Cambodia & Thailand Day 14
Cambodia & Thailand
DAY 14 - December 9, 2003 - Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai
Even though we did not have to be out until 8:00 this morning, we still got up at 6:00. It was cool, but the sun was coming up over the golden rice fields and it was beautiful. We were on our way to Chiang Mai today - north and west of our stay last night.
Our first stop of the day was at a temple close to Chiang Rai that was just being built. The architect had been working on it for the past 5 years. It was all white, with glistening mirrors designs to catch the light of the sun. It really stood out against the clear blue skies today!
Back on the bus again, Anya gave us another language lesson. Today we all learned our names in Thai. Ginda is Gennie, meaning precious stone and Vic is Vichien which is a diamond.
She has really done her homework and had all of these lessons prepared before our trip, and after she received her roster of our names. It also makes the time on the bus go more quickly.
About an hour later, the driver found a rice mill that was in operation today. We stopped to see the process of polishing the rice, taking the grain from the husk. It is a basic, yet simple contraption that cleans, polishes, and bags the rice for export or local sale.
Just down the road, we stopped at a rest stop along the road run by the Population and Country Development Association. It is called Cabbages and Condoms, and helps to promote quality of life for the rural areas.
Its main mission is to provide education and health care and to promote an alternative crop to opium poppies and population control for these farm families.
We drove through this hill country, with many switchbacks and hairpin curves, we saw very small villages, vegetable plots, and a few fruit trees. We climbed to about 3,300 feet, the bus laboring with the weight of our treasures from so much shopping! At the crest of the hill, we could see for miles, then began our decent into the Chiang Mai Valley.
We made a stop at the small town of Bo Sang, the umbrella capital of the world. Here we went to a large umbrella factory where we watched young women and men making hand-made and hand painted, bamboo and Sa paper umbrellas.
They are also very skilled artists and were able to hand paint traditional designs for a small fee. Many of us took advantage of the opportunity to bring back a souvenir of Thai artwork, a painting on our camera cases, hats, or t-shirts.
Our lunch was at Chiang Mai, at another great buffet and with a nice clean, Western Style restroom, way up here in the north, this is a real treat! Our last stop before going to our hotel was a stop at a silver factory. These craftsmen and women were remarkable and the fine detail of the silver work was striking.
By this time, many of us are shopped out, but it is still very interesting to see the fine work done by these talented people. Their wages are very low, about $5.00 a day for a women who works in the umbrella factory, but they seem to be very dedicated and take pride in the work they produce.
We arrived in Chiang Mai about 3:30. This is the principal city of the north, a major cultural center, and a favorite with visitors. Chiang Mai’s medieval walls encircle an amazing 300 temples, and the metropolitan region boasts some 80 more official religious sites.
We checked into our hotel, a beautiful building and were greeted with a local fruit drink and a necklace of fresh flowers. At 4:00 many took advantage of an opportunity to experience a Thai massage (for an additional cost of $19 for a two hour session) - a centuries old art regarded here as good for your health.
I took advantage of this optional and for $19, thirteen of us got a two hour Royal Thai Massage. I cannot believe how they worked our muscles and ligaments. The young lady you did me (in a communal room for all of us) started on my foot and legs and then worked up. I have not had a woman get this close to me since I married Gennie over 30 years ago.
Quite an experience to have her strong fingers dig deep into the foot, leg, arms, back, neck, head and face. I am glad I did it - but some of my muscles are still sore. But I am much more relaxed.
We had dinner at the hotel - buffet style and enjoyed the company of our travel mates. Gennie and I decided that we would try to send out our emails tonight so we will walk 800 meters from the hotel to get on a high speed service. The hotel has a dial up. Besides, we need the exercise after a day of eating, eating, and more eating.
Accommodations: Park Hotel - Internet, laundry
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