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Published: January 18th 2005
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Hello all and Greetings from Chiang Mai!
Since Caroline is off shopping I get to do the entry. I think we left off when we arrived in Chiang Mai and checked into Tri Yaana Na Ros Colonial House Hotel which has been very nice. The host, or Chief of House, is a nice laid back guy and the place is beautiful. We are going to stay there a few nights more to enjoy the relaxing atmosphere and then we will head back down, possibly on the Night Train, to Bangkok enroute to Ho Chi Minh - formerly Saigon- in Viet Nam. When we got back from a lovely evening of shopping we discovered that all the raid they sprayed in the room must have done the trick as there were no more mosquitoes around. Couldn't smell the raid either so that was perfect. Yesterday we went on a tour to Doi Inthanon National Park which houses the highest peak in Thailand - around 2600 m above sea level if I remember correctly. It was nice, saw some amazing waterfalls and visited a nice garden where they grow bedding plants to sell at markets. The project, which was initiated by the
Royal Family of Thailand was designed to give the area residents some revenue and to stop them growing opium flowers which was the revenue they were getting. Probably quite a drop in revenue but at least its legal and invites the right kind of tourists.
We also visited a Hill Tribe village which are sort of like the equivalent of First Nations people in Canada. They were very nice, and the local dog had just recently had puppies which made for an entertaining visit, lots of toe biting and licking.
After a nice traditional lunch we went off to see a nice short hiking trail which is apparently home to Anacondas and King Cobras, but much to my disappointment (and Carolines) we didn't see any. Later on we went and walked around at two amazing Pagodas that were built - one each for the King and Queen of Thailand. Very amazing with great views of the surrounding mountains. Ah, the local internet cafe dog mooch has found me and is apparently interested in my coffee. Sorry buddy, caffeine is no good for puppies.
Its good to see that the sad puppy dog look is universal across the
Bob
This is my friend the lizard. I will call him 'Bob'. world. They don't need spoken language to let you know what they want from you.
Last night I was "subjected" to the Night Bazaar of Chiang Mai. At least earlier I got a massage from an amazingly strong young guy. Yikes, these kids have gusto! The Night Bazaar is basically a huge (and I can't say huge enough times) flea market with crafts and food and everything. I'm sure if my mother or aunts were there I would never get to leave. Its four floors, about four streets, full of craziness. The salespeople are hilarious, the second you start walking away - out comes the special deals! So you have to work the system which I leave to Caroline since in part she likes it and in part is amazing at. I particularly liked the one guy who said 550 baht for one item when she asked, afterwhich she made a noise that I can only describe as a cat being run over by a car, all of a sudden the special price was 180 baht. I just smile and shake my head since its all so crazy and fascinating. More Night Bazaaring ahead tonight. I will practice my
Hill Tribe People at Work
Making thatch roofing and some weaving. cat noises in case I need to make some purchases.
Also got to sample my first banana roti with chocolate last night from a street vendor in the Night Bazaar - that may just be enough to convince me to go back this evening.
Lastly today we had fun shopping for flights to Viet Nam. The first place the guy hadn't even heard of most of the places and the second was very expensive so I think we'll just go back with the tour agency that we initially booked into our hotel here with. She seems very nice and has very good prices (too very important criteria). I am busy trying to learn the common phrases in Vietnamese since neither of us know any. We get by very well with out "Hello", "Excuse Me" and "Thank You" here in Thailand so I suspect I'll at least learn those phrases. Of course I'll probably pronounce it as I would like to tour the rice paddy with your pet goat when I pronounce it since it is also a tonal language (six tones - so the word ma for example means six very different things depending on how you pronounce).
Terraced Rice Fields
The view from the Hill Tribe Village Wait for the fun! Wait for it!
I will be sure and attach a picture of the goat when it happens.
Oh well, I'll sign off now and patiently wait for my shopping princess. We managed to buy our wedding invitations today at a store run by the Thai government which donates profits to the Hill Tribe people.
Off to eat something fiery and walk down the street with a nice cold beer before the shopper comes back to show me what we need to get.
Adios,
Ken (and somewhere bartering, Caroline - "50 baht!?!? oh no....too expensive..need special price..)
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Shopping
Hi I loved to hear that You are taking in some fea markets there..I bet they wouldn't have a crate big enough to ship my stuff back..Both my kids are off somewhere warm and I am here watching the Alberta clipper come thru Wpg. Yuk..What's wrong with that picture???? Sounds like you guys are having a wonderful time Stay safe...Love - Mom R