It's been two days since we first arrived in Chiang Mai. We're an hour behind Singapore, and many more behind the UK and Europe. The weather's cooler than Singapore, and surprisingly much cleaner than Bangkok. However, the place has been pretty much lacklustre in terms of the attractions, sights and sounds. This whole city is basically a town for tourists--an extreme case of touristification. One gets really curious when it comes to discerning what's really authentically Thai, or not. Is it my skewed expectation of difference which has led to my major disappointment with Chiang Mai? If so, I wonder what contributed to such expectations...
The place we're residing at is a guesthouse called Smile House--almost like a 2-star hotel really. It's not that shabby, as there's air-conditioning, 2 clean single beds, and a decent shower area for us. The whole guesthouse also has a very warm, rustic feel to it. There are plants hanging from the ceilings, and artificial ponds outside our rooms. The interior of our rooms are pretty much made of wood too--a little Balinese in fact. The compromise? The place is majorly infested with mosquitoes. Jacintha, my roommate, and I had to go on a crazy rampage killing mozzies last night! The final count? More than 10 big, fat ones. The walls dividing the rooms are also sandpaper thin. We could here each other giggling and chatting away even if they were rooms way from us.
The profs had us split into teams of four, and gave us an assignment--create a photo essay which represents the various "differences" we witness as compared to Singapore. Honestly, after two says of walking around and cutting through a myriad winding, small alleyways, most of us can't tell between "difference" and "similarity" anymore. The best way to put it would be
"same same, but different". It's the same kind of clothes on sale--baggy, drop-crotch pants which backpackers in Southeast Asia are usually seen in, or cheap basics. The same kind of food--phad thai, chicken noodle soup, coconut pastries etc. Milk tea (cha yen) everywhere! Argh.
The plan for today's to visit the Doi Suthep temple later on, at 4pm. Perhaps things may be different then... (i hope).
Our little rustic cabins--two to a room.
That's us surrounded by the many shrubs planted within the compound of the guesthouse. Makes for an excellent breeding ground for big, fat, juicy mozzies.
My first cup of milk tea. Cheap cheap! Only 15 baht! Or maybe we're getting ripped off... I really don't know what's the average price. Still cheap. And uber sweet.
Getting directions from the songdiao uncle (our cab driver, basically) to the Ping River (a.k.a. Chiang Mai's Kallang River).
As touristy as touristy can get. The Hmong Market in the Thapae area.
We got so desperate trying to kill time that we decided to go for a 1-hr Thai massage. Life-changing.
Group mates (:
Outdoor dinner, under the stars, outside one of the shopping malls in Chiang Mai.
We visited this temple, Wat Suan Dok, at 630am in the morning. Pretty serene landscape, but we were expecting massive groups of monks to visit the temple while we were there. Disappointed.
Wet market with the morning's freshest produce!
Soya bean milk, and fried fritters.
Seated right outside the wet market.
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