Chiang Mai is living relic of former walled city...and there are elephants nearby.
Chiang Mai. Finally. Two days later than scheduled. My fever is mostly manageable by now. We got in late and booked a night at Safe and Sound Hostel--It definitely provided both. It was safe and... loud. This hostel was loaded with backpackers playing cards and yelling all night. I didn't get the goodnight sleep my sickness desired, so I was up at 4am booking a new hostel for the next few nights. The next morning we headed to 24 Guest House--the hostel I found on Booking.com--where they held our bags for a few hours until the room was ready for check-in. Their private room was just what I needed to kick my on and off again fever.They gave us a large room with a big bed, private bath and balcony. It was a great place for the price--best of all was how quiet it was.
There are less people hounding you for your business.
Northern Thailand
Chiang Mai is still a bit touristy, but definitly more grounded in a Thai experience. The massage places are further apart. There are less people hounding you for your business. It's just a calmer city to explore. There are still plenty of shops and markets to visit. This is also the region of Thailand where it is best to visit an elephant sanctuary--There are plenty of places to see elephants in Thailand, but not all of them treat their elephants with the respect these beautiful creatures deserve. Some of the places in Southern Thailand may chain, drug, or confine their elephants for tourism dollars, but up north there are small communities built around elephant sanctuaries in the mountains that allow them to live a more natural life.
The Elephant Way
Blue Daily Elephant Care Sanctuary prides themselves on the ethical treatment of their animals. No riding. No chains. No drugs. Just food, exercise, and bathing. Each of their 4 elephants has their own human caretaker that works with them everyday. You can book a full day with their happy lady elephants that includes prepping elephant treats, hiking through the forest with them, and bathing with them in the river. It's so peaceful there, it's hard to leave. It was even harder to leave because of the 4 new puppies on the property.
Nonychang, is their baby elephant. At 3-1/2 years old she is adorable and playful. She provides hugs and kisses on command. Her Mother, Maebipho, is 49 years old and is pregnant again-these ladies like to hit the town. Phakbung, at 19, is the teenager elephant. She and Nonychang are rebellious and while on our walk rolled down a hill together to go play with their friends at a different sanctuary. Mae Mana is 35 years old and is also pregnant. She can sound her trunk on command. The tribe, "The Karen" have been with the elephants more than 100 years. Our guide for the day, Lida, is from the tribe, but lives in Chiang Mai and stays involved with the elephants because she wants to stay engaged with the Karen lifestyle.
Some of the places in Southern Thailand may chain, drug, or confine their elephants for tourism dollars, but up north there are small communities built around elephant sanctuaries in the mountains that allow them to live a more natural life.
...everyone in the theater had to stand to honor the King as a slideshow of him played along with their national anthem.
The King's Star Wars Christmas Special
What to do in Chiang Mai for Christmas... See a Star Wars movie. Catholicism isn't big in Thailand, so when I looked up Christmas Mass times, my options were limited. However, my other religion, Star Wars was playing at a few different theaters so I knew what God wanted me to do: see the Last Jedi. We found a Cineplex in a modern shopping mall--which seem very western--but this mall was actually great. The food court had everything you could want at non-tourist prices. We made our way up to the top floor where the theaters were--we were just in time to catch the First Class viewing. For about $11 each we got tickets to the Last Jedi for a leather love seat recliner that included a waiter that would serve us flavored popcorn, soft drinks, and a champagne cocktail. Thoughts on The Last Jedi aside, this was a solid Christmas celebration. Though a small Culture shock moment occurred after the previews and before the movie began--everyone in the theater had to stand to honor the King as a slideshow of him played along with their national anthem. I read a headline later that said someone was arrested for not standing for the anthem in a movie theater...Weird. Cool. Playball.
Beer of the Day
Chang Beer, Cosmos Brewery
Lida says Chang Beer is elephant piss...