Chiang Mai - Walking Street

What an experience. A wonderful atmosphere and we were surrounded with people who wanted nothing from you.

The ambience was wonderful and the number of different things that you could buy was enormous. We visited Walking Street on the weekend so we were able to peruse a multitude of different things.

On a Saturday the market is on Wualai Road (the street that shoots off at an angle just outside the Chiang Mai gate on the south side of the old city) officially starts at 17:00, although the road will be closed to cars from about 14:00 onwards; it's pretty much over by 23:00.

On a Sunday the market starts around 14:00 and lasts until 22:00, with local craftpersons operating stalls along Rajdumnern Road on the inner-east side of the moat near Tapae Gate.

We found a local artist who painted some beautiful pictures which our daughter (and I) thought were wonderful - we will be returning with empty luggage bags next time.

Chiang Mai flower Festival and more

Jemma was excited from the morning that we left - flying via Bangkok.


We arrived in the morning in Chiang Mai and stayed at the hotel that we stayed at on our Honeymoon - x(i have forgotten)x, receiving an upgrade when we arrived.  This area was wonderful for shopping and we immediately left for a wander.


We got into a taxi to make some stops and it immediately (2 foot) broke down!


We then visited a number of places - our first stop was Monkey School; then a Butterfly and Orchid Farm; then an Elephant Ride and home again.


The evening was simple and we went to the local market outside our hotel. Fabulous fun and not far to walk home.

Not forgetting to visit a fish spa with Jemma of course.

We did make a visit to Chiang Mai for the flower festival - so we got up early and waited and watched - best read at the Cape Panwa blog.  I have selected some of the photographs of Jemma at the show however.

Following this we moved to the Kantary Hill Hotel and were upgraded again - everybody was busy!


We then visited the local area, with Nick from Kantary Bay Phuket, - one visit was to the Local Hill Tribe where Jemma was treated like loyalty and then Doi Suthep temple where there were musicians from the local school and much more.


We then tried the Walking Market - wonderful chaos and purchased some paintings from some thrilled budding young artists.

Great fun and a lovely escape for a long weekend.

              

Bangkok Tattoo Convention 2010

Bangkok will be holding an International Tattoo Convention on January 15,16 and 17.

I did find a blog about a Tattoo Festival in 2006 in a temple 
- but i don't think that it is the same!  

Then there was another one in Bangkok in January 2007. 

Where much was talked about 'real' tattoos........

Don't tell mum about my tattoo.......

              

Build a home in Chang Mai

Sounds like a different type of vacation!

Well you can!

I met George and Lenore English who did this last week.  I looked at the front page of the Bangkok Post and Jimmy Carter was then putting a brick in....... and turned to the funnies.


Then I was having a cup of coffee with a guest at breakfast ........ and they had just been there!  They had built Home No.17.


They were working on a project in Chiang Mai doing just this - Habitat for Humanity.  It was lovely to meet someone who took part in this project and discover a little more about that photograph in the Bangkok Post.

Article just been printed in the Bangkok Post 14th December - click here.

Congratulations to you all, now if I can fix the leak in the bathroom ceiling.........

An escape from Paradise to Paradise

After the hectic time of Songkran I chose to have a break with my family. We visited Kantary Hills in Chiangmai and what an escape it was.

The air was sweet, the entrance magnificent, the fountain bubbling and all the smiles were Thai. They were swiftly taken to their spacious rooms and I nipped into the shop for homemade truffles and ice cream for my girls.

Following this we went for a walk along the Nimman Road. A world of shopping and dining discounts awaited them simply because they were staying at Kantary Hills! Ice creams, coffees, books, clothes and gifts awaited them, they drifted in and out of the very stylish but small outlets.

The next day involved them rising early to greet the monks and then visiting the local bazaar where more t.shirts, toys and fruits were purchased. We returned home rested and very happy - and wondered when we could go again.

Next time I will buy some vanilla pods - I can't buy them in Phuket.

Please click here to see a visit to Chang Mai from a guest here.