One of my favorite parts of Chiang Mai is that it has yet to overtaken by commercialism and overt tourism. Just walking down the street, one is more likely to see locals going about their daily business than loud, obnoxious tourists causing a scene. It was a good break from the crowds in KL and Phuket. There's a lot of untapped nature and cute little parks, which can be found scattered throughout the city.
Just within the city walls, there are over 300 Buddhist temples, or wats as they are called in Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos. On the first day that we arrived, we walked all throughout the city center and ran into dozens of lavish, beautiful temples. It was completely unnecessary to use a map. There were sights to be seen in every direction.
Regrettably, I do not know the name or history behind most of these temples. Frankly, it was more fun to just wander around and soak it all in; rather than stopping to pull out my obnoxious travel guide or decipher the many tourist pamphlets. After a couple hours, we stopped for a snack break and ate a delicious bowl of shaved ice, topped with fresh fruit and sugary syrup.
Then we continued on to Three Kings Monument Square and even more amazing temples. I swear, each temple was more magnificent than the next. Being that Chiang Mai holds such cultural and religious significance, there were monks to be found in every corner of the city. I remember seeing several monk training schools, as well as some very young monk apprentices walking on street, some who were barely in their early teens.
The last temple that we visited was perhaps the most memorable. Wat Chedi Luang offers a stunning mix of ancient ruins and modern extravagance. Founded in 1401, this temple was built in the traditional Lanna style and took many years to finish. It once housed the large, famous Emerald Buddha that now resides on the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok. However in 1545, there was a large earthquake which damaged the outside structure of the temple and forced the immediate relocation of the statue. By the end of the day, we were wat-ed out and promptly retreated to our hostel for long and restful slumber.
After an hour at the orchid and butterfly farm, we drove maybe 30 minutes more until we finally arrived at the Elephant Training Centre. It was in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by tall trees. In order to get there, we first had to walk over a shaky draw-bridge (Mama Kim's worst nightmare). But through a clearing in the trees, I saw the elephants and got really excited.
First, we got to feed mini-bananas to the elephants. It really is incredible how much they eat. We were warned to give them a few bananas at a time, otherwise they might lose their patience and get violent. The elephants were so well trained and responded positively to our peace offering.
Next, we got to watch the elephants bathe. It was quite a scene. At their trainer's command, they promptly executed a flawless routine of lying down, standing up, lifting up their trainer, splashing water, etc.
 |
| Adorbs!! ^^ |
 |
| Follow the leader |
After that, the elephants performed in a little show, which demonstrated their impressive skills and long hours of training. I was most captivated by the elephant that painted a picture, by holding a paint brush with its trunk and making carefully calculated strokes. I was expecting weird, abstract art, not an actually discernible image. Needless to say, I was impressed.
Finally, it was time to board the elephant. It was a bumpy, hour long ride through the jungle. Although the elephant was gentle and tame, it kinda got uncomfortable after a while. That being said, it was a really cool experience that I'll surely never forget.
After an hour ride, we disembarked from the elephant and browsed around a little man-made village, interacting with locals who sold handicrafts and local art pieces. Eventually, we got back on our elephants and headed back to the original loading site. This time, rather than venturing through the jungle, we took the scenic route and headed back upstream through a river.
Then, it was time for lunch. We ate an assortment of fresh Thai food. Everything was super delicious. I'm determined to buy a Thai cookbook when I get back to America. After that, we had a raft ride to look forward to. An older man led us to his raft, placed wide-brim straw hats on our heads, and led us on an hour long expedition on the river. It was so peaceful and serene. I really enjoyed my time on this tour. I would highly recommend it to anyone.
In the evening, we decided to check out the famous night bazaar in the city center. The night bazaar is extremely expansive, spanning several blocks and selling all kinds of local arts, handicrafts, and food. I could've been an entire day there, just browsing and chatting with the friendly vendors. It was super fun and I ended up buying a ton of souvenirs for my friends and family back home. Most importantly, I fine tuned my haggling skills, which proved to be highly useful later on in Bangkok and Cambodia.
The next day, it was time to say leave. We hailed a tuk-tuk, the preferred "taxi" in Southeast Asia and headed back to the airport, which is located a mere 20 minutes outside the city center of Chiang Mai. At first, I was wary of tuk-tuks because I had heard stories that drivers may try to con you or purposefully take an unnecessarily long route. However, my experiences with tuk-tuks were nothing but pleasant. Due to their convenience and accessibility, I can now see why they are an essential form of urban transport in many developing countries.
Chiang Mai was perhaps my favorite city that I visited during my entire trip. It offers the delicious food, stunning temples, and cultural landmarks like Bangkok and Phuket, without the crowds and chaos. It was a relaxing leg of the race and I would encourage anyone to visit if they got the chance. Onward march to Bangkok!
That's it. I'm quitting everything and going to hang out with the elephants in Chiang Mai.
ReplyDelete