Chiang Mai- About to head to Vietnam
Today is my last day in Chiang Mai. I fly back to Bangkok for one night, before flying to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam tomorrow. Today, I am going to just lounge around and check out some of the sights as I have been keeping myself very busy. After I arrive in Vietnam, I will join a tour for the final 9 days of my trip.
After coming back from the day hiking, I went and had a very interesting experience. Upon arrival, I was suggested to go and try the Massage by the Blind. It is right across the street from my guesthouse, so I figured I would give it a try. This isn't a joke. I walked in to this very plain place with 5 beds next to each other. Nobody even saw me enter (bad joke) I than had one of the best massages I have ever had. It was VERY STRONG and I almost screamed on several occassions. But, afterwards my body felt so relaxed and much of the tightness was gone. It was very nice. Gave me a good nights sleep.
As for yesterday, I took a cooking course. Because it is the low tourist season, there were only four of us in the class. It made it so much better as we had a lot more individual attention. They can have up to 18 in a class during high tourist season. That would be way too much. The full day course taught us how to prepare many Thai dishes and gave us a tour of the local food market to pick out ingredients. All kinds of stuff I have seen at the markets back home, but never knew what to do with them. We learned how to make Tom Yam soup, Coconut soup, Papaya Salad (not what it sounds like, but delicious) Pad Thai, Green and Red curry, and Sticky Rice with Mango (dessert, absolutely sensational). We literally ate all day and I was so full when I left. He also gave us a cookbook with all of our recipes. Now, I hope I can replicate this when he isn't standing over me.
Than, last night I took a long walk to the famoust Chiang Mai Night Market. Needed the walk to burn off some of the food. The Night Market was highly unimpressive as it was just a bunch of cheap, tourist junk. I didn't see anything nice or authentic that I really liked. It was literally the same crap you can see in Chinatown, NY. I didn't buy a thing as I am really looking to bring back some authentic stuff. But, it was interesting to see anyways.
Bye for now.
PS-
I forgot to post about the "Sunscreen Incident" that has affected Todd's backpack. More details to follow. The UN was being called in for resolution, but had to be diverted to Burma. Sorry Todd.
After coming back from the day hiking, I went and had a very interesting experience. Upon arrival, I was suggested to go and try the Massage by the Blind. It is right across the street from my guesthouse, so I figured I would give it a try. This isn't a joke. I walked in to this very plain place with 5 beds next to each other. Nobody even saw me enter (bad joke) I than had one of the best massages I have ever had. It was VERY STRONG and I almost screamed on several occassions. But, afterwards my body felt so relaxed and much of the tightness was gone. It was very nice. Gave me a good nights sleep.
As for yesterday, I took a cooking course. Because it is the low tourist season, there were only four of us in the class. It made it so much better as we had a lot more individual attention. They can have up to 18 in a class during high tourist season. That would be way too much. The full day course taught us how to prepare many Thai dishes and gave us a tour of the local food market to pick out ingredients. All kinds of stuff I have seen at the markets back home, but never knew what to do with them. We learned how to make Tom Yam soup, Coconut soup, Papaya Salad (not what it sounds like, but delicious) Pad Thai, Green and Red curry, and Sticky Rice with Mango (dessert, absolutely sensational). We literally ate all day and I was so full when I left. He also gave us a cookbook with all of our recipes. Now, I hope I can replicate this when he isn't standing over me.
Than, last night I took a long walk to the famoust Chiang Mai Night Market. Needed the walk to burn off some of the food. The Night Market was highly unimpressive as it was just a bunch of cheap, tourist junk. I didn't see anything nice or authentic that I really liked. It was literally the same crap you can see in Chinatown, NY. I didn't buy a thing as I am really looking to bring back some authentic stuff. But, it was interesting to see anyways.
Bye for now.
PS-
I forgot to post about the "Sunscreen Incident" that has affected Todd's backpack. More details to follow. The UN was being called in for resolution, but had to be diverted to Burma. Sorry Todd.
posted by hkalin @ 10:28 PM
3 Comments:
At 11:27 PM,
Todd said…
Ah, damn. Not the sunscreen incident!
Wasn't that actually the title of one of those really bad "B" movies back in the 70s? If not it should have been.
At 11:42 AM,
Anonymous said…
I think it might have been the title of a porn movie I watched as a teenager.
At 12:39 AM,
Anonymous said…
This is kind of funny as is bringing back memories of my time in Chiang Mai. I went to the blind massage place too - amazing, but yes, almost too strong. And also did classes at the cooking school - bet it's the same one. The Chiang Mai Cooking School right? Did you go to the place in the city or at their house? I went to to city one but apparently the atmosphere at their house is nicer. It was great though. I hope you bought the cookbook. I still have that cookbook and it's great. Best pad thai recipe in it I've ever made.
Deb x
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