Chiang Mai

Took the night train to get to Chiang Mai (13 hours) although I had a bed in a/c 2nd class (cause that's how I roll, nothing is too good for me) I didn't sleep at all, it was very jerky and swayey. The Chunnel it was not. So when I arrived in Chiang Mai, all day long I felt like the ground was rolling underneath me, like floating on a raft on the ocean or something. It was quite disconcerting. I thought having a couple beers would even out that effect, but apparently, no. Alcohol is not the cure for vertigo, it just makes it worse.

So I walked around and saw some temples, at one I stopped and talked to this monk, Sol, for a while. His English was good, much better than the 3 whole Thai phrases I know. He originally is from the Karen Hill Tribes, but is studying and teaching English to 13 year old boys now.

Did you know that you can get "do not duplicate" key copies made in Thailand? Not that I went out of my way to do, just the opportunity presented itself. Take that Broadway Locksmith!

Today I decided that I just wanted to sit on my ass and look at shit (I'm so eloquent). So I took a tour to see an Orchid/Butterfly Farm, a Cave Temple and some Hill Tribes. Of course I ended up sitting next to a Sexpat from Seattle. He had his go-go girlfriend with him. She was very nice and cute. But they were just cracking me up. He's here in Thailand for a month or so, I'm pretty sure she's his girlfriend for this trip. He was buying her all kinds of trinkets all day (good for her, I say!).

The cave temple was pretty cool. And the hill tribes were interesting. We saw the Long Necks (have the gold hoops around their necks, which they do for a few different reasons, one of which being back in the day, when they would go into the jungle, it would serve as protection from the tigers who go straight for the jugular (sp?) vein. We also saw a tribe with black teeth, they chew on this herbal mixture which coats their teeth with black, protecting them. (no cavities, no dentists, no brushing teeth - sounds like a win-win situation to me) They also think it's pretty.

It kind of felt like human zoo, but our tour guide assured us that they enjoy showing off their culture. The tribes are all refugees from Burma and are in part supported by the Thai government, who is trying to teach them to earn a living from tourism, and not growing and selling opium (as they were doing before).

I also got a foot massage for $1.50. Rock on.

I of course have pictures, but am too lazy to upload at the moment.

Off to Elephant Nature Park tomorrow.