Chiang Mai is buzzing today. It was the climax of the light festival and as soon as it got dark, the sky was filled with hundreds, maybe thousands of those big lantern things (the ones you see on the latest edition of the lonely planet Thailand guide - google it). It was an AMAZING sight.
Earlier in the day, me Lizi and Annie went to Chiang Mai zoo. I was a bit concerned that it was going to be a bit dodgy and cruel but it turned out to be really good and the animals all seemed pretty happy. I got to feed bananas to elephants (this trip has been heavy on the elephants so far) and there were a few monks that gave us some extra bananas, which was pretty decent of them.
Oh! I fed a leopard a chunk of meat on a stick too! Thankfully it was behind some pretty sturdy caging.
Saw loads of animals - as you do at a zoo i suppose - but the best bit was the animal show which was a half hour presentation with birds catching stuff, pigs running around and the most amazing thing I have seen in a while... They got this Macaw to add two numbers together (10 +5) and then pick out the numbers 1 and 5 to show the total. It wasn't just trained cos the numbers were shouted out by people in the audience. How the HELL does that happen? I didn't think birds were that clever. I'm still stunned..
Went to the aquarium too. We were umming and ahhing for a while in the doorway cos it was 450 baht, but then the fella came over and said he'd give us a 200baht discount, so we got in for about 4 quid - ace! We later found out that we shouldn't have had those tickets cos they were for Thai people only (seems a bit unfair) but anyway, we'd already been in by then. Ha!
Back into town and had my first Thai massage which was great. She properly dug into my neck, walked on me, generally beat me up. But it felt good. And she gave me a cup of tea afterwards (not a euphemism).
Met Annie and Lizzie and we went for burritos and margaritas. I should point out that I have honestly been eating lots of Thai food here, but it was a burritos kind of night.
Annie had decided to get a tattoo - this gorgeous, colourful Ganesh figure on her side. The tattooist Gang was a really cool guy and had created this amazing design from something Annie had given him. The tattooing started about 9pm. Annie chewing on straws, me and Lizzie coaching her through and giving her updates on how far through it was. I felt like a birthing partner.
To pass the time I gave me and Lizi tattoos as well. I don't think Lizi was very impressed with hers although I was quite proud of it. To be fair, it wasn't as good as Gang's design.
It was really interesting to see it being done but not nice to see Annie in such pain for hours though. She did amazingly well and is having it finished off now. Gang showed us this vicious looking thing - a piece of bamboo with 15 tiny needles taped to the end. They dip it in ink and just jab it into you instead of using a normal gun. Apparently it hurts like a proper bastard.
more to come...
Earlier in the day, me Lizi and Annie went to Chiang Mai zoo. I was a bit concerned that it was going to be a bit dodgy and cruel but it turned out to be really good and the animals all seemed pretty happy. I got to feed bananas to elephants (this trip has been heavy on the elephants so far) and there were a few monks that gave us some extra bananas, which was pretty decent of them.
Oh! I fed a leopard a chunk of meat on a stick too! Thankfully it was behind some pretty sturdy caging.
Saw loads of animals - as you do at a zoo i suppose - but the best bit was the animal show which was a half hour presentation with birds catching stuff, pigs running around and the most amazing thing I have seen in a while... They got this Macaw to add two numbers together (10 +5) and then pick out the numbers 1 and 5 to show the total. It wasn't just trained cos the numbers were shouted out by people in the audience. How the HELL does that happen? I didn't think birds were that clever. I'm still stunned..
Went to the aquarium too. We were umming and ahhing for a while in the doorway cos it was 450 baht, but then the fella came over and said he'd give us a 200baht discount, so we got in for about 4 quid - ace! We later found out that we shouldn't have had those tickets cos they were for Thai people only (seems a bit unfair) but anyway, we'd already been in by then. Ha!
Back into town and had my first Thai massage which was great. She properly dug into my neck, walked on me, generally beat me up. But it felt good. And she gave me a cup of tea afterwards (not a euphemism).
Met Annie and Lizzie and we went for burritos and margaritas. I should point out that I have honestly been eating lots of Thai food here, but it was a burritos kind of night.
Annie had decided to get a tattoo - this gorgeous, colourful Ganesh figure on her side. The tattooist Gang was a really cool guy and had created this amazing design from something Annie had given him. The tattooing started about 9pm. Annie chewing on straws, me and Lizzie coaching her through and giving her updates on how far through it was. I felt like a birthing partner.
To pass the time I gave me and Lizi tattoos as well. I don't think Lizi was very impressed with hers although I was quite proud of it. To be fair, it wasn't as good as Gang's design.
It was really interesting to see it being done but not nice to see Annie in such pain for hours though. She did amazingly well and is having it finished off now. Gang showed us this vicious looking thing - a piece of bamboo with 15 tiny needles taped to the end. They dip it in ink and just jab it into you instead of using a normal gun. Apparently it hurts like a proper bastard.
more to come...
Heavens. What an amazing experience. Gran says she's still prefer somewhere not foreign. Like France. Sounds great. NO TATTOOS.
ReplyDeleteToo late, ma. I've already got John Gollop's face on my bum cheek.
ReplyDelete