DINING EXPERIENCES IN CHIANGMAI

Thailand - as I see it.


DINING EXPERIENCES  in Chiangmai,Thailand

MK - a unique dining experience in Chiangmai

There were 5 of us plus William, the baby.  We dined with a large pot of soup in the middle of the table and they bring numerous sauces, a soup bowl and a plate for all the different foods.  Small baskets of eel, octopus, shrimp, steak, pork, chicken, mussels , clams, mushrooms, beef, squid, carrots, shrimp balls, flour balls with filling, noodles, cabbage, different leaves, corn on the cob, baby corn on the cob, raviolis with various fillings and other items I didn't recognize we're brought to the table for us to put in the pot.  Beef and pork which were sliced very thin were brought for us to eat while we were waiting for the food to cook. They refilled the green tea as soon as the glass was half full.  We ate for almost two hours.  

When the bill came and I treated to this feast, it was less than $45 for all of us.  Everything was fresh and prepared beautifully.  

Then we went to the ice cream shop and had ice cream plain or dipped in chocolate for less than $2 for all five.  What a deal.

In the evening, On made smoothies with fresh oranges and pineapple and went out to a street stand and bought us all roti.  Roti is a crepe cooked on a large griddle with sweetened condensed milk on it, powdered sugar, honey and bananas if you wish and then all rolled up and folded in a piece of waxed paper.  They are delicious and cost between 30 and 50 cents each.

The next day we ate at Shabushi, another excellent Japanese Restaurant where the food comes by on a conveyer belt and you take what you want and cook it at your own cook pot.  They also have rice, fried shrimp, sushi, vegetables, fruit, ice crem and desserts.  It is a dining experience.

A MEDICAL THAI MASSAGE - not your normal massage

A THAI MEDICAL MASSAGE - Not like any massage I have ever had

The small woman talked with me about my back and said you won't like it but I can help you.  She also said she would be easy - NOT -.  Oh well, she had me lie down on a wooden bed with a cloth on it.  That was the first problem as I can't lie down flat.  She had to put many pillows under my legs just to get me in position.  She felt like 2-ton tony when she massaged, not like a little woman.  She started at my feet and covered every inch from the bottom of my feet to the entire legs, which took an hour.  Then she worked on my buttocks and back and this took an hour.  Then she worked on my shoulders and neck and head for at least half an hour.  She then said that she should put tiger balm on me so I could move.  She said sit up and that was a joke, I needed help with that task.  Then she said stand up and that was the second joke.  Wow was I tender.  I didn't know I had so many problem areas until she started pushing.  She would laugh and say oh oh, no problem when I flinched or pulled away. She just kept on and said that there were a lot of problem areas.  She said when we were done that I may not want to come back because she hurt me but that I needed it so much she hoped she could hurt me again. Wow, no soft touch with her hands or her mouth.  I took Tylenol and today I am not as sore as I had been.  I can't believe that that torture could help but I going back for more so maybe I will be able to walk and stand without so much pain.  On, Rob's wife, paid for the massage and she said that she didn't think I would want to pay for so much pain.  That was so kind of her.  

Well today we are going to get a soothing facial and a soft foot massage.

So that I can get ready for the next pain session.

The next blogs should be more cheerful but I think she has helped me already.

Bye for now from Chiangmai, Thailand

Marcia Cutler Weis

A NEW LITTLE ONE NAMED FOR WILLI

Thailand - as I see it.   A NEW LITTLE ONE - NAMED FOR WILLI

William - Willi 's namesake is so cute.  He is 5 months old and already is on his own in the walker, just like his brother, Tyler.  He just came into my room and smiled and checked out everything.  He loves to go for rides in his stroller around the house.

It is so cute to watch Tyler and William on the webcam.  Tyler talks and William smiles and listens.
This blog entry was written one year ago.


William is now 1 year and 5 months old and he is running around all on his own trying to keep up with his big brother who is an excellent big brother.  He also loves to be held which is great for me.  He is a snuggler when not exploring on his own.

More to follow.  It is fun beng called Yah and Grandma.

Grandma Yah Marcia

Chiangmai revisited - I'm so sad - I'm happy

Thailand - as I see it.

As I flew into the Chiangmai Airport last night, I recalled what my grandson Tyler says sometimes, " I'm so sad, I'm happy.  This is just the way I felt as we were landing in this beautiful country of Thailand.  I am visiting it alone this time - no more Bu as Tyler would say.  Willi and I visited On and Rob in Chiangmai 4 times together and each time was an exciting adventure.  This time, I am on my own and meeting my grandson William, 5 months old, who was named in honor of Willi.   He was able to see William on the webcam before he passed away.  When I first saw him, he just looked and looked at me.  After a few minutes he gave me a smile and then let me hold him.  What a thrill.  I am so sad, I'm happy.

