Happy Holidays from Thailand!

Hello Everyone!

While the holidays can be a wonderful time to be with family and friends, I know that it can also be stressful.  I hope you've had a non-stress week!

My week started out great! Angela, and her friend, Golf, treated me to sushi (one of my favorite meals) at a Japanese restaurant right around the corner from me named Kitchen Hush.  The restaurant is housed in a lovely wooden house; has downstairs restaurant seating and upstairs event seating.  We didn't know that we had to make reservations, so they sat us upstairs.  We had a room all to ourselves with air conditioning and lovely jazz music.  It was perfect!  We only took pictures of the food - yum!:-)

Angela's meal

Here's a link about Kitchen Hush: http://www.bangkokpost.com/lifestyle/7361_info_kitchen-hush.html

On Tuesday, I rode with Han (our driver) & Janet to Doi Inthanon (Inthanon Mountain) - the highest mountain in Thailand.  The drive up to the mountain without stopping is about one hour and forty-five minutes.  On the way, we stopped at a lovely eco resort - Chai Lai Orchid (http://chailaiorchid.com/) - near where they allow people to ride elephants.  We did not ride the elephants!  It is also near the place where a bull elephant recently killed its new mahout and ran off with a Chinese family on its back.  An interesting but sad story (gotta love the Thai PBS version):
http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/berserk-elephant-kills-mahout-runs-away-with-chinese-tourists-on-its-back
The Guardian did a much better job: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/aug/27/thai-elephant-gores-handler-to-death-and-runs-off-carrying-three-tourists 

We also stopped at a lovely cafe and almost ended up becoming dog owners.  Immediately upon arriving, a cute dog befriended us, and we almost couldn't leave because he kept trying to jump in the car with us.  He was the friendliest Thai dog I've encountered so far, and we didn't even feed him!

Our last stop before driving up to the mountain was at Wat Tam Doi Tohn - one of Han's favorite temples.  He often goes to this temple for meditation retreats.  Here is a You Tube link in case you would like to know more about this temple (the website for the temple is at the end of the video):https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hes50TcBZb4

Upon arrival at Doi Inthanon, we were immediately disappointed because the mountain was obscured by clouds.  Dang!  We did take this picture, though:

Here are a couple of links about Doi Inthanon:
http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/doi_inthanon_park.html

http://www.tourismthailand.org/Attraction/Doi-Inthanon-National-Park--153

We ended our time in Doi Inthanon at the two chedis dedicated by the Royal Thai Air Force to the King and Queen of Thailand.  This whole area is quite impressive...and the views are amazing!  One website (http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/doi-inthanon-national-park.html) described it this way:

"At Km 43 a few kilometers short of the summit of Doi Inthanon, the Royal Thai Air Force constructed two magnificent chedis with a spire reaching into the clouds dedicated to the King and Queen. The views from this area are stunning, and the gardens house many unusual plants.
This temple should not be missed. It is symmetrical in all manner and the entire temple is shrouded in the mountain mist. From the parking area below, you'll ascend a set of stairs which are both wide and surround the temple on all sides. At the top you can walk around the outer stone walls and occasionally tuck yourself into structural overhangs as a brief respite from the wind. In any weather, this temple is astounding in and of itself, but the view it offers is out of this world."

We had a great time!  Here are some of our photos from this beautiful area:

King's chedi and gardens 

Queen's Chedi & me

View from behind Queen's chedi

Han, me & Janet

The blog will be taking a holiday vacation while I do a bit of moving around.  I'll write again when I'm in Bangkok...sometime during the week of January 4-11, 2016.  That said...I would like to end this blog by wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season, and by sharing some holiday images from Chiang Mai.  Happy Holidays!

Antique bicycles in front of 137 Pillars House lit up for the holidays

Christmas tree at Subway sandwich shop

In front of hotel near Thapae Gate

Triple Palms Guesthouse

Welcome to My 'Hood

Hi Everyone!

All is good here - hope it's the same where you are!  Thailand's big news item this past week was the Bike for Dad event to honor the King.  Here is a link if you want to read more about it:
http://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/thai-crown-prince-leads-bike-for-dad-event-1.2696217 

I realized that I have talked about my friend, Angela (who by the way is doing remarkably well), but I haven't put up a picture of her on my blog.  Here is a picture of the two of us:

Me and Angela at Fah Lanna Spa

 As promised, this week's post will be a photo gallery of some of the people and places in my neighborhood.  Enjoy!

The front of my building - my apartment is behind the palm tree (the tall building is Floral Condominiums)

Reception in my building (l-r - Khun Fluke, Fon, Gaew & Nook)

Temple around the corner - Wat Ket Karam

The Mae Ping River

Outside my kitchen window

Me & Aor (one of the owners at Tanita's Cafe) around the corner

My friend, Steve, at Woo Cafe around the corner

6-star hotel next door -137 Pillars House

My laundry lady

With artist Moe Nyo at his exhibit at Suvannabhumi Art Gallery

Owners of Hinlay Curry restaurant next door

Looking down my street to the right

Busaba of Busaba's Restaurant across from 137 Pillars House

Down my street to the left

Joe - owner of The Meeting Room Cafe around the corner

Have a great week!

Surprise...surprise!

