Days 23 and 24:
Annie and Thana accompanied us up north to a beautiful city called Chiang Mai, about an hour flight from Bangkok. It is Thailand's 2nd largest city, and home to many Thai artists and alternative folks - and lots of farang, because believe it or not, Chiang Mai is even cheaper than Bangkok.
Our camera battery died when we got up there, and we forgot the charger, so you'll have to appreciate the pictures in our heads. There are a few we managed to capture, however.
Downtown Chiang Mai is surrounded by a quaint moat, and lovely ruins of its ancient city gates. The moat used to contain a palace. But now the downtown is filled with shops and restaurants and markets. Motor bike is the favored form of transportation here. And the city is surrounded by gorgeous, lush, green mountains, which are home to hill tribes, which come to town to sell their wears - wood carvings, tapestries, and jewelery.
Thana and Annie introduced us to their friend "Pop" who owns a car/motorbike rental place and a fabulous restaurant, all appropriately named "Pop's." We stayed in a lovely inn called Raming Inn, right in the center of downtown.
Annie took us shopping at this market where all the local artists and artisans sell their wares, mostly of wood. The elaborate wood carvings are everywhere, and are highly, highly detailed. Annie wanted to be sure to equip us with lots of Thai spices before we left, so we went to Chinatown to Chiang Mai's largest market and stocked up on saffron (bargain basement prices in Thailand), chillies, chilli powder, green tea, jasmine tea, and Thai garlic, which Sean plans to eat on a daily basis so he never gets sick. Be assured that our friends and family who cook, will be getting supplies.
Annie and Thana accompanied us up north to a beautiful city called Chiang Mai, about an hour flight from Bangkok. It is Thailand's 2nd largest city, and home to many Thai artists and alternative folks - and lots of farang, because believe it or not, Chiang Mai is even cheaper than Bangkok.
Our camera battery died when we got up there, and we forgot the charger, so you'll have to appreciate the pictures in our heads. There are a few we managed to capture, however.
Downtown Chiang Mai is surrounded by a quaint moat, and lovely ruins of its ancient city gates. The moat used to contain a palace. But now the downtown is filled with shops and restaurants and markets. Motor bike is the favored form of transportation here. And the city is surrounded by gorgeous, lush, green mountains, which are home to hill tribes, which come to town to sell their wears - wood carvings, tapestries, and jewelery.
Thana and Annie introduced us to their friend "Pop" who owns a car/motorbike rental place and a fabulous restaurant, all appropriately named "Pop's." We stayed in a lovely inn called Raming Inn, right in the center of downtown.
Annie took us shopping at this market where all the local artists and artisans sell their wares, mostly of wood. The elaborate wood carvings are everywhere, and are highly, highly detailed. Annie wanted to be sure to equip us with lots of Thai spices before we left, so we went to Chinatown to Chiang Mai's largest market and stocked up on saffron (bargain basement prices in Thailand), chillies, chilli powder, green tea, jasmine tea, and Thai garlic, which Sean plans to eat on a daily basis so he never gets sick. Be assured that our friends and family who cook, will be getting supplies.
Following a brief dip in the pool, that night we went with Pop, his bodyguard and Thana and Annie to this fabulous restaurant on the river, called "The Good View." It lived up to its name, and the food delivered as well. A giant outdoor restaurant with a live band and pretty lanterns hanging from the rafters. We requested lots of American songs, and they played Sweet Home Alabama for us. :)
The next morning we explored the town on our own, while Annie and Thana did some business, and then they drove us up into the mountains to see the winter palace of the royal family, Phu Phing, and the most beautiful temple, Wat Pra That in the Doi Suthep mountains. There is a piece of Buddha's bones in this temple. We got a good luck blessing by a monk, and Sean got an extra blessing because he's a boy. (The monks aren't allowed to touch women, so he couldn't tie a knot on Sue's wrist; only the layman could.)
We made offerings to the temple and to the Jade Buddha, took in the views of the city in the valley below. Thana and Annie rang the bells in prayer, and we descended down the 300 odd stairs from the temple. On the way down we ran into this 5-year old girl from one of the hill tribes, named Boh, who was playing with her bouncy ball on the temple steps, dressed in full hill tribe garb. She spoke perfect English: "Where are you from? I'm Boh. What's your name?" Sue, of course, was completely smitten, and wanted to steal her, but we didn't think that was advisable. Sue, instead, had a nice conversation with Boh, and ended up giving her one of her new necklaces from Chatachuk Market because Boh admired it so much, and because Sue couldn't resist.
We made our way back down the mountain - Thana is an excellent mountain driver - stopped for a quick bite of seafood and noodles in broth, and then made our way back to the airport and our second to last evening in Bangkok.
We checked into our new hotel - our 3rd in Bangkok - and took in a view of the city from the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel (very posh) at it's roof top bar, appropriately title, Vertigo. It had rained in Bangkok, so the air was the clearest it had been since we arrived. Great views that rivaled those of Mado Lounge in Tokyo.
After two cocktails each, we cabbed it back to our hotel, and crashed out for the night.
Thai phrase of the day:
Mai pen rai - No worries.
The next morning we explored the town on our own, while Annie and Thana did some business, and then they drove us up into the mountains to see the winter palace of the royal family, Phu Phing, and the most beautiful temple, Wat Pra That in the Doi Suthep mountains. There is a piece of Buddha's bones in this temple. We got a good luck blessing by a monk, and Sean got an extra blessing because he's a boy. (The monks aren't allowed to touch women, so he couldn't tie a knot on Sue's wrist; only the layman could.)
We made offerings to the temple and to the Jade Buddha, took in the views of the city in the valley below. Thana and Annie rang the bells in prayer, and we descended down the 300 odd stairs from the temple. On the way down we ran into this 5-year old girl from one of the hill tribes, named Boh, who was playing with her bouncy ball on the temple steps, dressed in full hill tribe garb. She spoke perfect English: "Where are you from? I'm Boh. What's your name?" Sue, of course, was completely smitten, and wanted to steal her, but we didn't think that was advisable. Sue, instead, had a nice conversation with Boh, and ended up giving her one of her new necklaces from Chatachuk Market because Boh admired it so much, and because Sue couldn't resist.
We made our way back down the mountain - Thana is an excellent mountain driver - stopped for a quick bite of seafood and noodles in broth, and then made our way back to the airport and our second to last evening in Bangkok.
We checked into our new hotel - our 3rd in Bangkok - and took in a view of the city from the 61st floor of the Banyan Tree Hotel (very posh) at it's roof top bar, appropriately title, Vertigo. It had rained in Bangkok, so the air was the clearest it had been since we arrived. Great views that rivaled those of Mado Lounge in Tokyo.
After two cocktails each, we cabbed it back to our hotel, and crashed out for the night.
Thai phrase of the day:
Mai pen rai - No worries.
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