Thailand Love. Chang Mai

Chang Mai is the hub of Northern Thailand with a population of over 1 million it is Thailand’s fifth largest city. I came to Chang Mai to relax and my visit here remains one of my top highlights of my entire Asian adventure. The city has so much to offer…there was never once a day where I had a dull moment in Chang Mai. I would argue that Thailand has three major tourist draws. The metropolis of Bangkok for city seekers, the famed party beaches of the south and the rustic jungle of the north. I have told people time and time again that if you don’t have a ton of time in Thailand, the North is where you get the most authentic Thai experience. The locals offer up “small town hospitality,” and there are far less tourists here. When in Thailand head North!

Highlights include:

-the bustling night market.

-trip to visit the Burmese Long Neck village.

-visit to Tiger Kingdom where I played around with a bunch of young tigers which was a bit nerve racking but in the end they really are just big cats.

-elephant safari which included a rather arduous/hilarious ox cart ride, elephant trek through rivers and jungle, a traditional bamboo raft excursion through rapids, elephant show with elephant painting

-everyday I spent an hour visiting one of the hundreds of temples to clear my mind and focus on the beauty of the day. I also spent an hour a day getting a $5 dollar traditional thai massage (lordy lordy how I wish I could do that here in Toronto).

-a few classes at a Thai cooking school. I will never forget my instructor, Balloon who was the nicest Lady Boy chef you ever did see!

-a Thai kickboxing competition I went to with my two friends from Montreal. Brutal savage children!