Thailand - My Chiang Mai Life

< After exploring Doi Suthep, we headed for a resturant that Aod told our cab driver about. It was agreat old wooden building sitting beside the Ping River. Very relaxing and had a great Thai Lunch! That evening we went to the night market for dinner and a walk-about! We ate at one of the many seafood markets with an open air kitchen, fish, crabs, and prawns on displaly plus live fish tanks to choose your dinner from!! Aod order us crab cakes, prawns,and a great fish stew. Then home to bed as the next day we were off to Doi Inthanon National Park. This is the highest mountain in Thailand - 8,500 feet. At the top of the mountain we went on an hour trek through the jungle. Then on the way down we stopped at a couple of waterfalls. href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymXIqxWESgj4aBGDldbCF0WO6_xCqsbWeDMJZOCA7YCUF9Yep3UcRbXudtapvsEwO6T6tOuNSo2GFdp_JcD2KH6Vvy8Xe0jOki5ZKik2BSdfHnLXJFjSsMeTHJjj91

My first guests at the house arrived today, as friends stopped by to visit for a few days. "The Beattie Clan" on their around the world "trek" took the night train from Bangkok to explore Northern Thailand. We left the house and our cab driver drove us to the top of the mountain and Wat (temple) Doi Suthep!! According to legend, the temple site was chosen by an elephant carrying a holy relic. Originally the relic was to be enshrined at Wat Suan Dok in 1371, but it split in two. The second piece was placed on the back of an elephant which proceeded to climb Doi Suthep, stopping twice. After three days the elephant finally reached a level piece of ground, circled three times, knelt down and then died. A hole was dug at the site for the relic, which was then covered with a chedi over seven meters in height. I thought I was about to turn around 3 times lay down and die after climbing the steps to the top of the Wat!!

Left C.M. early Friday morning and drove to Chiang Rai with Aod and 2 of his friends. We had to go there to sign papers on the car we bought from Aod's cousin. I was very impressed with the roads! Well paved wide roads, NO potholes, and all major cities and attractions marked in English..... The scenery is great with jungle clad mountains, waterfalls, and hot spring geysers along the way. Yes, it looks like you expect Thailand to look like. Once in Chiang Rai, we went to Aod's home and met his family. They live in a small compound with 3 small houses all owned by family. Aod's friends bought fresh seafood before we left C.M and cooked it over charcoal in a Thai outdoor kitchen! Stir fried shrimp, squid, and lots of fresh veggies, steamed mussels and grilled prawns, and of course plenty of white rice... a great Thai Lunch. Nothing out of a bottle as you can see in pic of Aod's friend, Ahn, grinding up hot peppers, garlic, and lime juice to make fresh SPICY Thai s

Spent 4 hours walking arount the "Old City". I thought the Mail Box said it all! Also interesting to see a casket shop on the main street...... The Banana Crepes made street side are really great and only 38 cents. Lots of Temples and Monks in the city. A shot from inside the Tuk Tuk that took me home!! Tuk Tuk Tuk Tuk. Tomorrow I am off to Chiang Rai about 3 hour ride North of C.M.

Made it to the Immigration office today and everyone there was very nice! I thought I was going to get my "retirement" visa but instead ended up getting a 90 day extension on my tourist visa. It seems you have to get the extension before you apply for the "retirement" visa.... I was in and out of Immigration in less then an hour and then walked 5 minutes to the Airport Mall. Very modern, large, 5 story mall! Here are pics of the "Food Court", over 25 little food stalls plus on the 5Th floor another 15 -20 sit down restaurants. Lunch was a "Pork Cheeseburger!!! For $3.00 I got a salad, rice, soup, hot tea, and the pork cheeseburger. Also a photo of the red lanterns in the center of the mall. Friday I think I will be going to Chiang Rai about 3 hours by car, so if I don't forget my camera, I should have a lot of good pics. There is also a shot of the "Spirit House" outside the Mall. This is to appease the spirits that lived on and in the p

Good morning here are some pics I took on my walk around the neighborhood today. The rice paddies are being prepared for planting in a few months. Lots of flowers in bloom and yes those are clothes out in the street!! It seems no one uses electric clothes dryers. Everything is hung on a rack and rolled around to where the sun will shine on them - even out in the street!!!! Tomorrow I go car hunting. I think I will have Aod go into the showroom first and ask prices on the cars. It seems that Thais get a better price then "farangs" (foreigners) do.

Well, this morning rode into C.M. with Aod and had an appointment concerning my Retirement Visa. Sounds simple enough and plan on applying this week. I had a good walk around the Old City BUT forgot to take my camera. So no pics of my adventure until I go to town again. Here are some pics of the inside of the house. Karen asked to see some inside shots. Supposed to get cold tonight - 51F. Pics of guest bedroom, work area, living room (still have to buy furniture) etc.