Greetings from Chiang Mai …. By road approximately 2 hours from Chaing Rai, though we took the scenic route today via places of interest ….
Yesterday’s elephant experience was incredible – I have never shook so much with nerves, watching a bunch of older Australian folk mounting their elephants with much banter and effort, I had no option, being younger, (by comparison!) than to appear more graceful and jump aboard like Jane aside her Tarzan! … sadly not the case – my large rear requiring an almighty shove from a willing hand whilst sporting my enormous mahout trousers loaned to us (to look the part I feel!), with my short dumpy legs hardly stretching the width of the elephants wider birth (Jane must have been 8 foot tall!). Though instructed to grab the elephant’s ear and pull myself up, I couldn’t pain the poor creature, so struggle made much worse! With no steering wheel, handle bar or rope, once up, clench knees behind ears (elephant’s not my own!) and lean forward onto her bristly head….
We were given instructions on left, right (already difficult for me!), go, stop and backwards…. Clearly in ‘flight or fight’ mode (for me) with panic I would go ‘over the handlebars’ as it were, such instructions couldn’t be called upon, so me and my gal just wandered wherever she fancied going! Husband was Mr Tarzan, save the naked chest and loin cloth (!), gallantly making his way through the jungle to the bathing area. With husband’s dear old lady (54 years) munching trees en route and Mahout happy to chop down those she desired, journey a long one for someone desperate for ‘the end please’ …. As I was still shaking, Mahout joined me ‘up top’ though sadly did not bring the same comfort as the strapping chap on his jet ski in Turks when rescue required!
Now for what was described as ‘wash the elephants’ was in fact – they wade in and we get soaked! With initial fear as I almost went in the swamp (apparently latterly informed I was meant to lean back!), the laughs began …. mostly by my husband watching me get trumpeted with water by the playful elephant (26 years), then by me as husband almost went in! … A good experience and totally unexpected! We said our goodbyes and left our love praying this act of playful kindness enjoyed by the elephants too xx
Spa experience left us in pain, tweaking bits that already hurt (when would sliding off the front of an elephant, over his head, ears and trunk to disembark be a good thing?!) – dinner fab, painkillers overnight to ease spa treatment (!) and a good sleep before next events….
Today, in the pouring monsoon (great day to wear a cream dress and sandals!), we walked through the ‘Longneck’ tribes villages. Originating from Burma, persecuted by military, now settled and allowing tourists to visit them and learn of their ancient culture. Women and young girls, by means of a beauty decoration and loved by menfolk, wear rings of bronze around their necks from 5 years old, increased in size every 2 years until the neckbands weigh 5 kilos … incredibly heavy! Apparently the most beautiful woman in the village being the one who wears the most neckbands …
They wear them permanently and die in them. It would seem that the neck is not stretched by the neckbands but the shoulders pushed down …. Leg bangles are merely decoration.
The other tribe visited, in a village adjacent to ‘Longneck’, wear incredibly large hoop earrings …. again, decoration and much admired by men. Truly friendly people, with lovely smiles…
I have to say, a wonderful time spent with these most welcoming people, but my inwardly biggest laugh had to be when, covered in mud, oozing and trickling down my legs into my sandals, I located the toilets … caught hosing myself down my fellow English travellers, far too polite to pass comment, looked on with faces that feared my rush to the facilities had maybe been left a tad too late …. did I share with them this was in fact just mud? NO – I just smiled to myself and enjoyed the moment …..
Onto natural hot springs – tourist attraction at this place being boiling waters spurting from ground – done – then finally arrived at Wat Rong Khun (‘the white temple”). This is a unique temple that stands out because of the brilliant white colour – the use of pieces of glass in the plaster, sparkling in the sun.
The white colour signifies the purity of the Buddha, while the glass symbolises the Buddha’s wisdom. This detour was a change to organised route as the guide said it has to be seen. Designed by Chalermchai Kositpipat, a famous Thai visual artist, and built on site of a derelict temple after permission from monks, king and government sought, self funded and utterly glorious …. To date it is unfinished and it is expected it to take another 60 to 90 years to complete with the designer dreaming one day it will be as monumental as Taj Mahal. Chalermchai Kositpipat has a team of artists working on the temple with plans in place for when he dies. I have to say, we were in awe – the imagery depicted in artwork within cannot be described. We paid for a plaque which hangs with all our family names on it, to rustle in the gentle breeze there forever….
Journey complete and back in our (enormous) villa within the Mandarin Oriental, Chiang Mai, having enjoyed a Big Mac (me), nuggets and hot wings (husband) from McThia! After what was actually a ‘McDonald’s’ (with a different name!), we crossed the road and partook in a Haagen-Dazs ice cream before my exceptionally well practiced bartering skills hit the markets! Biggest lol was buying Monsters University film, “yes, English” …. she replied when asked if Thai or English version – happily got market trader down from 150 barts to 60 (£1.20), came back and shoved it in DVD player for a relaxed evening and a film …. clearly Sully has learnt Thai in the short journey to our hotel room … you gotta laugh as Trading Standards don’t appear to exist here!
