Spent the day in Chiang Mai. We were suppose to have a full day at the elephant camp and Tiger Kingdom, highly recommended by the guide, "not to be missed", who convinced us to go. But since I was feeling lousy the day before, we decided to sleep in. Plus, I didn't have the heart to really pay and support those places, to see the hordes of tourist riding the elephants and petting the tigers in cages.
By the time we were ready for the day, it was lunch time. Had a lunch of simple noodles and then went to see the hill tribe village. This is also a place catered to tourist. A commercialized refugee camp. There are 5 different hill tribes: Akha, Lahu, Iu Mien, Long Neck Karen, Palong (Big Earing). The villagers are refugees from Burma. Mainly the women and children remain in the village to sell tourist souvenirs and handmade scarfs while the men go out of the village to work.
In the hill tribe village. Pathway lined with small shops selling tourist souvenirs and items.
Hill tribe village. Mother and her baby.
Mother and her daughter.
Long neck Karen Tribe. The rings use to be made of gold but now are made of brass. According to the legend we were told there, a girl was once bitten in the neck and killed by a tiger. Therefore, the females wear the rings around their necks to protect them from tigers. The brass rings push down and weaken the muscles of the neck and shoulders, so there is a risk of death when the rings are removed.
I had wanted to try a fish spa where small fish called Garra rufa, also called "doctor fish", eat the dead skin off your feet. Our guide said there was one in the lobby of Tiger Kingdom and since the hill tribe was very close by, we headed there next. Fish spas are banned in some states in the U.S. due to hygiene concerns and the risk of spreading infections. As I sat in the lobby of Tiger Kingdom, with my feet in the fish spa, I could see the tigers from where I was without having to pay. The fish spa was only less than five U.S. dollars for an unlimited time period. The place was crowded with tourist waiting to pet and take pictures with the tigers. It is a small enclosed area for having so many tigers and tourist.
Fish Spa.
Tiger Kingdom.
After that, we went to Baan Tawai, a handicraft village of wood sculptures and wood-carved products and furniture.
Ended the day at the Chiang Mai Saturday night market.
Chiang Mai Saturday Night Market.
Night Market: Couldn't get enough pad thai and mango sticky rice.
Night Market.
Spent the night in Chiang Mai.
