Chiang Rai Begins

We set our for Chiang Rai (pronounced chang rye) Wednesday afternoon. Our bus set out around 5:30 pm.  The journey was beautiful from the few glimpses I got.  I spent most of the trip with my head between my knees. It was about 2.5 hours of feeling nauseas. Would I do it again? Absolutely yes. Pictured, to the left is one of my favorite pictures. I love seeing these colorful blossoms. How would I describe Chiang Rai thus far? This is a place of friendly faces, fresh air, and more chill than any place I have been thus far, in Thai.

Once we arrive to our hostel, The North Hotel, we
unloaded our belongings and headed out to see parts of the city.  The hotel is great, with lots of character.  The floors are wooden, with imperfections. Each floor has an outlook.  Pictured to the right is a library-like study with books and night lighting.  It's peaceful, quiet, and quaint.  I am sharing a room with Mel, we have a queen bed, bathroom, mini refrigerator, mini patio, wifi (works only on my iPod).  The staff here is great.  We are in a great location, just a minute walk to the Night Bazaar. I believe it's about $8 a night. I know we can get cheaper rates, but this just worked well at the time, good location.

 Dining area of the Night Bazaar

 The night bazaar is so great - complete with a beautiful moon.  The night bazaar is centered around a rectangular dining area.  The center has hundreds of tables and chairs, anchored by a large open stage on one end.  The other three sides of the dining rectangle are vendors.

 Stage performance, Thai artists, singing and guitars

These venders sell a wide variety of inexpensive foods. Thai dishes: meat  with noodles or rice, vegetarian meals, gyros, pies with meats, fried rice varieties, stirfried meats and vegetables, fried potatoes, fried fish, grilled fish, soup in clay hot pots where you can cook or grill your meats, you can also find other great protein, such as bugs, tree nuts, etc. Care for a glimpse?

 These are the clay pots that you can order.  I described this in previous blog post, realized I should get a picture of it.  The top clay pot contains broth, where you cook your vegetables (carrots, leafy greens), rice noodles, egg, mushrooms, and meat of choice.  I have not tried one of these yet here in Chiang Rai, but they are good.  I like to add chili's to mine to give it a bit of a kick. Pictured below are the baskets of food items that you are able to cook in the broth.  You then eat the soup with a small-ladle-like spoon.

  mushroom shoots, leafy greens, egg, rice or glass noodles, carrots. Meat not pictured. Meat is typically seafood or chicken.

 Top row: Vegetable/noodle baskets, bottom row: prawn, squid, and chicken satay on the end.

 Leafy greens, mussels, shrimp, pork intestine (lower left)

 Typically the grilled fish that you see here in Thailand.  This is Pla Plao, a salted and grilled river fish. Quite popular.

 Shrimp

 Clams - I watch people eat this with a single chopstick.  They break the shell, spear the flesh, and indulge.

 

Oo - the little cream-filled kind

Nuts and fried foods. Your heart will hate you and love you.  Pictured: peanuts, red skin peanuts, fries, spring rolls, onion rings, fried shrimp, fried fish. If you are curious how these items taste, I have no idea.  They don't look appetizing.  I have only tried cashews  in my dishes and the red peanuts (both are great).

This is the place that I have ordered my meals in the market bazaar.  Open every evening.  This woman cooks to order.  She cooks everything in a large wok.  It's inexpensive, delicious, and has character.  She has a large menu board to choose from.

 Produce at the vendor where I got my meal. Pictured: rice noodles, PINK eggs, bean sprouts, mushrooms, peppers, snap peas.

                       Meal 1 at bazaar Wednesday

I chose spicy chicken with cashews and steamed rice, this cost less than a dollar. This meal included rice, which isn't typical.  Usually you pay 15-20 Baht for a side of rice. It was so good!  The eating environment to an onlooker may appear crowded, but I didn't feel that way.  Everyone was there to socialize; calm and casual night as we listened to live Thai music.  After eating we set out to look around the night bazaar.  The venders that encircled the dining area had unique and iteresting craft.  Much of the items were unique or handmade.  The vendors were all quite friendly and with reasonable prices.

Meal 2 at bazaar Friday Evening

Thursday, we set out to explore schools.  Susan and I visited a high school outside of town.  I mostly went to drop off my application but also to just feel the environment out and see more of Chiang Rai. The school was interested and welcoming.  The were looking for 6 new teachers, but I found myself less interested.  Not the age group I am interested in.  When we were was about to leave the school, I was told that taxi's come into that outside area of Chiang Rai, but you have to call a taxi to get back to the heart of Chiang Rai where I was staying.  So I took a taxi back, inexpensive.  This taxi was actually more like a car, I realized it had been a long time since I had been in a car.  The driver was nice.  I think his wife must have helped with the interior design of his car.  The stick had large fluffy green crocheted doilie yarn on it, and the wipers and cruise control too, had croched green yarn.  It was odd, but made me think of someone dear to me that shares a liking of large green doilies. Pictured to the right is me in the Northern Thai tuk tuk.  There is only one bench seat.  It cost 50 Baht to take to the school.  In the picture I am holding my skirt with one hand and the camera with the other. It was a windy ride. I was really hoping her wasn't looking in his rearview mirror.

 Tesabao 6 School - high school

 














  In the evening we had a bite to eat by the Clock Tower.  The tower is the center of a round-about.  It was inticate and beautiful with detail.  At dark, music and a kaleidescope of lights decorated the tower.  This was beautiful, and the best part was that I had no idea it existed, and stumbled upon it.

 

  

 The clock goes off three times every hour after 7 pm.  There is music and colorful lighting.

We dined with some fellow teachers that we have networked with.  Two from CA, and one from western WI.  They teach different age groups, college, highschool, and kindergarten students.  It was nice getting insight from them on jobs, locations, living situations, adventurings, etc.  Most of them are leaving Thailand soon.  I went in thinking they were all older than me, turns out I definately the oldest in our bunch.  We had mentioned that the four of us girls want to go hiking.  They were all interested. So tomorrow, Saturday, we have a hiking trip planned.  I am looking forward to it.  For supper I ordered, spicy cashew chicken with fresh vegetables.  Are you noticing a trend? I love the cashews, so good.  And frankly, everytime I order this, it tastes different.  There is always a different sauce served with them.

Friday night we all want to got the night bazaar for some cheap food as I talked about above. I had rice, vegetables (baby corn, carrots, pea pods, leafy greens, onions) and cashews (50 baht)..so good! The small white dish contains a pepper sauce that is commonly served with Thai and Cambodian meals.  The pepper powder next to it is a combination of spices - I believe it has paprika and red pepper flakes. I usually add this hot spice to my dish to add a little flair to my plates.   In the evening we settled down with some live local music.  Some of my friends went out later that night.  I decided to head home on a long walk.  Mom, I have felt safe here since arrival, the people again, are so friendly. No worries, no one would dare mess with me, I have a lot of things to do in the next year.

And the tops for my Friday night.. On the walk home I had a young guy checking me out as he to stolled down a low key side street in Chiang Rai.  ...I don't think he will forget me!

Yes, twin, this is one happy place. Just look at this guy! So great. No tourists around, just me & a GIANT BABY ELEPHANT. This elephant has personality.  He kept wrapping his trunk around me.

All in all, one great night.  I set back to work on my blog.  I was up pretty late! That last blog took some time, so worth it.

Also, don't forget your challenge for the last blog. You can even send me pictures! I love hearing from you all too. Thanks for the all the comments, I enjoy them.