Where is Rachael now: Vientiane, Laos
Chiang Mai, Thailand
I escaped Bangkok to head north to Chiang Mai, Thailand. After the overnight bus dropped us off around 6:30am, I sat outside my hostel at an early opener cafe and watched novice monks pass by. Every morning, monks file out of the temples and walk the streets with their bowls to collect alms. Practitioners of Buddhism give them food in their bowls showing respect and merit to the monks.
I escaped Bangkok to head north to Chiang Mai, Thailand. After the overnight bus dropped us off around 6:30am, I sat outside my hostel at an early opener cafe and watched novice monks pass by. Every morning, monks file out of the temples and walk the streets with their bowls to collect alms. Practitioners of Buddhism give them food in their bowls showing respect and merit to the monks.
Anyway, I eventually got into the hostel, took a shower, and decided to explore..via bike.
There are over 300 wats in Chiang Mai. I was a bit tired of stopping and taking pictures of more temples, but it was fun to ride around town and see tons of golden stupas jutting out from between buildings. My issue, as I mentioned in my list about biking, was not veering off to the right side of the road. It took me longer than it should have to realize they were driving on the left.
That night, sitting in the hostel, the winds picked up and the sky opened up. For the next 15 or so minutes it poured! The wind blew the rain inside and pamphlets flew everywhere. Then the power went out. Nothing better to do than drink some beer and wait it out.
Power came back on and in the interim, I had been convinced to try steak for the first time. So we headed out for steak. I'll tell you, I don't understand eating so much of something that has the same taste. I preferred all the vegetables on the side.
Upon arriving back at the hostel, I found out there was another inhabitant at the dorm. A rat. A large, black rat who had come up from the bathroom drain. I found out later that he also chewed through the "brain' pouch of my bag.
Day 2: Elephants! I'll do a separate post on that experience!
That night I went out with a few others to a mostly -Thai club. I danced a bit with a local Thai girl, perhaps the only other girl in the club wearing pants. We bonded to the rhythm of techno.
I wish I had stayed longer in Chiang Mai, but it was time to get to Laos. The next morning I boarded a bus to the border. We stopped in Chiang Rai to see one of coolest Buddhist temples, The White Temple.
There are over 300 wats in Chiang Mai. I was a bit tired of stopping and taking pictures of more temples, but it was fun to ride around town and see tons of golden stupas jutting out from between buildings. My issue, as I mentioned in my list about biking, was not veering off to the right side of the road. It took me longer than it should have to realize they were driving on the left.
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| the old city is surrounded by walls and a moat |
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| candle-lit beers |
Upon arriving back at the hostel, I found out there was another inhabitant at the dorm. A rat. A large, black rat who had come up from the bathroom drain. I found out later that he also chewed through the "brain' pouch of my bag.
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| "Keep bathroom door closed. Big Rat!!!" The sign everyone wants to see on their dormitory |
That night I went out with a few others to a mostly -Thai club. I danced a bit with a local Thai girl, perhaps the only other girl in the club wearing pants. We bonded to the rhythm of techno.
I wish I had stayed longer in Chiang Mai, but it was time to get to Laos. The next morning I boarded a bus to the border. We stopped in Chiang Rai to see one of coolest Buddhist temples, The White Temple.
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