It's hard to believe that I've already been on the road for a month! We left the hot, humid and relatively boring world of Phuket (beautiful sand, gorgeous water, but man was it hot!) to chill out in Chiang Mai--the former capital of the Kingdom of Siam.
Since we were feeling the need to have a good bathroom, we sprang for the uber chic boutique hotel D2. Think of all those modern sleek buildings that incorporate 4 colors (black, white, glass, steel), and replace black with dark wood, and steel with orange. It seriously belongs next to the Seattle Library! All the "attendants" wear John Varvartos (or knock off) leather converse low-top sneakers, with loose black pants, white shirts, and orange or black suspenders! It's uber mod. I kinda dig it.
The best part, is that we got 'upgraded' to the suite room (due to a conference) which is bigger than my NYC apartment! ridiculous. And the gym, my goodness, it puts Equinox to shame. (and I never thought that could happen).
After eating the best Pad Thai I've ever had in my life (from a street vendor during the Sunday Walking Street), I also had the worst Pad Thai ever, at the night market last night. Sigh, I guess I can't win them all. After a day of rain (yesterday), we went Elephant Riding! The elephant camp was cool, watching them and their tricks (the elephants are quite hams--circling their trunks to get applause, painting, playing soccer) and lastly, allowing us humans to crawl on their backs for a 'structured' romp through the jungle. At first, our elephant was meandering (we took a tour, and there was a former marine special ops guy from the war who told us never to ride an elephant because they move you all over they place. Apparently, he had to ride one for 2 days to get radio communication... that was one of the many strange, vietnam war stories he had), and we were like "oh this is nothing", then our elephant decided to lead the pack and went for a little saunter.. let's just say it was like being on the high seas.. lots of back of forth.
Today, I ate my way through Chiang Mai. A and I took a full day cooking course, and learned 7 dishes from the sweetest woman in the world. Although she made it look so easy! I'm positive it's going to take me twice as long to make those same dishes at home! She also eased some of my fears about Mae Hong Son, as she exclaimed "oh it's so pretty there! Lot's to do", which is good, since I'll be there for 18 days beginning tomorrow. It'll be a little nerve racking in the morning, since we land and have to find a place to stay--and I have to find a place to say for 3 weeks! eeek! Actually, I think I'm most apprehensive about not having someone to talk to all the time (A is leaving for the states on Friday). Which will be problematic for me, since we all know I talk more than I eat (a feat unto itself).
Chiang Mai also seems to be the expat/tourist capital of the world. There are so many english language bookstores, I'm tempted to purchase a few for reading.. maybe the one entitled "So you meet the perfect Thai girl, what next?"... Yes, seriously, they have a book titled that... Only in Thailand.
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