Chiang Mai

I'm not sure how to explain the last couple days. We reached Chiang Mai after a week on Koh Phi Phi and what a different world it is up here in Northern Thailand. It's amazing. The feel of the place is different, more alive and conscientious than Koh Phi Phi. It's more laid back, organized and friendly. I don't feel unhealthy here like I did on the island. I mentioned before that I was feeling homesick but I've turned a corner here in Chiang Mai. I love it here and think ill be adding it to my list of places 'I could live'. I actually made a quick visit to the hospital to have a cut looked at (hypochondriac that I am) and Thai hospitals are kicking Irish hospital butt. I think that sealed the deal for me. 

When I wasn't busy worrying about my minor injury we were out and about town. Chiang Mai has so much to offer. I can't count or name the amount of temples we came across. They are so beautiful they make you consider why our own churches are so dull and bland. Buddhist monks also seem to be very approachable. We spotted a lot of people giving offerings to monks and in return monks giving children keep safe bracelets and blessings. I need to find out more about Buddhism. We also visited a mountain top temple about 40 minutes outside of town. It had a serpent lined stairway the whole way up with little girls in traditional costume along the sides. Very cute but we were wondering if they should be in school instead of out working....

An absolute highlight for me on the whole entire trip has been our two day trek in the 'jungle'. Ok so included in the package was a one hour elephant ride which we were desperately trying to avoid. This is my conflict; I have myself gone horse riding and used a whip on a horse. I've smacked the dog for 'misbehaving' and I've lived on a farm where all our animals are confined. However, there is something so miserable and soul destroying about an elephant being confined. Maybe it's their sheer mass or their gentle nature. Or maybe it's the massive chain tied around their ankle and the fact they rock themselves back and forth on the side of the road as if trying to walk away. It would also be easy to blame the locals and say they are bad but it's their livelihood and income. Tourists (myself and Lorna included) are paying good money to do this day in and day out all year round. I'm not sure what my opinion is but I do know it broke my heart to see a baby elephant tied up and in a panic at not being able to follow its mother out of the pen. I don't know. 

The rest of the trek was amazing. Although the terrain is challenging I wish I had looked up a bit more instead of calculating where my feet went next. Actually, myself and Lorna were wondering if we'd be ok to do the trek in our Vans and Converse but we were in a group with two Dutch fellas who decided they'd rather trek for two days in flip flops than get their trainers dirty. We figured we'd survive. Our guide was called Chai (probably not spelled correctly) who cooked all our food served in banana leaves with chopsticks he made himself from bamboo. He took us to the hilltop village where he grew up and his family still live. There is no electricity and our accommodation was a little hut with a mosquito net around us. We spent the evening eating green curry, drinking beers around a campfire and listening to the jungle sounds around us. Don't do this if you are used to your comforts and expect a hot shower cos you won't get it. But, what you will get is a sense of perspective. We are so spoiled and these people have much less and seem happier. There was something very special about these people. Chai is an educated guy but very proud of his village and his family. He had his son join us at the campfire and his parents came to say hello. He even told us to go up and see the little school where we were invited in to say hello to the kids. I know these people receive visitors daily but they are so genuine. It's definitely something that will stay with me. 

If you go to Chiang Mai there are some places worth checking out:

- Stay in Kikies guesthouse (everything you need from a cheap and clean hostel with excellent staff)

- Breakfast in Blue Diamond.

- Eat at Bamboo Bee (thai veggie restaurant, cute little place with lovely owner. She even does cooking classes.)

- Get a Thai massage, cheaper and better quality here in Chiang Mai.

- Visit the Sunday market in the heart of the old town.

- Eat from the street. All the locals do and the food is great. 

- Take a cooking course and learn to make genuine Thai dishes.

And since my foot is healing up nicely, today we are leaving for Pai closer to the Burmese border. I've heard mixed things; a bit too touristy perhaps, a party town, amazing countryside, chilled out vibe, etc. so we'll see. We have to survive the 700 turns up the mountain in a minibus first. Till then...