Thailand - Chiang Mai

Next we spent a few days in Chiang Mai.  An old Thai city dating back to the 13th century with a moat surrounding the old town and a river running through the outskirts, Chiang Mai felt very authentic (even while being touristy).  We stayed at a great resort on the outside of the city that had a beautiful pool and its own rice patty fields.

High points:

1.  Its all about the ELEPHANTS!  We loved our day trip to the Mae Sa Elephant camp.  Did you know elephants could play soccer...

hulla-hoop...

be trusted with their body weight...

and paint pretty amazing paintings?

Awesome!  The Japanese Tourists LOVED the paintings.  They ditched the show to crowd around the paintings and take photos.  We love their enthusiasm!

We enjoyed watching the elephants take a bath...

and Colin enjoyed most watching some poor soul having to catch all their poop in a laundry basket downstream!

Our tour guide also gave us a special preview of the newest in the elephant gang - a 4 month old baby.  And then we spent some time sitting with one particularly delightful elephant - she'd hug us with her trunk and put her trainer's hat on our heads.  It was so so fun.  And then we took a great ride around the beautiful camp.  All in all, although I had to question whether the elephants LOVE to paint and do all those tricks, they seemed pretty well cared for and we had a good visit. 

We were taught that elephants flap their ears when they are happy.

Our mahout (elephant trainer) hopped down to take some extra pics for us.  His elephant, who he had been training for 8 years, seemed to really love him.

2.  Night Market - the night market in Chiang Mai was another high point.   The black market in Thailand is definitely alive and kicking, so it was fun to browse in the evenings and just enjoy the lively atmosphere.  Oh, and the lady boys.  It wouldn't be a trip to Thailand without at least taking a picture with some?

Pretty lanterns hung in the main shopping area - we missed Chiang Mai's annual lantern festival but can imagine how beautiful it must be!

You can get these flesh eating fish pedi's in the Night market...  although I have to say I wasn't THAT adventurous!

Massage Chairs line the street for super cheap massages!

And you can buy Tiffanys jewelry...?  right...

Ok, I did make a few purchases...

Yep.

And save the best for last...  please note the lady boy grabbing Colin around the waist.  To his utter horror, she was yelling in a raspy voice "I will no let go!  You can't leave yet!"  I nearly died of laughter.

3.  More temple visits.  We took a trip to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep which was on the top of a mountain outside Chiang Mai.  It was a very cool vista point, but we were a little templed out from our marathon in Bangkok.  We liked the very old temple Wat Chedi Luang in the middle of the old town more.

Standing in front of the golden Chedi tower at Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Heading down the serpent-lined 300 steps from Wat Phra That Doi Suthep

Thai worshippers purchased these flowers, dipped them in water and bopped them on each other's heads for wishes of good luck.  They also left them in front of the Buddha statues.

Wat Chedi Luang

15th Century Wat Chedi Luang was next to some monastery grounds

We enjoyed learning that all Thai men are monks for a point in their life.  For some, it only lasts for an obligatory week, but some choose to remain a monk for much longer.  This wat was situated within a monastery, and it was cool to see some of the Buddhist tenets hanging from the trees that surrounded the wat.  Overall, we noticed how devout the Thai people seem, and that many young teenagers, 20-somethings were among the people worshipping at the temples.

Low Points.  Only one and it was minor! 

1.  In light of Montezuma's Revenge, we decided there was no more street eating.  Good thing lunch at our hotel was still only $1.50 per plate!  So we stuck to restaurants recommended in the guide book and our hotel restaurant.  While our hotel restaurant was great, we suffered through several meals in the town.  The food was SO spicy, which was fine, but half the time it was just unclear what we were eating!  Oh well, it was truly a local and ethnic experience.

All right, I don't like ending on a low note.  So one more elephant shot!