Chiang Mai, Thailand

From our tour in Saigon, through the cruise and the stay in Siem Reap to tour Angkor Wat, we were on a group deal with our friends Joe and Katie and 8 of their travel buddies. (See last email..middle photo of all of us in front of Angkor Wat). Kim and I were the new addition this trip and were relieved to find everyone delightful travel companions. We spent two more days touring temples in the giant complex that makes up the Angkor Wat Temples. Hot, humid, beautiful and interesting. I will not bore you with all the many names and factoids that our guide went into a wee bit much detail on..."this was build in the late 1100's by king Svarabadinam the 7th..."(or 2nd or 6th I couldn't keep up)
Nor will I subject you to the oodles of pictures I took of the carvings, ruins, trees in rocks, trees in ruins, walls, temples, moats, statues etc. Just 3 more ;) they are the first ones on this collage.
Needless to say, we enjoyed the luxurious accommodation at the Victoria until we left for a budget hotel (3 blocks away) for the night before our flight to Thailand.
We were relieved that the civil unrest in Thailand did not affect our connection through Bangkok and made it safely to Chiang Mai.
We are currently in Chiang Mai, having a relaxing time. Air quality is not great and it is hot here too but that's ok since we are mostly just swimming, getting massages, shopping and eating yummy thai food. We've spent much of the last week and a half visiting with our good friends Linda, Mike, Alan and Marijke (all from England)
Off to Hong Kong tomorrow. ..I'd better pack and wrap up this update or we will be home by the time I get it out.
Hugs,
Dana

'Love is all you need'

Pics:
1. Angkor
2. With sunset
3. detailed carvings
4. View of Chiang Mai from the 20th floor of the Royal Lanna where we spent 1st night and where Linda, Mike, Alan and Marijke stay.
5. Our favorite eatery of the trip...two woks and an empty lot- a restaurant does make!
6. The Naga decorated pool at the Chiang Mai Plaza where we spent nights 2-13
7. My handsome guy at the ornate front door of the Plaza
8. Warorot market where you can get pretty much anything. I picked up a knock-off north face backpack...we once saw one here that looked perfect other than being spelled Mouth Face.. kinda wish it said that. I also picked up some SaiUwa spicy northern sausage and sticky rice for our lunch and saw some nasty looking dried shrimp for sale.
9. Kim and Mike being patient with Linda and I shopping.
10. Kim photo bombing my shot of the cat at dinner. There are many cats here and just the other day I was wondering why they don't look siamese. I mean we are in Siam. ..well on the next table is the only one I've seen that does.
11. Marijke, Mike (getting scratched by one of the cats) and Alan waiting for supper at Momma's.
12. The kitchen(courtyard of the house) to the restaurant (once a carport I think) complete with 14 dogs, Momma counting the money, son cooking, I have no idea how many cats, their house to the left and just to my right was a car.
13. A peek at the luxury snooker room the four of us rented from 12noon until 3pm for $6 each including 2 drinks per person. Yes pepto bismol pink furniture! Alan re-taught us to play and although I came in last every game I enjoyed it, and the thai iced teas too! Kim managed to win at least one if not two of the games.