Thailand : Phrao, Chiang Mai

It was a long 2 hour van ride into the hill to reach Phrao. The weather and temperature definately started dropping. Life certainly gets simpler here. Away from the city and even the towns, this is really rural.



Most villages are basic with a satellite dish for some communications. Not everyone gets electricity and most are obtained by petrol generators. Resources is well preserved and none is wasted.







They were preparing a pig to be roasted for the feast.



Fresh vegetables and pork.  Most of the villagers are farmers and they plant paddy in the fields.



Dawn breaks in Phrao. The velvet sky slowly lighting up. Dew can still be seen. The air is crisp and the temperature cold.



Starting a small fire, the fire will be used to warm souls and boil water for breakfast.









Though their lives are simple, the children have the loveliest smiles.



The Lao women dress in red mainly and help out in the kitchen.







[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="720"] Children rope skipping.[/caption]

When you are this young, and living in the hills, the simplest tools are made into toys.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] A Lao woman on her way home.[/caption]

Life is truly simple here. They eat what they plant. Rice is sent to be sold in the markets. Most children here do not have an education. The journey to Phrao town takes about an hour and with lack of transport, many children decide to stay at home and end up skipping school. During the nights, the temperature drops to around 15 degrees Celcius. It is a comfortable 25 Celcius in the day but the wind is cool and it is nice to sit in the sun.

You do appreciate warm water, simple food, a full stomach and electricity here in the simple life.

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Thailand : Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai reminds me of a colorful city with probably the best weather for me. Cool wind and sunshine. The nights were bone-chilling cold. You wake up feeling rested and fresh. It is so cozy. It was also my first flight in so many years and my first AirAsia flight as well. It would spark a long love relationship with the Airbus A320.

Chiang Mai is a more relaxed city if compared to Bangkok. Perhaps the cool weather distracted me from how busy it actually is.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] Hats for sale? I sure hope no one steals them.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="720"] Relaxing with the newspaper.[/caption]

I visited a very colorful market in Chiang Mai named Warorot Market which was built in 1910 by Jao Warorot. It is more known as Kad Luang by the locals.



There are many shops compacted into this building. Items range from foodstuff to household items.



Pig organs and pork related foodstuff is sold in the open. Many people buy these for lunch.





There are pickles and sweets on sale. They are similar in taste to the Chinese versions and probably sourced from the same Asian whole seller.





Herbs and spices and roots on sale. The prices are pretty much similar to those back in KL.



There is a flower section facing the river Ping. Fresh flowers can be bought here and most are wrapped nicely by the florists.







One thing you must do in Thailand is eat deep fried insects.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="720"] Eggs / larvae of some insect.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="720"] Just guess. Fried cicada on the bottom right.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="720"] Deep fried locusts.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="720"] Gourmet?[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="720"] Bamboo worms.[/caption]

Most of these creepy crawlies taste of oil and butter. However, the larger ones will give you a weird insect metallic taste. Not for the faint-hearted. It is mainly mind over matter as the idea of putting bugs in your mouth is so repulsive.



This was a nice market visit.  A good welcome by the city of Chiang Mai.

It was time for a real lunch and it seems to me, pork is served a lot in Chiang Mai.

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="720"] Roasted pork in sauce. Ginger at the side.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] Ever popular Pineapple Fried Rice.[/caption]

After lunch, it was time to head into the hills of Phrao. With a full stomach and a cool weather, it was time for a nap during the 2 hour long van ride.