Thailand is a backpacker mecca because it's financially cheap, culturally rich, and geographically diverse. Warm smiles and friendly faces awaited me at Chiang Mai's international terminal. Getting there from the Philippines included a 16 hour layover in Kuala Lumpur, a story in itself. Tired from three days of traveling I hopped in a tuk tuk and made my way into the heart of Chiang Mai. Brittany and I spent 3 weeks in Thailand a year earlier and the elevated plains and spirituality of Chiang Mai engraved longlasting images in my memory. Orange wrapped monks peacefully swarm the streets in search of deeper understanding and harmony. Aromas of basil and thai chili pour from open-air eateries and massage the olfactory of passers-by. The occasional elephant conquers a lane of traffic and a gaggle of locals and ex-patriot westerners zip down the streets on Japanese motorbikes.
Within an hour I checked into a backpacker-cheap hotel, rented a motorbike, and laid prostrate at the mercy of a thai masseuse. I spent the next few days enjoying the serenity of the area and exploring the surrounding hills. Thailand was not a primary destination on this trip so I fueled up on local cuisine, replaced some worn clothing, and prepared for the journey to mystical Laos.
Thailand is a backpacker mecca because it's financially cheap, culturally rich, and geographically diverse. Warm smiles and friendly faces awaited me at Chiang Mai's international terminal. Getting there from the Philippines included a 16 hour layover in Kuala Lumpur, a story in itself. Tired from three days of traveling I hopped in a tuk tuk and made my way into the heart of Chiang Mai. Brittany and I spent 3 weeks in Thailand a year earlier and the elevated plains and spirituality of Chiang Mai engraved longlasting images in my memory. Orange wrapped monks peacefully swarm the streets in search of deeper understanding and harmony. Aromas of basil and thai chili pour from open-air eateries and massage the olfactory of passers-by. The occasional elephant conquers a lane of traffic and a gaggle of locals and ex-patriot westerners zip down the streets on Japanese motorbikes.
Within an hour I checked into a backpacker-cheap hotel, rented a motorbike, and laid prostrate at the mercy of a thai masseuse. I spent the next few days enjoying the serenity of the area and exploring the surrounding hills. Thailand was not a primary destination on this trip so I fueled up on local cuisine, replaced some worn clothing, and prepared for the journey to mystical Laos.
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