Chiang-MaiThai: 29/03/2008

We rarely hear the inward music, but we're all dancing to it nevertheless. - Jalal-Uddin Rumi

Dinner & Thai Dancing

One of the highlights of our time in Chiang-Mai was our dinner at the Thai Cultural Centre. Here we feasted on delicious Thai foods in a traditional Thai banquet. A banquet designed for four people but, as luck would have it, only us two were at this particular table. Worse, every time we would eat something from the table, a waiter would appear and replenish it!!! The diet is really buggered now!

Russell enjoys another Mai-Tai!

Lidy and Russell have arrived. Let the celebrations begin!

Thai dancing is mostly done with hand gestures and is extremely graceful.

In beautiful synchronicity...

Lidy meets a new friend and, Russell is crowned Prince for the night

The evening ends much too soon with a fireworks display

Why do we pay for psychotherapy when massages cost half as much? - Jason Love

And it came to pass that after much seeking of large shoe sizes (Strike! Thai feet are tiny!) Russell bought a pair of sandals. And he looked upon them and they were good. And he looked upon his protruding toes and counted ten and it was good. And the sun beat upon his toes and reddened them.

And Lidy spake unto Russell and sayeth: "Your sandals are of the finest materials and; your feet fit well within them; But your toenails are a blight upon the road and must be trimmed."

And Russell looked upon his toenails and saw that they were long and; Russell sought out a great little place for a manicure and pedicure:

Saija Massage
'Your home for smiles and relaxation'
69/1 Radchapakinai Road, Prasing/Muang, Chiang-Mai.

Talk about feeling like a king. Two young ladies working on feet and hands, a third supplying cups of herbal tea. Heaven.

The Manicure, Pedicure, arm and leg workout took three hours and cost 360 Bt. About $Au 12.00 - And yes, I did deliver a decent tip!

"Urbem lateritiam invenit, marmoream reliquit" (He found a city of bricks and left a city of marble) - Augustus Caesar

RIVER CRUISE TO THE ANCIENT CITY OF
WIANG GOOM GAAM

Today, we visit the ancient, fortified township of Wiang Goom Gaam. Just a short cruise down the Mai Ping river and a relaxing horse and buggy ride to explore these long-lost ruins, recently uncovered by archeologists. Incongruous as it might seem, Wiang Goom Gaam has lain below the sands of modern Chiang-Mai so that today a modern suburb has been built up all around these ancient ruins.

Specialists from the Department of Fine Arts discovered this hidden Lanna treasure when digs around Chiang-Mai were being conducted in 1984. And what a find it has proven to be; so far, 34 ancient sites have been identified and unearthed. Archaeologists are confident that more will follow.

But first, our boat and boatman awaits. Because the ancient city is not well publicised, not many tourists wish to go there. We were lucky to find a small tour although we were the only occupants of this large riverboat which took us down the Mai Ping like Anthony and Cleopatra in our own Mai Ping Royal barge...

Ready to go - our riverboat awaits

A modern Anthony and Cleopatra on our own Royal barge

The river drifts by as we ply peacefully upstream

Where our Royal footman awaits with our Royal carriage

To take us back in time to the ancient city of Wiang Goom Gaam

Ancient Buddha of Wiang Goom Gaam

The Buddha of Wiang Goom Gaam was unearthed sans head which was lovingly restored by the local villagers. This shrine is now worshipped by many locals from the area.