Sawat dee krap!

Our adventures in Thailand continue — our students have bonded as a group, everyone is diving wholly into Thai culture, and we’re all having an unforgettable time! During our time in Chiang Mai, we spent a day in the mountainous jungles around Chiang Mai and took an adventure zipline tour that’s designed to mirror the migration routes of the local monkey population, Lar Gibbons. The tour winds through the jungle canopy among and atop the beautiful fig and banana trees. Our particular route entailed over four miles of zip-lines and boasted the longest single zip-line “flight” in Asia, about a half mile in length! These zip-lines offered our students a unique tree-top perspective into the exotic rainforests of Southeast Asia, a close-up glimpse of a pair of Lar Gibbons, and the thrill-seeker’s dream-come-true of speeding around from tree to tree, all while safely secured to support lines. We had an amazing rainforest tour and the students left the mountain feeling satisfied and tired, yet eager for their next adventure!

After a brief stop at a large Thai and international shopping mall for souvenirs, we found ourselves seated on cushions, traditional-style, around three dinner tables directly in front of a large stage. The restaurant featured Lanna culture and cuisine (Lan Na was the kingdom that prevailed in the Northern region of Thailand before it united as one nation), and our dinner included traditional dishes of curry, fried chicken, vegetables, and a local specialty sauce comparable to Mexican salsa called Nam Prik Num, which is usually eaten with vegetables. After dinner, the students were treated to an array of Lanna cultural performances including live traditional music, dancing, and swordplay. The final performance of the night proved to be the most memorable, as the Lanna dancers walked out into the crowd in search of volunteers to partake in a traditional dance on-stage. We are proud to say that many of the participants were from our group! The students emulated the movements and traditional hand gestures of the dancers and had an absolute blast.

While in Chiang Mai, we also went on a personal bike tour of our local neighborhood in De Wiang Kum Kam, courtesy of the wonderful guesthouse owner, Teeraphan. He led us through small winding streets to explore the ruins scattered throughout the area, and he offered insight into both the historical and current practices of Theravada Buddhism. The area immediately surrounding our guesthouse is dotted with ancient temples made of now craggy 700+ year-old bricks. Many of these temples retain some of their tallest stupas and all of their beauty and allure. As we walked about the stone paths and ascended the old brick stairways, we were joined by Thai Buddhists coming to make offerings to these ancient ruins. Our students watched, and many joined, as the Thais paid their respect in the same fashion as their ancestors did in these exact same places over 700 years ago.

After a hot day riding bikes in the sun, we returned for a quick dip in the saltwater pool and were off for another great evening, which began with a late lunch at a local noodle shop. There we ate Khao Soi,  a famous noodle-curry soup originating in Northern Thailand. With our bellies full of local cuisine, we moved on to a three dimensional interactive art museum located in the city center. The group had a blast exploring and taking pictures throughout the museum. From the museum, we went straight to Chiang Mai Sunday Night Walking Street, a large night market in Thailand made famous for its many vendors selling handmade crafts from the hill tribe villages that surround the region. The students split into groups and went on a scavenger hunt, which challenged them to find various interesting or funny items and bring them back to the group. They passed with flying colors and many had very touching encounters with the locals who showed them the kindness that we have come to know and love about Thai people.

We are so happy with our group of students and, as the adventures and cultural experiences continue here in Thailand, we will be sure to keep you updated. Until next time, Sabai Sabai!

Khop khun krrap,
Anna and Ryan