Day 3 - Chiang Mai

Before our trip, we read several places that Chiang Mai would be a much cooler climate than Bangkok and that even sweaters were advised for the evening and early morning.  It turns out Chiang Mai is only cooler when compared with the oppressive heat of Bangkok.  It's warm here, just a completely lovely climate and we have been fine in tank tops and shorts the whole time.  The Thais, however, find it quite cool and we regularly see them in jackets and pants, even in the middle of the day.  It must be nice to think the low 70s is cold.

This morning we grabbed a quick bite at the hotel buffet (it wasn't as nice as the ones we've had the past couple of days, but it'll do) and waited for a cab to Doi Suthep in front of the hotel.  Sylvie and I were up to shenanigans while the guys waited inside:

Aruntara's Christmas tree

Andrew and Henry being old men

Onto Doi Suthep!  Doi Suthep is an enormous monument in the mountains about 30 minutes outside of Chiang Mai proper.  Upon arrival we were greeted by large, chaotic crowds and street vendors selling everything from jade trinkets to mystery meat (in tube form, for you Bourdain fans) to t-shirts.  Then we found the stairs:

It was a long way up

We saw these amazing dragons everywhere

This dog was sure he was guarding something

Ornate roof of a smaller temple on the grounds of Doi Suthep

On the cab ride home from the monument, we stopped at a red light and I spotted this old man reading a newspaper:

The cab dropped us off near Nimman Street for some fun shopping, but we ate lunch first at Hong Teuw (sp?).  We had lots of yummy dishes including this amazing tom yum soup:

Nimman Street shopping was a maze of small alleys with surprise shops around every corner.  And around this corner was Godzilla!:

I heart Godzilla cafe/seating area/restaurant/amusement park (?)

Sylvie and I were shopped-out after an hour or so and Andrew and Henry were tired of feigning interest, so we headed back to the hotel and found a cute Christmas Eve present in our room:

Small candies from the hotel

We were all looking forward to dipping our feet in the (very chilly) pool so we relaxed and had a fruit drink and lazed away the afternoon (photographer's break ;)).

Around 6 p.m. we headed to a small night market full of vendors selling textiles, food, sculptures, lights and small keepsakes.

Entrance to the small night market

A couple getting their feet cleaned by tiny fish!

This is exactly what it looks like - suckling pig, on a stick, covered in a plastic bag.  Totally normal...

Wall o' crab

We decided upon Moh-o-Chon (sp?) seafood restaurant for our Christmas Eve dinner.  We ordered giant prawns and tiger prawns and Andrew and Henry made the selections with our server:

Weighing the shrimp.  Check out the plate on the bottom right - that's just two giant prawns!  We ordered a kilo of both giant and king prawns.  Mmmmm.

Giant prawns in black pepper sauce

King prawns cooked on the charcoal grill.  No picture will ever do these justice.  They were monstrous!

Four king prawns took up an entire plate

Henry shuffling through his ludicrous neck wallet.  This is his anti-pick pocket technique, which also happens to look ridiculous.  We all try to keep a distance when he pulls it out.

 On the tuk tuk ride home, we had to split up into two groups and Sylvie and I had the same idea at the same time:

Sylvie and Henry in the tuk tuk ahead of us

 Back at the hotel, we visited the bar before retiring for the evening.  Last night I ordered a gin and tonic and was convinced I really only got a tonic (no gin).  I thought I was sly tonight ordering a "double" gin and tonic.  Right.  This is what I got:

In the background you'll also see what the hotel considers a "martini."  Strangely enough, it tasted quite a bit like a margarita ;)

A shot of the bridge a bit down the river from our hotel

 Off to bed.  Merry Christmas Eve everyone!