Wrapping up Chiang Mai

In the airport waiting for our noon flight to Ko Samui. Have AC.

Between trekking and biking,we took a day long cooking class. it was very interesting and incredibly helpful after the fact in iding stuff in the markets, watching the food vendors,and figuring out what the heck we were eating. The was a tour of a marketplace included, where we found a smoothie maker who we have returned to several times now, including breakfast today.

We shared our class with some teenagers from Quebec. Had good conversation with them. Talked about differences in educational systems and drinking ages.

That evening we went to a temple for some more Monk Chat and had a meditation practice with a very intense monk. Afterwards we stumbled upon a big city festival at a wat. Saw little monks holding carnival prizes.

Two nights ago we went out and successfully made friends with some Thai engineering students. or at least Anna and Sam did, I was a bit out of it. They cheered a about everything Sam said. (you study engineering? Cheers yaaaaaa). We taught them the English words Drunk and Sober. Hopefully they remember meeting us.

Yesterday was a lazy day. We splurged on lunch,meaning we spent around three dollars on a river front restaurant with nice atmosphere and lots of cats. Wrote our first wave of postcards. We then IDed Love at First Bite in our travel book and successfully foumd it without getting lost or sidetracked,a first for us,and treated ourselves to some banana cream pie,key lime pie,and brownie. We went to Saturday Walking street,the big weekend market,and did a fair amont of shopping and buying. The national anthem played at six, with everyone standing and quiet for the duration. A little freaky and automatonic in my book. The night ended with a huge rainstorm blowing in. Everyone scurried for cover, and we sheltered under a street vendor's table. We ordered dinner and waited for the rain to come. It took a bit before the black clouds and lighting unleashed their rain, but boy did it rain. Every five minutes we turn and say "I think it is raining harder now. It cant possibly rain harder." After awhile we gave up, bundled our purchases up, and walked home in the rain.