Chiang Mai Day 3, Pooling and Spirituality.... through shopping?

So it's been a while but with a broken Laptop it's a bit hard to keep the world updated on what I've been up to. Chiang Mai is over two weeks ago and soooo much has happened since (like a Cambodia trip and a few crazy party nights in Bangkok) but I don't want to sacrifice the chronological order so just read the adventures as they happened.


Prison Shop & Massage



Some temple

Chiang Mai Day 3 was a bit to relax since we have a tight schedule for the next two days. It all started with some pool time, breakfast, more pool time with a nice book and nice company. So what's the plan for the day. Well half of us had off to get a Prison Massage. Yes, you can actually get a massage opposite a prison by inmates. They are bound to get out in the next few months and can earn some pocket money by running a restaurant and doing massages. Supporting the good cause seems like a fabulous idea but apparently a lot of other people think so too. There is a wait time of about an hour to get the prison massage and they tell us they are busy every day and most of the time you need to wait. So seems they don't need our support after all. Since we are short on time there's no incentive for us in waiting and there's plenty of other ladies waiting to massage us at the Weekend Walking Market in Chiang Mai.



My rub is really, really hard. That old Lady has sooo much strength in her fingers its incredible. Talk about a head massage, it almost gives me a headache. Ouch. Massages are so much cheaper in Chiang Mai than they are in Bangkok, especially on the Weekend Market, less than half the price. Sweeet!



Monk chat

Next off is an interesting stop by a local temple. They do have monk chats there where you can just sit down and chat with a Buddhist monk about God (Buddha) and the world. So the three of us chat with monk Jimmy for about two hours about pretty much everything. Jimmy's is on Facebook and Twitter, and sends e-mails and got a Laptop and a cell phone. Quite unusual but apparently monks here are allowed to have possesion, unlike somewhere else. And as he studies at the Buddhist university he needs those tools too.

His plan is to become Thailand's next Prime Minister or Ambassador in another country. That would be pretty cool! You really can ask him anything and he answers very honestly. About life as a monk, what's good and not so good about it, religion, world politics and social media. I never expected so much honesty and direct contact. And they do it voluntarily out of interest and to practice their English skills. There should definitely be more programs like that. Kind of eye opening too.



Anyone hungry?



After that stint into spirituality there's an attempt at therapy. Retail therapy that is. The Weekend Market in Chiang Mai extends throughout the inner city and is gigantic. They have set up shops everywhere and there are many different things to buy. Mostly handicrafts, handmade things from Northern Thailand. Woods, Fabrics and all other stuff. Very interesting to see and watch but then again what would I do with the stuff back home, or how would I even get it there? So for the shopping part I mainly stick to trying different street food here and there and it's pretty fantastic. A sight I haven't seen in Bangkok before is blind ladies walking through the market with a microphone and speakers, singing for donations. One of them sings pretty good so that warrants a few Baht. There's also handicapped people sitting in the middle of the market singing or playing instruments, Ladyboys looking for donations to their cause and many, many other agendas are all represented here. And most of it is cheaper than in Bangkok. So fantastic shopping to be had in Chiang Mai.



What do you get when you pair a Panda with a pink poodle?

Me and the Girls!

Fantastic waffles

Walk, shop, walk, shop, walk, shop till the stores close or your feet don't make it any more. We are gonna sleep good tonight might as well since we have an early start tomorrow. Action filled day is coming up.

Nina & Joonas

Jenny fanning off the crazy heat