Nik and I went to see Wall-E, the new Pixar/Disney movie, this afternoon at the Chiang Mai Vista Movie Theater.  The movie was fantastic!  I’m not a movie critic, so I won’t review the movie, but I’ll just say that you should see it!!

I do want to tell you about the experience though.  Going to see a movie in Thailand isn’t much different than everywhere else, but there are a few things that are unique.

1. Ticket Price – In America, you pay $8-15 to see newly released movie, depending on whether you watch before or after 4pm.  In Thailand, you pay 90Baht ($2.70) for the movie no matter when you go.  This price challenges our $10/month Netflix accounts and the iTunes movie rental.

2. Assigned Seats – In Thailand you choose your seats when you buy the tickets.  This is similar to most European theaters, but not so in America.  I can’t decide if I like assigned seats or not because I haven’t been to a movie that was anywhere near capacity.

3. Concessions – In America, “No outside food or beverage” signs are seen at all theaters.  In Thailand, there are no such signs.  It seems that you can bring any food or drink you wish.  They do have a concession stand selling soda, popcorn and candy right next to the theaters, but they seem to be independent and therefore their prices are fair.  Today we spent 55Baht ($1.60) for soda and popcorn, where the same thing would have been $8 in America.  AND they have sweet Popcorn!!!  They have salty too, but for low-grade movie popcorn that sits around all day, the sweet is much better!!

So far, we have only been to two movies, Batman The Dark Knight and Wall-E.  Next I want to see a Thai film, and I also want to try one of the VIP theaters.  They supposedly have sofas and give you a foot massage during as you watch…wouldn’t that be nice?

Yesterday, I had the itch to get out.  It was sunny and I wanted to shop!!  Nik wanted to work on his website, so I decided that I would take off on the motorbike after breakfast.  I took a shower, got dressed, planned my route on the map, did the dishes, swept the floor, made the bed, looked at the map, folded my clothes, put on makeup, took out the trash, backed up my photos, looked at the map again…I know what you are thinking, “If she really had the itch…then why didn’t she just go?”  Well, I have only driven the motorbike by myself twice.  The first time was practice, and I did great for about an hour until I had to make a U-turn on a busy 4-lane highway. I took the turn too wide, and the bike fell over with me on it.  I received a pretty deep cut on my right elbow, and I couldn’t get the bike to start again because I was shaking too much.  Then the second time I drove by myself was to retrieve the hydrogen peroxide to clean Nik’s big toe after he stabbed it with the kick-stand and passed out in front of 7-Eleven.  Needless to say, I was nervous about driving the bike.  And when I get nervous, I procrastinate.

Once there was nothing else to do at the apartment, I collected my keys, cell phone, helmet, gloves, phrasebook, purse and nerves.  I gave Nik a kiss and said I’d be back in a couple hours.  I was off for a day of shopping!!

30 minutes later, I was back.  I can’t do it.  Driving that bike scares me so much that I couldn’t do it.  My mother will be shocked to hear this story because as a child I never gave up and nothing ever scared me.  Once, I fell ice skating and had a huge knot on my forehead, but I had to go back out for 8 more laps.  When I’d fall of my bike, hit my head and scratch up my knees, I was always back on before the other kids even knew I fell.  Well mom, I am getting older and my nerves are finally sensitive.  This means that I can’t go many places by myself here in Chiang Mai, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make.  There are too many obsticles, and too many streets for me to get lost on.  And if I did, I couldn’t ask for help because I don’t speak the language.  It is not worth my nerves, and Nik’s, for me to ride alone.

After I settled down, we decided to go downtown for lunch.  Nik drove, and I was very happy to be the passenger!  After lunch we walked to the Chiang Mai Arts and Culture Center where we had seen a marching band complete with flag team preparing for a parade.  It turns out that it was an advertising parade for a local bank!!

Advertising Parade...for the Kasikorn Bank

Nik was still anxious to work on his website, and I was still itching to shop and wander, so we decided to go our seperate ways and meet at the park 2 hours later.  Nik left on motorbike, and I took off on foot.  Here is what I saw…

The circles of life...House Wall, Dangerous Intersection, An abandoned game of Bottlecap Checkers, Broken Street Lamp

Houses of Old Town...The styles, colors, architecture, water towers, mail boxes, gates...all unique to this Thai Culture.

Everything Matches...even the bigwheel.

Common Elements...Backup Water Tank, Post Box, House #, Homemade Security Fence

Nature in the Built Environment...Lizards roam freely, Ornamental Blooms, Beautiful Weeds, A bouquet with Blue Orchids

Look High...For Commando Gear and Travel Shampoo. Look Low...For discarded Drink Boxes and Drying Fish.

Wat Pan Whaen...Beautiful White Chedi, Golden Doors, VW Van with no Roof, The sign

Buak Hat Public Park...The sky, My current read: The River at the Center of the World by Simon Winchester, Rented 10Bhat Bamboo Matt for 2, Nik

A Bouquet for You...of Handheld Fish Nets!

The day started out with nerves and ended with pure happiness!!!

Huay Tung Tao Reservoir

Today Nik and I took a short 30 minute drive to Huay Tung Tao Reservoir. The Thai’s call it “Chiang Mai’s Freshwater Lake”, which is a more accurate description because I don’t think the water is directly pumped into the city water system.

