Thapae Gate & Initial Explorations

After a quick taxi ride to my lodging, I was out and about on the streets of Chiang Mai. My first order of the day: food! Specifically, khao soi, a northern Thai curry noodle dish rarely found in the US. I made my way to the nearest khao soi stand and had a satisfying bowl of noodles. The rest of my day was spent wandering around the city, getting my bearings in order to set myself up for the days of exploring ahead. I looked out for useable landmarks and noted where my sightseeing targets were. I quickly established that the city walls and moat, and, in particular the eastern gate, also known as the Thapae Gate, were my best landmarks. The only visible highrise was the Meridien which also served as a secondary landmark. Overall, though, I was just pleased to be back in Thailand. This is a country I have lived in, and I love the culture and the people. Because I can get by in Thai, it is also easy for me to figure my way around.

At Thapae Gate, I observed in amusement as instagrammers paid a man to first feed pigeons and then hurl a stick among them to get them to fly around the subject of the photo. Nearby, the photographer would be clicking away in the hope of getting the perfect shot.

https://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Thailand/North-…Read more