You cannot avoid temples in Chiang Mai. I love old stuff but our first time through Thailand we hit the amazing stuff and we didn’t really do over this time around. There are plenty of temples all over the city and it is simple to pop in and check one out. Dress conservatively: shoulders, boobs, thighs and everything in between should be covered. Some have sarongs on hand for the occasional clueless tourist. They may suggest a donation. In Southeast Asia (SEA) it’s a generally a good idea to carry your own sarong. They are beach towels, picnic blankets, cover ups, hobo bags, and shawls. They are so versatile I keep one in the car now that we are here in the US.
Kids are free to clamber quite a bit in the temples, but it must be remembered to be respectful at all times. Shoes off inside the temples, voices down, and no climbing images of the Buddha! However, even if your child does get a bit rambunctious Thai people tend to be very indulgent of children. Their parents, not so much. Other temple tips include taking off your sunglasses and hats, not pointing (especially with your feet), and not turning your back on the Buddha (even to take that fabulous selfie). In general, don’t touch Thai people on the head, even kids, and do not touch people or sacred things with your feet. In Thailand women are not allowed to touch a monk or his robs, so keep that in mind as you navigate the space. Trip Savvy has a whole page on temple etiquette.
There are a lot of lovely restaurants in Chiang Mai but a little nook I’d like to point out is Angel’s Secrets Café. The menu covers omnivores to vegans and of the three meals we had there each was a quiet delight. After one of our angelic breakfasts, we headed down to the river for a boat tour. The boats are flat and open topped with a roof for shade. It’s a quick journey down the river where you will dropped off at a jungle pavilion and given fresh fruit and a local lunch. The whole thing is nice. If this is your first or only trip to SEA I recommend it. Otherwise, I only recommend it for groups or for people desperate to entertain their kids. Boats are always great for kids and the rest area has rabbits the kids are allowed to feed.
Finally, let’s talk about massages. Our favorite thing about SEA is the rampant availability of massages. While I personally prefer Lao style massages Thai come in at a close second. Massages are available at the park, at the markets, and of course there is a spa on every main street in or near the Old City or other touristy areas. The experience is varied. Mostly, the difference in price has more to do with the atmosphere than the massage itself. I’ve paid a lot for a mediocre massage and very little for one that liquified my bones.
SM LOVES massages. He would literally go every day twice a day if he could. Supposedly massages release a lot of toxins from the body. Before and afterwards one needs to drink lots of water and stay away from alcohol. This isn’t actually true. While massage can reduce stress, heart rate, blood pressure, and sore muscles while increasing endorphins and blood circulation- which are all amazing things, it doesn’t cleanse the body of toxins. That’s pretty much the purview of our kidneys and liver- which is why lots of water and less booze are still good things. Massages do leave you tender, however. I’ve even be bruised. (Vietnamese, Chinese, and Korean massages are intense!)
Almost every time we took Little Bit to Buak Hard Public Park one of us checked out the massage hut. Studmuffin being even more into massages than I am- he can have multiple daily, he went more often than I did. But I went often enough to state that this is one of the best deals in town. When we were there massages started at half an hour back and shoulders for 50 baht, but prices fluctuate seasonally. I am fairly sure that phenomenal deal had a lot to do with the mysterious flu that would become known as Covid 19 putting the kibosh on their trade.
LB was four at this time and she was almost as all in on the massages as her daddy. We only did foot massages with her because she was so tiny, but it was a hoot every single time. It was not a true massage, of course. More like a gentle rubbing with a bit of tickle thrown in but everyone involved was absolutely delighted. She liked massages so much she and I even got one at the airport while waiting for our flight! As I mentioned, massages can you leave you tender. When going for a two hour massage, (Because why the hell not?) for the second hour I suggest a hot stone or, my favorite, the herbal/fragrance massage. Compresses filled with fragrant herbs are steamed and pressed to different points of the body. When done for medicinal purposes the herb cocktail is tailored to the individual but almost always includes lemongrass and turmeric. This type of massage is especially helpful in soothing menstrual cramping. It even helped my endometriosis!
Next week will cover Art in Paradise and a Thai traditional dance and dinner show. Then that’s it for Chiang Mai and almost the end of our little 2019 adventure. After Thailand we stopped by Singapore to visit our friend and her family. I hadn’t been to Singapore in ages and had forgotten how enjoyable it can be. I also hadn’t seen our friend in ages and had forgotten how enjoyable she can be! I’m updating this in Things to Know but, for now at least, post will go up Sunday mornings. Talk at you then.