Hi There!  I hope all is well in your world.  Things here are going well.  This past weekend, Thailand celebrated His Royal Highness King Bhumibol Adulyadej's 88th birthday.  Thais love their king!  Chiang Mai had events at all the temples, schools and several other locations.  And of course...fireworks:-)  For more information about this event please click on the links below:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/learning/easy/785793/thailand-celebrates-the-king-birthday

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/thai-king-longest-reigning-monarch-marks-88th-birthday-35595101

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-king-idUSKBN0TO03Y20151205#y1p0lwe3jBIQFeKz.97

Since I won't be traveling much over the next few weeks, I thought I would tell you a bit about what it's like living in Chiang Mai.  This week I'll tell you about things that have surprised me about this amazing city.

1.  Cash Money - here in Chiang Mai, everyone expects/prefers for you to pay in cash.  I pay my rent with cash every month - there are no other options.  Almost every other place where I go also requires cash.  If they say they accept credit cards, they will often charge you 3% or more extra.  There are a couple of places that are exceptions.  I use my credit card at Rimping supermarket and certain restaurants without the extra charge.  So...if you ever plan to come to Chiang Mai, be prepared to pay cash for almost everything, or to pay the extra charges to use your credit card!

2. Traveling Whilst Black (TWB) - No matter where I travel, I always get stared at by someone...don't you?  Could be that they think I'm attractive...could be that they think I'm ugly...could be that they think I'm strange.  Whatever the reason, I always think, "Let them stare.  Staring almost never hurt anyone."  As long as they don't say anything insulting or do anything to hurt me, it's fine (and so far no one has).  Like many cultures where there are a limited number of people of African descent, some Thais have what I call the "staring disease."  Some also have the "white is right/beautiful" disease.  Once they become familiar with you, it's all good.  Now that people in my neighborhood know me, there is less staring and more speaking.  The other day, the security guard at a bank told me that he thought I was Thai.  Cute!  I may speak like a native, but I certainly don't look like one:-)

Many Thais (and other people around the world) have been brainwashed into believing that having dark skin means that you're not attractive.  After crossing the bamboo bridge in Laos, I complimented a Lao woman about her beauty.  She replied, "No - I'm not pretty - I'm too dark!"  I attempted to counter her comment with my "black is beautiful" mantra.  Not sure she heard me...or even listened*sigh*

Billboards, magazines, etc. advertise skin whitening creams here (I remember when they used to do that in the US:-(.  Companies are making a lot of money by making women believe that they need to be "white" to be beautiful.  So...many Thai women will go to extremes to whiten their skin.  Bleach has been the go-to, but I recently read an article in the Bangkok Post about salmon semen (you heard right) being sold as a skin whitening agent.  Wow...and sad...and expensive!  Here are a couple of articles about this phenom:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/vdo/health-and-wellness/761672/whitening-fish-semen-soap

http://bangkok.coconuts.co/2015/11/12/officials-probe-popular-whitening-salmon-sperm-soap

My only hope for the "if you're white, you're alright - if you're black, step back" issue, here in Thailand as well as around the world, is that people see me for who I am on the inside...not for what I am on the outside.  It is also my hope that people around the world will stop letting these companies, that are only interested in making a profit, tell them how they should look.  It's just wrong and hurtful on so many levels.  I could go on and on, but I won't.  Please click on the links if you want to know more about the black experience in Thailand:

http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/citylife-articles/being-black-in-thailand/

Here's a You Tube video by a young black man named Jubril, who shares some of his experiences in Thailand:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GHOgrhmvXOs

3.  Chinese Tourists -  I really didn't realize how much Chinese tourism in Thailand (and other SE Asian countries) had exploded.  Thais are struggling to keep up with the demand.   Here are some links about this topic:

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-thailand-tourism-idUSKCN0S30TT20151009#vR6AgJTzb4XPTQm8.97

http://www.businessinsider.com/afp-chinese-tourists-boost-thai-economy-but-stir-outrage-2015-7

 4.  Traffic - OK - the traffic really wasn't a surprise - I already knew it would be bad, especially in Bangkok.  However, the amount of traffic in Chiang Mai was a bit more of a surprise.  There are so many motorcycles here - it's just incredible.  Many are driven by tourists, and this is a concern.  Someone was motorcycle drag racing in my neighborhood at 4:30 this morning.  There are several popular restaurants/bars in my neighborhood, so I have a feeling it was after a night of drinking - egads!  I eventually had to put my ear plugs in...again!  I just hope no one was hurt.  Here are couple of links - one about Thailand traffic in general, and the other about traffic in Chiang Mai.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/print/738124/
 
http://www.chiangmaicitylife.com/citylife-articles/traffic-troubles/

5.  Hidden Gems -  Being here and hanging out with locals is always a blast, and often a surprise!  This weekend, I went to 2 hidden gems with my new friend, Janet.  The first place is called Huey Tueng Tao.  We went there on Saturday morning to walk around the lake and have lunch.  Here are a few pictures of this lovely lake surrounded by mountains:

Janet at Huey Tueng Tao

A scene we took in as we were walking around the lake

View from our restaurant cabana where we had papaya salad, sticky rice, grilled chicken and Chang beer!

The 2nd place was the Imperial Mae Rim hotel.  Janet and I (along with several others) went there on Sunday afternoon to go swimming in the 50 meter pool.  What a lovely pool!  I regret that I didn't take any pictures, however here's the link to the Imperial's photo gallery:

http://www.imperialhotels.com/imperialchiangmai/gallery-en.html

Next week I'll use my own photo gallery to introduce you to some people and places in my neighborhood.

Make this the best week ever!