After a couple of flights with a short stop in Sydney, we arrived in Bangkok, and were immediately greeted a hosted of new sights and smells. After making it through customs, getting some local currency (~34 Thai Bhat to 1 USD), we took a taxi to Khao San road, which is known as a backpacker's haven in Bangkok and is loaded with hostels. The small amount of sleep we got over the previous couple of days left us drained, so we didn't get to exploring much until the next morning when we scoped out the area looking for breakfast. The meal we were treated to confirmed for our happy stomachs that we were indeed in Thailand (Yummy green curry and mango with sticky rice).We opted to head straight for Chiang Mai, so we made our way to the train station but some how ended up a travel agent across the street who tried to sell us on a bunch of different tours. In the end, we only got our train tickets and arranged for our first night's stay in Chaing Mai. Since the train wasn't leaving until later that evening we found ourselves with time, and explored the near by area finding a variety of wats and interesting shops before the road pollution drove us back into the train station. We eventually hopped on the train and had a restless night's sleep as we were able to get sleeper seats as they were sold out (peak tourist season). The smell emanating from a nearby backpacker didn't help either.
We arrived in Chiang Mai early in the morning, and after dropping our bags in our bleak little room, we spent most of that day, and the following one as well, exploring the city and figuring out which classes we wanted to sign up for. In the end, Tracy opted to take a ten day Thai massage class at Sunshine Massage School, while I took a five day Thai cooking class at the Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School. Classes started on the following Monday, so we used the weekend to start exploring the various markets, wats and food stalls.
Once our classes started, we fell into a little bit of a routine. We would get up and head to yoga class from 7 to 8 am at Tracy's massage school, enjoy a coffee together usually with some tasty fried bananas, and then separate for the day. I would head back to the hotel or b&b we were staying in and catch up on a few things until my ride arrived. My daily class routine consisted of morning instruction on things like vegetable carving or Thai ingredients followed by the cooking and eating of six different Thai dishes each day. I, of course, brought Tracy doggy bags to test my food. I even made it to the gym after class, most days. The second week when Tracy was still in class my days were a little slower for the most part. After my morning yoga, I wondered around town trying new foods and occasionally hit the nearby gym to work off the gallons of coconut milk and cream I was consuming. I added a little adventure one day by signing up for a mountain biking trip from the top of the near by mountain back down to town. It was actually a thrilling day and more challenging than I ever imagined (I and my fellow rider both took a spill or two).
Tracy's School Experience by Tracy
Where was I? I was having fun at the Sunshine School of Thai Massage; that's where I was. Lost listening to all the natural sounds of trees in the breeze and dogs barking in the foreground with the constant hum of traffic from the not so far main road. My favourite sound was the the mocking bird which had been taught to sound like a crying cat. This came though our breezy class room where we were being bent into shape and returning the favour. Would you believe my classmates where French or America? Obviously I've not got enough of of them back in LA...joking.
There was a class of 9: Mint being the Thai playdough model; the Americans -Randy (a conscious Nero-muscular massage therapist), Tyra (a fun Mormon masseur), Jen (a pretty girl who was a well balanced soul searcher), Rio and Ashley (Bindi newly weds moving to NZ); And the french speaking Swede Nicolas (new love affair with Mint), French Pyrus and happy travelling David la de vou la saxophonist, a very good one too.
I had a wonderful time learning the different postures given in a basic and clothed Thai massage from a Handsome Thai call Suriyan (no happy endings here Jem! lol). Yan kept us all in check but Fridays and Mondays where sometimes lost. Yan wants to further his career as a healer so he creates clothing with his own drawings and sells them to pay for his school in Bangkok. Yan had a secret liking for Ty which came out over Korean BBQ...so sweet hehe. I loved learning so much, that I sign up for a herbal class too where Randy and I learned about plants... interesting 5 finger leafs to single blades called betel or pandanus. A fun day of potions indeed, with thee most sweet lady called Dot Po whom lived up to her name. Sunshine little Herbal Goddess aka witch ha - I wanted to package here up and bring here back! She shared knowledge about here surroundings with Randy and I, in her sweet lullaby accent.
Om (too perfect of a name), our friend who kindly shared her yoga experience with us every morning, glowed with happiness. A fellow Sunshine teacher of Thai massage, she gave advice on several things including a massage from a blind healer. Tyler and I managed to find the place even though it looked more like a pharmacy/doctor's office than a massage place. Upstairs we went shoeless to our blind healers who gave us a very memorable, if not a little painful, Thai massage. If only they could combine Thai massage with chiropractic, it would be the perfect combo. Days flew past at a shocking speed and now I am wishing for the brakes! Not back yet :-) soon though.
When we weren't in classes, we either found ourselves perusing the night markets or checking out a new restaurant. Our favorite place to eat turned out to be the Anusarn market because it had a bunch of incredible Thai seafood restaurants. The Khantoke dinner (a traditional northern Thai dinner accompanied with a variety of traditional Thai dancing performances) was also very good. We also found time for a few Thai massages and spa treatments that were all very good, but the best was probably the massages we received from the couple blind men Tracy mentioned.
During this time, we kept conversing with various travellers who were stuck in Thailand due to the airport demonstration. Everyone was trying to get the latest news on the situation. By far the worst story we heard was about an Aussie who was on his way to London for a week vacation, but got caught in the airport during his two our layover. Bye, bye vacation!
Our last night in Chiang Mai, we were invited by her instructor along with all of Tracy's classmates to a Korean barbeque. When we arrived, we found ourselves under a large open air structure with about 1000 Thais boring through buffet lines. We spent the night enjoying a bunch of new foods and chatting with Tracy's classmates. After stuffing our bellies, we said our goodbyes and made our way back to our hotel (not before checking out one more market) to pack our bags.
Chiang Mai was a blast, but Ko Tao was calling so we headed to the airport for a short flight to the south...
