I’ll be taking a few minutes now to share a few of the greatest things about being in Chaing Mai. This is by no means an exhaustive list, but in no particular order, they include:
- The locals are so incredibly nice! These folks are constantly smiling, just walking down the street. Whether sweeping their storefront or hurling a bucket of water on you, these people always appear happy to be there.
- My fiancee is an experienced and skilled traveler, unafraid to rent a motorbike or eat almost anything that doesn’t eat him first. Whether he’s negotiating with tuk-tuk drivers, memorizing maps, or flagging down food carts attached to motorcycles, this guy is unflappable and incredibly handy to have around.
- Our guesthouses have been handy, safe, and the owners have been very kind. We have my brother to thank for the first one, Joe Guesthouse. Upon arrival in Chiang Mai, Seth got us settled, acclimated, and hooked up with an air-con room right off. Coincidentally, the new one is called Uncle Joe’s Guesthouse, and it’s a gem too.
- Seth! It had been over a year since I’d seen my dear brother. He’s been up for our daily adventures even though he’s trying to crank out some work. Seth has tipped us off to some of Chiang Mai’s highlights, and has been such a good sport – even taking our pictures like regular ol’ tourists.
Michael and Seth - such handsome devils! Good thing I'm here to keep them in line.
- Learning to say “Thank you” (khorb koon), “Hello” (sah wat dee), and “Delicious” (a-roi). These tiny phrases, which I’m sure to be both misspelling and mispronouncing, have been invaluable. Follow everything you say with kah if you’re female and khrab(p?) if you’re male – this shows respect.
- Sunscreen. Dear heavens would my skin be roasting without it! And bug spray… The biting bugs here are very, very hungry. Thankfully Seth hooked us up with some mosquito coils, too.
- Tips from back home and our fellow travelers. Without Gee’s recommendation of Khao Soy, we might still be eating Pad Thai every day – not that this would be such a bad thing. Michael’s sister, Suzanne, tipped us off to a place where we could find this northern Thai specialty, and it’s quickly become one of my favorites.
Michael and Brooke, pre-Songkran (notice that we're still dry)
Khao Soy, the fancy variety. The accoutrements don't often come in little ramekins as shown - usually they're in big bowls from which everyone shares.
I like cooler temperature and less traffic than Bangkok. You might try the noodle houses down on the river for the local Chiang Mai noodles. I wouldn’t miss Night Market- about 2 or 3 square blocks. . Best place to eat is a food court hidden from street from market just across the street on north side of strret [ about 1 or 2 blocks east from Starbucks/McDonalds which sit just beyond NE corner of market. – you go up some stairs and there is indoor/outdoor food court with hawker food and Chaing beer. I like the little jugs/pitchers in Asia– about 3 or 4 tall glasses worth.
The night market has tempered down this week because of Songkran. We will have to hit it up one more time on Monday once the city gets back from being hungover.
ps- Get as many massages as you can. I recall hey are about US$5 [in Baht] for hour or two; half the price of Bangkok. I like deep tissue ‘oil massages’. The traditional Thai massages should be tried once, but they hurt like hell.
With your post, we have utilized one to two massages a day now. Thanks for your input and motivating us to get more!!
keep them coming I am slowly trying to work on Laura!
I think Laura is in…we need to work on you. You would have an absolute blast.