Chiangmai

It's a bit disappointing to have to leave my luxurious suite but needs must, so after breakfast we set off to Chiangmai.  Yet again the weather is perfect. No humidity and the heat just right.  We were meant to go to see a couple of temple ruins in Wang Kum Kam but instead Joe has taken us to the White Temple.  And boy are we ever glad he did. As the temple first comes into view I thought I was seeing a snow palace out of a Disney movie.  It is absolutely spectacular. All in brilliant white with only mirror glass mosaic as any adornment. It is a one of a kind.  The guy who got it built is a famous artist in Thailand, from Chiangmai.  He has sold his paintings for millions of dollars.  As he didn't want the government to intervene with the making of this temple he funded it fully himself and would not accept donations from any other source.  He was keen to encourage young Thai people to follow the buddhist religion and wanted to make a temple that was attractive and different and something that might engage young people, so he drew up beautiful paintings of all aspects of the temple and under his tutelage and direction got 12 more artists/architects to follow his plans to get it done.  It is now about 18 years old (the artist ii now in his 60s and a professor at one of the universities.) We were able to take photos of the outside but not in the actual temple itself.  It was lovely wandering around the other outer buildings too.  Also had the chance to go into his art gallery where all the original paintings for the temple plus many more of his paintings were on view. Unfortunately we didn't have nearly enough time to take it all in, but this visit was truly a little gem that we are all so glad we got to see.  Dont know why this isn't included in the itinerary so am going to write to the tour company when I get home and encourage them to add it.  It really was a highlight.
However back on the coach we get and have about a 2 hour drive before we get to an umbrella making factory and shop where some of the ladies go berserk in getting painting on their bags, wallets, glasses cases and one of my kittens even got her trouser leg painted with the most delicate butterfly and dragonfly scene. I remember visiting here last time and got a bag painted plus bought an umbrella - can't remember what happened to the umbrella but I still have the hand bag and the painting hasn't aged a day.
Back on the coach and we head to a lovely out of the way open air restaurant in a huge park where we are treated to a lovely northern Thai style buffet.  they really like their chilli and spices so I just love their food, but I don't add more chilli to everything like the locals do.  The coconut chicken soup is to die for.  Hope I can find a recipe for it later. Back on the coach and we then visit one of the 3 government run gem galleries in Thailand.  Everything is absolutely beautiful but very pricey.  I looked at a nice little pair of earrings that I might have paid a couple of hundred dollars for but not the $1660 they wanted.  It is the bane of my life having champagne tastes on a beer budget... sigh...
So back on the coach and then to a silk making factory and store.  I bought myself a 3/4 sleeved top that  I can think I look quite stunning in, even if I do say so myself.  Not as stunning as in the blue tafetta but a close second. LOL!!!
Back on the coach and to our hotel which is very close to the night market which is huge.  it goes for about a kilometre on 2 sides of a main street, and then there are 2 large under cover markets off to each side. I know that many of them are going to have the exact same items but it is going to be fun wandering about them when we get a chance. Time for a cuppa and chance to start the blog.  My room is a very nice modern (but boring) standard style.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with it except it isn't one of the resort ones we have become accustomed to.. sigh...
However time to head to dinner wehere we are taken to an outdoor northern style restaurant.  As usually there are so many courses that there is no chance of us eating it all.  One of the main dishes is a whole chicken baked upright on a stand, but just before carving it has whiskey poured over it and set fire to! Waste of good whiskey for my liking, but made for a nice spectacle on the dinner table.  One of my kittens is a first time traveller with us, being invited along by one of the other kittens.  I am convinced that she has clear signs of alzheimers as she is forever wandering about 'lost' any where we stay and forgets where she has put something onl moments before plsu lots of oter little tell tale signs.  Anyway she was seated quite near the 'flaming' chicken and silly me says something like surely we should sing Happy Birthday so that someone can blow out the flame.  Well with that, the little kitten blew out the chicken!!!! I almost fell off my chair. Everyone else was way too polite to say any thing.  I just couldn't' help myself and cracked up laughing.  Kitty looked dumbfounded and bewildered so I said to her "Well done you, I was worried that that flame was going to get out of hand."  With that she was pleased and everyone else pretended that what just happened didn't, and got on with the business of eating dinner. I did later manage to knock over one of the kitten's wine glass, but in my defence I was the one who ended up carving up the chicken and only knocked he glass when I tried to serve her some of it!!! At least she had drunk most of it but I bought her another one anyway.  We all commented on how nice the vegeables were that the wine dropped into too!
Over dinner amongst lots of laughing (except for Frugal who sat stoney faced through most of the night) there was discssion about tomorrow being Melbourne Cup day/. One of my kittens is a slef-confessed big gambler and was keen for us to do a sweep so I am now incharge of running a sweep tomorrow.  On the coach trip back to our hotel I told Joe that we were going to run a sweep in the morning for he melbourne Cup and what it is all about, however we woldn't do it i it offended him (being a Buddhist and all).  Not only did he say he didn't mind at all, he wants to be in it too! Bless him.  So I have now come back to my room, very tired and so ready for bed, but not before I've drawn up the sweep names and horses and finished today's blog.  I was hoping to add some more photos but you have missed out for now as enough is enough to fit into one day.
It's been another great day and I'm so looking forward to tomorrow as I know my kittens are in for a great treat - you will just have to stay tuned.