Given the lackluster experience we had in Trang, we were not especially sad to leave and begin our next adventure. We had a week left with the Levines to explore Northern Thailand together and headed for Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is the second biggest city in Thailand, with a laid back, yet somewhat cosmopolitan and sophisticated vibe. We found a charming little hotel with a pool, in walking distance to most of the action and settled in for a couple days of eating, shopping and relaxing. I am still torturing my children by limiting our purchases to nothing larger than a pack of gum since I can’t imagine adding anything else to our already overwhelming amount of luggage. I keep promising a shopping spree in Bangkok, right before we leave for Israel, so we mostly took notes while the Levines made their purchases. 
We did the requisite visit to the exquisite Wat Phrarat Doi Suthep, where we climbed 300 hundred steps, rang the bells, viewed the spectacular architecture and received a blessing from a monk. W
e have had so many of these blessings that by now we have probably unwittingly converted to Buddhism. We can’t understand a word they say during the blessings, but I’ve got to assume they are positive and I am loath to turn down anyone willing to give me a blessing. Ed, assuming the “Jew light” had gone on when we walked into the Wat, had a more sinister interpretation of the monk’s words which caused me to giggle uncontrollably and inappropriately throughout. I just hope the monk was too focused on wishing us luck, happiness and prosperity to notice. Of course, in retrospect, Ed may have been correct, or perhaps he was offended by my giggling (see “Pai” blog entry).
My favorite Chiang Mai experience was the evening cooking school. We started by selecting our dishes and then shopping in the local market for the ingredients with an adorable Thai women who was passionate about her cooking and food. By the fifth hour, the kids (and Ed) had enough, but we all had blast cooking, eating and learning the secrets of Thai cuisine—all of which I can’t wait to bring home and share.
We all loved Chiang Mai and felt we could have stayed for much longer, but Pai was awaiting… so off we went. Little did we know we would be returning.
e have had so many of these blessings that by now we have probably unwittingly converted to Buddhism. We can’t understand a word they say during the blessings, but I’ve got to assume they are positive and I am loath to turn down anyone willing to give me a blessing. Ed, assuming the “Jew light” had gone on when we walked into the Wat, had a more sinister interpretation of the monk’s words which caused me to giggle uncontrollably and inappropriately throughout. I just hope the monk was too focused on wishing us luck, happiness and prosperity to notice. Of course, in retrospect, Ed may have been correct, or perhaps he was offended by my giggling (see “Pai” blog entry).
My favorite Chiang Mai experience was the evening cooking school. We started by selecting our dishes and then shopping in the local market for the ingredients with an adorable Thai women who was passionate about her cooking and food. By the fifth hour, the kids (and Ed) had enough, but we all had blast cooking, eating and learning the secrets of Thai cuisine—all of which I can’t wait to bring home and share.We all loved Chiang Mai and felt we could have stayed for much longer, but Pai was awaiting… so off we went. Little did we know we would be returning.
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