Chiang Mai, Thailand

After our amazing time in Myanmar, we flew to Chiang Mai, Thailand for some fun and relaxation. Thailand is a very easy country for westerners to travel in because the local people cater to tourists. This makes it much easier to get around, find clean restaurants and hire a tuk tuk. Most locals speak at least some English. Basically, Thailand is the place to visit as an introduction to Southeast Asia.

 

 

 

During our six night stay in Chiang Mai we each had four massages. Yes, probably a bit over kill but it’s so cheap. A one hour massage costs around 300 THB (approx. $10). We only opted for a Thai massage once. This type of massage is not a pleasant experience. The masseuse uses their entire body to grind at your muscles, including elbows, knees, feet, etc. They put you in all kinds of positions, some of which are a bit awkward. We were both so sore after that experience that we swore we would not do that again. The next massages we had were with oil, except for one I had with Thai Herbal Massage Balls. It was amazing!! I highly recommend that option. It is twice the price but worth every penny.

Pampering a Pacaderm!

Our favorite day in Chiang Mai was the day we spent with Elephants. Chiang Mai is a place that many organizations have chosen to create sanctuaries for elephants that were once used in work camps. Visitors can pay to spend the day feeding, bathing and playing with them in a natural environment. It is a way to support the people who rescue these gentle giants while having an unforgettable experience. We loved every minute.

 

 

We met the elephants down at the river in the afternoon. They come down on their own to cool off in the water. We had a chance to bath them and rub them with mud. The mud is cool on their skin and acts as a sunblock. They seemed to really enjoy it.

 

No visit to Chiang Mai is complete without a visit to one of the elephant sanctuaries.

The city has a lot to offer including a weekend street market, a nightly street bazaar, great restaurants and many beautiful temples. We took advantage of all of these activities during our stay. One afternoon we borrowed bikes from our hotel and rode around the old city visiting different temples. They are Buddhist temples but much different than the ones in Myanmar in both their interior decoration and architecture.

We ended our stay in Chiang Mai with a bang or at least that’s how my tongue felt after our Thai cooking class. Our full day class taught us how to make  6 Thai dishes including appitizers, soups, entrees and deserts. We each got to choose the dishes we wanted to make. So we ended up making many things between the two of us. The food was yummy, sometimes a bit spicy and really fun to make.

What a great week! Now it’s off to Vietnam…