Friday, June 14, 2013

Thailand with Kai! (part 1 - Chiang Mai Night Market)


A few weeks back, Kimbo, Kai & I were joined by my folks on a vacation to Thailand!  We figured Kai was still not yet 2, so while he could still fly free we'd take advantage and head to a country we love.  Thailand is also closer to my folks who are in Japan, and they also love Thai... and they lived there for a few years... and my dad speaks Thai pretty well.

So we hopped on a flight from SFO to Tokyo (11 hrs) then another flight from Tokyo to Bangkok (5.5 hrs) slept at a hotel next to the airport for 6 hours, then hopped on another plane up to Chiang Mai (1 hr) ... and I've gotta say Kai did really well.  We may have a future vagabond on our hands....

"Airplane... airplane... airplane..."
snoozing off on the flight...
Kai's first visit to Japan.  Too bad we didn't leave the airport... he sure liked all the buttons everywhere.
We ran into our folks looking for the departure gate at the Narita Aiport.  Woohoo!
Once we were "settled in" in Chiang Mai, it took us about 30 min to find a massage...
Many, many massages followed.  The going rate in Chiang Mai was about 5-10$/hr... amazing.  Many massage parlors are located at the temples (wat)... and those seemed to be the best.  
We were in a heat wave for the first few days in Chiang Mai.  Hovering around 90 deg with a 70% humidity meant the lows were a balmy 75.  But it also meant I'd drink about 5 fruit shakes a day (60 cents - 1.50$ depending on the fruit) 
The Som Tam (Papaya Salad) was sooooo yummy (a-roy) in this heat.  
My mama put pumpkin's hair up as it was getting in his eye. ..
So we decided to give him a haircut.  See that jar, it's popcorn with maggots.  It's some kind of buddhist good luck charm.  Many stores had it right next to their cash register.  Maybe it also doubles as a security tool, and you can throw it at a potential robber...
Riding in a Song Taew... the easiest way to get around for cheap.  Notice my mama's holding two fruit shakes. .. that was normal.  
There is a Saturday & Sunday walking street market in Chiang Mai.  Both are probably the best street markets we have seen in SE Asia.  Lots of variety at these markets... including hairless Pomeranians eating ice cream. 
The food... oh the food... I'm pretty sure I could eat Thai street food everyday for the rest of my life...

Udon?  Sushi?  What the.... we decided not to try the sushi in a mountain town in 75 deg heat on day 2 of our trip...
bugs!  mmmmm





Chiang Mai has many temples.  Too many in my opinion... 'round every corner there's a 500 yr old wat.  I swear.  They're a nice quiet reprieve, but it's easy to get wat-ted out...
Check out the bee swarm over buddha's head.  











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