Thailand

A month in Chiang Mai. This city is not what we expected. Never having been to South East Asia before we planed for rough third world travel but it was much easier than we thought. It was clean, the people were friendly and the food was amazing and cheap not to mention there was a 7/11 on every corner for anything else you might need. Sourcing necessities had never been easier. The weather was perfect in January around 25 degrees and not a single day of rain. We spent our days exploring the city and it's many attractions, getting Thai massages, relaxing by the pool and eating our faces off.

The Food

You can't talk about Chiang Mai without mentioning the food. We heard about the food here and we were looking forward to all the Asian flavors but honesty we were still surprised at how much GOOD food there was in Chiang Mai. From Thai, Chinese, Korean and Indian to all the western favorites, it was rare to get a miss. We even got to take a cooking class where we were driven to a rice farm and taught to cook 5 different and delicious traditional Thai dishes.

The Elephants

It was hard to decide which elephant tour we wanted to take but after some research we knew we wanted an ethical one. Many of the elephant "sanctuaries" don't take the elephant's wellness or quality of life very seriously and just operate to make money from tourists. Excessively bathing, feeding and riding elephants isn't good for their health. But we managed to find a sanctuary that rescued elephants from a work farm and gave them a happy home where they are well taken care of. We got to feed them bamboo treats, play in the water and help to bring their food out to them before they trek up into the hills in the afternoon to nap. They are amazing creatures and it was an unforgettable experience.

The Temples

You can’t turn a corner here without stumbling upon another Buddhist wat. It gives the city a distinct whimsy with it's crumbling, shabby-chic walls adorned with ornate golden Buddhas lining their edges. Delicate brick pagodas rise beside lily-filled ponds, while gilded statues of mythical creatures guard the grounds. Wandering through it all feels like stepping into an ancient jungle paradise.

The Markets

This city becomes an entirely different place once the sun goes down. What begins as hot, lazy days with vendors napping in hammocks under the sun, transforms into brightly lit, buzzing streets, packed on every side with shop owners selling everything from souvenirs and snacks to art, clothing, and jewelry. We grew to love the sound of them calling out, inviting us into their little storefront huts. It became one of our favorite places to wander, discover interesting things, and eat incredibly well for under five dollars.

We were so pleasantly surprised by our stay in Chiang Mai we left swearing we would come back often. I'm sure it will be as soon as we start missing our $10 massages and fresh dumplings and pad thai. Sawasdee ka and khàawp khun khâ for a memorable time in Chiang Mai and we hope to see you again very very soon. Now off to Siem Reap.