I promised last entry that you would hear from me again soon and as promised I now get to tell you a little bit about my fall break trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand. There aren't many more Southeast Asian countries I haven't yet been to (Laos and Myanmar are the only ones left). Having the privilege of living here in Asia for quite a few years now, I've had the opportunity to check off just about every single "must-visit" place I've personally wanted to explore over the last 4+ years. Chiang Mai remains one of the last few places left on that list... that is of course until I learn about other new places I really want to explore around here.
The trip itself was short and intense. I've come to categorize my trips into one of three archetypes. There is first the beach/relaxation trip that doesn't involve a very busy or demanding schedule but usually involves plenty of sun exposure. Next we have the cultural trip that involves visiting landmarks sites and lots of exploration. Finally, there are the adventure trip which involves more intensive physical activity that the other trips but is arguably the most stimulating type for me. Chiang Mai billed itself to be mostly an adventure trip as we were visiting the Elephant Nature Park, white-water rafting, biking, hiking, and zip-lining. We did mix in some slower-paced things too, such as doing a cooking class, explore some Buddhist temples, and combing through some night markets.
Chiang Mai was small and had a laid back feel to it, which I really enjoyed. The real attraction for me was the opportunity to see the beauty of the natural world in the surrounding countryside. I enjoyed all of the activities but the elephant park really stood out for me. I've seen plenty of elephants before and have had some close interactions with them. But to interact with them organically and harmoniously, in a habitat suited to them made for an unforgettable experience. Much like scuba diving with fish, there is something very uplifting about interacting with organisms on Earth in their natural environment.
It has really been a whirlwind trip. I had an absolutely top-notch group of friends to travel with. Not entirely sure how this travel group consisting of an old high school friend and fellow teachers and youth leaders was put together but I am blessed and thankful to have them along for the adventure. Now why don't you take a look at the things that we did during this trip through pictures and yes, even a neat little video!
Chiang Mai's Sunday Market that sprawls out onto a busy downtown street. Loaded with people.
Unique art pieces being created on the street.
Aglow in lantern's light
Some fun with marksman practice.
Feeding elephants at Elephant Nature Park
Mud baths help elephants stay cool and the mud acts as a natural sunscreen. What ingenious creatures!
Thoroughly enjoyed spending the day pampering these incredible creatures.
River crossing
A great experience with these wonderful creatures. Smiles all around.
What does it look like I'm doing?
Assorted curry powder at the market.
I love pad thai, so it's hard to believe I made this with my own hands!
We're all pretty excited about what we made.
Waiting to deep-fry those delicious spring rolls
Curry and coconut milk soup, doesn't get more Thai than that!
Chiang Mai's more elaborate Buddhist temple, Phrathat Doi Suthep.
In this case, all that glitters is gold!
The view of Chiang Mai from atop a nearby hill
Worth the climb
Hill tribe village
Lots of rice to cultivate.
Crossing the bamboo bridge
Jungle hiking to a waterfall
It's been more than a solid decade since I first met this guy. Time really does fly. Never imagined the day we'd vacation in Thailand together.
Geared up for some zip-lining.
During the summer, I picked up a GoPro. It hurts to think how many great moments I didn't get a chance to capture because I didn't have a portable video recorder. Make no mistake, pictures from the SLR camera have been great at capturing some incredible moments from previous trips.
However, if pictures are worth a thousand words, then perhaps videos are worth a thousand pictures? Regardless of your opinion on the matter, I'll end off this entry with a trip highlights video.
I thoroughly enjoyed Chiang Mai despite the disbelief that it has already come and gone. That sort of stuff tends to happen when you jam pack active events into every day of the trip. We'll just have to wait for Christmas break for the next adventure. Now comes the task of figuring out where I want to go for Christmas and what I want to do...
Even before then though, more adventures lie in wait. Upcoming in the month of October is the grade nine Dom Bosco trip, as well as two volleyball tournaments with the senior girls team. Indeed this means, you can expect even more updates soon!
