Day 13: Chiang Mai, Northern Thailand
Being the foodie place in Thailand, we had to try our hand at cooking. Siri chooses one of the few dozens available because it seems like it will be a small intimate affair – and it does not disappoint.
We get picked up by our local guide and chef Tom, who worked in restaurants most of his life and decided to start his own cooking school. It has now been 14 years later and he still enjoys meeting all the new people each day and the more relaxed atmosphere. We will spend from 9 am to 3 pm going to the market and cooking six traditional dishes.
We pick up some of the fixings at the market one block away from our guesthouse – we had no idea it was there. There are so many hidden streets and alleyways. I even buy some durien to share. But, being the world’s foulest smelling fruit (and that is from those who like it l, like me) I won’t get any takers to join me at the end of the day. It was still yummy.
There are only five of us, a mother and daughter from Wales and a younger very tall German. We all have a great time being sous chefs as we make Phad Thai, green and red curries, coconut and hot and sour soup, and then finish off with fried banana and mango with sticky rice. There was enough food for a few days.
Watch out – we may just have to try out these (seemingly) simple recipes on you all when we return.
Afterward, Siri and I rolled around town and finally got to try out the famous Thai massage. We choose a non-profit that runs one as a training center for recently released women prisoners as a skills and jobs program. Siri graciously tagged along for a foot and hand massage, while I did the whole works.
Fortunately, for everyone’s sake, we don’t have any pictures, but it is a unique experience and hopefully I will get a few more massages while I am here. As I mentioned before, it is everywhere. They literally have chairs on the sidewalk sometimes and there is a row of people getting their feet done. A Thai massage is done fully clothed and often in a row of chairs or tables next to each other. For the back and shoulders, it is full body contact sport as they manipulate your arms, legs and shoulders and stretch you in ways you didn’t think possible. It was mostly enjoyable. 🙂
As we leave our massage place, there has been a nice rainstorm to help cool things down – it is now almost cold at 72 degrees. 🙂
We finish the evening with a walk to another night market. They seem to be everywhere and almost anything is being sold. It is a bit overwhelming, but we know what we buy will be more unique back home rather than the dime a dozen that we see here, like the fun elephant t-shirts, elephant pants and button downs, elephant sculptures, elephant paintings, bags with elephants… You get the drift. No wonder it is the national symbol of Thailand.
Tomorrow we plan to bike out to the zoo, check out a local weaving place and maybe even find a park.
Siri and David Adventures 