Chiang mai

After the craziness that was Bangkok, I was looking forward to Chaing Mai. It did not disappoint! When we arrived we easily got the cheapest taxi ever. About $1 usd each to the guest house. Sri pat guest house welcomed us and had a chuckle that two of us were auditors. We went out in search of a massage, and we definitely found one. We each had the foot, back and head massage for 200 baht for 1 hour. Best massages yet! We had dinner at the Funky Dog Cafe, where their mascot likes to run up and down the street outside the cafe, barking at mopeds. 

We came back and showered to get ready for the night. We wandered around the night bazaar and made it to the pub we were looking for and watched a rugby game - it wasn't the rugby game we thought we were watching (or the one they said they were playing for that matter)... Interesting to say the least. There were several pubs that were either closed or weren't serving alcohol due to the elections that day.

Here we are in the tuk tuk on the way home.

We ventured out in search of khao soi, khow soy and various other spellings the next day. These are chiang mai noodles. We went to Heun Phen on the recommendation of our guest house (and a google search!)

This meal set us each back a whopping £2. 3 khao soi, steamed rice, sticky rice, fried chicken, baby eggplant northern style (so spicy!!!!), 2 waters and an iced coffee. Deal of the century. 

We spent about two hours that night exploring the sunday night market. We maunky just browsed, but bought a steamed bun with vanilla custard (yum!!!) and some dumplings. That night we stopped at a restaurant where the happiest lady on earth was working. We only caught every 7th word she was trying to say to us, but she was so so happy. I had my first curry - a massaman curry. We ordered mango sticky rice for dessert of course and this made our happy friend even happier!

The next day we signed up for cooking class with Asia Scenic at their farm. Our instructor was Indy, a very funny thai girl. Her favourite thing to say was...moooore spicy....moooooooore sexy. We made an appetiser, stir fry, curry paste (and curry), soup, and dessert.

On the tour of the farm.

Mo's pad see uw!

Sherrill pounding out some green curry paste...and splashing it on her face. Whoops!

Spring rolls!

Playing with knives.

Us with Indy. As you can see we had to cook without shoes on! No shoes in the kitchen...

That night we made our way back to the night bazaar where Mo and Sherrill bought some merchandise...some dresses and knockoff Birkenstocks. These ladies have good bargaining skills! Luckily Sherrill is observant, as a few hours later after we hit up the boy blues bar and the playhouse bar, we were in a tuk tuk and Sherrill announced "STOP THE CAR!! WE DON'T HAVE OUR MERCHANDISE!" No worries, she sprinted back and recovered the merchandise.

On Tuesday we had a day of elephant mahout training with Baan Chang Elephant Park. Really great day, although from some of the pictures early on you can't tell I'm having fun because I look terrified. 

First we fed the elephants bananas and sugar cane.

Slightly terrified and doing weird things with my hands..

Then we learned how to get on, off, and the commands.

We then ate lunch and had a few short rides. First I was on a 16 year old elephant called Tsong San who was pregnant. Mo and Sherrill were on a 34 year old 4 tonne elephant called big mama...well that's her English translation. We then switched and Mo rode Tsong San and Sherrill piloted (?!?) big mama and I was the passenger. 

Then we got to bathe the elephants!

And we got a shower...

And I got a hug and kiss..

Overall, loved Chiang Mai. Really relaxed city and very fun activities!