I decided to combine two days of touring in Chiang Mai because my plans today all fell flat. I was going to go for a massage at the local prison vocational center thing, but they were all booked up. I had a whole selection of bad jokes prepared and everything. It is important to note that the inmates were doing actual massages, not "oil and lotion massages" from attractive Thai women who the monks would prevent from entering the Wat's because of their black micro mini skirts. The next thing I wanted to do, check out the museums, also didn't work too well since one of them was closed for renovations. I did get to see a lot of really cool temples, check out the Lanna Folk Life Center, and eat some Northern Thai food. The old parts of Chiang Mai remind me a lot of Luang Prabang, since it seems to be 50% temples and 50% tourists. Though, Chiang Mai seems to have more normal people who hold jobs outside of tourism/Buddhism. Also unlike Luang Prabang, most of the temples in Chiang Mai are free. The style of temple noticeable changed from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, I read that the northerners have their own style of temple. The Lanna Folk Center discussed it a bit. It seems like some of the natives of Northern Thailand have their own traditions and forms of ancestors worship, in addition to standard Buddhism. It is important to remember that the Buddha dosn't demand exclusive adherence like the big three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam) do. He seems cool with you worshipping other entities as long as he is in the equation somehow. Chiang Mai also had more Burmese style Buddhas than Bangkok, Chiang Rai, or Luang Prabang. The food is similar to Chiang Rai, both being northern. The biggest difference I noticed between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai and Bangkok is that both Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai actually have more Thai food, Bangkok seems to be super into forign food. I would also like to note on food that the Cream-O company should stop knocking off Oreos and make exclusively their Choco Plus cookies because those things are wonderful. I guess even with my failures I still had fun over the last two days.
2 Comments
Dad
1/15/2017 02:54:18 am
Cookies and beer, I like your diet. Pancakes look good too.
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Sharon
1/15/2017 10:32:53 am
looks like u have truly made the most of ur 30 day visa in Thailand. So proud of u! Back to China... See u soon!!
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AuthorI am a junior at Juniata College spending a year studying abroad at East China Normal University. Please feel free to join my on my journey to China and beyond. Archives
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