Day 4 Thailand

Thailand Day 4

Good day, and welcome to day 4! Day 4 actually starts on day 3, which, if we’re keeping track, is day 2 because we lost a day on our way here. Anyway….We left the internet café and went across the street for highly recommended “street desserts”….of which we got 5…of which we liked 5! We went to the train station an hour early and dared each other to talk to the monks. Luckily we both chickened out, because the next day we read that it is forbidden to talk to the monks. We passed our time watching the little lizards crawl around the ceiling near the florescent lights. We figured out they hung out up there at night to catch poor unsuspecting “attracted- to - the- light” bugs. Poor things… going toward the light one last time.

Okay, sorry, probably interesting to people killing time! Back to the exciting stuff!!! We got on the train at 10pm, and I was asleep at 10:02pm. We woke up a few hours from Chiang Mai so we read up on the area. It was curious for a moment to realize how normal it felt to be put in a back of a truck when being picked up from the train station. It’s cool to have our names on signs at train stations- and charming to be thrown in the back of a truck like livestock a second later.

We were taken to the tourist shop around the corner from our hotel. Here we booked our events while in Chiang Mai. You’ll read about them as we do them! We can’t WAIT!! Chiang Mai is different than Bangkok. Much less clutter so the Thailand beauty is more evident both in environment and art. There is more room and more quality to the shops and each piece of culture is more easily appreciated. The tallest buildings are 3 stories- most are less. The labyrinth of very narrow streets shows great promise for interesting wanderings. Most of the restaurants and shops have beautiful wood furniture and style and the markets are beautiful too…and it lacks that Bangkok smell too!

After booking our week’s adventures we hopped in another truck and ended up being dropped off at a tailor. Why yes…it was my idea! We saw many tailors in Bangkok, and though it didn’t feel right, the taste of a new tux for me, and gown for Nina had already been planted.

Unfortunately, those seeds grew into much more than a tux and a gown. Because of the prices and INCREDIBLE quality of fabric we had fun ordering fitted shirts, linen pants, and other fun garments. Let us know if you want something. We know a guy in Thailand now!

We left there and went to our obligatory floating restaurant (amazing again) and obligatory stop for our driver so he could get his “fuel” ticket. This stop was at a cashmere shop. Wow fabrics at unwow prices. Sorry female family members. We’ll keep looking.

We came back and checked into our hotel. Amazing lobby- okay room. Had a half an hour nap and ventured out for our Thai cooking cours. Very long, awesome story short… (it was us and another awesome couple from Australia). Our guy walked us around the market and taught us about noodles, rice and sauces. Then…much to our surprise, put us in the back of a truck.

WEEEEEE!! We’re off to his home to learn all about Thai food. We chopped and stirred, flipped and fried our way through the lands of Tom yum gai (spicy soup), stir fry (stir fry), curry, pad thai, and sticky rice and mango! The pictures below show all. Don’t worry Adam and Mitchell, our guy gave us a cookbook. We can cook it all again (and maybe teach you!) No wait, I’ll cook this time, you drink.

Last but not least, the night market!

Cool things, DVD’s, neat clothing, beautiful art, DVD’s, jewelry, oh, and did I mention the DVD’s? Nina did her thing- we got great prices- even on the 5 extra suitcases we’re gonna need to get home.

We left the night market, headed home, but were seduced into getting foot massages by the fact that there was a foot massage place next to our hotel. (150 baht for an hour=$5!!!!)

Day 3 (4) (2) a success! Next day our trip to the “Golden Triangle.” We have a 7am pick-up. I thought I left this early morning stuff when morning routine class ended. YAY!
Cheeeerio!
Jeff (and Nina)

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