Next up was Chaing Mai up north for an abundance of exploring, physical activities and fun filled 3 week venture. I caught a night bus and arrived after a long somewhat bumpy journey at 04h30 and headed to the hostel. Although I was rather sleep deprived I could not wait for sunrise to explore the city which I was told on countless occasions was amazing and green, more chilled with lots to offer.
With some help from Google maps (as I knew by now that I did not have a natural GPS whatsoever) and Lonely Planet I made way to one of the top sights known as Wat Chedi Luang. After a brisk walk through the streets I arrived at what seemed like a scene from Tomb Raider...It was unbelievable and such a beauty. I just stood there and starred at what lay before me. ``How fortunate I am to see this``, I thought. It is such a stunning structure which is partly ruined due to an earthquake years ago, but still so pleasant on the eyes. I spent some time admiring this temple along with some other structures which have been added around it which included an area where you can have a ``Monk chat``. I unfortunately was not able to speak to a monk as none were available so I made my way to a few of the museums and temples...there are ample to see each with their own unique characteristics and stories.
I simply explored the streets and stopped in at a few sights, enjoying the views all around me. I found it much easier to navigate myself in Chaing Mai and not as easy to get lost as Bangkok. The streets are smaller and they have discovered signage in English too which helps a first time backpacker like myself. After hours of exploring I eventually found myself at the Chaing Mai Womans Correctional Institution which is also a spa and they offer drinks and Thai massages. I found this to be a wonderful way of introducing ex convicts back into society, although I am not sure if some of them are still serving time...not that it makes a difference. It is setup in a beautiful traditional home with water features, lush trees and seated area to relax before your appointment.
I did take advantage of this opportunity and enjoyed my first exposure to a Thai massage...little did I know that my limbs would be pulled and pushed to all degrees. I was taken to a large room with plenty of beds, relaxing music in the background and an aroma that was so soothing and saw quite a few people enjoying their massage...the man next to my bed was enjoying it so much he was snoring from all the way to the sun. After an hour had past I felt incredibly relaxed and was handed a delicious cup of tea that could have had any ingredient in..I would never know but it was tasty and added to my tranquil state of mind and body. I just let it be...
A full day of exploring the beauty of Chaing Mai and still had a smile from ear to toe...four days and counting.
The camera takes awesome pics sis :-)
ReplyDelete