Chiang Mai

The best way to get to Chiang Mai, is to catch a train from Bangkok.

Tip: Go to the train station few days earlier and try to buy ticket for the train that departures at late evening, 

and arrives in Chiang Mai in the morning, next day. Remember to ask for the sleeping car!

Queueing has never been as interesting as in Bangkok! XFactor, lovely, extra-ordinary people with their cute pets pets,

 all over the place ;)

We didnt manage to get into the sleeping car, but as you can see, we kind of liked what we got, 

well 2 b honest with you, we'd been expecting sth much worse, after all the stories we've heard ;)

So, that's how 2nd class in Thailand, looks like...

CHIANG MAI! Here we are!

First meal... DELICIOUS! and very busy, We got several leaflets from few hostels/hotels/agencies 

and started planning our week in Chiang Mai :D

Cooking course, 3days trekking, Rafting, Ziplining, Elephants' Sanctuary, 

3D museum, Monks Temple, Markets, Concerts... that's the plan but first... 

let's get rid of our backpacks and take a shower :p

MUST DO in Chiang Mai... Rent a bike... 

 

Get lost, find this place... 

and have the funniest chat in your life, with extremely charming and smiley thai Barista :D

Meanwhile, notice, there's street art in Chiang Mai :)

Erawan Shrine

Hindu holy place in Bangkok with The four-faced Brahma statue in the middle.

The Erawan Shrine was built in 1956 as part of the government-owned 

 Erawan Hotel to eliminate the bad karma,

believed caused by laying the foundations on the wrong date.

21st of March 2006, the Shrine was vandalised 

by a Thai man believed to be mentally ill. After smashing the statue 

with a hammer, 27-year-old Thanakorn Pakdeepol 

was beaten to death by angry bystanders.

Two months after the incident a new Brahma statue was completed 

and placed in the shrine on 21 May 2006. 



Since that day, being visited by thousands of tourists and Thais every day,

Who believe, their prayers will be answered.

People will immolate flowers, incenses, coconuts ... Red Fanta...

Or simply light a candle and pray...

Erawan Shrine often features performances by resident thai dance troupes, 

who are hired by worshippers in return for seeing their prayers 

at the Shrine answered.

So why is Shrine, a MUST Visit?

Beacause it is an absolutely Beautiful place!

 The Statue itself is a masterpiece, 

plus all the flowers and candles, the smell of incences, men playing instruments,

 women singing and dancing...

...People full of hope, concentrated on their prayers,

 All of that together, creates a very special and unique atmosphere 
and makes ES absolutely magical place.

Whatever you believe in, God, Brahma, Music, Kindness, Yourself...

Be Blessed!

Food... Typical Thai Dishes

Posh Restaurants are overrated! ... Street Food YUM!

OK, Thais' english may not be the best, so if you're planning on 

spending more thn few days in Thailand, you need to learn few words:

Hello in Thai is: Sawadee Kaa if you're a girl, 

and Sawadee Kap if you're a guy,

 Kaa and Kap also mean thank you.

 Now, few things you should be prepared for:

The 'kitchen' will be a vehicle, (it might start rolling down the hill, 

happenned once to me, or the Guy who's cooking for you may unexpectedly

 start driving away because he sees the Police, happenned twice :p )

 

The Chef will not understand you, 

you will get sth completely different than you've ordered

 (was happenning all the time! but very often I actually really enjoyed 

what I got, so just be open, try, say Kaaaa/Kap and smile :)

 

Another surprise... 

the wash up, might be quite close :p

And 'napkins' might be a bit different, thn usually

 

 Cutlery and souses as well

 

Or there might be a Guy, staring at you... But! 

You will be able to stare at the TV... btw Thai Soap Operas, Unforgattable! ;)

Instead of a flower, there might be a MoneyTree!

Nevertheless, Thai Food is absolutely delicious 

so Enjoy It!

Here's a list of typical thai dishes you MUST TRY:

Khao Pad (Fried Rice) with and in a pineapple

or with veg/tofu/chicken/pork/prawns

Tom Yum (Spicy Soup)

 

 Som Tum (Spicy Green Papaya Salad)

Pad Thai (Thai style Fried Noodles)

  Gaeng Keow Wan Kai (Green Chicken Curry) 

Gaeng Daeng (Red Curry) 

...

Fancy a dessert?

There is no way, you could visit Thailand and not try famous thai pancakes!

Delicious, crispy and soft at the same time... 

simple, just with an egg

Or with banana and coconut cream

Or Chocolate :D 

YUM!

Again, stick as a fork and Enjoy!

Thai Food... Breakfast

Many tourists have problem with eating breakfast on Thai Street ... well... 

you won't find there a BLT sandwich nor a honey-almond porridge
nor a ham-mushroom scrambled egg 

BUT...

Omelette with prawns, chilli and shallots, doesn't sound bad, does it? ;)

Especially when the 'Chef" is extremely nice, funny, talkative 

and wants to know everything about you, your friends, 

and "this funny part of world, you come from" as she said ;)

Take away Omelette will be always served with a portion of boiled rice,
and will cost you 40 Baht, so less than 1 euro. 
For another 20 Baht, you can get a delicious sweet/spicy 

piece of chicken on a stick

Or maybe...keep it simple, 

boiled eggs?

Or not so simple, boiled PINK eggs?

When I asked, what's the difference between white and pink, 

Man who was selling them, said, 'Pink stinky, white no stinky'

I'm telling you Guys, Thailand is FULL of surprises :)

 Blue dumplings with peanuts, coconut cream, chilli peppers and lettuce ... sounds WEIRD, I know, 

but tastes really nice ;)

Have a sweet tooth? Well, There's no pancakes, croissants nor scones...
but I promise you'll LOVE the surprising mix of coconut milk, whites, 

chive and sugar, sold in a cute 'boat' made of banana leaves

Which go perfectly with coconut flavored, super soft waffles

Sweet option no. 3

KHAO TOM MAD, sticky rice cooked in coconut cream,
stuffed with banana and black bean, wrapped in banana leaf...

Absolutely, my favorite! 

Black bean might sound a bit strange but while mixed with banana... 

tastes a bit like strawberry jam

 All in all, YUMMY :D

Another MUST TRY is MANGO STICKY RICE

Best spent 50 Baht, ever!

Sweet rice boiled in coconut milk, with fresh, juicy and soft mango

DELICIOUS!

The last but not the least, 

Thai Fruit salad

Perfect combo of watermelon, mango, banana, strawberries, 

dragon fruit and papaya,

 with yogurt, muesli n spirulina 

OH YEAH!

I hope I convinced you to enjoy the street food, eating your THAI breaky,

instead of choosing 'ham n cheese SDW in Subway 

or full irish in the hotel restaurant' :p

Chinali Chokondweletsa! ;)