Chiang Mai, Thailand

On my way to the tattoo shop, these ducks were drying in the sun-

Most establishments, whether restaurants, bars, massage shops and even tattoo shops have a special place for worship-

When a person gets a tattoo, immediately afterwards, they're thinking of their next one!  And so, yesterday, for some reason, I wandered into The Master Shop.  I looked in his book and recognized his talent.  Later on last night, I went back with my idea.  We found an image online, printed it and made an appointment for 11 am today.

This is the stencil on my hand-

The Master and me-

This tattoo is very special because it's done with a bamboo stick, not a machine-

The finished product-

After the tattooing, I took a Thai cooking class at Pum Thai Food.  Thong Kham was a great teacher!  Here he's explaining the various herbs used in Thai cooking such as lemongrass, green and red chilies, galangal, Thai sweet basil, kaffir lime leaves and shallots-

Later he explained how these sauces are used in Thai cooking: fish sauce, soy sauce, dark soy sauce, Thai chili paste, soy bean paste, oyster sauce, sweet chili sauce, ketchup, pickled radish and crispy fried garlic-

I made Tom Yum Goong soup which is a hot and sour soup with prawns.  It was so flavorful!

I also made Gaeng Kheo Wan Gai - green curry with chicken as well as Gai Phad Med Mamuang - chicken satay with peanut and cucumber sauces-

Everything was fantastic, in fact, the green curry is the best I've had so far!  I even have all the recipes.

Supper was rotee, one with cheese and egg, the other with chocolate and banana!

I've enjoyed my time in Chiang Mai and am looking forward to Vietnam tomorrow!

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Saturday was a take it easy kind of day.

Lunch was delicious.  You can't come to Thailand without eating.... Pad Thai-

papaya salad-

drinking iced coffee and eating jack fruit with crushed ice and sweet milk-

The regular night market is a mass of shops selling imitation everything from t-shirts to purses, flip-flops, knick-knacks and art-

Sunday was an easy day too.

Food stalls like this are everywhere.  I had the  best chicken curry chili with rice for $1.73!

I came along a fish spa that cost $2.77 for 10 minutes!

I had no idea what to expect!

It was soooo weird feeling, but once I was used to it, it was pretty cool.

Chiang Mai is full of surprises. Here I am with.....

Ya, you guessed it - a Lady Boy!

Here are some more!  They prance around in stilettos and the best looking bodies you've ever seen.  They can pull it off until they speak - they maintain their male voices and apparently their "packages"!

Thailand also embraces old white men with young Thai women.  They too are everywhere.  I met an 82 year old Dutch man who told me he had "learned his lesson" the hard way when his 28 year old Thai girlfriend left him with the car and condo he bought her.  He was wiser now because his girlfriend was 48, but she had her own business and apartment!

Tattoo shops are everywhere.  This is one of the coolest tats I've ever seen.  It's Buddha-

Chiang Mai is well known for its Saturday and Sunday night markets when village people bring their authentic Thai wares into town.  The market is huge and very popular-

Many musicians entertain-

There are all kinds of booths ... from basket weavers-

to lantern makers-

to soap makers-

Foot massages are popular and cheap.  Rows of chairs like this are everywhere-

And of course the food stalls are great...  from grilled meat-

to sushi-

A typical street in the touristy part of Chiang Mai consists of bars, massage/spa shops, restaurants, 7 11s, scooters and of course, lots of people. 

A massage shop waiting customers-

This is Bar Alley.  At the end of the path is a boxing ring-

Each bar is only about 20 feet wide but most have a pool table and numerous televisions-

Tomorrow it's a cooking class and.... a new tattoo!

Chiang Mai, Thailand

Happy Halloween!  Of course Halloween isn't celebrated here, so.....

Wat Phra Singh is a perfect example of Lanna architecture.  It's been an important temple here for 700 years and was constructed by King Phayoo of the Mengrai Dynasty-

There are numerous temples on the site-

These three monks were in deep meditation.  They didn't move!

These four monks were on the other side of the altar-

Once again, there are many murals that are frescoes, painted directly on the walls-

This jade Buddha seemed quite unique-

This is the main attraction at Wat Phra Singh-

This very large Buddha is inside.  Notice the monks in front.

Here's another monk in deep meditation-

This replica of a former important monk to this temple is covered in gold leaf.  They've even put a pair of plastic framed glasses on him!

Gold leaf can be purchased in 2 cm squares and the faithful apply it to Buddhas and other artifacts-

Wat Chiang Man is the oldest wat in the city.  It was erected by King Mengrai, the founder of Chiang Mai in 1296.    Phrra Sila - the Marble Buddha, which is 1800 years old and Phra Setangamani-the Crystal Buddha -2500 years old, live here.

I love the detail and bright colors-

The main altar has a silver Buddha sitting in front-

Behind him are the Crystal and Marble Buddhas.  They are in the cage and hard to see-

There are lots of murals, a typical Lanna style-

The evening market was fun - everything imaginable is there.  Today was a lot of fun!