Chiang Mai

Last week the Thai teachers at Anuban Khon Kaen had a big retirement party for our top director.  They took all the Thai teachers up to Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai to do some shopping for the celebration.  This celebration lasted from Wednesday to Saturday, which meant we had three days off of school.  While I opted out of the invite to join them, I decided to use this luxurious five-day weekend to head up to Chiang Mai on my own.

This trip marks the first, of what I hope to be many, adventure traveling on my own.  After talking with a few girls who had recently been up to visit Chiang Mai I decided to stay in the hostel called A Little Bird.  At only 100 baht a night it was a great place to meet other single travelers and book some great last minute tours.

I took the night bus from Khon Kaen to Chiang Mai.  It left Khon Kaen at 8:00 pm and I arrived at A Little Bird at 8:00 am.  It was quite a bumpy, windy, and hot ride but after a long day at work I slept through most of it.  After I checked into the hostel I decided to use the day to familiarize myself with the area.  I knew there were some used bookstores around so I went out on a very successful search.  

Bookstores!  My long lost love.

After close to two hours spent browsing the bookstores it was time to indulge in some good old western food for lunch.  I had a big juicy beef burger with some French fries on the side.  I spent the rest of the afternoon wondering around the Old City.  I found a nice massage place where I splurged on an oil massage and later made my way over to the Night Bazaar.  The Night Bazaar had everything I could ever hope for.  There were hundreds of stands selling anything from French fries to puppies.  The stands I found most appealing were those selling homemade jewelry and loose beads.  I found some nice beads to hopefully emulate some of my lost jewelry.  After wondering around the Night Bazaar for a couple hours I decided to head back to find some Mexican food for dinner.  While I love Thai food, I really do miss Mexican food so any chance I have to eat it I make sure I take it.   After dinner I headed back to the hostel to hang out with a few fellow solo travelers.  We stayed up talking and then called it an early night at 12:00. 

The second day in Chiang Mai I signed up for a cooking course.  This was one of my favorite things I have done in Thailand.  Upon arrival, the teachers took us around to the back of the kitchen where their garden was and showed us almost all of the vegetables, fruits, and leaves/herbs with which we were going to be cooking. After this, they led us out to the market where we saw rice, noodles, fruits, vegetables, and meat.   While living in Thailand I have seen many markets but never been explained the different stands.   It was nice to be given a small background for some of the foreign foods I see everyday.  When we all arrived back at the kitchen we were given a welcome snack and then it was time to cook!  We got to choose seven different dishes to make, including a curry paste.  I chose to make vegetable spring rolls, pad Thai, cashew nut chicken, coconut milk soup, green curry, and mango sticky rice.  

Many variations of rice.

Welcome snack: garlic, lime, peanuts, onion, coconut, and sugar syrup wrapped in a leaf.

Pad Thai!

Cooking!

Our cooking group sitting down to eat what we made!

The next day I woke up early for a one day trek.  I signed up for the trek without knowing exactly what it included.  As the day progressed, was delightfully surprised at everything we did.  First we stopped at a butterfly and orchid garden.  While they were indoors and obviously being farmed, it was still a beautiful sight. 

My favorite purple orchids

Next, we rode some elephants.  Following the elephants we were supposed to go bamboo rafting.  However, due to the rain the previous night the water level was too high and the river was running too fast so it was too dangerous for us to partake in this activity.  After talking to his manager, our guide made some adjustments and we got to do a short stretch of zip lining instead!  I was more than okay with this change since I had already done some bamboo rafting here in Thailand.  Surprisingly my random fear of heights did not hamper with my fun during this adrenaline pumping activity.  After our zip lining adventure we were given a wonderful buffet for lunch.  Following lunch we had a 45-minute trek through the jungle to a waterfall.  The trek was not too strenuous but it was quite muddy from the last nights rain.  On the trek our guide showed us some plant that moved when you touched it.  Later I found out it is called mimosa pudica, or the sensitive plant. 

Muddy water waterfall.  Beautiful none the less.

After we arrived at the waterfall it was time for some white-water rafting.  This rafting was far more enjoyable than the rafting in Phuket.  We were all given our own oars to help row and the rapids were much better.  We even had to get out at one point and walk because the rapids were too dangerous.  The white-water rafting ended our one-day trek.  That night I went out with two other solo travelers for some pizza and a movie.  Appropriately enough for my current life, we saw Bad Teacher.   

The next day I had no plans.  I slept in as much as I could and after having a delicious American breakfast consisting of scrambled eggs, bacon, and French toast with fresh fruit, I decided to take Lonely Planet’s advice and go on the walking tour of the temples in the Old City.  

I visited several temples, walked around the Chiang Mai City Arts & Cultural Center, and ended my tour at the Chiang Mai women’s prison where I got the best Thai massage I have gotten in Thailand so far. 

After an amazing Thai massage!

After the massage I headed over to the Saturday Walking Street.  On Saturday they close off one of the smaller side streets just outside of the Old City and set up a market.  I arrived early so as I walked up and down the street I saw the market grow.  Most stands consisted of either homemade crafts or food.  I spent close to three hours wondering around there and then it was time for dinner.   

Pad Thai stand.

This was my favorite performer.  The market streets were lined with blind performers.  This one was there from the very start and looked like he just loved to sing!  I saw him again at the Sunday Walking Street.

I wanted to visit my friend Erin’s host family so I decided it was a good night to go to their restaurant for dinner.  After spending 100 baht to get to their restaurant I found that it was only open during the day.  I should have read the fine print on their facebook page.  I didn’t get to meet them, but next time I am in Chiang Mai it is a must!  Later that night I went out to an awesome reggae bar called Zoe in Yellow and some neighboring places. 

Awesome Thai DJ.

On my last day in Chiang Mai, I wondered around the Old City again.  I went back to the bookstore to sell some books back, I went to a deli for lunch, and then it was time to go to the famous Sunday Walking Street.  On Sunday night at about 4:00 they close off one of the biggest streets in the Old City and everyone sets up their stands.  It was over twice the size of the Saturday Walking Street.  Like the Saturday Walking Street, most stands consisted of either homemade crafts or food but it was over twice the size of the Saturday Walking Street.  I had a great time wondering around with my new friend Will.  We tried random foods from the stands and bought far too many souvenirs.  Finally it was time for me to catch my bus home.  I left at 8:00 pm, arrived in Khon Kaen at 7:30 am and walked straight to work.  I was lucky though; T. Duey let me leave after lunch to rest. 

This trip has been one of the best so far.  I had a great time traveling by myself and met some amazing people!