Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai, heaven on earth.

In fact, Chiang Mai has something truly enchanting about it and has become one of my top favorites in Southeast Asia over the past few days. The journey here took 12 hours by train from Bangkok, but it was very pleasant compared to some of the other experiences I've had here. By chance, I ended up in a fantastic hostel that made me very cheap and with lots of insider tips. So I was able to spend the next few days with elephants and took a cooking course for Thai cuisine, which was a lot of fun. I will write a separate post about the elephants.

Chiang Mai has an incredibly charming old town. Those who know me know that I hate shopping, but here everything is so individual and uniquely designed that you can't help but explore. From clothing to bookstores (where I got myself a classic by Terry Pratchett), to gracefully shaped wire jewelry ... a place to relax and just let yourself drift. The Thai massages are also highly recommended. Unbelievable that you only pay €4 per hour. By the way, Thai curry tastes completely different than ours but of course better. However, as I learned while cooking (my goodness, how I missed just COOKING), they also use completely different ingredients here than in Europe. So I will probably have to do some serious shopping before flying home. Pad Thai, for example, is fried noodles with peanuts, vegetables, tofu, and a variable sauce.

The Libernard Cafe here is an absolute must-visit! The best pancakes in the world and the finest coffee.

One thing that was really funny was the foot massage with fish. It just feels super funny.

As for the old town: temples, temples, and more temples, with thousands of cute shops in between. The temperatures are much more pleasant than in Bangkok and the people are more relaxed. Conclusion: I could easily stay here.