Chiang Mai

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Chiang Mai is a smaller city, with lots of smog (found everywhere even smaller cities because of the car/motorbike emissions) and tourists. It is much easier to get around and we will spend the next two days here. We spent the first day walking around the city, finding a guesthouse and exchanging money.
The next morning we woke up and had some really great coffee (cost around a dollar for any fancy starbucks type drink, but their regular drip coffee is just as amazing on its own). and then headed to our thai cooking class. We started at the market learning about ingredients and then drove to the country to a gated community location where the chef lives next to the outdoor school. We watched demos and then cooked the same dish and then sat down at large tables and enjoyed our labors. We did this for 5 rounds and had some of the best Thai food. The ingredients and the techniques are very different from the way I have cooked thai food in the past. Lucky for you I will want to practice my new cooking skills when i get back to the states!
After class we decided we needed a little pampering so we went to get Thai massages. They started out by washing our feet, then they gave us pajamas to change into. From there we entered a room upstairs with at least 7 mattresses on the floor. For one hour the ladies used their elbows, knees, feet, and hands to stretch and massage us. I have not experienced anything like this in the state. It was amazing and cost $3!
Around 8 we headed to see a 1960's French movie with english subtitles, then explored the night bazar (market) and went to bed early. So far the Guest Houses have been great and around 10-12 dollars a night. The next morning we will head to to the bus station and get tickets to go further north to the hills to an even smaller town called Pai

Travel Info
GH: We stayed at Diamonte's It was really really clean and the man who owns it was super nice. Hard to find down an not so busy alley off the food market.
Had cooking lessons at the Chiange Mai Cookery School was awesome!! Worth the money!!
Thai massages were at the place next door to where you sign up for the course. $3 and hour

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Comments

[Party]

Thaii aiiaiiiiaiiaiiaiaiaiii
I want me some of that Tom Yum soup. Ya'll got chicken on a stick with that peanut butter sauce, I reckon I like that stuff

[Clint]

I Love Food!
Sounds like this is right up your alley! That's cool you got to do this... and you know I'm always here to critique your new skills!