Chiang Mai Weekend

FRIDAY headed to Chiang Mai Thailand. Thai Air connecting thru Bangkok. arrived about 3:30pm, picked up at airport, checked into Mandarin Oriental hotel. rested a bit, headed out for cocktail at poolside bar....amazing facility. saw more automobiles than motorbikes which was a big change and many many pick up trucks which they dont have in HCM. Dinner was at their mediterranean restaurant (eggplant parm appetizer size and mushroom soup) black capri, leopard top. alos watched a bit of babe ruther movie with john goodman just to unwind after we arrived. hotel suite was amazing and huge.

SATURDAY dad went for 730 swim in pool that opened at 8am. i headed to breakfast which was included in the room package. on the way to breakfast i stopped and arranged our day activities which included elephant camp visit and ride, raft ride, temple visit, jade shop factory. all were a huge hit with both of us. elephant ride was 45 minutes incl stop for souveniers, raft ride was leisurely pace down river where we were met by our driver and guide who then took us to temple (seen one, seen....) but this one was particularly gilded and big buddist and monk activity. then stopped in at jade factory and saw them carving jade - dad found a pair of cufflinks he liked in the shape of elephants of course. returned to hotel, sat at pool, had cocktails later. dinner in Mediterranean restaurant: osso bucco, veal saltimboca. black capri during day with leopard top (from last night) and evening was b&w capri with black tee to dinner.

SUNDAY ... dad sawm, breakfast at 8. b&w capri (see a pattern here?). 10am departed with guide and driver for antique shops. first stop was silk factory where we saw silk worms boiled then the cocoons were pulled for silk threads. picked up 2 scarfs and 2 elephant print boxers for dad. then tried to find antique shops (not teak shops). frustrating a bit because many places were closed either bc it was sunday or economy not bringing in business. then even more frustrating was trying to find elephant tee shirts for the babies....we just werent having any luck all over. back to hotel, late lunch, closed restaurant at 315. dinner included with room at thai restaurant with dancing show .... before that was our included spa for 80 minutes. steam, jacuzzi, massage, tea ... dad balked at male therapist so i had the guy and he got the female for aroma therapy treatment. quick change, to bar for cocktail, 8pm dinner. brown linen and top. packed after dinner for early departure

MONDAY ... 5am wake up call, 530 buggy ride to front desk for check out, ride to airport about half hour, borded Thai flight to bangkok and connection to HCM. arrived home and Mrs.Han had prepared PhoGa for our lunch, dad left for work about noon. and i downloaded and read emails. storm came thru Monday afternoon so no walk for me.

TUESDAY ... might as well update today so far. dad went swimming. Ms. Han and I took a hydrofoil to VungTau which is about 1hr20 minutes away. beach type place. we left the house about 745 for 830 boat trip. arrived there walked around caught taxi who gave us little tour, found a place for lunch, ate lunch, back on hydrofoil at 1230. horrible storm on the way back. sort of like riding the elephant on the water. bumping around. dodging big tankers or container ships coming into HCM. interesting. intended to do some city shopping but storm changed that plan so we taxi'd back and that's about it for now. wearing khaki slacks and blue/green linen shirt. tonight were going out to dinner with lizzy and werner i think for shabu shabu which is a big pot like fondue. update to follow. only one vung tau photo to be posted later.