Well, its almost midnight and I'm feeling a little bit sentimental. Its my last night with my host family, and my last night in Chiang Mai until I come back in the end of April for the TEFL course.
As I sit here and think, I realize I have definitely taken this city for granted. Its an AMAZING city. So much life, so much culture, the beauty is astounding, and I got to live right in the middle of it. I've gotten to live with an amazing family too- my host mom has done nothing but take care of me, and I love having rubber band wars or pillow fights with my brother. Even though I lost a huge chunk of my freedom and privacy, I am actually going to miss it here. It became my home away from home, as cliche as that sounds.We had a farewell party with all of the study abroad students, we exchanged gifts, went out to a nice dinner, and she even took me to volunteer at a dog shelter (random.. I know. but it was a lot of fun!) A good way to finish it up.
So, in order to be a true reminiscer, I am going to make a list of my favorite things in Chiang Mai (not in any order, and I'm not going to cap it at Top 10, because I'm doing this on the fly).
1. The wall and the moat.
The city was founded in 1296, which means its REALLY old. Designed as a northern fortress for Siam, the city's face is towards the river, and its back is to the largest mountains in Thailand. If that wasn't enough security for them, the king also built a huge moat and a wall around the city. The city has way outgrown its wall and moat stages, but there are an impressive amount of remnats of the wall still around. The moat is absolutely gorgeous, always decorated with flowers and fountains. Everytime I drive by Tai Pei gate (the opening gate into the old city) I always gasp at the beauty of the fountains, the lights, the flowers, the old brick in the wall, and the mountains.
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| Moat and wall |
2. The markets
I love the markets. It's where the people are, as well as the food and the stuff. There are daily markets.. like the one near my house..that sell food to the locals. Then there are the weekly "Walking Streets" every Sunday night, my absolute favorite. Vendors come from everywhere to sell their wares, and the streets are closed from one end of the old city to the other. Thai people and farang alike walk up and down the streets, hustling and bustling to find what the want/need. This is the only "souvenir" market that caters to both locals and tourists. There is a Night Bazaar..but seriously you never see any Thai people there unless they are working. Puts a bad taste in my mouth.
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| Walking Street- Sunday Nights |
3. The food
Not only is the food SO good, its super cheap. Usually, I only have to pay around 25 Baht (75 cents) per meal. I am going to have a hard time going back to the states and having to pay over $5! That could buy me a meal at the fanciest restaurant here! Not only is the food delicious, but Northern Thailand has their own food culture, setting it a part from the rest of their country. Usually Northern Thai food is spicy, with lots of sauces and vegetables. It is a serious matter of pride for them, and mostly everything in the culture revolves around their food and their....
4. Sticky rice
The people of Chiang Mai are PROUD sticky rice eaters, and rightly so. Not only does it set them apart from their wicked half brother, Bangkok, who likes to steal all the fame and glory, but it is also delicious. Eating sticky rice is an art. Its usually eaten with every meal that is Northern in its substance. You pinch a wad of the rice and roll it between your fore finger and your thumb. Then you either dip it in sauce, or grab a piece of meat to go along with it. As soon as you bite into it, the flavors from the rice mix with the flavors of the dish, releasing an extravaganza in your mouth. Not only is it great for dinner, its AWESOME for dessert! Mixed with coconut milk and topped with fresh mangoes, its probably one of the best things I've ever eaten. I'm already working with my mom to help me make it when I return.
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| Sticky Rice |
5. The People
Thailand is called the "Land of Smiles," and for good reason. People here are unbelievably friendly. They live in the moment, love to have fun, and, obviously, love to smile. They have a saying that it's all about the "suay,sanook, sabay," meaning that life should be full of the beautiful, full of fun, and full of things that make life run smoothly. (sabay literally means fine- not too good, not too bad, but just in the middle). They also have the attitude that you can learn from everyone, which is definitely apparent. One of my greatest Thai teachers is the vendor who sells me moo bing (grilled pork on a stick) and sticky rice every morning for breakfast. Before he gives me my set, he quizzes me on 5 Thai words.
6. Rod Dangs
I don't think I will ever be able to go back to being in a car without the wind in my hair. Rod dangs, the "public" taxis of Chiang Mai, are basically glorified pick up trucks. Its very freeing, sitting sideways in the back, and I feel very close to my surroundings. Traffic is crazy in Chiang Mai, so you really have to hold on to the handles sometimes, but it is just more thrilling that way!
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| Rod Dangs |
7. Coffee Shops
Chiang Mai is ALL about the coffee shops, something I absolutely love. It has become my Saturday tradition to find the most delicious latte at the cheapest price, at the cafe with the best atmosphere. After much deliberation, I found it. 30 baht for a latte..which is more than a meal but so totally worth it for me, and its only $1. Where in the US would you find a $1 latte. The cafe is tucked in with a bunch of tropical vegetation surrounding it, and there are tables on the ground floor and on the roof. They also put a lot of foam on the latte..which I absolutely love.. and I can sit and read my book there for hours. Perfection.
8. Chiang Mai University
Well.. even though they made me have a literal aversion to white shirts and black skirts (our uniform), and they forced me to realize that I'm never going to be an artist and that Thai is the hardest language to speak in the world, I love this place. The professors are awesome, and care about us. The classes were SO interesting...learning about different aspects of Thai language, culture, Buddhism, art... my intellect was stretched in ways it had never been stretched before, because not only was I learning about it, I was living it! And it was the place where I could catch up with all of my friends and share host family stories. 7th floor..faculty of the humanities..that was home base for me. I'm going to miss it.
9. The fruit
I know I already raved about the food in Thailand, but this one needs to be mentioned. The fruit here is UNBELIEVABLE. Pineapple, watermelon, and bananas have never tasted so good in my entire life. And there are so many fruits I never knew existed- rose apples, som oh, amazing tasting papaya- and for only 10 baht. Perfect treat on a hot day.
10. Transitioning from a tourist to a local
I'll always be a farang. I can't help it; I'm not Thai, and my skin is pasty white. But, I have worked my hardest to become a farang that could be respected as a local. I always keep my shoulders covered (its culturally unacceptable for women to show their shoulders, but farang tourists do it ALL the time). I try to always speak Thai, even if I have no idea how to say what I want to say. That way I still gain respect, and there are always a few laughs too. I know to stand still when they play the national anthem on every street corner in the morning, and know to stand when they play the King's song before a movie at the movie theater. I know that there are 5 different tones in Thai (maa, maa, maa, maa, and maa all mean different things when said in different tones). I know which type of wai I need to give my different superiors, and to take off my shoes before I get in a house or some stores, to never touch someones head, and to never point the sole of my foot at someone. I can get where I need to go in Chiang Mai, and I know how to bargain with a rod dang driver so he will give me a discount. I feel comfortable in the city, and I love it.
Well, I hope you enjoyed my list! None of the pictures are my own, so thanks google images! haha Tomorrow, I leave for my cross country trip through Thailand!
I also need to get to bed, and I have received 14 mosquito bites since I began this post (I just counted...NO FUN.)
Miss and love you all!
Kitty
I am now very hungry. Love reading your adventures!!
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