Wat Umong and other Chiang Mai things

Today was pretty relaxed. Deanne and I are both unfortunately indecisive people, which makes it difficult for us to get moving and decide what to do. Especially in a city as culturally rich and full of artsy things like Chiang Mai. 

We got out from the hostel around 11, and it was unfortunately too late for breakfast so we had lunch at a cafe and sat and watched the city go by for a while. We decided as we sat that we wanted a Thai massage, since Deanne had one in Bangkok that she hadn't been happy with. We walked another block and found a little hole-in-the-wall massage place in a little courtyard that was tucked off one of the main roads in the city. It was named Pranom Health massage. We only got foot massages, but it was seriously one of the best massages I have had here. I almost fell sleep several times. Deanne was dozing in the chair next to me. An hour well spent.

After our massage we wandered up the road and found Wat Umong Maha Thera Chan. It was under construction, and Deanne made a 10 baht donation for Kolby. That bought us one of the terra cotta roofing tiles, and we wrote a prayer/well wishes on it and put it in the pile of other tiles. It was the only English tile. 

We looked the wat up later, and it made sense that we found it because it seems like the kind of thing Kolby would like: http://bangkokbois-gay-thailand-blog.com/2013/03/22/wat-umong-maha-thera-chan-of-mad-monks-and-confused-touri/

After we found the wat, we went for mango and sticky rice, which is definitely a fantastic Thai snack. We went then to the Lanna Folklife museum, which I'm really glad we stumbled upon. Lanna refers to this northern region of Thailand. It had a lot about the various Wat decorations and traditions. It also had several exhibits about lacquerware, ceramics and cloth patterns. And food. It was pretty darn comprehensive for a smallish museum. And the air conditioning made it a double plus.

We had dinner at a local Thai place, which was super cheap and super tasty. 10/10 would go again. Alas, we have dinner plans tomorrow night with my "little sisters," probably at KFC because Ausma likes it. Silly girl.

Also, tomorrow, Deanne and I are going to our cooking class! So excited! Pictures (on Facebook and Instagram) to follow. Internet here at the hostel isn't great but when I get to where it's better pictures will be uploaded.

It's been a month, sorry...

I didn't have a whole lot going on for a good while. I was trying to do a lot of nothing in an effort to save money and lay low until this month. My intentions mostly worked out, but I definitely have a weakness for the weekly market in Lamphun...

I finished proctoring finals a week ago. It was pretty uneventful, just sitting in the room watching the kids while a Thai teacher gave out the tests and told them what was expected of them. It was a lot more lax than the standardized tests in America. 

Tuesday I finished entering in all my grades and printed everything out to hand in. I signed all the paperwork and handed it in Wednesday, and by Thursday I'd finished my student reviews. All 250 of them. 

Thursday lunch was our farewell buffet in Chiang Mai, at the Empress hotel again. We were given gifts and that was that... That night a lot of the teachers left to go to Rayong and Koh Samet. Since I as expected in Chiang Mai on Sunday, I had to pass. 

I spent a couple lazy hours on Friday cleaning out my desk and playing online, and I left around lunchtime. Friday was a lazy day in general. Saturday Fang drove me to Doi Suthep, which is right near Chiang Mai but that I hadn't really been to. We stopped at Huay Keaw waterfall and sat and enjoyed the afternoon for a while. It was really peaceful. We went out to a new hotpot place for dinner, which I'm sad to only just discover as it's pretty cheap and right across from my hotel. It's a more traditional presentation, as well. It looks like a steel bucket with a thick layer of cement holding in a flowerpot. Inside that are charcoals, and a clay pot sits over the coals. The pot has a bunch of broth, and you add cabbage and herbs and mushrooms and pork and egg... Lots of things. So very delicious.

I met Deanne around 4 yesterday at Thapae Gate. We walked to the hostel and set out again for thapae market. We definitely spent a good few hours just moseying around and talking. I'm almost finished with my list of things. 

Today we just walked to Wororot market, and down changklan road to the Chiang Mai cotton store, and then back to our hostel. It was maybe 6 miles of walking, and it's definitely really hot outside. We rested for a few hours and then ventured back out for dinner, which we found at the Chang Puak food market. 

Not sure what's on the agenda tomorrow...