Chiang Mai

Where we stayed - Chiang Mai Thai House

There is just so much to see and do, in and around Chiang Mai, that it didn't take long for our week long stay to pass by.

We spent our first day visiting a few of the numerous temples within the Old City. These temples are simply amazing, the craftmanship and detail of the temples is astounding, as are the shrines housed inside.

One day we hired ourselves a driver to take us to the Tiger Farm, where we had the emense pleasure of playing and patting three adorable 3 month old tiger cubs. Alain was even brave enough (and stupid enough) to go into the 'big' tiger enclosure to get up close and personal with them. The tigers in there weighed up to 200kgs each!!

Afterwards, we headed to the Monkey Centre where the kids enjoyed the monkey show, as well as getting the opportuntiy to shake hands with the cutes little hypo monkey ever...

Following that, we were taken to one of the local Karon Long-neck villages, where we had the opportunity to wander around their village and rice paddy fields (which amazingly smell like rice) and witness their way of life. We even met a little girl the same age as Mia, who had already been wearing her neck rings for a few year... These two girls couldn't come from more different worlds, but they still managed to make each other giggle and laugh.

On another day out, we headed up the hill to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, which is one of northern Thailands most sacred temples. The view from the temple is amazing, you can see right across Chiang Mai and into the surrounding area. After the temple we headed back down the hill to the Zoo, to see the Panda bears. They have two playful adults and one baby, who unfortunately was a little shy the day we visited and he didn't make an appearance.

We also visited Maesa Elephant Camp, where we watched elephants bathing in the nearby river before they headed to the showgrounds. The kids loved watching the elephant show, which consisted of elephants playing football, playing harmonicas and painting. Alain and Dallas also went for a ride on one of the elephants, Mia and I wouldn't have a bar of it though... I mean, elephants are nice and all, but damn, they are bloody freaky too and riding upon one just wasn't something I was gonna do... EVER!

Alain took advantage of the cheap dental treatments offered here in Thailand, and got his teeth whitened using the Beyond method. The difference in his teeth is just amazing, after years of drinking coffee, red wine and smoking, he still managed to change his teeth colour by 7 shades. Even the dentist was hugely surprised by the difference and regretted not taking before and after photos...