Chiang Mai
So, we're back safe and sound after a tremendous week in Thailand. Thank you for your support, prayers, and well-wishing. Unfortunately, it turned out to be nearly impossible to connect (reliably) to the internet, and what's more, our days were jam-packed with activities, so I gave up the idea of updating this blog a day or so after my last post. I did, however, fill a small pocket notebook with chicken scratch I will try to transcribe in the next few days. Here's a start:
We left Bangkok for Chiang Mai in time for Yee Peng, or the Floating Lantern Festival, and the longest and weirdest parade I have ever witnessed. I'm not kidding. It went on for over two hours, then it started to rain. And it just kept going. And going.
On our first night in Chiang Mai, we also had our first taste of the much touted street food. It was good, and cheap. Kris and I both had stir-fried noodles, wontons, and fruit smoothies for less than $4. And the satay was just 30 cents for two skewers! (see close up below; yeah, I ate four of those bad boys)
During Yee Peng, rice paper lanterns are lit and released as a good luck ceremony symbolizing forgiveness. The sky over Chiang Mai was dotted with these flickering lanterns rising like tiny stars. I even spied several young Buddhist monks and a small boy lighting one. We got ours off the ground eventually, but not nearly as artfully as the monks.
On our second day in Chiang Mai, we visited the Destiny Rescue Cafe & Bakery where we had an amazing lunch.The café is run by a lovely Australian couple and the food and coffee were fantastic.
While lunch was being prepared, we got a tour of Destiny Threads, the high-tech screen printing outfit behind the cafe. Someone generous donated this insane piece of equipment, and they're making really cool shirts. You should buy one. Your purchase will go to a good cause.
After lunch, guided by Sarah (pictured top left above), a sweet, bright, dedicated volunteer who teaches English among other things, we visited the Chiang Mai rescue home.
Later that night (or the next, or the previous, I can’t remember now), we were treated to the Sukhontha Buffet, an indoor-outdoor restaurant the size of Walmart. It was kind of like a Melting Pot only much bigger, and instead of fondue, we grilled our own meats and vegetables on these little hot coal grills. There were hundreds of stainless steel bins filled of meats, seafood, and other unrecognizable food to choose from. I eventually found the pork and chicken (I think) and ate until I could barely move.
Later yet, a few of us enjoyed fish footies at one of the spas. If you’ve never enjoyed hundreds of minnows devouring the dried skin from your feet, I recommend it without reservation. It's a game changer.
We left Bangkok for Chiang Mai in time for Yee Peng, or the Floating Lantern Festival, and the longest and weirdest parade I have ever witnessed. I'm not kidding. It went on for over two hours, then it started to rain. And it just kept going. And going.
On our first night in Chiang Mai, we also had our first taste of the much touted street food. It was good, and cheap. Kris and I both had stir-fried noodles, wontons, and fruit smoothies for less than $4. And the satay was just 30 cents for two skewers! (see close up below; yeah, I ate four of those bad boys)
During Yee Peng, rice paper lanterns are lit and released as a good luck ceremony symbolizing forgiveness. The sky over Chiang Mai was dotted with these flickering lanterns rising like tiny stars. I even spied several young Buddhist monks and a small boy lighting one. We got ours off the ground eventually, but not nearly as artfully as the monks.
 |
| Yee Peng Festival, Chiang Mai |
On our second day in Chiang Mai, we visited the Destiny Rescue Cafe & Bakery where we had an amazing lunch.The café is run by a lovely Australian couple and the food and coffee were fantastic.
 |
| The beautiful staff at Destiny Rescue Cafe & Bakery |
While lunch was being prepared, we got a tour of Destiny Threads, the high-tech screen printing outfit behind the cafe. Someone generous donated this insane piece of equipment, and they're making really cool shirts. You should buy one. Your purchase will go to a good cause.
After lunch, guided by Sarah (pictured top left above), a sweet, bright, dedicated volunteer who teaches English among other things, we visited the Chiang Mai rescue home.
 |
| Chiang Mai rescue home |
Later that night (or the next, or the previous, I can’t remember now), we were treated to the Sukhontha Buffet, an indoor-outdoor restaurant the size of Walmart. It was kind of like a Melting Pot only much bigger, and instead of fondue, we grilled our own meats and vegetables on these little hot coal grills. There were hundreds of stainless steel bins filled of meats, seafood, and other unrecognizable food to choose from. I eventually found the pork and chicken (I think) and ate until I could barely move.
 |
| Sukhontha Buffet |
Later yet, a few of us enjoyed fish footies at one of the spas. If you’ve never enjoyed hundreds of minnows devouring the dried skin from your feet, I recommend it without reservation. It's a game changer.
 |
| Hawk feet with hungry fish |
posted by Daniel Todd at 5:30 PM
1 Comments:
Good times, Dan. Looking forward to the rest of your posts...
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