Chiang Mai- Cooking Class, Markets, and Coffee!

Hello!

A quick flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and we arrived in a city full of markets.  We stayed in a more rustic, Thai inspired homestay and once we got all the mosquitos out of the room we were very happy there.  It was quite close to the Old City and we really enjoyed exploring all the markets that surrounded it.

 

Markets are what Chiang Mai is known for and boy did we make the most of them.  You can find prepared hot food, produce, flowers, trinkets, crafts, toys, and anything else you could possibly imagine at one of the many day or night markets in the area.  Our favorite market was one beside the US Consulate and as we walked around we ate delicious juicy pineapple, mango coconut smoothie, a bag of cashews, and amazing peanut brittle.

We finally stopped off for an iced coffee to put our feet up for a bit to cool down.  What we didn't know was how amazing this coffee was going to be.  We initially decided to split one (we tend to do this frequently because if it's awful at least we only have one and if it's delicious you can always order another) and you better believe we ordered another!  Take a look at this piece of art...

And this one...

The definite highlight of our Chiang Mai trip was our full day in cooking school!  After our early morning pick up at our hotel we were taken to the market to see where they buy the few ingredients that they don't grow on their own farm for the food we were going to prepare.  They took us to a working farm and school where there were four kitchens set up for classes.  We happened to luck out and cook in the nicest kitchen set in the middle of the farm with an amazing view.  Throughout the day we learned to make two Thai soups, red and yellow curry pastes (hard work with a mortar & pestle), chicken with cashew nuts, chicken with basil, papaya salad, sticky rice, steamed rice, pad thai, pad se ew, mango and sticky rice, steamed spring rolls, and bananas in coconut milk!  And yes, we ate ALL of this!  Talk about our perfect day...it doesn't get much better than this!  Not only was this the highlight of Chiang Mai but it was also one of the highlights of our entire trip so far!  It really was fulfilling to make something that tastes just like one of your favorite restaurants in NYC!

Some of the other great meals we had in Chiang Mai.. you can see that Thai iced tea is one of our favs!

Because who doesn't need a little Donald Duck outside their temple!

Yes those are bugs and no we did not eat them!

We also took some time in Chiang Mai to hang out and catch up on some tv episodes we had missed back home.  Sometimes it's the little things that make you happy when you're away from home.  And if you haven't been watching Scandal go download it!  It's amazing!!

From Chiang Mai we took an overnight train back to Bangkok and this was quite the experience, one we are glad to have had once but probably don't need to do anytime in the near future.  Having a private cabin would have made a huge difference but they were sold out.  It wouldn't have been so bad except 20 minutes before we went to bed one of the doors broke and wouldn't close so it was quite loud ALL NIGHT.

Middle of the night with everyone ensconced in their cocoon bunks.

Once in Bangkok we took a bus to Cambodia which included an interesting border crossing.  We will fill you in on that a little later.  Until then...we love you all!