After lattes and spicy noodles at our favorite noodle shop (30 seconds walk from our hotel), we packed up and got ready to go to Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand.
We landed at the Chiang Mai airport and went to Top Garden, a guest house right by the “moat” canal surrounding the old city that our friend Alli stayed at. We like this place because the hustle and bustle of the street literally stops at the gate and it’s like a silent retreat!
We were dead set on having our first Thai massages, so we ventured out into the pouring rain that had just begun and went to Lila Massage to make appointments. According to the sign, it looks like they hire ex-inmates as part of a job training program. They’re amazing! We made appointments and walked around, happening upon some seemingly secluded (but populated with white tourists) shady lanes and a beautiful temple in a garden, Wat Lam Chang. Named for the tethered elephants used by the kings in the 1200s.
We went back to Lila Massage where we took off our shoes and sat down. A massage therapist washed our feet and led us to a back hallway where we changed into Thai pants and shirt that felt like comfy pajamas. We went into a room with several mats on the floor, and had an awesome massage! It’s a little shocking — I, Sammy, had never had one before — but totally intuitive to stretch my body as well as loosen the muscles with pressure. Fun and enjoyable new experience.
We were then very sleepy and hungry, and walked back out into the pouring rain to a little noodle shop to have Khao Soi, a northern Thailand specialty of curried noodles with fried noodles on top. It’s sooooo good! Satiated, we walked over to the Thapae Gate to the Sunday Night Market, which started out not so crowded since it was still raining a little, but by the time we left was almost impossible to walk through. Street food, ceramics, local crafts, carved elephants, and jewelry abounded! Exhausted and overstimulated, we headed home, satisfied.
Khao soi specialty & Chang
Sofia choosing an elephant for her dad
Sunday Night Market
