I found Chiang Mai to be a delightful place. My accommodation, Tamarind Village was really nice. I loved the feel of the place. Loving tamarind the fruit, the tree in the middle of the hotel area is a nice touch. This is located smack dab in the middle of the old city. The old city encompasses like one square kilometer and remnantes of gates surround it. Loads of temples inside of the old town. They are very beautiful.
Took a walk down the street and got a pad thai cuz I didn’t want anything to much so late at night. It was yummy.
The next day was my birthday and I went on the village walk offered free by the hotel. We walked through 3 temples.
The Buddhist monk gave me a special blessing for my birthday.
When I finished with the walk the hotel attendants sang happy birthday to me and gave me a gift. Their lovely homemade soap which was very nice.
Then I had a haircut and a 2 hour traditional Thai massage. After that I went to the night market. It was huge. It seemed to go on forever.
Found many interesting things there and bought more than I wanted to because the prices were so cheap. Like $2 a bracelet and $4 brass ring and so forth.
Everything is so cheap here. I can buy a meal for under $5.
The Journey to Freedom project just informed me that the other couple cancelled so they will not have program next week but that they just got 3 for this week so could I join tomorrow. Well I have the Sticky Waterfall booked for tomorrow. So told them I could go on tuesday for a half a week. Ok they said, but I’d have to pay for private transport to meet them. I said ok but could they somehow offer a discount for all the cancellations, etc. They finally came back and said they could offer the transport for 1000 baht instead of 2000. Well, guess that is better than nothing. Went to Sticky Waterfall and it was so much fun. Scary climbing up with the water rushing against you in the other direction.
Thank goodness for the rope in the parts that were more steep.
It was so much fun. Tomorrow I will join up with Journey to Freedom. What a wonderful birthday week!
