Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School

Here we are at cooking school. We took the five day intensive course. It was amazing! Professional and beautiful. Our head instructor was Sompong Nabnian, a world reknown Thai master chef. He runs the school behind his gorgeous home, amid lush gardens. Here you can see the ingredients to make curry paste from scratch. This was a Chiang Mai style curry paste. He gave a demo for each dish, then we went to our work stations and tried to replicate his mastery. Fish is proudly displaying his finished curry. It was alot of work to pound the curry, but the subtly and flavors brought out by hand pounding are worth all the effort!

Getting our yee ping on...

We were having so much fun!! Thai people throw a very good party!

Yee Pings everywhere

Yee Pings are a very important aspect of Loi Krathong here in Chiang Mai, and other cities in North West Thailand. Yee Pings are balloons made of some type of paper that does not burn very easily. The paper is on a small wire frame, and a kerosene soaked ring is attached at the base of the balloon. When that ring is lit the hot air and smoke quickly collect inside this balloon, and within minutes it is able to rise up and float off into the sky alone. People were letting these things go literally all over town. At some points in the night the skies were engulfed ... they were like the stars. This went on for all 3 nights of Loi Krathong, and on the last two days it carried over into the daylight as well...

Getting my krathong on...

Banana stem base, banana leaf, chrysanthemums and purple orchids for decoration. Three sticks of incense and a sweet homemade clay candle. We set it adrift and watched it until it disappeared with the current, the candle and incense still burning.

Super Crazy Krathong Contest

The typical krathong is much smaller and simpler than these.... but krathong making is a true art form here in Northern Thailand.

krathongs on the Mae Ping River, Chiang Mai

Traditionally Loi Krathong is a festival to honor and celebrate rivers. Krathongs are little handmade floating flower arrangements, made out of banana leaves and decorated with various flowers and beautiful leaves. A small candle and three sticks of incense complete the krathong. People take their krathongs down to flowing water ( a river or canal) and set them adrift. The longer they float the better your luck. Chiang Mai is one of the most popular destinations for this festival and here on the Mae Ping River, as you can see, krathong back ups can and do occur.

Wat Phra Singh, Chiang Mai

This is the oldest tree in the city planted here in the 1400s to mark the founding site of Chiang Mai. Every wat complex has a bodhi tree... the sacred tree under which Buddha reached enlightenment. But this was the tallest bodhi I have seen by far.The wat is also the oldest in the city. This complex had five or six beautiful temples on the grounds, but the giant brick temple is the oldest and most revered. We especially liked the elephants....

More Floats

Every float has it's own beauty queen also!

Loi Krathong night, Chiang Mai.

Loi Krathong is a three day festival that builds in momentum day by day, culminating on the full moon. This is the third night, and these are two of literally dozens of amazing floats in this parade. The streets were lined with people for miles and miles packed in to be a part of the experience. It was the longest parade I have ever seen.

Last night!!!

Bangkok-Here we are in the back of a tuk tuk on our way to the infamous red light district of Pat Pong. It was our final night in Thailand, and we were looking for the street stall goods... fried shrimp balls, fish cakes, maybe a pad thai. Instead we found the best Indian food in Bangkok (Himali Cha Cha) and ended the night with a decent Thai massage. With a final tuk tuk ride back to the River View our adventures in Thailand were rapidly coming to an end.

Pop gawn mai, Chiang Mai!!

All packed up and loaded in the back of the sawngthaew... At the moment we were busting at the seams with woks, burners and many other kitchen and food items we were excited to be bringing home with us. It was sad to say goodbye to Chiang Mai, but I have a strong feeling we will be back. It is a beautiful, exotic city with so much to offer a curious mind and lover of history. So we say "See you later".... not goodbye! Notice we are both in our yellow shirts to honor The King. This year is his 80th birthday and his 60th year on the throne... EVERYONE celebrates by wearing yellow shirts with his symbol on the front. We joined in the spirit...

2007 Miss Yee Peng, Chiang Mai

Ready for the full moon party photos ? (Aussies in the hizzouse!!!!!)

I was ready, with camera in hand. Some people were not as prepared. Some were over prepared. Extra girl, liquor excesses, and such.

Who loves a good elephant walk.

We took a boat trip down the Mekoke river in Thailand. The boat driver made an 'unexpected' stop in this small village. More like an elephant prison camp. Of course we couldn't resist feeding them bananas and cabbage. The elephants were very curious.

The higher the hike, the more you see. This is 14,000'.

There are great opportunities for hiking in the mountains of Tibet. At the top, prayer flags and shrines.

The Secret Machines

Still highly recommended. You will be surpised.

The Tidrum Nunnery (and hot spring).

This place exists for those who are there. Many people chant mantras and soak thier pains away. The pools are natural bottom with nun built rock walls. These pools are hot and hotter. Many professional soakers from all over Tibet come and stay for days. A room will cost you $5, and if you can't speak the language than it will be an instant noodle night for you. There is plenty of hot water.

These prayer wheels are sustainable。

Hell yeah, goddammit !!!

Instant noodles, it's for dinner.

I have read that after a few nights of 'the noodle' you are hooked. Count us in. I feel itchy already。 There are many flavors but none as good as the green package。 I like to enjoy mine with a friend。

The veil has been lifted.

Does this image scare the panties off you. Maybe this should have been covered with a cloth or something. Just don't stare too long. But if you do, this is also okay.