Chiang Mai

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Dear Readers - we have been to Thailand many times over the last twenty years, primarily in the southern part including Bangkok and the islands. We Have seen many beautiful things in the south but in all honesty nothing beats northern Thailand. The green, mountainous geography here is truely amazing. The food basket of Thailand is located here with fresh fruit and vegetables available year round. They get three rice crops a year. They grow grapes and even have a wine industry. All the vegetables you can imagine grow here. The fruits are so sweet when they are picked fresh that nothing compares.

Chiang Mai contains a really nice zoo. The property the zoo sets on is huge and on a hillside. There are trams and a monorail which gives a good overview at about a 100 feet up. The panda exibit is excellent with a male and female pair. Chuang-Chuang and Lin-Hui are probably the biggest attraction at the zoo. They have their own air conditioned, humidity controlled environment which is gigantic and being increased in size. We were fortunate in that Chuang-Chuang was active and eating while we were there.

The Sunday Night Market was good. It is an outside market at the end of a canal that runs around the city. This particular market has many colorful umbrellas and tarps covering the wares of the sellers. Ann found a few things she had not already bought at the many other markets.

Met a couple of nice gals from Victoria, BC. One had even been to Leavenworth. They went to a cooking class yesterday that they said was great. They bought an extra cookbook and will send to us.

All for now - enjoy the pictures and happy Memorial Day.

Jim and Ann

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Comments

[UNDERWAY]

Chiang Mai
Hi Larry and Caroline - it's great to hear from you guys. I love the idea of jigsaw puzzles. We may have to do that when we get back. We are having a lot of fun traveling around southeast Asia. We have been lucky to not have experienced any of the cyclones and earthquakes other parts of Asia has experienced. It is getting into the wet season so each day is sunny, cloudy and rainy as well as hot and HUMID. Our next stop is Bangkok and then on to Samui (again). Still not sure about going to Australia. We will have to decide shortly. Good to hear from you, Love, Jim and Ann

[Reida & Terry]

Annie, you look so refreshed!! We are so much enjoying all the pictures and stories as you travel. That Panda looks like he is really go it made. Weather here is in the 70's, partly sunny and evening showers. Memorial Day was a busy time in the Pondo! Pool is open and lot's of people. We miss you two and wish you well the rest of the trip. Love Reida. Molly say's Hi!

[chrisandbecky]

Cooking
We took a cooking class in Chiang Mai as well at Baan Thai. It was good fun.

[UNDERWAY]

Thanks Reida
Hey, Whatta bout me??? I thought I looked pretty good too - Jim. Thanks for the good words. We are back in Bangkok and frankly we are getting tired of living out of a suitcase and moving around so much. We are heading south to the islands tomorrow and will decompress there for a bit. Weather is getting wet but still warm, creating a real humid environment. Did a north to south train ride yesterday of about 700 miles. Amazing how beautiful northern and central Thailand are. It looked like one big rice paddy once we got out of the mountains. Say hello to everyone at home. We miss you all. love, Jim and Ann i

[Ann-Kathrin]

pics.
Hi this picture is cool can I use it for school?