Chiang Mai, Boogie Down

Chiang Mai, once known as Vieng Ping, is a must see in Thailand! Much more laid back than Bangkok (not so many people in your face asking you to buy things). With the exception of the tuk tuk drivers who never give up asking you for rides.


Supposedly there was a boy to Monk ceremony going on while we were in town, but we missed it! Nonetheless, we had a great time there. We scurried through the night bazaar, but didn't buy anything yet. We heard from a couple very friendly locals that the clothes and materials sold there will fall apart before we get back to the US, and that the Sunday market is much better quality, so we will be back through there then on our way down to the beach, boyyeee.


We did get the insider on the government factories that have cheap labor and tailoring so the costs of nice suits here are the best in all of Asia. So I picked one up, got fitted and everything. A nice cashmere/wool blend. We even got a demonstration on quality checking, if you burn cheap fabric it smells like paper, while the quality stuff smells like hair. This prompted Lauren to get a nice camel colored wool jacket herself, its gonna be a big weather change from here to Chicago. I hear they are even cancelling softball games there it is so cold haha!

After the fitting we were hungry, and stopped at a third floor bar that overlooked the city of Chaing Mai. It was called THC and was covered with mats and bamboo, no chairs!


The next adventure: Pai in the morning, a four hour bus ride through the mountains...