Sawadee ka!

We spent our last day in Bangkok at a water park called Siam park, even after this many days, the theme song is still stuck in our heads! That evening we took a night bus and arrived in chiang mai in the morning, surrounded by lush, green mountains and blue skies rather than cement and smog. We stayed at the "Smile Guesthouse", which happened to be in the centre of the city. For the afternoon, we rented bicycles and toured the city with frequent stops for cold refreshments. And of course, we had to end the day with a Thai massage for just a mere 150 Baht! 

The next day we continued to use our bicycles as transportation, and after many detours and breaks to check the map, we visited two temples. One of the temples is made of all silver, and is currently being restored by monks. The other temple does not have any original dates but the earliest known date is in the 3rd century. 

We woke up the next morning in a very cozy guest house called Moon in June where we have had our most inexpensive night so far - about three dollars each! We spent the day on a trek about 30 minutes out of chiang mai. Our super friendly and enthusiastic tour guide took us elephant riding, bamboo rafting, hiking, swimming in a waterfall, and to an orchid/butterfly farm. It was a full and exciting day, and what a perfect way to end the night with a Nutella roti!

Within the next two days, we fit in a visit to the chiang mai arts and cultural center, to Chinatown on Chinese new years, to the zoo, and to an English-speaking community church. We met a contact we have in chiang mai along with another Menno couple from good ole Outlook Saskatchewan...look out! We enjoyed a nice dinner with both couples, and found many connections! Right at the end of our street is a Sunday night market, which we enjoyed after supper. The market was miles long with food, crafts, souvenirs, loud music and anything you would ever need - and this morning when we got up, it looks as if it never happened! 

Happy valentines day to all and to all a good night! <3