February 23, 2016

After visiting China two decades ago (yes, it was a long time ago but seems like yesterday), I had no desire to travel Asia but I reconsidered when I was searching out international teaching. The more I learned about the world, the more intriguing Asia’s travel opportunities, became to me. Therefore, one of my reasons for committing to this teaching job. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to visit Thailand during this last break which continued my Asian education.

I flew to Bangkok then to Chiang Mai. When I landed in Bangkok I was feeling absolutely wretched with a head cold combined with a sore throat and didn’t fully recuperate until my trip was over. Probably, travelling business class back from Bangkok due to a missed flight (my fault) helped me recuperate. Yeoww! That was a great flight, wish it had been all the way back to Canada flying in that class. Now, I know why there is less leg room in economy. Nonetheless, I made the best of my travelling, enjoyed each moment and will return to Chiang Mai.

Two hundred photos were shot with my camera, but I’ll try to condense those to around fifteen for the purposes of my blog, in order to not bore you, but to provide you with a glimpse into this wonderful country. I visited a lot of temples, palaces, washed and fed elephants at the elephant sanctuary, took a Thai cooking class, visited umbrella, silk, teak factories and shopped at the night and day markets. Hopefully, the photos will tell most of the story. My lodgings were impeccable and the people wonderfully kind. It felt great to have hot water on demand at the hotels, a comfortable bed and both cities smell so much better than where I live.

There was an outdoor market happening just down 
from my hotel,
in front of a very large shopping mall-food trucks 
and stands galore!

 mango smoothie photo taken  in front of the many stalls

fiberglass elephant created by nine artists 

Street food

the Grand Palace

Still at the Grand Palace

orchid farm

mango sticky rice  at the floating market-I think I'm addicted

teak woodcarver at the floating market

floating market - You call this busy??

paper umbrellas

weaving silk

The gorgeous Skoretz with her paper umbrella
and sexy clothes

|Imagine my surprise when this conveyance pulled up to my hotel to take me on a 1 and a half hour ride to the elephant camp at 6 in the morning

This baby elephant loves bananas-in fact they all do. We carried down cornstalks for their meal also.

Cooking Thai!!!  Look out- Thai meals to serve you up when I move back