Almost done in Chiang Mai

Hi Faithful Readers!

Its been a couple days again, but you have to understand how busy we have been. I guess that is why you come here though…just to hear how busy we have been.

So rewind a couple days…I posted some pics about our trip up to Doi Suthep, but I really didn’t tell much about the trip up. I should start there, and make my way through the freshwater lakes, Wat’s, Green Curry, and travel plans on where we are headed next.

Remember the jeep that we were able to fit 6 people into, and trounce around town with for Songkran? Well, once again on Wednesday, Berm (still pronounced ‘Bum’, btw) allowed the 6 of us to pile into it, and head to one of the holiest places in all of Thailand. That place is called Doi Suthep, and is located about 25 KMs outside of Chiang Mai, straight up hill the entire way. It was still the last day of songkran, so we were never out of the range of those little bastards and their ice cold water. At one point, on our way up, I was smart enough to call out the ice water gods by saying:

‘I don’t mind the regular water. It’s the ice water I hate!’

No more than 3 seconds later, the entire car was covered with pellets of water barely a degree about the freezing point.

We finally finished the climb to Doi Suthep, but not after one incline where the Jeep was unable to make it, stalling in the middle with cars coming in both directions! The 5 non-driving members of the party had to jump off and direct traffic as the Jeep had a controlled roll backwards to some flatter land. A run was then made at the incline, and the jeep burned off into the distance, leaving the 5 of us to fend for ourselves the last K uphill.

But we made it. And we found our driver, Scott, again. And we made the climb up to the temple. It’s about 100 stairs up to the temple that is said to be the home of one of Buddha’s bones. It was taken there by a ‘white elephant’ centuries ago, as the story is told.
The moral of the story is that this place is spectacular. It is a golden temple, surrounded by other golden temples, that overlooked the city from a perfect birds eye view. It was one of those places that you go to, and you just feel a little holier. You can feel the religious aspects of it as Monks are around you praying, and the locals going through the Buddhist rituals.

There was also a place within the inner temple that you could pray, and get your fortune read for you. Both Michele and I were fortunate to get ones that were fairly positive …Others were not so lucky. Some read fortunes like ‘You should not leave this place’, and ‘you are very unlucky’.

So that was the day. The night was a much deserved quiet night in, but sometimes even the quiet nights are deserving of a story. We watched a movie that night. Not just any movie. This movie was one that has not been released in Canada yet, called ‘X-Men: Origins – Wolverine’…and the version of it that was purchased on the streets of Bangkok just days prior wasn’t, well, quite a ‘release candidate’. Many of the special effects were no more than actors on ropes, and very retro graphics showing what was to be filled in. There were even points where you could still see the mats under Hugh Jackman as he dove to avoid a CG bullet heading his way. At times it was hysterical, but fortunatly (or maybe unfortunately) the movie was so bad in general that the unintentional comedy of the effects made it watchable.

That leads us to yesterday…With more help from Berm, we hired a driver for the day to take us on an hour journey north of the city to a National park in Thailand called Srilanna Park, which is home to a man made lake. On the lake, many of the locals have created floating bungalows, which are only accessible by longtail boats.

The 6 of us spent the day chilling on the deck of the bungalow, soaking up the scorching rays of the sun, replenishing our fluids that had seeped out of us, and of course, swimming and diving into he freshwater lake. It was an amazingly relaxing day in a place of Thailand that not many ‘round eye’ go to.

One of the favorites of the day was a 4 meter high platform that was about as sturdy as my travel companion after 6 Chang beers. All of us (except those afraid of heights) took our turns (read: lumps) from the platform, which was highlighted by Scott attempting a backflip, only to land directly on the left side of his face. The only things hurt were his cheek, and his pride. I have a video of the aborted flip that is worthy of posting....I will give it a shot soon enough.

The night that followed was another quiet one, highlighted by meeting up with the Manitoban girls we had met in Koh Phi Phi for Indian food. After eating too much butter chicken (a thai specialty, of course) it was off the night bazzar (a night time market), then home to watch a couple episodes of 30 Rock.

That brings us up to today. I was up bright and early to watch the Flames playoff game online…and I was able to get in the first flames goal (I believe I woke up the rest of my guesthouse with my ‘YESS!’)…but by the time the 2nd period was beginning, Dave, Michele and I were off to a Thai Cooking course. From 9am – 4pm, the 3 of us cooked with a Thai chef showing us a grand total of 21 dishes. This included a Green Curry that I made that was quite possible the greatest green curry ever made. I wasn't 'cooking' this Green Curry...I was CREATING it. If this food was art, this curry was a masterpiece! I was immediately given the crown as ‘Best Cook In Thailand’, and have been offered a job at one of the most prestigious restaurants in Chiang Mai.

Most of that is true….Right up to the part about the crown.

Its now time to go see the city. You see, Michele and I have booked a train ticket to get to Seim Reap on Sunday night/Monday Morning, so we really only have a day left in this city. And even though we have been here for 4 nights, and have done and seen some amazing things (Songkran in general, Doi Suthep, The National Park, Cooking classes), really feel like I haven’t experienced what Chiang Mai has to offer me. So tomorrow is a wonder-day…Lets get lost, buy vendor food, and see what we can find.

1 more day in Chiang Mai. After that, I ain’t stopping until I see Angkor Wat! Starting at 2pm on Sunday, we basically have 24 hrs in transit. It’s a 15 hr overnight train to Bangkok, followed by a 6+ hr. commute to Seim Reap. Wish us luck, as its probably going to be a torturous affair!

Flames were screwed. Ladd was in the crease!
Marty

PS - The beard is coming in nicely.