Thailand - My Chiang Mai Life

Today I visited Baan Tawai, which is one of the best known handicraft's centers in Chiang Mai and only 8 minutes from my house. Famous for its wood-carving, local art, gold leaf wood, antiques, silverware, lacquer ware, hand-woven textile, baskets, earthenware, and lots of plain old tourist "junk'! There are enough covered alleyways to keep you busy shopping for hours. As you can see not many people shopping - the tourist business is really off due to world economy and recent political problems in Bangkok..... They really do great detailed wood carvings.. Wind chimes!! Yes, I bought one made from bamboo - 60 Baht or $1.70 Plus lots of good old tourist junk!!!! Lots of interesting shops and alleyways....

The following pics were taken just outside the Old City. This is where the "serious" party goers end up for music, beer, people watching, beer, dancing, beer, getting wet, beer. One big wild street party in Chiang Mai!! Happy New Year 2552

"LET THE GAMES BEGIN!" I have spent the last few days in the Old City for Songkran (Thai New Years-2552). It is one big street party around the moat and the main objective is to throw water on everyone and PARTY!! The bars along the moat all have music blaring away with lots of street dancers and water throwing. Some of the big dance clubs have stages set up for live bands. At Central Mall there are stages on each side of the street (sponsored by liquor and beer companies) and it is sort of like battle of the bands BUT with water cannons firing water back & forth across the street!! One big "wet t-shirt" party!!! Pick-up trucks drive around & around the moat throwing water on the people at the side of the street who get back at them especially when they have to stop for traffic. Not a good day to take a ride in a Tuk-Tuk or on a motor scooter..... People lining the "Moat" as far as the eye can see and all getting water to throw on whoever comes cl

Sunday Aod, Aod's friend "Boy", and I went for a ride in the countryside to visit an orchid farm. We bought around a dozen plants and I spent Monday hanging them in the trees in the yard. I've decided that orchids are the way to go, as you do not have to dig a hole in the ground to plant them!!!! This time of year the ground is like cement and VERY hard to dig.Hope you enjoy the pics.......... These are hanging on our side porch. Now to keep them alive!! LoL

It has been a few weeks since my last "post". I have just been enjoying working in the yard, watching golf & tennis on T.V. and a few trips to town for a night out... I have posted a couple of pics of a wooden Thai house built in the 1860's. It sits on the Ping river and has lots of history. Charlie and I checked out the house, you can't go inside as in poor condition. After seeing the house we went across the street and ate in a Khao Soy restaurant which had a nice art gallery. Khao Soy is one of those famous Chiang Mai dishes that you must try when visiting Chiang Mai. It's as an egg-noodle dish served with chicken, pork or beef, in rich curry broth and topped with crispy noodles. Really good!!! There are two types of broths to choose from, and you are given condiments that you can add to suit your taste. Each dish is around 100 baht($2.85), but still great value considering the serving is more than twice of what you'd get with "local" Khao S