CHIANG MAI Day 7

TUESDAY 9th and another lazy morning in the heat, by the pool. Over breakfast we spoke to Opas about when the Royal Palace Gardens are open as the three guide books have conflicting information. Not being sure himself he said he would give them a ring, meanwhile had we thought any more about out trip into the countryside. Yes we would very much like to do an elephant ride and a bamboo raft ride. So a phone call was made to Opas’ contact and it was agreed we will leave in the morning at 8.15 for a day of adventure.
About noon we set off to visit ‘Wat Pa Pao’ where a three day festival begins today. Rather than follow the moat as we did yesterday we chose to meander down the back streets where we found lots of small bars and eating places and lodging houses designed for back packers. As well as looking down so I don’t fall again and sideways at all the shops, gardens, etc it’s also a good idea to look up. Having just left an Elephant Temple we came round the corner by a snack bar and looking up the narrow lane at a new 3 storey building the last thing I expected to see was a large model of a kangaroo looking over the balcony – what the heck was that all about! More hidden temples were explored, including Chiang Mai’s oldest Temple, until we began to feel they were all looking the same. Only the white stupas were different with some having the top covered in gold and one or two built of brick or were extremely old. We are getting a little confused as to a stupa and a chedhi but before we leave Thailand I am sure someone, probably Opas, will tell us. We stopped for a late lunch in a small snack bar where I sampled sticky rice and mango in coconut milk. This was served warm, unlike the sample we had on the boat trip, and both were very good. I decided we, or rather I, could have this at home. Keith had a dish of large shrimp and mangetout in an oyster bean sauce and enjoyed every mouthful. Beer was cheap too. Back to more exploring and we came across a tailor’s shop with a lovely shirt in the window. A deal was done for two and Keith was duly measured up. We can collect them in two days.
We ate at the ‘Brasserie’ going early which was just as well as a large camera crew descended into the area by the river and took over 4 of the tables. Management were concerned we were not stopping to hear Gap play but we said we had an early start but would catch him another night.