Advertisement
Published: February 25th 2006
Edit Blog Post
nto our last couple of days in Chiang Mai, so time for some reflections on the place.
The guesthouse that we’ve been staying in has been great, not least for the ethernet connection in the room. It’s given me the opportunity to indulge my love of Nailsworth.com and post some stuff at ludicrous times of day back home. The city is a great place;good shops, good markets, great food and wonderful people. A couple of days ago we asked the guesthouse to organise a taxi to take us to the Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang, to leave at 8.15 in order to get there before the coach parties descend on the place. 8.15 came and went, then 8.30, by this time Barb, particularly, was not best pleased and it became apparent that the arrangement had not been made. When Barb voiced her displeasure some scurrying round went on and one of the girls who works at the guesthouse (it was her day off) was delegated to be our driver. She drove with a reckless disregard for speed limits and got us there just in time to see the elephants being bathed. The place seems to be run in an ethical way,
elephant painting
with great precision they take in elephants that otherwise would be neglected, and give them the pachyderm equivalent of occupational therapy. A highlight was watching a couple of them paint, it wasn’t just a party trick, they really do deliberate over the brush strokes and the concentration as they do it is amazing. After seeing them put on their show we decided to take a 30 minute ride round a part of the centre (it is huge) seated in a howdah. The descent down the slope into the river that was the start of the ride was a bit nerve-wracking but after that it was just an easy paced stroll round a bit of semi-jungle. The elephant certainly knew what it was doing anyway. After the elephant centre we were ready to head back to Chiang Mai, about 75 mins away, but our driver (I wish I could remember her name) was having none of it. Lampang is her home town and at the very least she was going to show us the market. Well, to say it was a vegetarians nightmare isn’t really doing it justice. We’d been round the market in Chiang Mai but perhaps our delicate sensibilities had steered us
At Lampang market
assorted insects, grubs and frogs clear of the most extreme sights. Not so here, but out of politeness and respect for our host we carried on, managing to avert our eyes at the very worst. Managed to look at the worms and insects though, I’m not sure where we stand on those, I certainly wouldn’t fancy eating them but the sight was fascinating. Picked up a couple of folding hats , I’m sure they would have been more use a couple of weeks ago though.
As I write this we’ve just moved into the Yaang Come Village, a somewhat more sophisticated lodging than our last. Mainly because the heat has driven us to a place with a swimming pool. Even the locals are saying that it is unseasonably hot. This place is only recently built, designed in traditional Lanna style and has nicely planted gardens, great pool with jacuzzi and air conditioning that does it’s stuff without making a song and dance about it. It’s going to be a nice respite, at least till we hit Bangkok and forecast 37deg heat. Oh almost forgot, I thought I’d got over my TV addiction, at the guesthouse there was only a limited supply, here of course it’s
different. Just flicking through and came across Luton v. Reading, holds out some hope for tonight. If that doesn’t work out at least we have Reality TV so I’ll be able to get a dose or two of ‘Cops’!
We’re due to catch the 8.30am train on Monday so expect the next entry to have something about a last minute panic.
Latest friends Dave & Mal, are soooo funny, we were both trying to leave the guest house last night, but as our rooms are next to each other of course we starting chatting. three hours later and quite a bit of vodka we both left do half of what we were both supposed to be doing. They had far more on their agenda to re-arrange they leave for a couple of days, whilst we switch places to stay and then meet up again on our last night before we take the 12hr tday train back to Bangkok. Had fun night at itailian restaurant the owner was a dead ringer for Kurt from the fawlty towers episode where Basil organises the gourmet night. Elephants were amazing, and now we are staying poolside!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.079s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 8; qc: 41; dbt: 0.0507s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Ard
non-member comment
That's better
Yeah a great improvement, Jon and Babs, your cold, bored friends in UK expect a full range of Asiatic stereotypes for their delight and bathing elephants and noxious insects on sale as edible fare truly meet the bill. Bet you're glad your vegetarians!