Thursday, September 28, 2006

Chiang Mai in a Day!

People wax rhapsodic about Chiang Mai and I fail to understand why. After a delicious breakfast of rice soup with minced pork dumplings we headed out with Van to see the main temple of the city...less than awe-inspiring but we felt we were doing the right thing anyway... it's claim to fame is a Buddha that has traveled the region more than Buddha himself ever dreamed. We next headed up to a garish temple several thousand feet and many curves later above the city most notably featuring a spectacular view of the valley below.

Chiang Mai resembles any semi-modern Asian town - featuring row upon row of concrete low-rises garnished with garish signs advertizing anything from tire patching services to noodle shops. The noodle shops were the next stop where Van took us for a magnificent bowl of bits and pieces I'd rather not identify. Fantastic!

We took the rest of the afternoon to work off the remaining jetlag back at "the complex". Laine had a manicure and I lounged around our luxuriant villa contemplating just how surreal this resort is.

We headed back into town for dinner at the stylish renovated hotel, Rachamankha. Great space, great dinner. I figure this is a good hotel for those who like style on a budget. Not bad. Walkable to the Night Market which we could not muster the strength to visit. Shopping must wait until Bangkok at the end of the trip! a

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