No Timetables

This is the fourth day in a row that I've updated this blog, you're welcome!

No major tours planned for today. We met up with Stacey and Brittany to visit Wat Umong, a temple built in the form of tunnels underneath a large chedi (another term for stupa commonly used in Chiang Mai) around 1380 inspired by a monk who loved the forest. The Wat lies within a park of other forms of community gathering. We almost walked into some ceremony held for monks wearing white robes but there were living quarters for monks and a library on the compound.

In the middle of the heat, Haj convinced me to see Wat Chedi Luang, another one of Chiang Mai's most well known temples. There was a dazzling temple housing a large gilded Buddha but the real sight was the large pink brick chedi perched on a set of steep stairs. Half of the roof has been destroyed by an earthquake in 1545 and while it is not exactly known when the chedi was built, it has been estimated that construction began sometime in the 14th century. This chedi also used to house an Emerald Buddha, but since the earthquake this Buddha has been moved to Luang Prabang.

With nothing left on the itinerary, I decided to get my first Thai massage. I attempted to get one at the Chiang Mai Disabled Center but they happened to be closed today, I wasn't really sure of the reason but I was really disappointed as I had waited all day for the massage center to open (hours were 5pm-9pm). I just walked in another massage parlor and hoped for the best. I tried not to laugh when the masseuse pressed on my leg (I was really ticklish there) and I think Haj tried not to laugh when I was engaged in some wrestle-like position. I really enjoyed my massage overall, I feel like I got a good stretch out of it in addition to rubbing out some knots in my shoulders. I can't wait to get another one, but it'll probably have to wait until we reach Ko Pha Ngan.

Almost forgot to mention a dish that I really enjoyed today. Khao Soi is a bowl of egg noodles in a coconut Thai curry sauce, meat, pickled vegetables and onions, topped with a layer of deep fried egg noodles, a popular dish in northern Thailand. I can eat noodles every day if I had to, especially noodles in soup and I definitely tried something new and delicious today. If you are wondering why I talk about food all the time on this blog, it's mostly because my dad always wants to know what I'm eating over here. Except for the period I was sick in Vietnam, eating has been of the best parts about this trip, I wonder if I can call myself a travel foodie at this point...

As we returned to our guesthouse, we were sprayed by water by fellow backpackers, who had no idea that we were only trying to get into the guesthouse. Correction: water was sprayed AND dumped on us by the bucketfuls. It's still warm out and the New Year over here is coming up hence the water fights. I usually have a good sense of humor about this but the water was dirty and I was wearing a white dress. Thanks guys.