Our last evening in Chiang Mai- Massage first, dinner next

The previous post in this series is here..

It took us a good two hours to come from the National park back to Chiang Mai city center.

San wanted to get a facial done and Goy was on the phone for us talking in Thai to get an appointment. There was a place near the night market called Peak Spa which was high end but strongly recommended by the couple. So we booked the earliest appointment possible at 7. They also called and confirmed that our laundry was delivered to our hotel. So we breathed a sigh of relief. We were dropped off at the Spa after Joy showed us exactly how to go from the center to the spa and back.

We had 40 minutes to spend before the facial and massage. Given San was going to be busy for an hour, what was I to do? Booked another massage.. this time it was the same one hour at double the price. Truth be told when you lie face down on a neck pillow and your eyes are closed and you are half meditative, the ambiance of the room doesn’t matter. Still booked it and it was a good decision.

We walked to the food court and San ate some Mango sticky rice. She had decided the previous day that she had to have it. After that I was sent to search for an earring she had lost post massage the previous day.. sadly could not find it.

We walked to Peak spa and came across this market that had a zillion elephants and other trinkets. They were also announcing a kick boxing match on the speakers.. it was interesting but our time was up. We showed up at the massage place, had the facial and massage in the same room and after an hour, started walking back to the center to find dinner. We checked out a few placed and decided Curry Express was the best bet. Had a fantastic dinner and decided go head back to the hotel.

We found another Tuk Tuk and were ready to crash in the hotel. Our legs were tired.

A very short video of the night market.

The next morning we were to start late and head to the airport starting at 10:30 AM

Dinner, massage and a tuk tuk ride

The previous post in this series is here..

After the Wat Phra Singh temple, Joy told us that he would drop us off at Raj Darbar, the most popular Indian restaurant in the area among his clients. After dinner it was a 5 minute walk to the night market. We could hang out there and get a Tuk Tuk to go to our hotel. Our hotel was a good 30+ minute walk at least from this area but a 4 minute Tuk Tuk ride along the same road.

We had a really nice dinner at the restaurant. The waiter was too nice and courteous. Came and checked on us every 10 minutes.

Walked around the night market and after 30 minutes decided to go for a massage at Cloud Massage. It was a full body Thai massage for 10 USD. The place was small but nice and the people were super nice. San and me both enjoyed the massage.. Was worried at one point that the full dinner was a bad idea before the massage.. but nothing bad happened. Would definitely recommend this place if you have an hour plus for a massage. Will also recommend you go before dinner..

We walked some more and San made a mental note of things she has to eat before leaving this place. There was no more room in the tummy for that evening. Got a tuk tuk and went back to our hotel. Given how we had started the day in a pharmacy, we were both feeling great. The herbal lozenges did wonders!

Here is a short video highlights reel..

The next morning we told him to just get me enough miini croissants and orange juice boxes and we are happy. We were to leave at 6:45 to a place that was 2 hour drive.

An evening to remember in Siem Reap City

The previous post in this series is here..

It had been a long day. We had woken up at 3:45AM to leave the hotel at 4AM and had made 6 stops by noon. Had eaten parts of the packed breakfast (San could eat a lot more than me given the allergies) and some energy bars and kept going. By 1PM when we came back to the hotel we were exhausted. After a 3 hour nap and some Wagh Bakri chai, we decided to go enjoy golden hour along the river.

The plan was to walk along the river, cross over to the night market restaurant area, eat dinner and walk back to the hotel. It was just a 20-25 minute walk. The river walk was beautiful. Then we walked to the same area where we had found dinner and decided to go to a different restaurant. I thought the writing was in Telugu from a distance.. turns it out was in the local language. The food was decent. We both were developing a sore throat. So we stuck to simple safe items. We were the only ones in the restaurant as it was still early.

Enjoyed the food and walked back.. Saw a cat restaurant on the way back and was missing the little one. She loves cats. I am told that one day I will be a Crampa (cat grandpa).. and that is all the pa I will get.. but given I am allergic to most cats, that privilege will be lost on me.

A video highlights reel..

We got back to the hotel by 7 and it was lights out. Our driver had promised one more sunrise, this time we would actually get to see the sun come out over the forests atop another temple on the hill. We were to leave the hotel by 4:30AM.. again. San was in two minds and said she will decide at 4AM, but I begged her to join me in the morning and we dozed off.