After a five hour nap, we went for a massage and it was just as wonderful as I had remembered.  It was two hours long a full 120 plus minutes and I am looking forward to the next one.  It cost $20 including the tip.  The motorbike ride was fun too as we weaved in and out of the traffic.  Rob bought  On a beautiful new car and it even held all my luggage from the airport to their home very nearby.  On is as good a driver of the car as she is of the motorbike.

I am just getting back to blogging so this first one in 2013 is a bit rambling but I will continue next time and even include pictures.

Contrasts and Comparisons in Thailand


Thailand - as I see it.

Rent a Car and Motor Cycle

Red Bus

Transportation varies greatly and I will mention five different modes of travel in and around Chiang Mai.
$5 for a Taxi  for two people on a one way trip to the mall from Rob’s house.    150 Baht
$3.25 for a Tuk Tuk open air motor vehicle for two to the mall from Rob’s house.  100 Baht   
$1.25 for a Red bus for two people from Rob’s house to the mall.    40 Baht
$3.25 to fill a tank of gasoline for a Motorcycle  approximately 100 Baht
$30 a day to  Rent a car approximately  1000 Baht a day

Spa

Massage Parlor

Massage Parlors and Spas
$10 or 300 Baht for a two hour foot massage one would pay at a regular massage parlor with no frills just an excellent massage where they wash your feet, massage your legs and feet for an hour, massage your head, neck, arms and hands as well.  They are well trained in reflexology and they give you warm water or hot ginger tea to drink after the massage.
$13 or 400 Baht for a two hour oil massage with a glass of warm water or hot tea afterwards.

$40 or 1200 Baht  you can get a hand, foot and shoulder massage for an hour and a half in a nice spa setting.  They offer you tea before hand, a special room for washing your feet and another massage room.

$75 or 2236 Baht in a spa you can have three different massages in two hours, a Thai Massage, Aromatherapy Massage and Oil Massage.  The Thai massage loosens you up, the aromatherapy relaxes you and the oil just feels great.  At the spa you are offered a cup of green tea, a lovely relaxing area before the massage and they even give you a g string and a shower cap to wear for a shower after the massage.  They have a nice place for you to put your jewelry and to hang up your clothes.  This includes tax and gratuity.




Restaurants vary greatly from $1 a meal to $25 a meal at an upscale hotel restaurant.
$1 or 30 Baht for a department store food court meal, only local Thai food.
$3 or 100 Baht for a meal at a local open air homestyle restaurant, mainly local food
$9 or 300 Baht for a meal at an indoor Italian restaurant
$12 or 400 Bah for a meal at a buffet with all the trimmings and you cook at your table
$25 or 750 Baht for a meal for an upscale hotel restaurant

Outdoor Restaurant

Local Thai Restaurant

Buffet Restaurant

Street Vendor

Rob and his son, Tyler

My son Rob and his son Tyler

Tyler right after birth with Daddy Rob    I took this picture when we were talking on the webcam.
It isn't a perfect picture, you can see me in the bottom right, but Rob's expression is perfect.

Thailand - as I see it.

Daddy Rob and Tyler at 6 months

Big Boy Tyler and Daddy Rob at 1 year  5 months.

Daddy Rob and Tyler at 1 year and 6 months.

Tyler is the joy of Daddy's life.  Rob is a kind, loving and proud Daddy and loves to take Tyler

with him whenever he can.  Tyler would much rather go with Daddy but if he can't, he waves 

and says bye and throws a kiss.

Dressing up in Hill Tribe Finery


Thailand - as I see it

Grampa Willi, Mommy On, Tyler, Grandma Marcia, Daddy Rob

Rob, Marcia Mom and Willi

We drove all the way into the mountains to visit
this Hill Tribe.  They have native costumes that you can rent and have pictures taken. It was such fun wearing the finery.  I felt like a princess.

There were very steep hills to climb to get to the Hill Tribe Museum and to the area where the pictures were taken. As we walked up the hills we viewed many shops of the wares of the people.

Ladies of the Hill Tribe were sewing by hand and also with sewing machines.  There were scarves, pocket books of all shapes and sizes, wooden carved objects, handmade jewelry and shoes.

Marcia in front of a waterfall with festive attire

Marcia and Willi all dressed up.

Tyler Cutler, 1 year 4 months old

Daddy and Tyler

The women, men and children all have elaborate costumes.  There are layers of handmade blouces, skirts, jeweled necklaces and the head piece.

Marcia and Willi

Grandma, Tyler and Mommy

Thailand - as I see it.  Today was an awesome day with our Thai Family.