April 10, 2017
Chiang Mai, Thailand
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| The moat and wall that wrap all the way around Chiang Mai |
We passed a pleasant and relatively uneventful week in Chiang Mai after
returning from our road trip to the Golden Triangle in northern Thailand. Much of our mental energy this week was spent
planning. We had our Myanmar trip to
think about, our time in Thailand after our return from Myanmar, and a quick
visit to see the Sajans, our friends in Shanghai, to coordinate.
Some of the things we booked during the week:
- Flight from Yangon to Bagan
- Flight from Bagan to Kalaw (via Heho airport – the bus system still apparently shut down for the Thingyan New Year holiday)
- Bus from Inle Lake to Mandalay
- Flight from Mandalay back to Chiang Mai
- Flight from Chiang Mai to Shanghai
- Flight from Shanghai to Osaka/Kyoto
- Flight from Osaka/Kyoto to Chiang Mai
- Hotel transfers in Bagan and Kalaw
- Five different hotels in Myanmar
- A trip to the Elephant Nature Park outside of Chiang Mai for when we return from Myanmar
Done and done.
In between all of the planning, we continued to explore the Old
City of Chiang Mai, finally popping into Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan, the famous
large temple right in the center.
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| Ruins of Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan |
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| Elephants decorate Wat Chedi Luang Worawihan |
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| Shrine in Wat Phan Tao |
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| Scott poses with a friend |
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It’s our last night before departing for Yangon, and we
finally went to eat at the food stand of the famous “Cowboy Hat Lady,” near the
north gate just outside the Old City.
Apparently she started wearing a cowboy hat to keep the light hanging in
her food stall out of her eyes, and it stuck as a good piece of marketing
recognition. CHL braises pork all day to
feed her blend of devoted customers and tourists (after becoming somewhat
‘famous’ after her appearance on one of those Anthony Bourdain travel/food
shows). Definitely worth the long walk
from our condo, which is 20 minutes south of the Old City – we’ll be back.
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| If you see a lady in a cowboy hat wielding a meat cleaver in the dark, do approach |
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| Mmmm... Scott's "that's so succulent" face |
After our quick meal at Cowboy Hat Lady, we wandered over to
the Northgate Jazz Club – Chiang Mai’s hottest music club. Literally. It was
like a sauna, especially upstairs where we were able to find seats by the
railing looking out over the tiny main stage below. Despite the heat, it was a ball watching the
local band perform for the enthusiastic and diverse crowd packed in to see the
show. They even had a guest performer,
who we think was a singer from Korea,
performing a unique rendition of “Just the Two of Us”. A great night out, and I’m guessing we’ll try
to hit the club again when we’re back in town.
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| Just the two of us.... in a night club in Chiang Maaaai, just the two of us... you and I |
The New Year’s festivities are about to start in
both Thailand (Songkran) and Myanmar (Thingyan), and you can definitely feel
the excitement in the air all over Chiang Mai.
Interested to experience this phenomenon - we–leave for Yangon tomorrow!
More photos from the week:
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| Flowers blooming in one of the more picturesque areas of the moat, which separates the Old City form the rest of Chiang Mai |
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| Dining at the "Hanging Feet" restaurant (not our feet) |
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| A treat for Caroline - lunch at the mall at Sizzler, complete with Jell-O dessert! |
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| Faithful cat in the Old City, prostrate by the shrine |
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