Got back to Chiang Mai several days ago and it was really nice to return. This is such a nice town – the vibe, the scale, the sights, the people and food are all wonderful. I stayed in the Old City, which is amazing. Old, of course, but beautifully preserved, and the number of historic sights is off the charts. I settled into a nice routine and recharged a bit after the big drive up north and back.

Looking back at some cool sights in Pai, this is the Wat Pra That Mae Yen Buddha. It’s on a large hill outside of town and is reached by climbing around 500′ from its base. Once you’re up there, you look up another 60′ at its majesty. Amazing and really serene. I had it to myself on a perfect day and lingered for a while.

The owner of my hotel’s son. So cute.

Long neck tribe woman outside Pai

I didn’t take this photo. The  women showed much displeasure when I raised my camera to photograph them, so I had to find a stock shot. Nonetheless, this is just how they look and dress. Incredible.

Easy rider…..

Back in Chiang Mai

Temple doors

Drove up to the Chiang Mai Elephant Sanctuary, where old, mistreated and ill elephants are made happy for their waning years. This place was truly magical. No one other than me was there, and I got to feed, shower and just watch these beautiful creatures in awe really close up with no barriers between us. What’s so cool about elephants (these ones, for sure) is that although they’re massive and incredibly powerful, they are extremely gentle and smart. It was a real treat to hang with them for the afternoon..

This dude was taking a leak or looking for some action….

If she doesn’t look happy, I’ll eat my hat

Heading back down to Chiang Mai

In town again 

A chosen one

Today started off a little weird. I arrived at the Chiang Mai airport at 6 am intending to fly to Da Nang and onto Nha Trang on the central Vietnamese coast. Alas, not to be as originally planned…. When I attempted to check in for my flights, Air Asia told me that they couldn’t issue a boarding pass because my Vietnam Visa application had an error with my name and that I’d be denied entry in Da Nang and deported. The problem was an “R” instead of “Richard” for my middle name, but they said Da Nang was super strict and in essence, “No tickie, no shirt…”

Onto Plan B  – I bought an afternoon ticket to Hanoi, as the airline said they’re more chill up north (must date back to Ho Chi Minh) and would let me in (and Air Asia would issue me a boarding pass, most importantly) with the seemingly insignificant error in my Visa application. That just reordered the Vietnam leg, so all’s good.

I arrived in Hanoi this afternoon and got settled in at my hotel in the old quarter, then meandered around and had some incredibly good food and Vietnamese beer. I cruised around the old quarter and was treated to an absolute mass of humanity – an ant farm, really – compressed into and moving through tiny streets, with people eating everywhere, and as I strolled along, feeling groovy, I heard Norman Greenbaum’s Spirit in the Sky  wafting out from a coffee house. Rock on. After that, a two hour massage took the edge off the long travel day. Time for some rest. Been a long one.

By the way, I have not seen one rain drop in over four weeks of traveling. Didn’t want to jinx myself, but had to mention it. Batten down the hatches back home, children – I’ve read that it’s wild and wooly in much of the country.