HAPPY 2012!!!!
Sorry for the such the gap in postings, Michelle and I have been very busy! We first want to wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope everyone's Christmas/ Hanukkah/ Kwanzi/ Boxing Days were memorable and fulfilling. We promise to spend time with all of you next year! So where did we leave off in this story. Oh Yes...
After a short 2 hour flight, we made our way to Chiang Mai, the unofficial capital of northern Thailand. We traded in our board shorts and bikinis for slightly warmer attire. Chiang Mai has been industrialized over the years but it is considered a very holy grounds accounting for more than 300 temples within its borders. It is city rich with history and it was home to us for two weeks.
A Kodak Moment - While Michelle's mother was fully aware that we were going to spend the holidays with her. She was pleasantly surprised that her son, Christopher, and his girlfriend, Elizabeth, were going to make the trek to Thailand. :)
The first day in Chiang Mai I volunteered to balloon crew for Michelle’s father. I didn’t do much as the Thai balloon crew did most of the work, but I was rewarded days later with a balloon ride over the city. The landscape is very different from Oregon
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep - This temple is Chiang Mai's most revered and was chosen in the 1300s by an elephant that escaped with a Buddha statue attached to its back. It scaled the mountain and when it grew tired it stopped in its tracks. The temple was built where the elephant decided to stop in 1383.
At all religious sites you must dress very modestly. (Your shoulders and mid-thighs must be covered) Unfortunately Michelle was not able to enter certain areas of the temple :(
We made our way up Doi Suthep to a village. There are several tribes in the mountainous regions and are referred to as chao khao translating to mountain people. We payed 10 Baht to shoot an arrow at some fruit. Michelle having just lost another argument to me got a little trigger happy and pointed the bow at me. Don't let the blond hair and blues eyes fool you, she's a good shot!
One of the oldest temples in Chiang Mai. If you ever find your self running short on money, we were told you are allowed to stay the night at a temple if you are first granted permission by a monk.
The Thai people are quite the carpenters and artisans. There are markets of furniture for cents on the US dollar. Pier 1 Imports must get a lot of their goods from Thailand and skyrocket the prices.
Christopher is a skilled ultimate frisbee player and got a hold of a group, through FaceBook, who play at Chiang Mai University. Real good exercise!
Michelle’s father, being a balloon pilot, has access to some exclusive events. This night we attended a party at a property owned by a relative of the royal family. There were very gracious hosts and invited us to their promotional event, The Magic Forest, on the 30th of December, which we happily accepted. It was strange to have a party the day before New Year’s Eve, but you really can’t say “NO” to an open bar.
The fun included magicians, tethered balloon rides, auctioned helicopter rides, fire dancers, and hookahs.
This contraption is called a cloud hopper, which is manned by one individual attached to a hot air balloon. In this photo, the cloud hopper is tethered but you can imagine the thrill being several thousand feet in the air connected a gas tank!
A little fact to all you beer connoisseurs. The most popular beers brewed domestically in Thailand are Chang, Leos, and Singha. They all taste like elephant piss. So to all my Oregonians, who have an infinite amount of micro brews to choose from consider yourself lucky.
The Highest spot in Thailand
Naphapholphumisiri Temples are just before the highest peak in Thailand
What is the point of traveling if you don’t spend your money on things you normally would not do where you live. Jungle Flight has zip lines, repel areas and suspension bridges scattered through out a dense forest area. The longest zip line measured 300M! The staffs was full of character but were very safety oriented.
Video of Jason ziplining
It is beginning to look a lot like Christmas. The following day we took a bus to the city of Pai. Pronounced Pie, this backpacker’s retreat comes alive during the night and is where we decided to spend Christmas together. It can be reached by taking a bus up a winding road boasting approximately762 turns and is north of Chiang Mai. For those who are prone to car sickness. This might be your worst nightmare. I was stuck next to a young Thai boy whose head was plunged into a plastic bag as his grandmother bravely held him :X It’s a perfect place to relax as everything is an even slower pace and bars are by the tenfold.
Michelle got me several gifts but my favorite had to be the two pound bag of Winco gummy bears. The girl really knows the way to my heart!
This is the Pai River Lodge for only 250 BAHT/ night. Awesome bungalows with an even more hospitable staff. + Hot showers!
This bridge was constructed during WWII by the Thai people by the instruction of the Japanese. It allowed easier commute over the Pai River.
Group picture time!
What a "hot" couple
Welcome to the Pai Night Market - Captain Jack Sparrow with Michelle
We found a street performer, so we had to represent – ORY- GUN!!!
That's so cute, it makes me sick
Tourist Chinese Village
Random!
Pai Waterfall
FEAR FACTOR:
The natural progression from bungee jumping is indulging in local, exotic cuisine. Insects are a delicacy in several countries and were quite easy to find in several cities of Thailand
The three challengers are Christopher, Derek, and my self. The ladies decided sit this one out…
Hmm... is this a bad idea?!
The sauteed worms, notice the green onion for added flavor!
Pick your poison
MMM... so GOOD!!!
All done!!! I hid them under my tongue!
Nothing washes down bugs like some Pad Thai
New Years photos to be posted soon! We next plan to head down to Bangkok and the surrounded cities for a few days in preparation for our flights to the Philippines on January 7th. Motherland here we come!
P.S. Thank you Joel for commenting, you will be rewarded with gifts upon our return!
The ballon ride looked like the best part. What royal family was is it that allowed you to go to the party.
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