July 20th, 2016
July 21st-Thursday-feels like home
When people ask why we kept coming back to Thailand, what’s the attraction? I have an answer, and it is days like today. We met a lady here named Riam the first time we came to Chiang Mai in 2009. We met her at a temple in the middle of Chiang Mai and she took us on several private tours with the kids that year. But ever since then we have stayed friends, we are watching her kids grow up and she includes us in her family life here. We spend time together every summer when we are here. We love this, she is a dear friend. So she came to pick us up today at 10am and we went to her home to see her in laws, then we went out to lunch with Riam and her hubby Pat. Then we went to Riam’s Father’s house. Such an amazing drive. Oh yea, we stopped at one of Riam’s friend’s place where she is building a new homestay. It looks awesome! It’s up on a hillside and is so peaceful overlooking hundreds of flower farms. I think maybe we will try if next year if she’s open.
We’ve been out to Riam’s father’s home before, he doesn’t speak any English, but Riam translates back and forth for us. He built this real house 3 years ago. I think it was just recently finished the first time we were there. Teak wood is the most Rich dark heavy wood I’ve ever known. We just can’t imagine anything being built like this in America. It would be cost prohibitive (to say the least). A massive 10 minute monsoon came through while we were there. But we just made it inside in time. Sitting on his massive deck eating freshly steamed edamame. Can’t quite paint the picture adequately I don’t think.
By now, it is getting close to 4:30pm, do we decide to head back to town as its prolly an hour drive, plus Riam is going to side trip
For us to a place we can get fresh honey. I love to buy honey here for making granola at home. Nothing quite like it 😍😍of course we will be hitting high traffic time too once back in the city…..I secured two large bottles of honey, some strawberry jam, and BBQ favoured banana chips (Troy’s pick 😉). The bags going home are going to have some issues for sure, but I’ll deal with that in 7 days!😳
After a quick trip to the tailor for fittings for the clothes, we end up at Ginny’s (shocker!) for late supper. Tee’s pad Thai is always amazing. All her food is actually. My commitment to working my way through the menu is well under way 😃and it was truly a wonderful wonderful day!