The lake and its surrounding land was donated by the Royal Family as a tourist destination and boasts activities such as paintball, paddle boats, fishing, ATV rentals, camping, picnic areas and a swimming area.  There are also several small concession stand/restaurants on the eastern edge of the lake.  Each restaurant has 20-30 small dining huts along the water which will accommodate 2-4 people as well as larger dining areas for bigger groups.  The atmosphere is very casual and laid back, especially today because the lake was mostly abandoned, except for a few fishermen and a handful of groups dining.

I have read that they are planning on “sprucing up” the area, which I think is a mistake.  There are plans to build a spa, an up-scale restaurant and even an internet cafe.  They don’t have enough parks in Chiang Mai, please don’t ruin this one with over develpment.

Map & Road

The beautiful lake....and they have toilets!! They also rent innertubes to float on.

Dining Hut #1 comes with entertainment.

The food was decent when paired with cold beer. (yes, we drank beer with ice...Nik assured me that that's what the Thai's do)

Umbrellas

Sprite Bottle Bouy and the Toilet built around a tree

If you ever visit Chiang Mai, I definitely recommend a day at the Reservoir.  The admission is 20Baht/person, and is completely worth it.  In fact, I think we are going to go back this weekend.  Hopefully it will be busier and we will enjoy some quality people watching!!

The suburbs where they install the shower head before the ceiling.

On the road to the Reservoir, we passed by a new suburban development. Nik and I are always sad to see these new homes because they are so similar to the American suburbs. But it is also sad because there are so many abandoned buildings in Thailand. In fact, many neighborhoods like this one never get completed because the money runs out. I hope this one succeeds, but I am doubtful.

Sunday, Nik and I took a Thai cooking class at the Chiang Mai Thai Cookery School.  The day started with a group trip to the market.

At the Market

Then we went back to The Wok restaurant where we learned how to make 6 dishes:

1. Phad Siewe (Fried Big Noodles with Sweet Soy Sauce)
2. Hor Neung Plaa (Steamed Fish in Banana Leaves)
3. Gaeng Garee Gai (Yellow Curry with Chicken)
4. Gai Phad Med Mamuang (Chicken with Cashew Nuts)
5. Plaah Goong (Spicy Prawn Salad North-Eastern Style)
6. Kluay Buad Chee (Bananas in Coconut Milk)

The instruction was simple and informative, the cooking was rushed and easy, and the food was very good.  The class cost 990Baht ($30) and came with a great cookbook with photos and 18 additional recipes.  Lets just hope we can find the ingredients in the States.

Steamed Fish in Banana Leaf, Yellow Curry w/ Chicken, Chicken w/ Cashew Nuts

Nik’s Blog: Thai Cooking Class: 1 Day, 6 Dishes

Nik and I spent the last two days exploring Old Town Chiang Mai.  The original intent was to go an a walking tour of temples.  We did see several temples, but the focus of the walking tour was the walking and observing.  We saw so many things that we could only find in Thailand!!  They were random days, so here are my random photos.

Window at Wat Muen Toom, Kid watching his friends pass after school, The perfect white rooster, Graffiti

roof tile work at Wat Pan Tao, Monk wraps drying at Wat Muen Toom, I had a rock in my shoe and was unaware of the tiger hiding in the next room

Doors at Wat Chiang Man, Yellow Wall, Burger & Fries at Mike's Burger, Window Shutter at Wat Chiang Man

Girl calling her mom after school, A section of the Nancy Chandler Map, FAIR, Elementary school girls getting donuts after school

The city wall near Tha Phae Gate, Wood detail at Wat Chang Taem, More wood details, Nik pondering why he is sitting on such a small swing

Nursing pups, Temple windows at Wat Chang Taem, Temple Gate, Handwritten headstone at Wat Pa Pao

Dragons at wat Chedi Luang, Mirrored tiles outside Wat Muang Khom Thong, White Chedi at Wat Chang Taem, Dandilion Fountain in the city moat

LUNCH!!!!

Saturday’s highlight was lunch.  On our Nancy Chandler map, it notes “Favorite Eating Places for Locals.  Lots of Cheap Eats”, so we had to go.  I wish I knew the name of the place, but it is on the corner of Inthawarorot Rd and Ratchadamnoen Soi 6.  It is a larger restaurant than normal, and they only serve chicken…boiled, grilled or fried.  We had grilled chicken skewers and boiled chicken over rice.  Sounds bland, right?  The chicken was, but the sauce they serve it with is amazing!!!  For the grilled chicken (satay), they serve a sweet peanut sauce.  For the boiled chicken on rice, they serve a soy based sauce with garlic and chilli and a lot more.  It was so delicious and filling, and only 90Baht ($2.25).  To add to the good food, the atmosphere is great too.  The owner, an animated middle-aged man, takes all of the orders and yells them short-order style to his two sons that are working the kitchen.  When he’s not taking orders he’s chatting with the locals.

Deteriorating steel gate, Path to the monks quarters, lilly Pond, The gate is leaning...not me

Front Yard Circus Show

Nik’s Blog: Walking Inside the Moat