Nik and I spent the last two days exploring Old Town Chiang Mai.  The original intent was to go an a walking tour of temples.  We did see several temples, but the focus of the walking tour was the walking and observing.  We saw so many things that we could only find in Thailand!!  They were random days, so here are my random photos.

Window at Wat Muen Toom, Kid watching his friends pass after school, The perfect white rooster, Graffiti

roof tile work at Wat Pan Tao, Monk wraps drying at Wat Muen Toom, I had a rock in my shoe and was unaware of the tiger hiding in the next room

Doors at Wat Chiang Man, Yellow Wall, Burger & Fries at Mike's Burger, Window Shutter at Wat Chiang Man

Girl calling her mom after school, A section of the Nancy Chandler Map, FAIR, Elementary school girls getting donuts after school

The city wall near Tha Phae Gate, Wood detail at Wat Chang Taem, More wood details, Nik pondering why he is sitting on such a small swing

Nursing pups, Temple windows at Wat Chang Taem, Temple Gate, Handwritten headstone at Wat Pa Pao

Dragons at wat Chedi Luang, Mirrored tiles outside Wat Muang Khom Thong, White Chedi at Wat Chang Taem, Dandilion Fountain in the city moat

LUNCH!!!!

Saturday’s highlight was lunch.  On our Nancy Chandler map, it notes “Favorite Eating Places for Locals.  Lots of Cheap Eats”, so we had to go.  I wish I knew the name of the place, but it is on the corner of Inthawarorot Rd and Ratchadamnoen Soi 6.  It is a larger restaurant than normal, and they only serve chicken…boiled, grilled or fried.  We had grilled chicken skewers and boiled chicken over rice.  Sounds bland, right?  The chicken was, but the sauce they serve it with is amazing!!!  For the grilled chicken (satay), they serve a sweet peanut sauce.  For the boiled chicken on rice, they serve a soy based sauce with garlic and chilli and a lot more.  It was so delicious and filling, and only 90Baht ($2.25).  To add to the good food, the atmosphere is great too.  The owner, an animated middle-aged man, takes all of the orders and yells them short-order style to his two sons that are working the kitchen.  When he’s not taking orders he’s chatting with the locals.

Deteriorating steel gate, Path to the monks quarters, lilly Pond, The gate is leaning...not me

Front Yard Circus Show

Nik’s Blog: Walking Inside the Moat

Martial Artist perform Kung Fu at the Opening Ceremonies photo courtesy of The Official Website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games

I definitely have Olympic Fever!!!  Perhaps it is because I am not in my home country, so I have a heightened sense of pride.  Maybe.  Last night I watched the Opening Ceremonies, and was in awe of the performances China put together, especially the Martial Artists performing Kung Fu.  The aerial shots were just amazing, and they were so crisp and perfect.  I did think they went a little overboard with the dude running on the ceiling to light the torch though….it took forever!!!  But when it’s all said and done, well done China.  Great performance!