Good morning breakfast/coffee!
When I asked Sherena and Chris what they wanted to do while in Thailand and they answered 'ride elephants, relax on the beach and eat' that gave me just enough to work with... Chiang Mai is completely different from Bangkok... From the weather (it's cooler in Chiang Mai), the people, the food, the lifestyle... There are many things to do and see while in this area but if you can't get around, it's very difficult to do those things... Last time I came, my mom's friend took us around and it was really convenient... When I researched things to do in Chiang Mai, I found a tour company that offered a tour of the same things I did last time I was there and wanted them to experience it too
We booked a 3 day private tour through Travel Hub Chiang Mai... It's a crazy itinerary so I thought it was worth it. We get a driver, an English speaking tour guide, bottled water everyday and an AC car! We were able to tailor the itinerary to our liking and our needs as well
This is the van we were picked up in (seats 9 but we got it all to ourselves)
First stop is Maesa Elelphant Camp... I've been here before and was excited to have Sherena and Chris experience this
The tour includes entrance fees, the camp is a place for elephants to perform a show for people, all profits are put back in to the camp to help pay salary for the mahouts, feed the elephants and give them medical attention when needed... Even their dung is used to earn a profit!
These women sell bundles of bananas and sugar canes to feed to the elephants... Try to keep the bundles away from the elephants but if they reach for it, DO NOT fight them for it, they will win!
Before the show they have a meet and greet where you can photograph and feed the elephants
These women stand in river with baskets waiting to catch elephant dung to dry out and use to make various things to sell
After the meet and greet they start the show.. It's about an hour long showcasing the elephants ability to learn and what they're being trained and ends with an art show
These elephants are painting a picture... We learned that they're color blind so the mahout helps them by dipping their paintbrushes in paint and putting the brushed back in their trunk
Once their paintings are finished, they're displayed and sold... Some basic ones start at $40 and some intricate ones go for $200!
This one was done by the youngest and it's intricate so it went for $200... Again all the money goes back in to the camp
There's also a gallery offering paintings from other elephants so don't worry about being the first bidder on the paintings as soon as they're done... There's more to choose from
After the show you have the option of riding an elephant (not included in the tour price)... 800B ($24.75) per elephant for 30 mins or 1200B ($37.13) for 1 hour... Sherena and I split an elephant and Chris rode his own for 30 mins
The mahouts take you on a tour around the camp.. They'll talk to you if you talk to them... And they get off the elephant to take pictures of you too! There's also a photoprapher taking pics of you and selling them in an elephant dung paper frame for 200B ($6.19)
After all that excitement we had lunch at the Tiger Kingdom, buffet lunch included in our tour... Our guide suggested we purchase the tickets to our tiger group before lunch so that our number will be about ready when we finished lunch.. From what know there is no admission fee in to the kingdom but there is a fee to play with the tigers so you can choose which size you want to play with or a package deal
No playing with the Siberian tigers but photos are allowed... You get to be up so close to these animals too!
The large tigers cost 420B ($13) to play with, medium are 520B ($16.09), small and smallest are 620B ($19.28)... You can chose large and small package for 840B ($25.99) or large, medium and small for about 1200B ($37.13) - prices include insurance
I only did the large tiger.. I had played with a small one before a looong time ago so I thought I'd change it up... Our tour guide was right, once we were done with lunch our numbers were up just in time to not wait long to enter the cage. Chris and I did the large tiger so we went in together and photographed each other... There's a keeper that goes in with you and tells you how to pose and what to do
You get to pet all the tigers in the cage and you can stay as long as you like, but not long enough to be inconsiderate to other guests
Sherena and Chris also chose the smallest tigers to play with... This one had the longest wait and the most tigers to play with
I had to ask someone cause the tigers were very docile... Just sleeping most of the time, I know they're nocturnal creatures but why were they so tame? I thought they were drugged but the keepers insist that they aren't, that they're born in captivity so they're used to human contact.. What's the saying? A tiger never changes it's stripes? They're still wild animals so I was still intimidated in their presence
After the tigers we tour the handcraft district of Chiang Mai
First we stopped by the world's largest jewelry store in the world.. They show technicians working on jade, diamonds, rings, necklaces.... They also sell jewelry.. Ever since Chinese people have money to travel, I've noticed price increases on eveything everywhere! So many of these specialty items were more expensive than they should be
Local honey from mountainside flowers.. They sell honey ice cream outside, get the honey yogurt!
Thai silk worms
Worms making their cocoon
Transformation
This woman showing how silk is separated from the cocoon - the cocoons are boiled, the silk will stick to the paddle she has in her right hand, she pulls the silk thru a needle that leads to the crank to collect in rolls... They say you can check to see if something is real silk by burning it, it will smell like burnt hair.. I don't feel like burning my scarves to find out of they're real or not
These women taking the dyed silk and making things like shawls, scarves, fabrics, table linen...
The Silk Road map
Then there's a store which you can purchase many many items made from Thai silk.. Even a suit! Like I said, things have gotten pricier so purchase wisely
There are other crafts you can chose to visit - silver, copper, leather, perisols, cotton, etc. They are all situated on the same rode with signs telling you where to go
After the handcraft we head to our last stop for the day
Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple... Its on top of Doi Suthep mountain where a legend of the shoulder bone of Buddha was set on the back of a white elephant and released into the jungle. The elephant trumpeted 3 times and passed away, the Lanna King took that as a sign to build the temple at that site
It's a very windy road so brace yourself if you get motion sickness
Visitors climb 309 steps from the base of the temple to the top, now there's a tram that costs 30B ($0.93) one way or 50B ($1.55) round trip for foreigners.. The fun is in the climb! Proper attire is required and shoes must be taken off before entering the temple
Nagas guarding the entrance stairs
A giant jackfruit tree shading the entrance to the temple... The colored fabric around the tree signifies good luck and good business... Each color represents a day of the week
In the temple area, Buddha statues line the perimeter
The gold plated pagoda (chedi) is the most holy area of the temple grounds
A temple to worship in
Bells to ring your prayers loudly into the heavens
Donation bells
Outside of the temple is a wrap around walking area where you can rest or admire the view of Chiang Mai when weather permits
Us heading back down the stairs
Along the stairs of the temple people have set up shop for souvenirs and trinkets.. Remember to bargain hard!
Some indigenous mountain tribes will come down and sell their wares here as well... I'm selecting hand made dyed grass bracelets
After the temple we were dropped off at our hostel and decided to get some dinner... While walking out a roachd scurried across the path and Sherena freaked out! Hahaha she jumped on Chris and made him carry her the rest of the way!
Around our hostel, there are a few food cart sidewalk cafés to choose from
We went with this one cause they had something for all of us... It was ok and quite pricey for Thai food... We decided not to come back
My spicy noodle salad made with Mama noodles... This was sooo soicy it was painful the next morning, if you catch my drift
For dessert I found a cart that sells fried Chinese donuts, hot tofu milk and steamed bread with Sangkaya (pandan and coconut milk custard)!! I haven't had this in Thailand since I was a kid! I was so excited to share it with Chris and Sherena!
Tofu milk was 5B for a mug ($0.15)! Chinese donut was 2B each ($0.06) and the Sangkaya and bread was 10B ($0.31)!!! We ordered 2! Hahaha
And now for bed cause tomorrow we leave earlier as we will be going all the way to the Golden Triangle
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