Chiang Mai Part Two

We have just finished a wonderful 2.5 weeks in Northern Thailand.  They went by so fast!  Riverside towns, motorbikes, green rice paddies, elephants, great food...Today we flew to Bangkok and plan to bus to Cambodia tomorrow. This entry focuses on our second swing through Chiang Mai (Feb. 7 - 10), but includes couple of photos from our first.

On the bus back to Chiang Mai from Mae Hong Son, as seen through the bus driver's rear view mirror.  We are sitting two rows behind the monk (camera in front of C's face).

Jamie took us to a magical monastery on the hillside above Chiang Mai (Wat Palaad), complete with a waterfall.

With Jamie at one of the many fabulous restaurants he took us to.

Several groups of kids stopped Haney on the street for their English assignments.  They asked him several questions, while a friend videotaped the encounter.

We loved the back alleyways of Chiang Mai's old walled city. On our favorite "soi" (lane), Soi 5, where we spent a couple of nights.  We spent a total of six nights in CM and had to change hotels each night -- it was Chinese New Year and the hotels were full.  One place charged about $8.

Visiting an amazing luxury hotel and spa outside of town:  Panviman.

Watermelon shake at Panviman.

Panviman's indoor/outdoor lobby, with pool and various buildings down the hill.

This is the Four Seasons, built in a horseshoe shape around a garden that is a  functioning rice paddy.  For the picturesque effect, they use water buffalo to work the field.

Parade for Chiang Mai's Flower Festival, as viewed from the 3rd floor balcony of Starbucks.  The group in white is a marching band with cowboy hats.  The onlookers were swarming the parade for photo ops.

More Flower Festival - amazing display of orchids and other flowers.

One of many beauty queens at the Flower Festival (the one on the left, that is,,,).

Ana with C on her bike.  Jamie took H.  Off to another great restaurant.