made her beau come), James (an expert on bee appendages for whom the internet made him come, we've all been there before) and Yuki (sounds like one of our new Japanese friends). Named hashers were Sarah (Gets it a lot - to which she exclaimed was aspirational) and Kanav (Benis - inspired by his walking mate's stories about the grizzly ends of male bees during mating rituals). Further highlights included a wonderful display of modelling by our esteemedish previous GM, who did not cop out in exhibiting a semi-strip tease in another attempt at inspiring hashers to purchase our high visibility hashshirts. We await the next hash with great expectations, which will aspirationally be hared by Frozen Ring and should be a beauty. THAT IS ALL.