(Pictures will be added later this week)
Chiang Mai, Thailand - August 2-5th, 2012
Chiang Mai, Thailand - August 2-5th, 2012
What a crazy four day weekend!!! It has all felt so surreal. I have to pinch myself to make sure that it really all happened. I had almost decided not to go on this journey, but I'm very glad that I had the opportunity. I feel truly blessed to have been able to experience these wonders.
Thursday
I am glad that Emily and I headed out with a noon flight. It gave us enough time to get to Chiang Mai, check into our hotel, and then walk around for a bit before dinner time. We were both exhausted and called it an early night, so that we could be up for a whirlwind of a Friday. During our walk around a small part of the city, we were drawn into a little shop by the songs of Johnny Cash. It turned out to be a local artists shop, who hand crafted numerous pieces, often repeats. I purchased some postcard sized pieces as souvenirs/ gifts to possibly be handed out. My favorites were the pieces that had "Same Same, But Different" written on them. I bought two that are in fact the same, but just slightly different. These pieces now serve as temporary decoration on my walls.
Friday
Our first morning in Chiang Mai, we ate a quick breakfast provided by our hotel and caught a red truck taxi up into the hillside to visit Maesa Elephant Camp. This location came highly recommended by previous travelers to the area and most of the tour bookings. We arrived at the camp with perfect timing to see the elephant show. The show consisted of elephants playing soccer, basketball, darts, running races, showing off their work skills, and painting beautiful art pieces.
After the show is completed, the handlers bring the elephants closer to the audience. At this time, you can actually touch the elephants, and be lucky enough to receive a hug by their trunks. The girls were so excited, and I will admit that I was nervous. I kept reminding myself that these are massive creatures that I just watched drag and lift large pieces of timber around the show space. They pushed and pulled these pieces around seemingly effortlessly, like I might push or pull a chair. But, I still joined the crowd in getting close enough to receive a hug. I also had one elephant put a hat atop my head and pat it down to stay. It then removed the hat and returned it to its rider.
The elephants left for a lunch break between shows, and we decided to follow suit. We took a look at some of the art completed by the elephants (much too expensive to be hanging in my apartment) and sat down for a light lunch. It began to rain, as it is apt to do in Thailand, and we headed to ride an elephant. Emily and myself sat on a seat secured to the back. The guide sat on the elephants head until he climbed down to take some pictures for us. He decided not to get back on, but had the elephant walk along behind him as he took more pictures. was even shaking my head at myself as I took a picture and uploaded it to facebook as we plodded along. The ride was for 30 minutes, and I loved every minute of it!
Two of our other travel buddies had decided to take the hour long ride, so Emily and myself had some time to kill as we waited. A quick stop to the gift shop and I bought some postcards with the elephant art on them (much more cost effective method to decorate). We then walked to the river, where we saw the elephants bathing before the afternoon show. And no, it was not like jungle cruise, we did not get sprayed by the elephants.
We saw signs for an elephant nursery at the camp, so we started to walk down the trail. I bought a bunch of bananas in order to feed the baby and its mother. It was just Emily and myself there with the trainer. He allowed us to get right up to the fence and pet the baby and mother. It was so adorable to feed them, and get to spend a little time there. We walked back to the ride area to meet up with the others, and then headed back to the city to eat dinner and book our plans for that evening and the next day.
That night, the four of us booked a trip out to the Night Safari. We were picked up from our hotel by a guide, who we thought was just transporting us to and from the zoo location. By the end of the night we had nicknamed him Grandpa. He took us through the walking portion of the zoo, stating facts about the animals. We then went to this space where you could get a picture taken while holding/ feeding a baby White Tiger. That experience was over way too fast. 'Grandpa' held all of our bags as we had our turns. We then went on two different safari trams, first through the herbivores section, and then through the carnivores. When we came off the first tram, there was 'Grandpa' with our pictures printed, and he led us to the second tram.
After the "safaris" he led us to the main plaza where there was going to be a show. At this point we were all exhausted and could not believe that we were seeing a lady boy/ cabaret type show. It was all in Thai, so we just enjoyed being able to sit down. The last event for the evening was a light show, that was projected onto the spraying water. We passed out by the time we got back to our hotel.
Saturday
We spent the morning walking around, the plan was to do a little shopping, but most of the stores were closed. We ate lunch, and then some of the other girls met up at our hotel to leave for zip lining. We got in a van that drove about an hour into the hills outside the city. The roads were narrow and winding. I loved how forested the whole place was and could not wait to be among the tree tops. Some of the lines were long, short, set-up for two people, and included some short hikes to reach the next platform or being lowered by our harnesses.
I loved being able to go across the lines, spreading my arms wide, and looking down at the jungle floor below. I loved being able to jump, take running steps, and turn backwards to start off the platforms. We ended up moving for about three hours. If we packed a meal or two I could have done that all day. It is activities like this that make me a self proclaimed adrenaline junky! Now to plan the next thrill.
