We stayed the whole week in Chiang Mai at a fancy dancy hotel called Ping Buri - walking distance to Lucy's university. Walking distance to everything. The only trouble is that people in Thailand aren't much for walking; sidewalks are sparse and crosswalks non-existant. For $15 Baht (the equivalent of about 23 US cents) you can get anywhere in the city (which is the size of Seattle) in a "Sea-Law" - a red truck with two benches in the back and a canopy on the top.
Highlights of the week in Chiang Mai included running at the park in the mornings, the all-you-can-eat vegetarian buffet ($2 US dollars), my first (and maybe last ever) Thai massage, fresh carrot juice everyday, the Thai cooking course (yes, my restaurant will feature some Thai dishes), the 3,000 stall Sunday night market with everything from crab sausage to silk ties.
Downfalls of the week in Chiang Mai include but are not limited to the greesy food (deep fried everything), the pollution (should have packed the dust mask), the numerous "bathrooms" without toliet paper, sinks or toliets, my Thai massage (I'll probably get another one but certainly can't recommend it to anyone - they hurt), the non-stop rush-hour traffic and not being able to read or speak Thai. Sa-wa-di-kah!
We were spoiled at Ping Buri by the warm water, flushing toliets, daily breakfast (mmm...boiled rice), high-speed internet access and friendly English speaking staff. Now it is time to start pinching Baht and staying in bamboo bungalows as we head north into the mountains.
