Bits and Pieces

We spent 5 nights in Chiang Mai and while the elephant camp was definitely the high-light of this location it was only 1 day.

Chiang Mai is another ancient city that was originally built within four walls and surrounded by a moat.  The moat is still there but most of the walls have fallen or been removed over the last 1000 years.  Within the walls/moat is a pedestrian friendly shopping and eating frenzy.  Almost every block has a Budhist Wat (temple).  There are a lot  of wats!  These are almost always open to the appropriately dressed public.  This is pretty much common sense for any active religious sight, but with the warm weather you do see some things that make you cringe just a little…

There are also quite a few Budhist monks walking around and other monks obviously do monk-stuff.  On one of our train rides I had the chance encounter with an orange robed Budhist monk.  I was in the dining car having my morning coffee and he sat down across the table from me to enjoy his rice gruel.  We did the usual nods in greeting and then he held up his hand and motioned to me to hold up mine.   Not wanting to be rude, I obliged.  He giggles at the size difference in our hands and then motions to me to shake hands and again, I oblige only to be somewhat uncomforted in the amount of time and vigorousness in which he shook my hand.  Then, before he releases my hand he tickles my palm with his finger…..I jerked back surprised.  Feeling embarrassed, I smiled and left the dining car for my cabin.  I tell Terri the story and about the time I finish who shows up? The Monk!  I introduce Terri as my wife, he smiles, nods and leaves.   I’m still pondering that encounter.

Terri got to check off another of her bucket list items: a fish spa!  Or more precisely, letting the fish eat the skin off your legs and feet in front of hundreds of total strangers.  I passed on this experience letting Terri be the adventurous one this day.  And besides, the way the fish went after Terri’s feet you would think they were starving.  I think Terri saw it as a weight loss program – I probably should have done it.

The place we stayed in Chiang Mai was unique.  We had one bungalow of maybe 10 in the complex.  The complex came with two pools and one resident iguana that loved to swim in the pools.  Every morning there was fresh home made bread, fresh fruit and coffee in the main dining room.  Many of the people staying  here were more long term people.  One girl from Green Bay was there for a month taking a Thai massage course (We offered to be volunteers). Another couple were from Boston on there 6-7 month Asia tour.  There was a couple from China, one from Holland, one from Quebec and our new friends from Qatar.  It was not unusual to spend over an hour chatting around the table in the morning and then find everyone in a bungalow for wine and beer in the evening.  It was like family, another great Airbnb find.