Our stay in Chiang Mai was a wonderful relief after the madness of Bangkok. We took the overnight train that winds its way through hilly passes and endless rice fields from Bangkok for 700 rickety kilometres. We all managed to get some type of sleep but were relieved to find our hotel the next morning very close to the railway station.
Chiang Mai is known as the 'Rose of the North' It is surrounded by natural beauty and a unique indigenous culture. The town of Chiang Mai is calm and colourful. It is rich with life but never imposses upon you. It has a wonderful feel and we really wished we could have spent longer there.
We enjoyed our first family Thai massage together at the Night Bazaar. Charlotte and Madison now know what they have been missing out on and I think it will be one in all in from now on. The Night Bazaar was one of the most enjoyable markets we have been to. It was relaxed, spacious and full of colour. The night we were there was Valentines Day and we happened upon an Australian owned Thai restaurant. The man from Mount Gambier who owned the restaurant was charming and informative. All the girls got roses, but then when he found out we lived within cooee of Manly oval he threatened to throw us out. We all had a good laugh and a great meal.
We took a drive out to the hill tribes and visited the Lisu, Karen, Hmong and Paduang tribes. Each hilltribe village has its own language and culture, many of them originally coming from neighbouring China and Burma. It was amazing for us to be able to meet and communicate with these villagers who live such vastly different lives from what we know in Dee Why. The girls were in awe of the long neck women. The weight of the metal rings around their necks was unbelievable, some were up to 6 or 7 kilos. The females of the tribe all wear the famous metal coils around their necks and knees and it has developed into a form of beautification throughout the years. Instead of lengthening the neck, the increasing metal bands over the years push down the shoulders leaving the women unable to do many tasks and if the coils were to be removed, their necks would be unable to support their heads.
The legend is that many years ago the village chiefs believed that when they left to go hunt and gather, the women would be left vulnerable to tiger and snake attacks. So to protect them, the men put metal coils around the women's necks and knees as these were the main areas of the body that the animals would attack.
Chiang Mai and its surrounds had so much to offer. See Charlotte's post on our fabulous day with the elephants.
Chiang Mai is known as the 'Rose of the North' It is surrounded by natural beauty and a unique indigenous culture. The town of Chiang Mai is calm and colourful. It is rich with life but never imposses upon you. It has a wonderful feel and we really wished we could have spent longer there.
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| Not quite roses but we saw a spectacular display of orchids at a butterfly and orchid farm in Chiang Mai |
We enjoyed our first family Thai massage together at the Night Bazaar. Charlotte and Madison now know what they have been missing out on and I think it will be one in all in from now on. The Night Bazaar was one of the most enjoyable markets we have been to. It was relaxed, spacious and full of colour. The night we were there was Valentines Day and we happened upon an Australian owned Thai restaurant. The man from Mount Gambier who owned the restaurant was charming and informative. All the girls got roses, but then when he found out we lived within cooee of Manly oval he threatened to throw us out. We all had a good laugh and a great meal.
We took a drive out to the hill tribes and visited the Lisu, Karen, Hmong and Paduang tribes. Each hilltribe village has its own language and culture, many of them originally coming from neighbouring China and Burma. It was amazing for us to be able to meet and communicate with these villagers who live such vastly different lives from what we know in Dee Why. The girls were in awe of the long neck women. The weight of the metal rings around their necks was unbelievable, some were up to 6 or 7 kilos. The females of the tribe all wear the famous metal coils around their necks and knees and it has developed into a form of beautification throughout the years. Instead of lengthening the neck, the increasing metal bands over the years push down the shoulders leaving the women unable to do many tasks and if the coils were to be removed, their necks would be unable to support their heads.
The legend is that many years ago the village chiefs believed that when they left to go hunt and gather, the women would be left vulnerable to tiger and snake attacks. So to protect them, the men put metal coils around the women's necks and knees as these were the main areas of the body that the animals would attack.
Chiang Mai and its surrounds had so much to offer. See Charlotte's post on our fabulous day with the elephants.
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| These incredible women weave beautiful silk fabric and sell their wares to visitors. ExtraordinariLee |
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