Honeymoon - Chiang Mai, Thailand - June 22-24, 2000

We stayed at the Hmong Hilltribe Lodge one night. It was basic - bungalow, screens, no air conditioning, no phones, and if you didn't eat when they told you to, you went hungry. The 60 km drive ended on a looonnggg unimproved mountain road which we lurched up. My van driver liked the repeated, "Ooooh Ahhhhh Ooh Ah", so I gave him the rights to it. I could not fall asleep until 3 am because of all the racket from the bugs. We were not near any bamboo, so I still don't know if a bamboo patch snaps, crackles, and pops all night long as it grows.
Our guide was Sam. Same treatment as Bali - our own van, driver, and guide.
This was the elephant ride! Nina and I were precariously perched on top of a beast going in and out of the river as we wound our way towards a village.
Prior to pulling out of the gate, Nina fed the elephants bananas. She even managed to start a fight when a mahood (elephant trainer) pulled up on an elephant and got in front of a chained elephant Nina had been feeding. Beware the wrath of the spurned elephant - elephant #1 poked at the rear of elephant #2 with a tusk. The mahood was really upset with elephant #1.
The return trip was made by ox cart. I failed to yell "Huee, Huee" enough at the ox team, so it was slow going.
We walked down the road to see what was what and passed the occasional cow that was standing in its corral with no gate. One of them decided to fall in behind us. When we turned around to return, the cow kept placing itself in front of us blocking our way. I was trying to figure out if it wanted to play or gore me, but eventually the cow gave up the debate after loosing eye contact (staring contest?).
We went to temple and later ate good Thai food.
We moved to the Suan Bua Resort where Nina again found Thai massage (she's getting good at this), a swimming pool, and a good view from the upper deck patio. Her friend who had relocated to Chiang Mai after college joined us for dinner. We attended traditional Thai dance theater over dinner in town.
Nina also found a place that would make her furniture to order. We'll get it in about five months, just in time for Christmas.

Pictures

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