After the three hours, we made it back to the headquarters where we were served a delicious Thai dinner. A quick stop in the gift shop for a complimentary t-shirt, and we piled back into the van to go see a waterfall. As the sun was setting, we only had about forty minutes to climb the rock stairs and take some beautiful pictures. Then it was back to the city.
When we got back to the city we decided to head out to the Saturday Night Market. This was a HUGE mistake. On a good day I don't particularly enjoy shopping, and after the thrilling and tiring day, I was not feeling this street. The amount of peopled crammed into the streets was impressive, but there were moments we felt like we were shuffling along like zombies. Some time and no purchases for me later, we went back to our hotel and knocked out for the night.
Sunday
Sunday we slowly got ready for the day, we would be flying back to Bangkok. We decided to eat at a little cafe around the corner from our hotel. I ate some delicious fruit pancakes! I did not realize how much I had wanted to eat pancakes with real syrup. We then went back to our room, finished packing up and checked out. We caught a tuk tuk to the airport and then back to Bangkok. We got back in time for me to complete a load of laundry before heading to Sunday evening mass. When I got back I just collapsed early and went to sleep. Sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation!
Thursday
I am glad that Emily and I headed out with a noon flight. It gave us enough time to get to Chiang Mai, check into our hotel, and then walk around for a bit before dinner time. We were both exhausted and called it an early night, so that we could be up for a whirlwind of a Friday. During our walk around a small part of the city, we were drawn into a little shop by the songs of Johnny Cash. It turned out to be a local artists shop, who hand crafted numerous pieces, often repeats. I purchased some postcard sized pieces as souvenirs/ gifts to possibly be handed out. My favorites were the pieces that had "Same Same, But Different" written on them. I bought two that are in fact the same, but just slightly different. These pieces now serve as temporary decoration on my walls.
 |
| The sunset on our first night. |
Friday
Our first morning in Chiang Mai, we ate a quick breakfast provided by our hotel and caught a red truck taxi up into the hillside to visit Maesa Elephant Camp. This location came highly recommended by previous travelers to the area and most of the tour bookings. We arrived at the camp with perfect timing to see the elephant show. The show consisted of elephants playing soccer, basketball, darts, running races, showing off their work skills, and painting beautiful art pieces.
 |
| My feet on top of an elephant! |
Two of our other travel buddies had decided to take the hour long ride, so Emily and myself had some time to kill as we waited. A quick stop to the gift shop and I bought some postcards with the elephant art on them (much more cost effective method to decorate). We then walked to the river, where we saw the elephants bathing before the afternoon show. And no, it was not like jungle cruise, we did not get sprayed by the elephants.
 |
| Cutest baby elephant I got to feed bananas. |
 |
| I know, it doesn't look real, but I promise it is! |
After the "safaris" he led us to the main plaza where there was going to be a show. At this point we were all exhausted and could not believe that we were seeing a lady boy/ cabaret type show. It was all in Thai, so we just enjoyed being able to sit down. The last event for the evening was a light show, that was projected onto the spraying water. We passed out by the time we got back to our hotel.
Saturday
We spent the morning walking around, the plan was to do a little shopping, but most of the stores were closed. We ate lunch, and then some of the other girls met up at our hotel to leave for zip lining. We got in a van that drove about an hour into the hills outside the city. The roads were narrow and winding. I loved how forested the whole place was and could not wait to be among the tree tops. Some of the lines were long, short, set-up for two people, and included some short hikes to reach the next platform or being lowered by our harnesses.
I loved being able to go across the lines, spreading my arms wide, and looking down at the jungle floor below. I loved being able to jump, take running steps, and turn backwards to start off the platforms. We ended up moving for about three hours. If we packed a meal or two I could have done that all day. It is activities like this that make me a self proclaimed adrenaline junky! Now to plan the next thrill.
After the three hours, we made it back to the headquarters where we were served a delicious Thai dinner. A quick stop in the gift shop for a complimentary t-shirt, and we piled back into the van to go see a waterfall. As the sun was setting, we only had about forty minutes to climb the rock stairs and take some beautiful pictures. Then it was back to the city.
When we got back to the city we decided to head out to the Saturday Night Market. This was a HUGE mistake. On a good day I don't particularly enjoy shopping, and after the thrilling and tiring day, I was not feeling this street. The amount of peopled crammed into the streets was impressive, but there were moments we felt like we were shuffling along like zombies. Some time and no purchases for me later, we went back to our hotel and knocked out for the night.
Sunday
Sunday we slowly got ready for the day, we would be flying back to Bangkok. We decided to eat at a little cafe around the corner from our hotel. I ate some delicious fruit pancakes! I did not realize how much I had wanted to eat pancakes with real syrup. We then went back to our room, finished packing up and checked out. We caught a tuk tuk to the airport and then back to Bangkok. We got back in time for me to complete a load of laundry before heading to Sunday evening mass. When I got back I just collapsed early and went to sleep. Sometimes you need a vacation from your vacation!
Wow! What an impressive, action-packed weekend! No kidding you need a vacation from your vacation. :) Thank you for sharing; we're looking forward to the pictures. Keep taking good care of yourself and enjoying life. Hugs, hugs, hugs!
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