When we first looked at where of the five cities offered we wanted to go in the Ultimate Thailand Explorer contest, Chiang Mai was a no-brainer for us. We want to visit Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, and Koh Samui soon as well, but there are several reasons Chiang Mai fits us and our traveling style.
1) Our interest in culture and tradition. Every place we travel, we try to immerse ourselves in the local culture and learn local traditions. We love to participate in local pastimes and festivals, attend performances and sports games, and sample the local cuisine. Some of the unique cultural experiences and events we've attended include Chinese traditional opera in Beijing, a flamenco performance in Spain, a wedding in Japan, a céilí dance in Ireland, and a ssireum (wrestling) match in Korea. We adopt local customs and even take them back home with us. Before visiting Theo in Japan, Amber learned how to use chopsticks, and now doesn't eat Japanese food without them. Theo learned the art of bowing, and can't avoid bowing to professors and people he just met. Don't get us started on his shoe removal at everyone's homes! We can't wait to explore the rich culture of northern Thailand through the markets, museums, and restaurants of Chiang Mai.
2) Theo really loves old things and places. Don't ask why, but our resident world civilization-buff digs ancient cities and places soaked in history. Chiang Mai is chock-full of goodies for the historically-minded. We would love to visit each one of the hundreds of Buddhist temples throughout the city, but we're especially excited to visit the some of the most significant temples like Wat Chiang Man, Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, and Wat Phra Singh. The architecture of these temples is awe inspiring, and we're most interested in the history surrounding them. Another top spot on our itinerary is the old city of Wiang Kum Kam and the temple ruins in this area. Amber's studies in Spain led her to explore Islamic architecture throughout the city of Seville and the surrounding area. Taking walking tours of the city to explore ruins and former mosques was one of the highlights of her trip. As we both grew up in the American Midwest, we love cities like Seville, Rome, Kyoto, and Chiang Mai, where the ancient and the modern exist side by side. Learning more about the history and architecture of Thailand, for us, begins in Chiang Mai.
3) We choose the mountains over the beach. While we love relaxing on a sandy beach as much as anyone, we prefer hikes through forests and mountains for our excursions away from the city. The area surrounding Chiang Mai has a great deal to offer in this regard, and we are excited to travel (on foot or by elephant) to visit local hill tribes like the Hmong and Karen. As a former English as a Second Language teacher, Theo taught a number of these students and has a deeply personal interest in their history and culture.
The rich history and cultural traditions of Chiang Mai appeal to our interests and past travel experiences. We can't wait to explore the city and bring some new cultural traditions back home, and to share these with the world through our promotion of Thailand as a tourist destination.
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