THAI-ING IT TOGETHER IN THAILAND - Bankgkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Thailand Feb 2017

THAI-ING IT TOGETHER IN THAILAND

Bankgkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket Thailand   Feb 2017

Tastes as good as it looks

Mouth-watering meals, meticulously prepared and beautifully presented, professionally executed massages for $10 per hour (or as little as $3) and the most gorgeous temples you could ever hope to see. What's not to like about Thailand, otherwise known as "The Land of Smiles"?

Even before the massage

Granted, Bangkok is a little crazy. But thanks to Simone's recommendations, we found a comfy, inexpensive place to stay close to the many markets lining the street and the many smells that wafted through the air.

One morning Eileen had the opportunity to meet, Hiroko, one of her Japanese students studying English and currently living in Bangkok. Not only did they have a lot in common--despite Hiroko being married to a Texan with far right proclivities--but now lessons via the Internet are like meeting up with an old friend.

Looking like old pros

Let's cook!

Another great recommendation was to take the cooking class at Silom cooking school. Even though the market was closed on the day we went, we still had a private tour and help pick out vegetables. 

While our instructor did most of the heavy lifting when it came to cooking, we did have an opportunity to participate by mashing garlic, hand pressing coconut milk, pan frying and other tasks. Eating the dishes and getting a recipe book were highlights of the experience.

Although...we have a sneaking suspicion that bad shrimp may have been responsible for Eileen's wicked case of food poisoning the next day. Suffice it to say that it made the 12-hour train ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai challenging, to say the least.

The Silver Temple

Chiang Mai was nothing short of amazing and, as we promised ourselves, we will definitely be back. Between the mouth-droppingly gorgeous temples, the hip coffee shops on every corner, and the food...ah, yes, the food...we couldn't have enjoyed the city more.

All that glitters

Another serendipitous meeting: John and Kate, two Americans who stayed in our casita in Phoenix and were disappointed that they didn't get to meet us, happened to be in Chiang Mai at the same time. Not only did we have a great breakfast with them and their young Chinese friend, but they invited us for an afternoon to hang out at their apartment's pool.

That changed Eileen's perspective on being spoiled--if former Peace Corps volunteers could add a pool to their "must have" list, so could she. Mike's travel planning just got a whole lot harder.

Moto madness

Our final stop on the Thailand circuit was Phuket, which turned out to be mainly a resort area. The apartment building, which seemed to be filled with Russian families on holiday, had a lovely pool (yay!) and the beaches were beautiful. 

We did rent a motorbike for an afternoon to go into town--one of the most terrifying trips of Eileen's life (which she was convinced would end that very afternoon) that involved multi-lane highways, large trucks, many cars, and a confident driver who convinced her to join him in this craziness.
You know who that is. Do not let the smiles in the picture fool you.