Yesterday was another superb day. I had breakfast at a lovely cafe on the corner of the street that my hostel was on; toast, bowl of fresh fruit and fresh coffee all for £1.70!
At 12 midday I met Felicity's auntie Sarah. It's funny, when I met Sarah I felt as if I had known her for years :) Sarah took me to a silk factory which was just fab. I got to see the silk worms eating the mulberry leaves (only leaves that they eat), and I also got to see them cocoons that they make, it is from these cacoons that silk is made. 500 metres are spun out of one cacoon. We were also lucky enough to watch some Thai ladies making the silk. From here we went to a silk factory where I learnt that lemon or tamarind can be used to clean silver (later I was able to try tamarind which has taste that is similar to figs). From here we went to a parasol factory which again was fabulous to see the entire process. I was fortunate enough to have one of the men paint an elephant onto my purse, brilliant! Sarah then treated me to lunch, I had a noodle soup curry which was delicious! Following this we had the best foot massage. It is a mix between a leg/foot massage and reflexology, it was slightly painful but brilliant!
Later we went back to Sarah's house which was just beautiful, with a lovely pool! I stayed with Sarah and her family for the rest of the evening, enjoying wine and dinner with them. Beautiful day. I am so lucky and grateful for how kind and generous Felicity's family have been.
Round up of Chiang Mai. For anyone who is thinking of coming to Chiang Mai, do! It is so interesting! I really recommend the hostel that I stayed in 'Diva Guesthouse', for 160 baht it was fab. So clean, brilliant location, staff were so helpful with booking my trips and transport and every morning they greeted me with 'good morning nina'. I also really recommend 'Sammy's organic cooking school' for 1000 baht I was taken to a market, taken out to the country, was able to cook 5 dishes and was given a cook book, and Sammy himself is delightful and very proud of his toilet! I won't spoil the surprise! Finally 'Elephant Discovery' was fab, they treated the elephants so well and for 2400 baht I was taken into the jungle and to a market, I was able to feed the elephants, wash them in the river, trek with them to a waterfall where we given lunch, swim with them and the trek back before we released them into the jungle. Just fab!
So today I am heading to Pai :)