Chiang Mai, Thailand

A diverse couple of days and it's only going to get more so.

After our swanky evening at The Moon Cafe, Lucy and I took a Tuk Tuk to the Red light district of Patpong. We played Ping Pong Show bingo. In 10 minutes we were asked 17 times if we'd like to see a show, if ping pongs didn't interest us, never fear because they had a menu that included, but was not limited to blowing candles, cutting bananas and darts.
I am just glad Lucy isn't a man, she struggled to spot the lady boys from the real thing. My theory was if they look that good in a thong and sparkly high heels then they are more likely a 15 year old boy than any lady i know.

We flew up to Chiang Mai yesterday and was met by Lucy's mum Vicki who has been out here volunteering for the past few months. She's actually based a few hours outside of here but came in to pick us up. As soon as we got into Chiang Mai, we left it for some silk factories where Lucy and i indulged ourselves with decadent silk undies. I'm sure they will look great underneath my sweats. It was at the silk factory that Lucy hit on the joke of the day. Picking out ties for gifts she asked my opinion, i stated often and loudly how i was an expert on ties, i could pick a great tie, ties were boring...blah,blah blah not realising the lovely Thai assistants were looking at me with quizical (is that a word?) looks. This was nothing to a conversation we had yesterday outside a temple as we debated what act constituted being unfaithful. I said it would be a struggle but i could forgive a kiss but that 'i would be most unhappy if i found out my husband got a blow job. ..'
i said this as a group of teenage tourists walked by and erupted into laughter.

We then headed on to Lamphun about 20k outside of Chiang Mai to stay with a Thai family who are friends with Vicki. Extremely sweet. I particularly like the name of the son that we met, Dear. Named so because he was born on Valentines Day. Love it. Literally across the street from their house is an extremely picturesque temple called Wat Phra That Haripunchai. Another Wat off the list. There seems to be an abundance of monks in this area of Thailand, makes sense as i read that every Thai boy has to be a monk for at least some part of thier lives. It can be for a few days but is usually for a few months. It's quite funny seeing Buddhist monks going about thier business, it seems they go to the 7/11 and rent DVD's too.

All this is well and good but time for the main event. The ELEPHANTS, more specifically the ones that paint. Today we went to see them and i will be bitterly disappointed if i don't get a baby elephant that paints for my birthday this year.
It was great, the place is called the Mae Sae Elephant Training Camp and compared to other elephant establishments and zoos out there, this is pretty cool. The place is exceptionally clean and peaceful and the elephants genuinely seem to be having a good time. Why wouldn't they, they get to throw darts, play football, dance, play the harmonica...all of which i am crap at. The best is the painting though, the trainers seem to use tugs on the elephants ears to guide them as they paint flowers and abstract paintings. I will struggle to make rent this month after splashing out on a couple, the most expensive is the self portrait. An elephant has painted a picture of an elephant. It will be hanging in my apt within the next month for those that want to check it out. It's the best thing ever!