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Published: October 4th 2007
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Chiang Mai
((c) http://www.sxc.hu/) Brochure Text Day 3 Chiang Mai: Surrounded by rolling hills, Chiang Mai offers both pretty surroundings and architecture. Enclosed by a moat and crumbling walls, the old city features great cafes, shops and accommodations. An important Buddhist centre since the 14th century, Chiang Mai is home to more than 300 temples. Many visitors come here to attend meditation retreats, massage classes or yoga lessons. It is also a centre of handicraft production, with a long history of silverwork, woodcarving, pottery-making and weaving. Not to be missed is the Night Bazaar, a series of covered markets, shops and stalls that offer the best selection of handicrafts in Thailand.
We arrive in the early morning and have free time to explore for the rest of the day. In the evening we set off to visit the famous temple complex of Doi Suthep about a 45 minute drive from the center of the city Wednesday 3rd OK, so an awful night's sleep - 2-2.5 hours - nothing to do with the comfort of the train - think jet-lag may still be affecting (apparently 1 day per hour of change, so 6... So maybe the jet-lag meds didn't work).
Guards came
through 6-630am, woke us all up and then the beds were changed back into seats - v.efficient operation. Breakfast - now going to have in
Chiang Mai so went and paid 90 Baht for dinner - think he was surprised but just because many Thais don't see anything wrong with scamming doesn't mean I have to! Overnight had been reading Thomas Cook Thailand guide - wish had read it before! It says you either love or hate Bangkok, and I'm afraid I lean towards the 2nd... And happy to leave!
We got in 7.10am - only 10 minutes late which seemed to amaze Kym. We were collected in a red van traditional in this area and taken to Mandela Guesthouse... This looks like my kind of thing - new, clean, calm and small. 1/2 hour for us all to have a much needed shower then off to (restaurant) for breakfast - all very excited by the option of WHOLEGRAIN bread. Had Muesli, yoghurt, fruit, and hot chocolate - nice! Brief look round Chiang Mai - looks smaller/nicer than Bangkok.
Back for 10am to be collected by
Thai Cookery School (as seen on TV) - a half-day of lessons was amazing value
for money.. About GBP10 including cookbook. Me, our teacher, was fun and informative and with excellent English took us through FOUR dishes (pork, fish, chicken, vegetable), all of which we ate after seeing/tasting her demonstration dish (including her 14 chilli penang curry ... Which was actually nice but maybe not the whole dish!). Was great fun morning and after were driven back to main street to find (Lanna House) an internet café. All 30 Baht per hour (as was laundry options available at 30 Baht kilo but am up to date with hand-washing at mo). Very lush café - big leather seats, new computers with flat screens.. But still a bit slow and wouldn't let me do everything.
Back for 430 to go to
Doi Suthep - but is actually 430 so chill-out. Back into the red truck, through Chiang Mai which is much bigger than we realised! Up a windy mountain path - was very close to being sick (anti-biotics/tiredness, even 2 Kwells not helping)... Very pale! Up the steps (specific number with meaning?) - reminded me of Gaudi's Barcelona for some reason (then Cassandra said the same!). Bat, our guide, took us round the temple - explained that
only monks and wannabe monks (he didn't phrase it quite like that) can go in there (and we, as women, have to be very aware not to touch the monks...). Many Wats have memorial bells (in lucky 3s) or memorial Buddhas. There were great views from the top, then we removed our shoes again (feet are the dirtiest part of the body, the head the most sacredl] and went into the central area to see the (spire), some asked for a fortune to be told (were very abstract the ones I saw), and we saw many more Buddhas. At 6pm the monks started chanting and praying, which we watched for a few minutes before heading back to the restaurant - sat in the front this time which was much better! I didn't feel like eating much (too much cooking food, still feeling sick) but had small plate chips... Kym had mentioned them so put the thought in my mind! Restaurant had no change so Ricky and John paid up. Went to night market briefly although had nearly fallen asleep at dinner table. Only 15 minutes at the market as too many hawkers... And no space to carry anything! Back to
bed and finally some sleep in a nice, cool room - where Cassandra had already fallen asleep but had to be woken to let me in ... Only 1 key per room!
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