Chiang Mai was our last big move (flying from Bangkok) and unfortunately my camera kept pooping out as ideal picture taking moments. So, my pictures of Chiang Mai adventures are a bit incomplete. No worries, I will solicit Libby (who is actually a photographer) for her photos!
While in Chiang Mai we did A LOT. To mention a few things...
We...
Attended a cultural show and dinner with my Thai hosts (not pictured). These hosts are a young couple I met for the first time (friends of a friend in Sisaket--Thais are VERY connected) who went above and beyond hospitality by picking us up from the airport, taking us to dinner, and spending a whole day of sight-seeing with us!
Visited Chiang Rai and the White Temple. See: Wat Rong Khun
Went further North to the Golden Triangle where Burma, Thailand, & Laos meet--I was there in 2006 and never thought I'd be back!
Went to Elephant Nature Park ("ENP"- see pics below) where we learned all about the plight and mistreatment and hope for the future of these angelic giants. This is a 300-acre sanctuary for old & often abused Asian elephants with serious disabilities--about 35 elephants in total. In addition, the sanctuary rescues street dogs from Bangkok and elsewhere that have been ill-treated and injured--about 400 dogs! See more info at: http://www.elephantnaturepark.org/
Ascended to 2 mountain temples and hill tribes.
Ate amazing food... including Burmese which is really fresh and very different from Thai.
Did yoga in a really neat Shala.
...Will try to post more soon but I leave in a few hours so this might be it for now!! This 5 weeks went by really fast. There was something very therapeutic, reminiscent, and just wonderful about every unique thing I did. Thailand is certainly a sort of home for me and will always have a sacred place in my heart. Namaste.
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| At the Northern Thai dinner/cultural show with some of the performers. |
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| The white temple in Chiang Rai--contemporary temple depicting levels of Buddhist heaven and hell. |
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| Nawan! The youngest elephant at ENP --just 3 months old! |
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| Elephants are such characters! |
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| Somberly approaching... |
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| Our guide talking while feeding this happy girl some bananas. |
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| Elephants at ENP often travel/live in pairs or small herds. These old girls are always together |
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| Libby and I giving elephants a bath. |
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| Bath time! |
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| Libby at ENP with an old elephant who was rescued from the logging industry. This elephant is completely blind from her owner shooting her in the eye with a sling shot to make her submissive. |
