After our somewhat hectic, historical and archchaelogical tours of Vietnam and Cambodia, it was time for a more serene relaxing vacation.
Our first stop was on the resort island of Koh Sumai in Thailand. Lonely Planet describes Ko Samui as a well established Hollywood celebrity, that is outrageously manicured. I would sadly disagree. There are upscale condos being built, along with high end resorts, which may claim Academy award status. But this growth is having a negative impact on this small jungle like island. As I walked along the sandy beaches, plastic bottles and debris could be seen along the shoreline. It is unfortunate, as it is a lovely island. Compared to Vietnam and Cambodia, I found the food more expensive in Koh Sumai and it was a bit more difficult to communicate in English.
We rented a scooter for under $20 CDN and circled the island, to visit more remote areas, which gave us the true taste of Koh Sumai. There were undeveloped public beaches, jungle hikes with natural waterfalls, and quaint fishing villages with spectacular views. We had dinner at the Happy Elephant at the Fishermen Village for our last evening in Koi Sumai.
It was a nice way to end this portion of our trip.
Our next destination was Chiang Mai, in the northern mountainous region of Thailand . The city was founded in 1296, as the capital of the independent Lanna Kingdom until 1558. Its Old City area still retains vestiges of walls and moats from its history as a cultural and religious center. It is home to hundreds of elaborate Buddhist temples.
Chiang Mai is the perfect location for rest and relaxation, with its numerous Thai massage spas, yoga centres and amazing night markets. If you plan to visit, ensure a weekend stay, to partake in the weekend festivities. The Nightly market on Changklan Road and Saturday evening market on Wualai Road, were both insanely crowded and busy. The Sunday market with local crafts and food vendors on Rachadamnoen Road was our favourite. The Warorot Market outside the walled city was a great local market for food.
I enrolled in a Thai Cooking Class, at Mama Noi Thai Cookery Schoool, which was located on an organic farm. We prepared and cooked a main dish, soup, and curry dish, of our choosing along with chilled Thai tea . We were treated to a chilled pumpkin custard. Our teacher was very enthusiastic in her teaching skills. It was a lot of fun and absolutely delicious !
The highlight of our stay was visiting an elephant sanctuary for retired elephants in a mountainous jungle habitat. We climbed a strenuous narrow path (thankfully, I did not have to carry the 40 lb bag of cucumbers) to feed, mud bath and shower, a mother and her three offspring. At the end of the tour, I sent my farewells to the mother, thanking her and wishing her a long and happy life. She stood still and posed, almost like she understood me. I cannot understand how someone can abuse these beautiful animals with such soulful eyes . It was an amazing experience.
We stayed at Bed Prasingh Hotel, which was perfectly located within the walled city. It was very close to the Wat Phra Singh Temple and the Sunday market. The hotel has an open concept with a long table in the lobby that facilitates conversation amongst guests and staff, while enjoying the complimentary breakfast. The staff was amazing, especially Marcella, a former Emirates flight attendant. Free bottled water, espresso coffee with snacks are available throughout your stay, along with free Wifi. Canadian passport holders with at least 6 months validity remaining on the passport and a confirmed airline ticket out of Thailand (proof of leaving within 30 days) do not need a visa for visiting Thailand up to 30 days for tourism purposes.
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