MAESA ELEPHANT CAMP - CHIANG MAI

Driving on the 121 highway, we headed for the Maesa Elephant Camp, about 40 km from Chiang Mai. This was our first tour out of the city since our arrival.

It was pleasant drive all the way. 

A brief stop at this restaurant for a light lunch.

I had a very simple noodle soup with chicken favour.

We arrived our destination after some 45 minutes.

The bamboo canopy after the entrance.

Walking towards the lush tropical jungle of Maesa Valley.

 A beautiful replica !

At the showground, there were about 20 elephants showing off their skills in dart game, football, basket ball, logging and lumber dragging show. 

At least 4 elephants put up a good show in water colour painting. 

 

 The result was unbelievable!

 

 

 It's photo session at the end of the show.

 A visitor was enjoying the company of 3 elephants. 

 My daughter and her Thai friend went a 30 minutes elephant ride.

It's amazing to see so many trained elephants in this camp. I was told that the Maesa Elephant Camp was established as early as 1976 as a conservation centre for domesticated elephants acquired from all over Thailand when they were no longer required by the logging industry.  At Mae Sa Elephant Camp, they were trained as artists and entertainers. It was a worthwhile experience in visiting this camp.  

MY BIRTHDAY!

Celebrating my 69 Birthday at a local BBQ and Steamboat restaurant with some of my family members.

 The "eat all you can" buffet style. 

 Saying hello to the camera!

 Enjoying the feast.

This small celebration ended at home with a cake cutting "ceremony" and birthday song by the children.

Not forgetting my wife who baked me a lovely cake for the occasion!

DINNER AT PALAAD TAWANRON RESTAURANT, CHIANG MAI

Our Thai friends recommended us to try out this Palaad Tawanron restaurant located at the foothills of Doi Suthep. It's indeed a very pleasant restaurant with the spectacular panorama view of the city in the evening.

The city night view from our table.

There were a variety of Thai dishes in their menu - local Thai special salad, deep-fried pork leg with mashed potatoes, Tom Yum with "big head" river prawns and young coconut, seafood dishes, the ever popular Pad Thai and etc etc.

 

It was indeed a special dinner for a special occasion - my daughter's birthday.   

 The birthday girl!

 

An evening of fun and the superb Thai food. Dinning in cold breeze of mountain air was certainly something different. We celebrated this beautiful evening with our Thai friends.

CHIANG MAI AT IT'S BEST - LUNCH AT "HUEN PHUEN"

Our friends in Chiang Mai took us to a very popular Northern Thai restaurant "Huen Phuen", for lunch in the heart of the city. From a distance it looked like an ordinary residence. Once we were near, we could smell the spices. 

 A photo before entering the restaurant.

A popular snack in Chiang Mai, the "Kheep mu" (Pork rinds). 

So much food to eat.

The reddish steamed rice with deep fried garlic, chilli and sliced raw shallots. The called this dish "Khao ngiaw". It was tasty and I was told that the rice was steamed with pig blood and some spices.

 Khao Soi, a kind of curry noodle. It's very good!

 It's a wonderful lunch!

 The famous Pork sausage - very tasty.

 This Papaya salad was hot and spicy but so delicious.

We still have a few more days in Chiang Mai, we hope to enjoy more of the Northern Thai cuisine. Perhaps, the best has yet to come!

 

ANTIQUE HOUSE RESTAURANT - CHIANG MAI

Our first dinner in Chiang Mai was at the Antique House restaurant located at the bank of Mae Ping river.

This restaurant looked small from outside.

Well decorated with Thai style lanterns, antiques and wooden furniture.

An old motorcycle on display. There's a small stage and a 3 piece band was entertaining guests with popular Thai music and songs.

We opted for the table on the floating platform where we could enjoy the open sky and the breeze.     

 The northern Thai "Tom yam kung" was hot and spicy but superb.

 

 Hot soup and lemon herb steamed fish with chilli.

Fish cakes was great.

We drove over to the night market after dinner. Their night market set-up was similar to ours back home except many of the products.     

Beautiful and colourful soap flowers (hand carved) 

Hand carved wooden elephants. 

"branded" handbags. 

A popular grilled meat stall.

Popular street food - Banana Rotee.

"Branded" foot wears.

"Branded" T-shirts.

It was a good experience walking through the night bazaar, my first in Thailand before returning to our hotel for the night.