January 5, 2013
It’s been a while since I have updated the blog, but I really haven’t had much time with Muay Thai training, yoga classes, Thai massages and just wandering around the city here. We have been in Chiang Mai almost two weeks now and are loving all the fun there is to do here from elephants to wandering around the old city.
Wendy and I visiting another Wat, or temple, at night. 
For Christmas, Omar bought me a day of elephant riding - here we are learning commands first. Hoi, hoi - means go!
It was quite the ordeal to climb on top of a bareback elephant! Those guys are huge! Note the elephant bending his leg so Omar can use it as a step!
Success!
Me doing some unintentional elephant acrobatics while getting up!
Boys and poop - some things never change.
The present was for me without a doubt, but this is also sort of like the time Homer bought Marge a bowling ball for Christmas.
5 weeks old and growing fast. This little guy loves butt scratches and head butting. 
Coconut is a main staple in Thai food. This machine shreds coconut meat which is then pressed once for coconut cream or twice with water for coconut milk.
Omar and I in another cooking class. He dodged the first class by feigning ill, but he couldn’t get out of it this time! Why!? - it even looks like he is having fun in the kitchen! 
Men in the kitchen - just what I like to see.
Thai chefs - well fed and with our mouths on fire.
Lanterns!!! -the whole reason we chose to spend New Year’s in Chiang Mai. Oh yeah… and I guess our new friends.
Light the wick, let the paper lantern fill with hot air, then release. There is a definitely a science though as to when to let go - too soon and the lantern will plummet . . . ahem Wendy.
Thousands and thousands of these went up all night long. It was mesmerizing.
Kid friendly lanterns.
The road near Tha Pae Gate was closed for the New Year festivities and there were stalls and street food everywhere. Neon colored ice cream mochis. 
My personal favorite . . . sushi by the piece. Yum seaweed roll!
Mounds of pad thai and rice noodles.
And no New Years is complete without a giant firework show over the moat. Check out all the lanterns in the sky.
The temples were full of devotees all night long. The string tied around their heads are there to represent how we are all connected. That first girl though is more connected to her phone and texting.
Another owl store and a giant paper mache owl of course.
Not just a cat sculpture . . . but a margarine cat sculpture!!! As if eating bread wasn’t already awesome enough!
Our friends from the boat Water Musick met us for dinner and fruit shakes. They are now officially land lubbers too with their boat up for sale and a job back home in the states waiting.
We see monks every day here in Chiang Mai with all the wats.
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