Thai holiday - Part One - Chiang Mai

So, in mid-June we embarked on our first holiday since we went to St. Croix for Q's first birthday three years ago. We spent two weeks in Thailand with Chiang Mai being our first stop. It was my intention to post one blog for each location on our itinerary, while we were there, but clearly that did not happen. Better late than never, right?

We arrived at our hotel (The Rim Resort) in Chiang Mai late on a Sunday evening. The hotel is located on the western wall of the old city of Chiang Mai and is designed as an old Colonial Lanna house. We were greeted so graciously by the hotel staff and escorted to our room complete with entry alcove (including door bell and mailbox), a balcony overlooking the courtyard and pool, and traditional Thai slippers. Due to the late hour, we unpacked and settled in for the night, with plans to begin exploring the city first thing in the morning.

A view of the interior courtyard and pool.

The entryway and lobby.

The next morning we set out to explore Chiang Mai, a city known for some of Thailand's most exquisite wats. For those of you unfamiliar with the term, as I was prior to our trip, a wat is a Buddhist temple. Strictly speaking, it is actually much more than that, but for the sake of brevity, let's leave it there for now.

Our first stop was Wat  Phra Singh, a beautiful and ornate complex. Given the fact that we are almost four months out from our trip, I will spare the descriptors and just post pictures.

Wat is this? Yes, it is.

One of the most amazing aspects of Wat Phra Singh were the wooded groves that included countless aphorisms nailed to the trees, a selection of which are below.

From there we walked to Wat Chedi Luang, an impressive structure where I will let the photos speak for themselves.

Appropriate expressions for architectural appreciation.

The cannonball tree.

And its flower.

That evening we went to the Night Bazaar, a compendium of shopping, food, and personal indulgences that boasted everything from crafts and clothing to fish nibbling pedicures and ladyboys. We enjoyed the evening shopping, eating, and speculating about what it might feel like to have dozens of fish nibbling your toes.

 

Quintus drove us home via Tuk Tuk.

Our last full day in Chiang Mai had two distinct components; the morning we spent at Wadi Chiang Man and the Warorot Market and the afternoon we spent at a baby elephant sanctuary. Below, photos of Wat Chiang Man.

Real sugar cane gifts for stone elephants.

At the entrance of the Wat, a pair of women was selling baskets of pigeons that you can release to enable good fortune. So, of course, we did. Following is a series of photos documenting our path to good fortune.

Like money flying out of a basket.

After lunch and a swim, we set off to the baby elephant sanctuary. We had one of the most incredible experiences of a lifetime, feeding, muddying, and then bathing a group of juvenile elephants. I think the photos speak for themselves.

The next morning we set off for "One Night in Bangkok," well, really, we were there for three days, but that does not make a great title for a song. Parts II (Bangkok) and III (Khao Lak) of this blog to follow. Hopefully before the end of this year...